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FILMS 

« 

• 

• 

RADIO 


U 


MUSIC 

i 


STAGE 



Published Weekly at 154 Weil 46th Street. New York 36, N. Y„ by Variety. Inc., Annual subscription '$10. Single copies. 25 cents. 

Entered as second class matter December 22, 1905, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y„ under the act of March 3, 1879. 

; COPYRIGHT. 1952, BY VARIETY. INC., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 

VOL. 188 No. 9 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1952 PRICE 25 CENTS 

ITS STE GOT THAT UVF YEN 


Cinerama and Need to Bolster B.O. 


May Set Pix Off on Engineering Binge 




Hollywood, Nov. 4. 

Impact of Cinerama, as well as 
desire to come up with new giui- 
micks to stem the b.o. decline, may 
set the industry off on a technolog- 
ical binge, with studio engineering 
departments due to receive greater 
attention . than heretofore. There 
Is some thinking that “magnitude” 
as offered by the film screen and 
expanded considerably by Ciner- 
ama may bo the answer to combat 
the “inertia” induced by television. 

Question of “magnitude” is not 
a new one for the filmeries. There 
have been experiments in the past 
which for some reason, mainly the 
immediate need, did not jell. 

Warner Bros, and 20th-Fox have 
in the past tested large-gauge 
film. WB came up with a 60m 
print .while 20th produced a 75m 
one. latter process being known 
as "Grandeur.” Both experiments 
wei'e deficient technically. Whether 
these methods will be^ probed fur- 
ther has not been indicated. 

Another aspect of technological 
progress would be the develop- 
ment of new techniques to facili- 
tate production and cut costs. 
Metro production chief Dore 
Schary, in a speech in Detroit last 
week,- declared that the greatest 
need of the industry is for new 
methods of film production. 

“Hollywood.” he said, “is using 
the same methods it used 20 years 
ago and much saving in time and 
money and a resultant improvment 
in the quality of pictures could be 
had if new engineering techniques 
were applied to the making of 
pictures.” 


Kaye’s Dallas Deal 
A Nice Xmas Cheer 
At70%;M&L , sl71G 

Dallas, Nov. 4. 

Danny Kaye deal for the State 
Fair Auditorium, Dallas, calls for 
his getting 70% of the gross up 
to the first $65,000, and 80% of 
the take beyond that. Kaye, who 
-wilt • pay costs' ”of the" satrou tiding 
show, goes in Dec. 2$ for 11 per- 
formances, during Cotton Bowl 
Week. Comic will also share costs 
of the musicians, stagehands and 
advertising. The New Year’s Eve 
show will go at a $6 top. It’s an- 
ticipated that the date will gross a 
♦100,000 minimum, although the 
capacity is figured at $158,000. 

Deal was completed in New York 
this week by Charles R. Meeker, 
i r *: managing director of the State 
Fair Auditorium, with the William 
Morris Agency, which handles 
■Kaye. Meeker is also expected to 
wake preliminary explorations dur- 
•wg his N. Y. visit for next sum- 
State Fair musicals. 

Martin & Lewis, who played the 
Auditorium last month during the 
jau; look out $171,700 on a deal 
which called for M&L to get 60% 

^ he first $150,000, 70% of the 
next $ lo ° ( ()oo i a bonus of $ 7 5 0o 

rim* 0,000 - and 80% over $250,-, 
U,J - The final tally was $255,239. 


‘Don’t Bother’ Knocked Out 

Hollywood, Nov. 4. 

CBS, ABC and numerous Los 
Angeles stations have banned air- 
ing of the new Capitol disk re- 
lease, “Don’t Bother to Knock,” 
with Helen O’Connell warbling, 
nixing it because it is allegedly 
“too risque,” and has a “vulgar 
double entendre.” 

Cap is the only waxery releasing 
platter of the tune, reportedly 
penned as tie-in publicity on the 
20th-Fox pic of the same title star-: 
ring Marilyn Monroe and Richard 
t Widmark. 

TV Set Output 
At Alltime High 

Washington, Nov. 4. 

Due in large part to the lifting 
of the television freeze, production 
of video receivers is now at an all- 
time high and factory inventory at 
the lowest point in several years, 
according to the Radio-TV Manu- 
facturers Assn. Opening of new 
markets, particularly Denver and 
Portland, Ore., and stocking up by 
distributors and dealers in cities 
where stations will soon be on the 
air are having their impact. Buy- 
ing of sets has also been stimu- 
lated by the national elections. 

Factory output during the week 
ending Oct. 24, according to pre- 
liminary reports received by 
RTMA, totaled 195,139 sets." Pro- 
duction during the previous week 
also approximated 195,000 sets. 
This means the industry is now 
operating at a capacity of nearly 
10,000,000 sets a year. The highest 
TV production was in 1950 when 
approximately 7,500,000 sets were 
turned out. ' 

During the first three weeks of 
October, factory output has ex- 
ceeded 570,000 sets or more than 
ahy mbhfh” this year "except' "Sep- 
tember (a five-week work month) 
when production totaled 755.000 
sets and averaged 151,000 sets a 
week. 

More Cops Assigned To 
Times Square Area To 
Speed Up Show Traffic 

In a move to speed up traffic in 
the Broadway theatre district, the 
New York Police Dept, will assign 
15 more men to the area, starting 
tonight (Wed.). Action would have 
been taken earlier, but no extra 
men were available until after the 
election. 

Assignment of added men to the 
Times Square area during theatre 
rush hours was done at the instiga- 
tion of the League of N. Y. Thea- 
tres, which had received numerous 
(Continued on page 59) 


+ 


By GEORGE ROSEN 

The next few months may have 
an important bearing on the future 
status of films’ stake in television. 
For smack in the middle of the 
whole “go film” sweep that’s 
played havoc with the new me- 
dium, there have been some “stop- 
look-listen” warnings and appre- 
hensions over the present quality 
of high-budgeted films which, un- 
less arrested, may well start a trend 
back to live shows even before 
film has had a chance to establish 
itself. 

There’s more at stake than the 
TV film advocates even care to 
concede. Millions of dollars have 
been invested in production-dis- 
tribution-sales companies. Among 
these there’s already been some 
turbulence, including* bankruptcies 
and mergers. That there's an in- 
creasing awareness that only the 
strong and well-heeled will survive 
is evident from the Official Films- 
PSI overtures to merge interests 
in order to give the combined oper- 
ation a head start on the rest of 
the field. 

Hollywood has pinned its hopes 
on films to wrest TV production 
control away from New York, but 
on the basis of what it’s come up 
with thus far, too many are now 
saying: “what’s all the shouting 
about, and what’s there to fear?” 

For months prior to the show’s 
preem, the TV industry looked 

(Continued on page 62) 

Met s 59G Preem 
68-Year Record 

The Metropolitan Opera Assn., 
opening its 68th season in N. Y. 
next Monday (10) with Verdi’s “La 
Forza del Destino,” will garner a 
gross df about $59,100, for the 
highest opening-night take in its 
history. 

-- T'afce'^ '"wiir exceed the previous 
high of about $54,800 in 1950 (in 
Rudolf Bing’s first season as gen- 
eral manager), and last year’s 
(’51) first night gross of $53,112. 

Most of the 1952 opener’s seats 
were sold out a couple of weeks 
ago, despite a new upped high of 
$30. (Last year’s opening-night 
upped top was $25.) Regular top 
this season is $8. 

Met’s ticket prices generally 
were raised for this season, due to 
(Continued on page 60) 


The Bigger Half 

Songsmith-publisher Frank 
Loesser trekked to Nashville 
last week to eye the country 
iraasic operation. One of the 
alfalfa publishers greeted him 
with, “So, you’ve come to see 
how the other half lives.” 

“No,” Loesser answered, 
“the other seven-eighths.” 


Plan Asking Congress to Appropriate 
Dem-GOP Campaign Coin in Future 


Hie All-Girl Vote 

Phil Spitalny and his all-girl 
orch turned down a date to play 
Cleveland today <Wed.>, even 
though it was enroute to their 
Kansas City engagement tomorrow. 

Reason is that Spitalny felt vot- 
ing in yesterday’s election was so 
important he didn’t want the 
femmes to give up their day off 
for balloting in N.Y., 


Burley Sneaking 
Up on Broadway 

Burlesque is gradually making a 
slight comeback on Broadway. The 
edict of the late Mayor Fiorello H. 
LaGuardia notwithstanding, the 
strippers and baggy-pants comics 
are returning to the Main Stem, 
from which they’ve been absent 
for more than a decade, except for 
the few stretches when Mike Todd 
put on his own brand of legit 
shows. 

Latest to enter the burlesquerie 
ranks is the 500 Club (ex-Havana- 
Madrid), which is setting Tirza and 
her wipe bath for a run. In ad- 
dition, there will be a retinue of 
billed peel artists there. Just how 
far they will go in the shedding 
department remains to be seen. 

The Holiday Theatre is current- 
ly on a hurley format, but the 
strips are using wraps, so there’s 
no conflict with the law. The name 
value of the peelers is utilized and 
there’s no shedding. 

There had been an attempt made 
to open the now defunct Iceland 
into a strip cafe, but deal flopped. 

With the hurley atmosphere 
moving on Broadway, it’s likely to 
take a great deal of play away 
from 52d St. The Harem and 
French Quarter, both recent ad- 
ditions to Strip Street (ex-Swing 
St.), are going in heavily for the 
Minskyltes: 


A1 Martino’s ‘9 Out of 10 
Openings Are Flops’ Gets 
Him the Heave in Hub 

Boston, Nov. 4. 

Crack by singer A1 Martino dur- 
first show at Blinstrub’s here 
Monday (3), that “Nine out of 10 
opening nights are flops and this 
is one,” resulted in owner Blin- 
strub cancelling the singer after 
that night's second show. 

Reason for the remark is a mys- 
tery. Martino apparently was click- 
ir i at the time of the verbiage. 
Martino blew his top wjien he re- 
turned to the dressing" fQpm and 
Blinstrub demanded that can- 
cel out immediately. However, he 
finished the night and Ted Cole, 
longtime vocalist at the spot, tools 
over Martino’s chores. 


As the final radio-TV paid cam- 
paign oratory on behalf of Gov- 
Adlai Stevenson and Gen. Dwight 
D. Eisenhower faded off the air- 
lanes Monday night (3), and with 
Demmy bitterness reaching near- 
fever pitch over the final •“burst of 
lavish GOP coin expended by the 
“I Like Ike” bankrolled, a sweep- 
ing plan was in the blueprint stage 
to “make things different in the 
future.” 

When Congress reconvenes in 
January, it now looms as a fair 
certainty that the nation’s lawmak- 
ers will be asked to appropriate 
radio-television sums ranging any- 
where from $3,000,000 to $5,000,- 
000 for each party's Presidential 
candidate, in order to erase what 
the Democrats brand as “1952 cam- 
paign inequities.” The Dems decry 
the fact that “the guy with the 
most coin gets, the big.. TV. play 
and the guy with the biggest TV 
play gels a shortcut into the White 
House.” 

Oh the theory that four years 
hence it might be the Democrats 
with the biggest purse-string, some 
alternating proposals, it’s known, 
will be presented to Congress: 

(1) . To eliminate unfairness, Con- 
gress should put up an equal 
amount of coin for both parties, 
possibly $5,000,000 for each, to 
permit for equal allocation of 
radio-TV time facilities. 

(2) . In lieu of this plan, set a 

(Continued dn page 62) 

Wipchell Pitch for Ike 
Stirs 1 1th Hour ABC-Dem 
Hassle; Protest to FCC 

ABC network, Walter Winchell 
and the Democratic National Com- 
mittee found itself involved in an 
llth-hour hassle on Sunday (2) 
over WW’s telecast, with the 
Demmy chieftains registering a 
beef with the Federal Communica- 
tions Commission. 

Radio and tele shows by Win- 
chell on Sunday brought a protest 
byBNC • rirairm-arfStepli^rr •A."Mit v - 
chell and request for equal time to 
answer the gabber. Mitchell 
charged that Winchell’s script, 
which the politico tagged a “parti- 
san political” endorsement of Gen. 
Eisenhower, went beyond the limits 
of commentary. Mitchell sent two 
wires to ABC, one calling for equal 
time under section 315 of the Com- 
munications Act and the other call- 
ing for time under the web’s re- 
sponsibility for fair treatment “in 
the public interest.” 

ABC’s answer was that it airs a 
large number of commentators of 
varying political views, some of 
whom have opinions along the 
lines of Gov. Stevenson's, and thus 
it has a balance of editorial opin- 
ion. On that basis, it added, it 
wouldn’t 1 provide equal time to 
answer Winchell. However, it of- 
fered to carry any “reasonably 
length comment” Mitchell would 
care to make on its news pro- 
' Continued on page 59) 





MISCELLANY 



Ptfiiii&Ti 


Wednesday, November S, 1952’ 


French Riviera Ont of Summer Slump 

By ED QUINN 4 

Nice, oct 28. j Ban Jap-Made ‘A-Bomb’ 

In Spite of increased visitors to 

the French Riviera this past sum- rTOm JhiXport UISOID 

mer, seasonal income was not up Tokyo, Oct 28. 

to the standard of previous years. The controversial Japanese-made 

For Hie pe* month ^Angost for fi “A-Bomb ' Children,” sensa- 
instance, the number of tourists \ . ’ . 

was 161,000, against 138,500 j tonal pictunzation of horrors of 

for 1951, hut many of these travel- j the bomb which fell on Nagasaki, j 
lers did not stay any longer than 1 be b anne d f 0 r export distribu- 1 

lilv° UI d Co ^ca 1 * t0 ° r fr ° m - tion ’ accordin S ao announcement 
Although railway and air com- ; hy Justice Minis ter Tokutaro Kim- 
panies, with exception of British j lira. In nixing the film, Kimura 
European Airways, reported a drop i its nature was such that it 
in number of passengers carried, . liab i e t0 create ill-feeling 
visitor increase was due to auto. ■ 
motorcycle, bicycle and hitch- toward Japan, 
hikers. A cheap quickie, the pic has 

Hotels claimed that exceptionally done good biz, but received bad 
good weather experienced all over j notices from most Japanese and ■ 
Europe prompted many of their ) foreign crix. ! 

regular French and foreign clients ; 

to try the cooler Alpine and north- 



ern’ climates. 1 finpip OlftYSllGr 

A big part of the monetary loss ; 
was due to restriction on British j 
tourists to a sum of £25 ($70) j 
for overseas travel outside the j 
sterling area. The 1951 figure of j 
16.257 British subjects registered j 
by the hotels fell to 11,455 in 1952. 

‘Pirate* Hotels 


Highlight Royal Show 
At London Palladium 

London, Nov. 4. 

Beniamino Gigli, duettmg with 

In addition, buying power of . Grade Fields, and the surprise ap- 
the French tourist had deterio- : p earanc c of Maurice Chevalier 

higbligbtefl the 23d Royal Variety 

hotels (the practice of letting out , Command Performance yesterday 
rooms and apartments in private (Mon.) at the Palladium here. For 
houses, thereby avoiding tourist, i tbe time since the war, Val 

hncinpsi and other taxes), and j p arnel j j managing director of Moss 

Empires Theatres, fashioned a slick 


business and other taxes), * and 
finally the big development in 
camping which had now attracted 
even rich people. Canvas villages 
sprang ' up aR ' along the "Cote 
d’Azur, even though the bare 
ground was sometimes hired ont 


production that attained a. high all- 
around standard. 

This Command Performance had 


ground was iomcuiucs unvu , TT 

at a price very near to that of a the fewest number of U. S. acts 
hotel room. v in years. They were Nanci Cromp- 

The Yankee dollar, however, j torLi j> ee p River Boys and Billie 
once again Stepped in to fill 1 the j worth,' "plus Jeff Warren and Don- 

tourists visiting Nice alone during j fl ld Burr from the London edition 
the month of August was much of “Call Me Madam.” Miss Cromp- 
greater than the previous year, j ton was the only U. S. performer 

5,237 against 3,741. Increase can j t make the j^j^ey specifically to 

be attributed in large part to m-; . * • Z. .. . . 

troduction of the tourist class by i Wear m this show. Ballerina ar- 

, An, : rived Friday (31) fresh from a 

(Continued on page 62) stand at Radio Citv Music Hail. 


This Week-s' ' Football ' ^ 


HHHtHHHH By HARRY 


*PTS. 
. . 14 


Buck Jailed stud Fined 
On Dope Rap; Bubbles 
Sentence Due Today 

Toronto, Nov. 4. 

With each partner of a 35-year 
association going to the defense of 
the .other, on charge of illegal pos- 
session of narcotics. Ford Lee 
Washington, the Buck of Buck & 
Bubbles, was sentenced in Magis- 
trate’s Court to six months in jail 
and a $200 fine, with an additional 
month if fine is not paid. John W. 
(Bubbles) Sublett will be sentenced 
tomorrow (Wed.). 

Case followed a Mounties* raid 
on the song-and-dance team’s To- 
ronto hotel room when they were 
playing a nitery here. Also ar- 
rested were Bubble’s wife, Mabel, 
and Benjamin Winestone, sax 
player, who had his own trio here. 
Winestone was sentenced to six 
months and fined $400. Mrs. Sub- 
lett was acquitted. 

Raid took place Sept. 20, with 
defendants unable to post individ- 
ual bail of $5,000, later reduced to 
$3,000, but quartet had been in 
jail since, being unable to raise 
the money. 


. stand at Radio City Music Hail, 
; N. Y., and will plane out tomorrow 
1 (Wed.) for a previous commitment 
in Detroit. 


i Miss Crompton was accorded an 
; ovation in an early spot. Others to 
j get top mittings included Winifred 
j Atwell, who composed “Britania 
1 Rag” for the occasion; Deep River 
iBoys and Miss Worth’s vocalizing 
from “Call Me Madam.” Zoe Gail, 
making a first appeearance since 
serious injury last year, and blind 
1 vocalist Jerry Brereton were en- 
thusiastically received. Gigli, Miss 
Crompton* Atwell, Miss Fields, 
Miss Worth and Chevalier were 
among those presented to Queen 
Elizabeth. 

i 

i Others to appear were 3 B'ar- 
j hour Bros., 3 Beverley Sisters, Max 
> Bygraves, Billy Cotton band, 
j George Cameron, Reg Dixon, Jerry 
Desmonde, Jimmy Edwards, John 
I Ellison, Bud Flanagan, Tony Han- 
! cock, Ilford Girls Choir, Jack 
Jackson, Jewel & Warriss, Pat 
Kirkwood, Vera Lynn, Josef Locke, 
3 Monarchs, Medlock & Marlowe, 
Rob Murray, Naughton & Gold, 
Nervo & Knox, Joy Nichols, Vic 
Oliver, Ted Ray, Skyrockets Orch 
directed by Woolf Phillips, Tiller 
Girls, Terry Thomas, Ian Wallace, 
Warren, Latona & Sparks and Nor- 
man Wisdom. 




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Starring with 
MARGOT BRANDER 
LIDO, PARIS, FRANCE 
Now in 23rd week and still CON- 
TINUING. 

We’re overwhelmed with all these 
European offers, but due to coTn<- 
mitments in the States we’ll -have to 
defer our return to the Continent 
until some time in 11)53. 

Personal Management 
AL GROSSMAN 
1270 Sixth Ave„ New York 


Coronation Still 
‘Iffy For Video 

London, Nov. 4. 

With Prime Minister Churchill’s 
warning that the occasion must not 
be treated as a theatrical per- 
formance, BBC-TV experts have 
begun discussions with the Earl 
Marasbal -and the Duke of Norfolk, 
to determine the extent to which 
television cameras can cover the 
coronation of Queen Elizabeth from 
within Westminister Abbey. A 
preliminary report will be made at 
a meeting of the Coronation Com- 
mittee to be held in London to- 
morrow (Wed.). 

The original announcement by 
the Coronation Committee that the 
actual crowning ceremony would 
have to be omitted from TV pro- 
grams sparked a widespread press 
agitation and forced the Prime 
Minister to make a full explana- 
tion to the House of Commons'. 
Churchill hoped that it would be 
possible to operate on the principle 
that the world should see and hear 
what the congregation see and 
hear. There were, he said, highly 
complicated technical problems 
and in any event it would be un- 
fitting that the whole ceremony, 
not only in its secular but also in 
its religious and spiritual aspects, 
should be presented as if it were a 
theatrical performance. 

One of the proposals being made 
to the Earl Marshal by BBC tech- 
nical experts is that there should 
be a rehearsal in the Abbey, with 
stand-ins for the main participants, 
and a demonstration telecast could 
be watched by the Duke of Nor- 
folk on a monitor screen. 

Heading the BBC team of ex- 
perts in the negotiations is S. J. 
Lotbinniere in charge of outside 
telecasts, who will be mainly re- 
sponsible for carrying out corona- 
tion arrangements. . Meantime, 
Peter Dimmock. assistant head of 
outside telecasts, has already sur- 
veyed the Abbey and prepared a 
skeleton plan for the siting of 
cameras and other equipment. As 
color films are to be made of the 
ceremony no extra lighting will be 
required for TV. 

If the suggestion that TV be re- 
[•■striGted-to- what-the coogr-egation- 
sees is adopted, there will be little 
or no intimate coverage of the 
highlights of the ceremony. The 
Abbey dignitaries who conduct the 
ceremony may effectively block the 
view of the congregation. 


12 

28 

7 

12 


College / 

EAST 

GAMES SELECTION 

Harvard-Prlnceton Princeton 

Too much all ’round strength. 

Colmnbia-Dartmoutk . . Columhia 7 

Dartmouth very weak. 

Georida-Pennsylvaiiia . . mf Pennsylvania 7 

Hunger’s team by a shade’. 

Colgate-Holy Cross. . -Holy Cross g 

’ Cross has learned a lesson. 

Temple-Boston U Boston U ; g 

Home field will be advantage; 

Clemson-Fordham Clemson ? 

Rams aren’t good enough. 

Penn State-Syracuse 5 Penn. State. . ‘ 10 

All hail Penn State. 

Lafayette-RutgCrs Rutgers •. 

Rutgers inspired by Temple win. 

SOUTH 

Army- Georgia Tech Georgia Tech 

This is the week for Blaik to be a great coach. 

Navy-Duke Duke 

Service teams don’t have it this year. 

Tennessee-Louisiana State (nite) Tennessee 

^Trouble at LSU. 

Mississippi State- Auburn Miss. State 3 

Close all the way. 

Tulane-Kentucky Tolane 7 

Green Wave brings wildcat tears. 

Vanderbilt-Miami (Fla.) (Fri. nite) Vanderbilt 

Vandy has had terrific schedule. 

VMI-West Virginia (at Roanoke) West Virginia 

Mountaineers rugged. 

Wake Forest-TCU TCU 

By a whisker. 

Texas AAM-SMU SMU 

Mustangs can push by badly beaten Aggies. 

Texas-Baylor Texas 

Still blazing 

Virginia-Nc. Carolina Virginia 

Cavaliers roar back. 

MIDWEST 

Cornell-Michigan Michigan ......... 

Wolverines seek revenge. 

Pittsburgh-Ohio State Pittsburgh 

Pittsburgh more stable. 

Villanova-Tulsa (nite) Villanova 13 

Filipski seeks All-America honors. 

Rice- Arkansas Rice 

Pitchers’ battle. 

Boston College — Detroit Detroit . . .“ 

Titans proved strength against Fordh&m. 

Colorado-Missouri Colorado 

Colorado tied Oklahoma. 

Hllnois-Iowa Illinois 

Illini fiave learned their lesson. 

Purdue-Minnesota Purdue 

Boilermakers smell roses. 

Northwestern-Wisconsin Wisconsin 

Wildcats tamed again. 

Michigan State-Indiana Michigan State. ... 

Spartans have soft touch. 

Oklahoma-Notre Dame ’ . . Oklahoma 7 

Sooners too strong for Irish. 

Nebraska-Kansas Kansas 14 

Jay hawks easily. 

FAR WEST 

So. California-Stanford So. California 1 Z 

Trojans this time. 

Oregon State-UCLA UCLA 24 

Red Sanders has worked miracles. 

California-Washington California 14 

Golden Bears march by. 

Washington State-Oregon Wash. State 3 

Two teams going nowhere in particular. 
PROFESSIONAL 

Cardinals-Browns Browns 

Brown will jack up his team. 

Lions-Steelers Lions ! 

Doak Walker-Pat Harder-Leon Hart too much. 

PackerS-Bears Bears 

Pappy Halas proud of his little bear. 

Rams-Texans Rams 

Texans will be glad when season is over. 

’49-ers-Giants Giants 

If Bears can do it — Giants can, too. 

Redskins-Eagles Eagles 

Redskins fight to stay out of cellar. 

SEASON’S RECORD 

Won, 171; Lost, 57; Ties, 12; Pet. .750. 

(Ties don’t count.) 


6 

14 

3 

3 

14 

21 

20 

6 


3 

3 

7 

14 

17 

27 

35 


12 

14 

10 

21 

6 

7 


*Point margin represents selector’s choice. 


Fete Hope’s Pix Arari 

Various branches of show busi- 
ness are being lined up to join in 
a celebration td mark Bob Hope’s 
15th year in films. Comedian’s 
swing into pix got underway with 
Paramount’s “Big Broadcast of 
1938.” 

Party’s set for Feb. 27 at the 
Waldorf-Astoria, New York, with 
about ’1,200 persons expected to 
show, including reps of the Armed 
Forces-^the tie-in being Hop<fs 
tours of the services — along with 
radio, TV and pic industries. Par 
and Mack Millar, star’s personal 
rej), are at work on arrangements. 


ChapHuVisit toPreem 
‘Limelight’ Brings Rash 
Of Reissues in Paris 

Paris, Oct. 28. 

Charlie Chaplin arrived here to- 
day from London to attend the 
opening of his “Limelight” here 
Friday (31). Chaplin was met at the 
airport by many French newsmen. 
Chaplin’s coming has filled the 
press here for weekSTHis visa dif- 
ficulties seem to have dampened 
the welcoming festivities, with no 
| official gala planned for film’s 
preem. Pic will play four of big- 
gest first-runs here day-date. In 
attendance will be Ambassador 
Dunn and Assembly President An- 
toine Pinay, the latter flanked by 
four of his top ministers. 

A rash of Chaplin pix has broken 
out in this city in local film clubs 
j which are using old silent come- 


dies . of.. .“Chariot”- -as -he -4s -known 
here. Special press showing will be 
given tomorrow with the Assn, of 
French Critics and Authors plan- 
ning a testimonial dinner for Chap- 
lin after the screening. Most lead- 
ing French crix already have seen 
the film in London and all advance 
reviews on the* film were in the 
rave category. Unlike many French 
crix, who had some reservations on 
the film’s philosophizing and slow 
spots, the French reviewers were 
enthused. 

All the advance publicity, the 
Chaplin adulation here and the 
four-house parlay should give it a 

chance for a great gross. The four 
houses hold over 8.000 seats. This 
is Chaplin’s first visit here since 
1931 when he came for preem of 
“City Lights.” Tliat visit was a tri- 
umph and Chaplin was feted by 
royalty and the government. Chap- 
lin was given the Legion of Honor 
at that time. 



Wednesday* Novemkr 5, 1952 





PICTVKB9 


g 


FILMS’ ERRATIC UPS & DOWNS 


RKO Rates a Break 

There's a large cheering section within the picture business 
for Arnold Grant to take RKO off the hook and get it rolling. 
Most are .in agreement that, despite its recent snafu, the com- 
pany rates a break and, despite certain captiousness about the 
way certain things were handled, it is generally agreed that 
RKO is too time-honored and old-established a company not to 
take its proper place in^the industry. 

There is a sensitized reasoning, of course, that figures as a 
common denominator in this thinking. It has to do with “down- 
town.” The bankers frown on the overtones that crept, wittingly 
or unwittingly, into the new RKO management, and that’s a foul 
ball not only for an individual company but the industry at 
large. 

Maybe the solution will come via new control buying out the 
Stolkin-Koolish-Ryan-Corwin-Burke interests. Maybe it will 
have to be achieved at a loss. Maybe, too, it will be achieved by 
Grant firmly keeping the new investors so far removed from 
actual management as to appease dissident stockholders. What- 
ever the end result, RKO rates a break. Abel, 


RKO Situation, Etc., Seen Big Factors 
In Lag of Investments in Pictures 


IV EFFECT NOT RKO Board Meeting in New York 
ALWAYS THE CASE 1° ^ e pl ace Koolish, StoDdn, Gorman 


A few recent downbeat financial- 
statements along with the RKO 
upheaval have given the entire 
trade a black eye so far as the 
investing public is concerned, 
financial execs in the industry 
stated this week. It’s showing in 
the dismal activity of film biz stock 
Issues listed on the New York 
Stock Exchange. 

Money men In the industry said 
they’re particularly bitter toward 
the Howard Hughes sellout of 
RKO and its subsequent repercus- 
sions. This situation caused the 
public’s nix on film corporation in- 
vesting at a time when, under nor- 
mal circumstances, interest in pic 
shares should have been unusually 
high. 

Point is made that the introduc- 
tion of Cinerama in September 
meant added glamor for the trade. 
It was widely hailed as a mile- 
stone in the industry’s progress, 
and interest in all aspects of film 
investment was increased. How- 
ever, this was vitiated by the dras- 
tic turn of events experienced by 
RKO, it’s said. 

Recently reported earnings state- 
ments by Loew’s, 20th-Fox and 
United Paramount, all showing a 
slide in profits, also are factors 
in the slim market values of the 
film shares. 

Loew’s, whose high for the year 
was $18.50, recently hit a new low 
of $11.50. UPT also hit a low 
water mark of $11.50, down from a 
high for the year of $21.25. 

Over a recent period, Paramount 
has been selling at around $22.25 
per share. This is down from 
$30.87^2, the year’s top price. Re- 
public is at its low for the year, 
$3.50, compared with the year’s 
high of $5.12V6. Showing fair 
(Continued on page 17) 

Reveal C. P. Skouras 
Wanted Hoyts Chain, 

Not Roxy, in NT Fold 

Charles Skouras didn’t want 
the Roxy, New York, first-run, as 
part of his National Theatres op- 
erations upon National’s divorce- 
nien.L . .fr.Qm...20.th-Eox.. . JEhe....West 
Coast exec, instead, had been hold- 
ing out for Hoyt's Theatres, Aus- 
tralian chain, which also was a part 
of the 20th corporate family. 

But, as insiders related this 
Veek. the 20th film corporation in- 
sured on holding Hoyt’s and Skou- 
ras accepted the Roxy as a second 
choice. 

Skouras’ plan now, he revealed 
in New York Monday (3), is to 
build up the house to a competitive 
level with the nearby Radio City 
Mumc Hall. First step will be in- 
troduction in December of an elab- 
orate iceshow policy for the stage 
* see separate story in vaude sec- 
tion 1 . Theatre closes Dec. 7 for 
some remodeling and will reopen 
two weeks later with the ice pro- 
gram plus 20th’s “Stars and Stripes 
Forever” on the screen. 

Dave Katz is continuing as the 
Boxy’s managing director^but Dick 
Dickson, NT’s southern California 
(Continued on page 17) 


Fabian Fable 

Reports that Robert J. 
O’Donnell had been offered 
the job of president of RKO, 
and O’Donnell’s whimsical 
mood at the time he was ap- 
proached by newsmen, led to 
some trade conjecture that 
actually Si Fabian was in line 
for the RKO spot. 

In answering press queries 
anent RKO in some instances, 
O’Donnell closed his reply 
with the line, “Vote for Fa- 
bian.” Eut O’Donnell was only 
kibitzing and not to be taken 
seriously, states Fabian. He’s 
not in line for the job, Fabian 
stresses. 


$ 3 , 


to RKO 


As Added Money 
In Hughes Tieup 

How f ard Hughes’ continuing tie- 
in with the group which purchased 
his RKO stock, representing a situ- 
ation that has many execs in the 
trade baffled, was somewhat clari- 
fied this week by persons close to 
the new setup. It’s said that 
Hughes’ agreement with Ralph 
Stolkin, et al„ calls for his guaran- 
teeing of RKO’s $8,000,000 in bank 
credits. 

RKO board chairman Arnold 
Grant has confirmed the existence 
of a financial tieup with that 
amount involved but has nixed 
queries on details. Past references 
to an $8,000,000 loan, say observ- 
ers, actually were allusions to se- 
curity for established bank money 
and not, as thought in some quar- 
ters, new revenues provided by 
Hughes. 

RKO had an $8,000,000 revolving 
fund established with Bankers 
Trust Co., New York, and the Mel- 
lon National Bank of Pittsburgh, 
latter being the institution brought 
(jGont-iou-e-d -<)n--page • 15.) — 


Film business is getting more 
erratic than ever. Television com- 
petition continues as a detriment 
for the most part. But in many in- 
stances over a recent period there 
has been no apparent relationship 
between the existence of TV in an 
area and the general behavior of 
the b.o. 

S. H. Fabian, eastern circuit op- 
erator, relates that the conditions 
were offish in all spots last spring 
and early summer. A pickup subse- 
quently was experienced in late 
summer and early fall, even in TV 
localities and when the top-calibre 
shows were back on the air. Now, ' 
he says, there’s a uniform down- ; 
beat tone to business in TV and 
non-TV sections alike. 

Charles P. Skouras, president of 
National Theatres, puts the blame , 
on TV almost exclusively. However. 
NT houses in San Diego are chalk- 
ing up income 5% over the 1951 
level. San Diego has TV. 

Excepting tho'se few select plx 
which click in any economic weath- 
er, theatre trade across the country 
the past few weeks has been slow, 
a condition attributed by top exhib 
execs to the “public’s election pre- 
occupation.” But the slump has 
been less severe than during the 
1948 campaign, . boxoffice. analysts 
report. Yet, 1948 generally was a 

(Continued on page 18) 


MAP EASTERN VERSION 
OF H’WOOD PIC COUNCIL 

Eastern film laborites are formu- 
lating plans for establishment of 
a Motion Picture Council of New 
York, similar to the Hollywood 
AFL Film Council. Under the di- 
rection of Steve D’lnzilla, biz agent 
of Projectionists Union Local 306, 
IATSE, a committee is organizing 
a constitution and by-laws and 
drawing up plans for financing. 

Purpose of the Council would 
be signing of a basic agreement 
with eastern film producers, pat- 
terned after the Hollywood basic 
agreement. IA prexy Richard F. 
Walsh has named international rep 
John J. Franca villa, of Laboratory 
Technicians Local 702, to serve as 
chairman of the Council. 


Mpls. May Drop Mat* 

Minneapolis, Nov. 4. 

Big problem for local show- 
houses, the same probably for 
those in many other cities, is 
the continuously diminishing 
matinee trade. 

It has reached the point here 
where several downtown the- 
atres are considering abandon- 
ment of all matinees except 
those on -the weekends. 

SRO May Revive 
Domestic Distrib 
On Limited Basis 

Seiznick Releasing Organization, 
dormant in domestic distribution 
for some time, may be revived 
shortly on a limited basis. Outfit 
may renew its operation on a test 
basis, re-releasing some of the Da- 
vid O. Seiznick films currently in 
its vault. 

Sam Sigman, Selznick’s former 
assistant general sales manager, re- 
joined the company two weeks, ago 
and is making a study in order 
to help formulate the outfit’s fu- 
ture plans. First pic being weighed 
for re-release is “The Third Man,” 
1950 SRO release. 

Seiznick himself is- currently in 
Rome, where in conjunction with 
director Vittorio DeSica he has 
started production on “Termini 
Station.” starring Jennifer Jones. 
Pic is being shot in English and 
dubbed for Italian consumption. 
There’s a possibility that it will be 
the first new film to be handled 
by the revived SRO. 

Although the company has been 
inactive domestically, it has main- 
tained its foreign setup with offices 
in numerous countries abroad. It 
has also maintained for the past 
eight years' its Madison Ave., N. Y., 
headquarters. 


► RKO board of directors meets 
in New York tomorrow (Thurs.) to 
fill vacancies in the directorate 
caused by the resignations of 
Abraham L. Koolish, Ralph Stolkin 
and WilUam Gorman. Expectedly 
the job of bringing the board to 
full strength will be completed at 
the meet, pending required clear- 
ances by new appointees with 
corporations with which they al- 
ready are associated. Plan is to 
bring in importantly-placed men 
from general industry as one 
means of giving RKO the uplift 
now demanded. 

Key figure in lining up the 
replacements, along with board 
chairman Arnold Grant, is Thomas 
A. Halleran, corporate counsel for 
the film outfit and member of the 
N. Y. law firm of Cravath, Swaine 
& Moore. In rounding out the 
board, Halleran, as liaison with the 
new candidates, and Grant are 
aiming to serve the interests of 
four groups: banking, show busi- 
ness in general, and RKO’s stock- 
holders and employees. Reasoning 
is that all have an equity in 

(Continued on page 17) 


Johnston to So. America 
. On 6oxt*‘Riz Unless Frendi 
Situation Becomes Urgent 

Washington, Nov. 4. 

Unless there is an unexpected 
development in the French film 
situation, which necessitates him 
going to .that country first, Eric 
Johnston is slated to leave here 
Saturday (8) for a month in South 
America on Point 4 business, the 
State Dept, announced over the 
weekend. 

Johnston will return to Wash- 
ington Dec. 7. Johnston, chairman 
of the International Development 
Advisory Board, which cooperates 
with the State Dept, on Point 4, 
will visit Argentina, Brazil, Vene- 
zuela, Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia, Co- 
lombia and Peru. 

Foreign toppers of the com- 
panies in New York' Monday (3) 
(Continued on page 15) 


National Boxoffice Survey 

Pre-Election Blues; ‘Snows’ Again No. 1, ‘Rifle’ 2d, 
‘Mine’ 3d, ‘Ivanhoe,’ ‘Everything’ Next 



Leo Jaffe Upped To 

Col Int’I Veepee 

Columbia board disclosed this 
week its election of Leo Jaffe as 
v.p. of Col’s International Corp., 
foreign operations subsid. He is 
i also assistant treasurer of the par- 
ent outfit. 

Jafle’s appointment reflects thf 
expanding importance of the world 
! market and will mean new respon- 
sibilities for him in foreign mat- 
ters. For years he’s been assisting 
A. Schneider. Col v.p.-treasurer, on 
both the domestic and foreign 
fronts. 

In another promotion, Herman 
Golden, comptroller of Col Inter- 
national, was upped to assistant 
treasurer. He succeeds Bernard E. 
Zeeman, recently named Col Inter- 
, national treasurer. 


Interest in the Presidential elec- 
tion is sloughing biz in most key 
cities covered by Variety this 
week although there was a slight 
pickup from the low points on 
election day yesterday (Tues.). 
Dearth of new, strong fare also is 
proving a handicap but mostly it 
was the fact so many people were 
following the campaign for Presi- 
dent so closely that did the 
damage. 

“Snows of Kilimanjaro” (20th) 
is champ again this stanza, for 
second w r eek in succession. In the 
w r eek just ahead of that, the pic 
was second" place winner' '^Spring-' 
field Rifle” (WB), which was 
fourth last stanza, is taking second 
position while “Because You’re 
Mine” (M-G) is winding up third. 
It was second a week ago. 

‘Tvanhoe’* (M-G), previously on 
top for four weeks running, has 
dropped to fourth. “Everything 
I Have Is Yours” (M-G), inclined 
to be spotty, is doing enough to 
take fifth spot. 

“Quiet Man” (Rep), which was 
seventh last round, is moving up 
to sixth despite fact that it has 
played a majority of key dates. 
“Lusty Men” (RKO) is taking sev- 
enth money while “The Thief” 
(UA) is eighth. “Somebody Loves 
Me” (Par) and “Miracle of Fatima” 
(WB) round out the Big 10 list in 
that order. “Full* House” (20th), 
“Just for You” (Par) and “Lure of 
Wilderness” (20th) are runner-up 
films. 

Probably the showings by new 


pix this session does not reflect 
their true strength despite a' large 
array of product. “Because of You” 
(U) shapes as a standout, being 
okay in Frisco and good in Philly. 
“Steel Trap” (20th) is fine on its 
Pittsburgh launching. “Happy 
Time” (Col), also new, is disap- 
pointing with mild opening round 
at N. Y. Music Hall. 

“Eight Iron Men” (Col), okay 
in Washington, shapes nice in 
Philly. “Battle - Zone” (Mono), 
solid in N. Y., is slow in Provi- 
dence. “Night Without Sleep” 
(20th), slow in Providence, looms 
raTf*Tn'“B6-st6nr "PblfTt~ 

( Par ) looks good in Frisco but 
slow in Balto. “The Savage” 
(Par) is mild in Philly and Minne- 
apolis. “Androcles and Lion” 
(RKO*. good in St. Louis, shapes 
big in Denver and nice in L. A. 
“The Promoter” (U) set a new 
house mark opening week in N. Y. 

“Yankee Buccaneer” (U) looms 
fair in Buffalo. “Four Poster” 
(Col) is mild in one N. Y. house 
and ffice in another, smaller one. 

“Limelight” (UA) is big in sec- 
ond week at N. Y. Astor and near 
capacity in 60th Street Trans- 
Lux where day-dating. “Devil 
Makes Three” (M-G), tall in 
Portland, shapes fair in St. Louis. 

“Hellgate” (Lip), fast in In- 
dianapolis, looks moderate in 
Pitt. “Untamed Frontier” (U) 
shapes fine in Portland and good 
in Detroit. 

(Complete Boxoffice Reports on 
Pages 8-9) 


Err 


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INDEX 

Band Reviews 45 

Bills' 52 

Chatter 61 

*FihiT -Revrews ''. - . 77 r.'; ;t :v"~6 ~ 

House Reviews 53 

Inside Legit 54 

Inside Music 42- 

Inside Radio 35 

Inside Pictures 15 

Inside Television 34 

International 10 

Legitimate- 54 

Literati 60 

Music 37 

New Acts 52 

Night Club Reviews. ..... 50 

Obituaries 63 

Pictures 3 

Radio-Television 22 

Radio Reviews 28 

Record Reviews ......... 38 

Frank Scully 60 

Television Reviews 26 

TV-Films 4*20 

Vaudeville / "46 


^ DAILY VARIETY 
(Published in Hollywood by 
Daily Variety. Ltd.) 

*15 a Year. *20 Foreign 







PICTtRES 




Film Salesmen Will Seek Raises, 

Won t Forego 'Em for Expense Hike 


Milwaukee, Nov. 4. 4 

Film salesmen will definitely 
seek a wage hike in forthcoming 
talks with the film companies, it 
was indicated this week by David 
Beznor, general counsel of the 
Colosseum of Motion Picture 
Salesmen. Proposals to be present- 
ed to the filmeries and the amount 
of the boost will be determined at 
the upcoming CMPS convention set 
for Atlanta Nov. 22-23. 

Beznor disclaimed reports that 
film peddlers will forego a raise 
this year for a higher expense al- 
lowance. He termed the report 
as a possible plant “by those who 
seek to create dissension within 
the organiaztion or as ah industry 
trail balloon to obtain Colosseum 
reaction.” 

Beznor asserted that resolutions 
pertaining to the Government’s 
16m - antitrust suit and elimination 
of the 20% tax on film admissions 
also will be presented to the con- 
vention. About 100 delegates are 
expected to attend, with reps from 
the 33 locals. New officers will be 
nominated and elected at the 
palaver. 


Kat'I Theatres Cot 
Admish to Flat 50c 
In 40 Coast Houses 

In seeking out the answer to bet- 
ter b.o. via experimentation. Na- 
tional Theatres has cut the admis- 
sion price to a flat 50c, tax includ- 
ed, in 40 of its houses in the Los 
Angeles area. Theatres had been 
charging up to 74c, tax included. 
All; - “spots" •arte-'jpjayifj-g- subsequent"-] 
run films 21 days after the first- 
run houses in their respective 
towns. 

On the basis of investigation of. 
theatre-going habits at present, NT 
execs have found personal eco- 
nomics an important factor. Heftier 
income tax bite and the general 
high cost of living, they learned, 
have cut the public’s entertain- 
ment budget and the lopped-off 
ticket prices are designed to fit in 
with the reduced “luxury” money. 


Par’s Election Goodwill 

Paramount homeoffice ad-pub 
department, in a goodwill gesture, 
made its 11th floor office space 
available to the city desks of the 
metropolitan dailies last night 
iTues.). Via this bit of hospitality, 
press photographers had advantage 
point from which to lens the. tradi- 
tional election night excitement on 
Times Square, where the Par build- 
ing is located. 

All New YoVk papers had cam- 
eramen on the premises and Par 
supplied refreshments. 


SWG Embroiled 

i • 

In Proxy Battle 
As Voting Nears 


Brandt Urges RKO 
‘Boasberg Sales Drive’ 

Strange circumstances of an in- 
dependent circuit operator urging 
a film company to conduct a sales 
campaign for its product cropped 
up in New York last week. Harry 
Brandt, in an expression of good- 
will to RKO, recommended a one- 
month drive carrying sales man- 
ager Charles Boasberg’s banner, 
when the first product made under 
the new RKO regime is turned out. 

Idea was broached By Brandt at 
a luncheon honoring three of the 
new RKO exec team: Exec. v.p. 
Arnold Picker, Boasberg and Wal- 
ter Branson, assistant sales topper. 
Salute was sponsored by the Inde- 
pendent Theatre Owners Assn., of'j 
which Brandt is president. 

RKO board chairman Arnold 
Grant, who addressed the luncheon, 
again pledged that the outfit will 
not liquidate and has no plans 
for a pic sale to TV. Over 300 
theatremen and film company execs 
attended the Hotel Astor ■session. 


Hollywood, Nov. 4. 

Screen Writers Guild’s election 
this year is overshadowed by the 
battle of proxies, which is causing 
a serious rift in the membership. 

1- Election ballots, mailed to mem- 
bers over the weekend. Were ac- 
companied by ballots on a consti- 
tutional amendment seeking to 
limit the use of proxies. . 

' Under the present sefup, proxy 
holders are able to use them for 
seven years. The amendment would 
cut them down to a single meet- 
ing. Approximately 400 proxies 
now Id existence are expected to | 
be voted against the amendment. 

Proxies were originally intended 
to represent members unable to at- 
tend Guild meetings but the cur- 
rent opposition holds that their 
wholesale use puts too much power 
in the hands of a minority group. 
Understood Allen Rivkin and Adele 
Buffington hold 60 proxies each 
and Paul Gangelin has 10. They 
are against the 'amendment.' They 
declare their aim is to prevent any 
“resurgence of a Communist move- 
ment” in the Guild. Rivkin said a 
similar amendment proposal was 
defeated two years ago and that he 
was determined to beat it again. 
Miss Buffington said: 

“My concern is for the economic 
welfare of the majority rank and 
file membership and for a more 
practical business, labor and public 
relations administration. I am 
against the continuing pressure to 
abandon our successful fight 
against the notorious Communist 
and fellow traveler situation in the 
SWG. To abolish the traditional 
proxy franchise would be to court 
renewed pro-Communist disaster 
and more public disrepute.” 

It will take a two-thirds vote 
to adopt the amendment. 


Kalmus Expanding? 

. Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus, Techni- 
color prexy, left New York for Hoi- j 
lywqod Friday (31) after an eight- 
week eastern stay. 

Kalmus*- activities while here 
were hush-hush, but it’s understood 
they concerned projected expan- 
sionist plans of the color lab. 

See 15c for NT 

As 1st Div Since 

Swing to Indie 

First dividend action by National 
Theatres since it swung into inde- 
pendent operations via divorcement 
from 20th-Fox last September is 
expected at a Coast board meeting 
Nov. 20. At that time a melon of 
15c. per share is likely to be voted 
for stockholders. 

National, headed by Charles P. 
Skouras, got off to its indie start 
with a funded debt of $27,500,000. 
As a result Of heavy bank credit, 
restrictions exist on diwy pay- 
ments but it’s understood the cor- 
poration has a total availability of 
23c. per share for divvies this year. 
Instead of paying out that full 
amount, 15c. probably will be 
okayed with the hope of increasing 
the stockholder checks next year. 

In recent weeks, NT’s stock has 
been traded on the New York Stock 
Exchange at less than $4 per share 
which, say financial observers, 
means it’s substantially under- 
valued. 


‘Female* to Be Shot 

In New PatheColor 

Hollywood, Nov. 4. 

American Productions’ “Female 
-of 4he -Spesiesr” -to-be -predueed by 
Albert Zugsmith in Spain next 
spring, will be filmed in the new 
PatheColor process, with Pathe 
putting up part of the coin for the 
production. 

Zugsmith’s “Conquest and De- 
sire” will also be filmed in Spain in 
Technicolor. 


MPEA Unblocks 

Scandia MG 


Compensation deals- involving 
Sweden, Finland and Norway net- 
ted Motion Picture Export Assn, 
companies $600,000 last week and 
or the moment have cleared up 
US distrib accruals in Sweden and 
Finland. 

Coin arrived in New York as 
the result of arrangements origi- 
nated by John G. McCarthy, MPEA 
v.p., and is to be divided in pro- 
portion to amounts deposited in 
local currencies by the MPEA 
members. Biggest slice of $390,000 
came from Sweden, while Finland 
came through with $110,000 ’and 
Norway with almost $100,000. 

Last big chunk of frozen foreign 
earnings to reach New York in- 
volved $1,200,000 from France, 
where in excess of $4,500,000 re- 
mains to be unblocked. 


LAPINERE BACK AT M-G 
AS PRESS REP ABROAD 

Elias Lapinere, formerly RKO’s 
European general sales manager, 
has joined Metro as a special pub- 
licity representative abroad. He’ll 
assume his new duties on Jan. 17 
and will be assigned to work on 
big pictures only, according to 
David Lewis,, regional director for 
Continental Europe for Loew’s In- 
ternational. 

'Lapinere had been with the com- 
pany; .. .prior, to .World _War . II. .... In 
addition, he’s held many top posts 
as an industry rep in Europe, in 
sales as well as advertising and 
publicity. 


2 Brit. Pix, Set for U.S. 

Two new British imports are set 
for U. S. distribution shortly. “Cur*- 
tain Up!” has been acquired by 
Noel Meadow, who’ll release the 
Robert Morley-Margaret Ruther- 
ford starrer through Fine Arts 
Films, Inc. 

Gaston Hakim’s Commercial Pic- 


> 


lures picked up “Angel Street.” 

Based upon the Patrick Hamilton . 

play, the British National produc- ! of Poland. Three-day program in- 

&.Z m*. _ A . J 1 < ■ - . I ■ * * ® 


Red Pix Pitch in N.Y. 

Latest Commie pitch for the 
U. S. market is Seen in the “Fes- 
tival of Polish Motion Pictures, 
scheduled for the Museum of Mod- 
ern Art, New York, Nov. 14-16 
Pix to be shown include eight fea 
tures and shorts. 

Festival is being arranged by 
Artkino, IL.S. distributor for So- 
viet and Iron Curtain films. One 
of the Polish pix, “Youth of Chop- 
in,” set for showing the evening 
of Nov. 14, is under the official 
sponsorship of the Consul General 


tion stars Anton Walbrook, Diana 
Wynyard and Robert Newton. Pic 
preems at the Normandie Theatre, 
N. Y., next Monday (10). 


eludes two features already re- 
leased here, “The Last Stop” and 
“The Treasure.” Attendance to all 
screenings is by invitation only. 


‘4 POSTER’ SKIDS IN N.Y. 
AS PLAY HOLDS NEATLY 

Curious instance of a pic play- 
ing in the same area with its legit 
prototype — with the film doing dis- 
appointingly at the b.o. and the 
play apparently unaffected — has 
taken place in N. Y: 

Stanley Kramer’s pic version of 
“Four Poster,” starring Rex Harri- 
son and Lilli Palmer, bows out 
of the Victoria on Broadway to- 
night (Wed.) after three weeks of 
spotty b.o., having taken about 
$15,000 the first week, $16,800 in 
the second and $9,000 in the third. 
Playing simultaneously at the 
eastside Sutton, where it will con- 
tinue, pic is averaging about $10,- 
000 weekly, which is okay for the 
off-Brofadwajr art" spot: 

Playwrights Co. production of 
“Poster,” with Betty Field and Bur- 
gess Meredith in the play’s only 
two roles, is now in its 54th week 
at the Barrymore Theatre. Legiter 
was not influenced by the three- 
week run of the film at the Vic, it’s 
shown in the steadiness of the b.o. 
take at the Barrymore. 

Kramer-Playwrights deal pro- 
vided that the film, which Colum- 
bia releases, could open in New 
York but not in any one of 16 other 
key cities before Jan. 1. Col plans 
to run the pic in Denver and New 
Orleans, which were not among 
the 16, late this month and may 
determine a new scales approach 
before nationwide distribution. 

As for the concurrent runs of 
the pic and play in the Broadway 
sector, and the results, reps of both 
the legit and film fields say they 
can’t see what conclusions can be 
drawn. 


‘Wednesday, November 5, . 1952 

a— agl— ^ " ■■■■■i mnm iiii n mi.w w w. i tl ^u W Mi niri > i i n i » 1 1 1 — 

Ivanhoe’ Oct Champ, ‘Snows’ 2d, 
‘Quiet Man’ 3d, ‘Mine’ 4th, Tatima’ 5th 


October’s Top- 12 

1. “Ivanhoe” (M-G). 

2. “Kilimanjaro” (20th). 

3. “Quiet Man” (Rep). 

4. “Because You Mine” (MG). 

5. “Miracle of Fatima” (WB). 

6. “Crimson Pirate” (WB). 

7. “Somebody Loves” (Par). 

8. “Just For You” (Par), 

9. “Back At Front” (U^. 

10. “Minute Zero” (RKO). 

11. “Monkey Business” (20th). 

12. “Son of Paleface” (Par). 


Exhibs Splitting 
Product to Nip 
Nation’s Bidding 

Practice of exhibs splitting avail- 
able product to end competitive 
bidding’ is on the upbeat all over 
the country, with most of the dis- 
tr;bs confessing they aren’t .unhap- 
py over the situation. 

Splits can work three ways. 
Either the exhibs decide to bury 
the bidding hatchet . and agree 
among themselves for each to book 
the product of a certain studio, or 
else they allocate pix to one an- 
other, each taking a certain num- 
ber of a company’s product. Third 
possibility is a distributor himself 
splitting his product in an attempt 
to reduce bidding. 

Sidestepping the legal aspects of 
the exhib get-to-gether, which is 
strictly informal, distrib execs say 
bidding is also up as theatres seek 
to better their runs. 

Distrib toppers who, are receiv- 
ing an increasing number of letters 
from theatremen telling them to 
stop bidding in a certain situation 
say the product divvies frequently 
follow a protracted bidding slug- 
fest among exhibs. Latter even- 
tually come to realize 'that their 
bidding serves only to drive up the 
price. 

While several of the distribs re- 
fuse to acknowledge the term “split 
product” and declare emphatically 

(Continued on page 17) 


L. A. to N. Y. 

Jack E. Baker 
John Beal 
Aleon Bennett 
Irving Berlin 
John Berteron 
Marlon Brando 
Montgomery Clift 
Merian C. Cooper 
Lester Cowan 
Gloria De Haven 
Marilyn Erskine 
Lynn Famol 
Sally Forrest 
Milo Frank 
Betty Garrett 
L. Wolfe Gilbert 
Jan Grippo 
Edward Joy 
Moe Kerman 
• Richard Krakeur 
Stanley Kramer 
Johr Lavery 
Norman Manning 
Kenneth McEldowney 
Ralph Meeker 
Terry Moore 
Michael O’Shea 
Seymour Poe 
Michael Rasin 

■ -Joe -Schoenfeid 

. Charles P. Skouras 
O. N. (Bill) Srere 
Ben Thau 
Margaret Whiting 
Martha Wright 
Jerry Zigmond 

N. Y. to L. A. 

David Alexander 
Ann Blyth 
Irene Dunne 
Charles J. Feldman 
Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus 
Phyllis Kirk 
Bernard Smith 
Jule Styne 

N. Y. to Europe 

Kathleen Byron 
Jose Ferrer 
Ava Gardner 
Coleen Gray 
Morgan Hudgins 
Sven Rye 
i Frank Sinatra 


The public’s yen for adventure 
stories, particularly if the pic is 
backed up with a name star, was 
reflected iij the top box office win- 
ners last month. Musicals were 
pushed into the background to the 
extent that such type film did not 
climb past fourth place, according 
to reports from Variety corre- 
spondents in 25 representative key 
cities. Also, Variety’s b.o. winners 
in October pointed up the trend 
towards ’’foreign production by 
U. S. companies with the three 
biggest grossers being produced in 
whole or in part overseas, or with 
a foreign background. 

“Ivanhoe” (M-G) was champ of 
the wickets last month, with a total 
gross of $1,316,000 in representa- 
tive key cities during October, this 
being one of the highest figures 
for any monthly winner in some 
time. This production, which was 
turned out in England with U, S. 
name stars in key roles, finished 
first in three different weeks and 
never dipped below third. Play- 
ing mainly at upped scale, this pic, 
based on Sir Walter Scott’s classic, 
was smash to terrific or set records 
in a majority of its dates. 

“Sno^s of Kilimanjaro” »20th) 
finished second last month and will 
be heard from much more in com- 
ing months. While produced in 
Hollywood, much of story is for- 
eign localed. Third place went to 
“Quiet Man” (Rep), which also was 
third in September, attesting to 
John Wayne’s continued draw. 
This film, which crix rated one of 
Wayne’s best, got fine word-of- 
mouth, with resulting widespread 
bookings. It looms as Republic’s 
champ for this year and likely for 
several seasons. - This is the first 
time that a Rep film has held this 
high on Variety’s boxoffice list for 
two months in succession. 

“Because You’re Mine” <M-G),- 
which took fourth money, is in 
somewhat the same category as 
“Snows” in that it was out only two 
weeks . on general release, and 
probabiy will figure in coming 

W6GKS 

“Miracle of Fatima” (WB), which 
held consistently near the top all 
month, captured fifth position. 
“Crimson Pirate,” another from 
WB, was sixth, being another pro- 
duction that was turned out in Eng- 
land. 

“Somebody Loves Me” ‘Par) 
edged up inta seventh spot for 
October to beat out “Just For You,” 
also a Paramount release. Latter, 
the Bing Crosby starrer, was eight, 
never getting above sixth place in 
(Continued on page 15) 


Exhibitors Urged Anew • 
To Huddle Congressmen 
For 20% Tax Repeal 

Exhibitors throughout the nation 
are being urged anew to huddle 
with Congressmen in their respec- 
tive local territories as the ap- 
proach to winning support for re- 
peal of the 20% Federal admis- 
sion tax. This is the best means 
of producing definite pledges of 
lawmakers’ support, it’s stated by 
Pat McGee and H. A. Cole, co- 
chairmen of the National Tax Re- 
peal Campaign Committee. 

The two theatremen said via a 
formal statement that other meth- 
ods of carrying out the campaign 
could lead to misunderstanding 
either by Congressmen or the ex- 
hibs themselves. Under the rec- 
ommended -plan, --group-^f-ihea.- 
treown'ers in each territory invites 
the local Congressman to an in- 
formal luncheon session, or similar 
meeting, and presents facts and 
figures relative to the industry’s 
economy as evidence that the 20% 
levy should be killed. 


Europe to N. Y. 

Larry Adler 
Michael Arlen 
C. E. Arney, Jr. 

Alfred Black 
Linda Darnell 
Dorothy Dow 
Elspeth Eric 
Lorraine Friedmann 
Mitchell J. Hamilburg 
Ella Logan 
Stephen Manton 
Rodney Millington 
Katina Paxinou 
Irving Pichel 
William Prince 
Erica Siracusano 


Wednesday, November S, 1952 


PS^tErf 


rieriittEs 


s 


URGES 



ABROAD 


Test-Run Policy Set by Boasberg 
To Evaluate B.O. Potential of RKO Pix 


Development of a new “test run”-* 
policy to evaluate better the box- 
office potential of new product was 
outlined in New York Monday (3) 
by RKO general sales manager 
Charles Boasberg and assistant 
sales chief Walter Branson. In 
keeping with the experiment, “An- 
drocles and the Lion,” “Face to 
Face,” “Blackbeard the Pirate” and 
“Never Wave at a Wac” will open 
in several situations prior to reg- 
ular release. 

Through such advance bookings, 
Boasberg explained, “we can get 
the feel of a picture and know 
what we’ve got. Moreover, the 
marketing and publicity campaigns 
can be adjusted on the basis of 
early audience and exhibitor reac- 
tion.” New advertising, incidental- 
ly, is ali-eady being prepared for 
“Androcles” by national ad-pub-ex- 
ploitation head Richard Condon. 

Branson pointed out that the pur- 
pose of the “test runs” is not to 
hold up releases but to get more 
money out of individual films “both 
for exhibitors and ourselves.” Both 
sales execs emphasized that the 
new policy represents an experi- 
ment and “we're open to sugges- 
tions which will help us in our dis- 
tribution.” 

Under a “freedom of movement” 
stemming from ascendency of the 
new RKO administration, Boasberg 
revealed that the James Mason- 
Robert Preston starrer, “Face to 
Face,” will be released in three 
versions. The Huntington Hart- 
ford production, which runs 92 
minuses, consists of two episodes. 
They’re “The Secret ‘Sharer,” 
based upon a Joseph Conrad story, 
(Continued on page 18) 

Congress Group Charges 
Tax Bureau Withholds 
Records in U Refund 

Washington, Nov. 4. 

New repercussions of the Uni- 
versal Pictures excess-profits tax- 
refund case popped back into the 
open last week when a Congres- 
sional sub-committee charged that 
the Bureau of Internal Revenue 
was withholding Some of the rec- 
ords in the Universal case. 

Sub-committee, headed by Rep. 
Cecil King (D„ Calif.) said that 
John B. Dunlap, Commissioner of 
Internal Revenue, spurned a com- 
mittee subpoena calling for him to 
appear before the subcommittee. 
He had been told to bring the tran- 
script of phone conversations on 
the Universal ease, which involved 
Charles Oliphant, former general 
counsel of the Revenue Bureau. 
Dunlap said he was too busy to ap- 
pear before the subcommittee be- 
fore Dec. 1. If he did come, he 
notified the legislators, • it would 
be only to discuss whether or not 
he should produce 4:he records. 

Case involves a claim which*Uni- 
versal filed in 1948 for a $20,000,- 
000 refund on excess-profits taxes 
it had paid from 1940 through 1946. 
It was subsequently settled for a 
refund of $2,000,000. However, the 
House Committee charged last 
spring that Universal had provided 
-a -Gar- -and: -chauffeur -for -Adrian H;- 
(Continued on page 62) 


Some Eidophor Parts 
May Be Made by Swiss 

Possibility of having parts of the 
Eidophor theatre television sys- 
tem produced by Swiss concerns 
will be taken up by Spyros P. Skou- 
ras when the 20th-Fox prexy visits 
Switzerland on his way home from 
Australia. 

Industrial design of the system 
is currently in the completion 
stage in New York. The equip- 
ment will eventually be turned out 
by General Electric under a con- 
tract with 20th. However, certain 
optical parts may be farmed out 
to the Swiss, who are tooled up to 
go into production immediately. 

The exact number of Eidophor 
units to be made by GE is still 
under discussion with 20th can- 
vassing the market. Skouras is due 
in Switzerland in about a month. 


H. Cohn, Spingold 

Take Slight Cuts 
In Pay, Expenses 

Washington, Nov. 4. 

Harry Cohn, prez of Columbia 
Pictures, and Nate B. Spingold 
the company’s ad-pub veepee, have 
taken slight cuts in both salaries 
and expenses, it was disclosed here 
last week via the corporation’s an- 
nual report filed with the Securi- 
ties & Exchange Commission. At 
the same time it was revealed that 
executive veepee Jack Cohn has 
reduced his common stoctf hold- 
ings by 1,500 shares. As of Sept. 
30 he held 43,214 shares or 6.44% 
of the common outstanding. 

Report to the SEC shows that 
as of Sept. 30 Harry Cohn is draw- 
ing $197,600 for the current fiscal 
year. This includes a $15,600 ex- 
pense allowance, which is not re- 
quired to be accounted for. For 
the 1951 fiscal year the Columbia 
prexy was paid $201,400, including 
$15,900 for expenses. Thus, the 
total reduction is $3,800. 

Spingold’s dip is somewhat lar- 
ger, for he’s collecting $94,600 
(including $8,600 expenses) this 
year compared to $108,000 (includ- 
ing $10,000 expenses) last year. 
Overall cut is equivalent to $13,- 
400. Compensation of exec-veepee 
Jack Cohn and veepee-treasurer 
Abe Schneider remain unchanged 
at $145,600 and $130,000, respec- 
tively. Likewise, no change is re- 
corded in sales chief Abe Mon- 
tague’s $130,000. 

Company’s SEC report also dis- 
closes that Harry Cohn still holds 
126,266 shares of Columbia com- 
mon. His investment is equivalent 
(Continued on page 15) 


Fitzgerald’s ‘Babylon’ 





METRO’S 14, PAR’S 7 
IN 1953 1ST QTR. 

Metro and Paramount product 
lineups for the first quarter of 1953 
were listed this week with M-G 
setting a tentative 14 for the first 
four months and Par scheduling 
seven for the first three. M-G w'ill 
have -five for November and De- 
cember, including three in Techni- 
color. Of the 14 in the new year, 
four will be iq TC. .Total includes 
two set for special handling. 

l’ar program has four in TC. Hal 
Wallis’ “Come Back, Little Sheba,” 
lifted for February release, is down 
for special pre-release engage- 
ments only. Producer’s “The 
^tougc,” into general release in 
February, is offered for special pre- 
release showings New Year’s Eve. 


Hollywood, Nov. 4. 

Paramount plans to film “Baby- 
lon Revisited,” F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 
novel, in. Paris, with William 
Wyled directing. Move is under- 
way to get Gregory Peck to star. 

Paramount’s Don Hartman will 
probably plane to meet with 
Wyler in Rome, where he’s cutting 
“Roman Holiday,” to huddle on 
“Babylon.” Hartman may also go 
to London to discuss filming there 
of “Wings Across the Sea,” story 
of U. S. airmen in the Royal Air 
Force, which Joe Sistrom will pro- 
duce and English director John 
Boulting will direct. No cast is set. 

Hartman also will lay ground- 
work in England for planning of 
“Elephant Walk.” Most of which 
will be locationed in Ceylon. liv- 
ing Asher will produce this one, 
William Dieterle directing. 


Business is good everywhere in 
the overseas market, Universal for- 
eign sales manager Americo Aboaf 
declared in New York Monday (3) 
following his return from a nine- 
week tour of 20 countries in the 
Far East, Near East and Europe. 
But despite the current healthy at- 
tendance he warned that there has 
been a revival of restrictions de- 
signed to protect native film pro- 
duction. 

“If we want to maintain our posi- 
tion abroad,” Aboaf emphasized, 
“we must adopt an aggressive atti- 
tude, for these difficulties can be 
overcome if a united front is pre- 
served. I think the Motion Picture 
Assn, of America is aware of these 
conditions . . . it’s up to us to do 
what we can to keep our feet in 
those countries in face of local pro- 
duction.” 

Protectionist policies-pursued by 
some overseas nations, Aboaf said, 
take the form of domestic subsi- 
dies, quotas or outright bans on 
foreign product. In Japan the gov- 
ernment is granting subsidies prob- 
ably to be raised through some 
means in the industry itself. Pak- 
istan has decreed a ban on imports 
and the situation is being examined 
by the MPAA’s Irving Maas. Vary- 
ing. restrictions on Hollywood films 
are in effect in France, Italy and 
Germady, among other countries. 

Taking a long-range view of in- 
ternational distribution, Aboaf 
noted that he still looks forward 
with confidence. Moreover, he 
added, as long as U. S. foreign aid 
continues “we’ll get dollars in re- 
mittances.” In a country-by-coun- 
try analysis of the territory visited 
in a 30,000-mile trip, the Universal 
foreign sales, exec asserted that a 
(Continued on page 17) 

Bev Lion Ankles, 
Clark to Disney 
In RKO Shuffle 

Overhaul of the RKO foreign de- 
partment appeared underway this 
week with two major personnel 
changes quietly taking place. 

Beverly D. Lion, for years a key 
exec in the foreign market setup, 
ankled the post of European and 
Australia division manager. Ned 
Clark, also a vet RKO-ite, exited 
as head of the Latin America and 
Far East territory "to become for- 
eign manager for Walt Disney Pro- 
ductions. Latter spot is a new one 
for the Disney outfit. 

Fact that changes were pending 
was revealed by RKO board chair- 
man Arnold Grant last week, but 
persons involved were not -identi- 
fied. He said he expected that Ar- 
nold Picker, exec v.p., who at that 
time 0 was in Europe, likely would 
recommend some shuffling upon 
his return to the states. 

Picker arrived in New York last 


any shifts. Actually, Picker’s job 
at RKO doesn’t become official un- 
til Nov. 15 and, it’s expected, he’ll 
await that date before taking any 
formal action. 


Arbitration Plan Faces Toughest 
Test Before Allied’s Chi Parley 


Dick Mealand’s 1st U. S. 
Vacation in 18 Months 

Richard Mealand, chairman and 
managing director of Paramount 
British Productions, Ltd., is due 
back in New York on his first 
American vacation since he took 
over in London some 18 months 
ago. 

Mealand meantime has Par execs 
Russel Holman, George Weltner 
and the William H. Pines <& 
Thomas) visiting or due over there, 
and some tests in London, Paris 
and Rome to consummate before 
clearing the decks for his Xmas 
trip to the States. 


Allied Expands 
Newsmen Invites 
For Chi Parley 

All sessions of the Allied States 
Assn, of Motion Picture Exhibitors’ 
upcoming- convention in Chicago, 
Nov. 17-19 will -be-- open- to- the- 
press, with the possibility that 
newsmen will be admitted on an 
off-the-record, basis to the “film 
clinics,” palavers which .air trade 
practice complaints. Only meetings 
from which the press will be com- 
pletely barred will be the board 
meetings, set for Nov. 15-16. 

Board will weigh the idea of ad- 
mitting reporters to the “film clin- 
ics.” Idea behind this proposal 
is that the newsmen will obtain 
background information so they 
will not be completely in' the dark 
when proposals are presented on 
the floor of the convention. How- 
ever, it’s expected that the fourth 
estaters will be asked not to re- 
veal the discussions taking place 
at the clinics. 

Report of how Allied intends to 
handle the press at the confab re- 
calls the experience of reporters 
covering the September Washing- 
ton convention of the Theatre Own- 
ers of America. Originally, it was 
announced by the TOA that all 
sessions at the Shoreham Hotel, ex- 
cept one at which the exhibs would 
discuss personal business experi- 
ences, would be open to the press. 

(Continued on page |J) 

Metro Cashes in On 
Election Interest To 
Buy Plugging Time 

Cashing in on listener interest 
in the election results last night 
(Tues.), Metro snagged valuable 
radio time to plug upcoming M-G 
films. In a deal with the CBS 
radio network it obtained 20-sec- 
ond station breaks every half-hour 
starting at 8:30 p. m. and until the 
final results were in. 

In addition, it sponsored three- 
minute roundups of local election 


Despite the optimistic feeling in 
some quarters, there are indica- 
tions that the most recently re- 
vised industry arbitration system 
will face its toughest test when it 
is presented to the convention of 
Allied States Assn, in Chicago Nov. 
17-19. Tipoff that the exhib group 
might upset the plan as it is pres- 
ently constituted via demands of 
wholesale revisions is seen in the 
recently-renewed blasts by Allied 
toppers at distrib trade practices. 

There’s still some doubt that Al- 
lied would okay any ..system that 
did not provide for the arbitration 
of film, rentals. Alliedites have 
been campaigning for the inclusion 
of this provision and its. omission 
from the plan was approved over 
the protests of the Allied reps to 
the arbitration conference. 

Allied outfit, it’s figured, will 
also beef about the provision al- 
lowing the distribs each to release 
two pix annually which’ll get the 
pre-release high-percentage treat- 
ment. Exhibs contend that the dis- 
tribs will put two pix a year in 
this category whether or not the 
pictures rate this treatment. One 
exhib declared that it is based on 
the “integrity” of the distribs. He 
insisted that he could only go on 
their practices in the past regard- 
ing the high-percentage pix, claim- 
ing that not all the pix offered at 
the advanced terms warranted the 
treatment. “It makes it tough for 
pictures which honestly deserve an 
advanced price,” he declared. Al- 
liedites in general fear that the dis- 
tribs will offer them two high-per- 
centage pictures yearly despite the 
fact that the production cost nor 
the b.o. value calls for special 
handling. 


Cole Plan, Distribs’ 
Arbitration Draft Now 
On Allied Bd. Agenda 

Washington, Nov. 4. 

Allied States Assn, board, sched- 
uled to meet in Chicago the after- 
noon of Saturday, Nov. 15, in ad- 
vance of the association’s annual 
convention, is moving Up its first 
session to Saturday morning, 
Abram F. Myers, Allied board 
chairman disclosed last week. 

Two items have been added to 
the board agenda-^-the recommend- 
ation of Col. H. A. Cole that the 
association leaders resign from all- 
industry activities to devote them- 
selves exclusively to the better- 
ment of the association; and the 
newly completed distributors’ draft 
of the arbitration proposals. 

Myers said convention chairman 
; Jack Kirsch reported 411 exhibitor 
reservations already made for the 
convention, which will be held with 
the annual trade show in Chicago. 
Myers in a mimeographed letter to 
Allied members also took occasion 
to slap those industry sources 
which failed to give proper atten- 
tion and respect to Col. Cole’s re- 
cent call for the Allied leaders to 
divorce themselves from general 
industry activities. 

‘If ever a man deserved the good 


Mapped-by Par With -i .niV ."hiffc .i i~:t * 1 1 n,v if. -.V. V\ I jl ... ^ 1 lit. respect of - L 1 1 entire m — 

Wyler; Seek Greg Peck 


, ’T’witi emur 

10-minute , clustry for his efforts in its behalf,” 
j wrote Myers, “it is this same Col. 
Cole. Yet, when the colonel, view- 


8:27 and ending with a 
election news roundup at midnight. 

In this package, Metro was on 

three minutes before every half- ' j n g the present desperate condition 
hour. On WOR, company stressed . of the indeDenrlent pvhihitnrs and 
product currently playing the N. Y. 


metropolitan area while on CBS 
it plugged pix set for national re- 
lease, such as “Prisoner of Zenda” 
and “Plymouth Adventure.” 


of the independent exhibitors and 
(Continued on page 17) * 


Mochrie Back to N.Y. 

In Goldwyn V.P. Job 

Robert Mochrie arrived back in 
New York from the Coast this week 
to take over his new spot as v.p. 

■in charge of sales for Samuel Gold- j lease slate will comprise 81 films, 
wyn Productions. He was named to 1 it .was disclosed in New York last 
the spot following Coast huddles ! week by short subjects sales chief 
with Goldwyn and James Mulvey, j Sid Kramer. 

| prez of the organization. j Biggest contributor to the line- j England. Kaye will star, Frank 

Mochrie had been sales v.p. and up is Walt Disney, who is supply- j and Panama to produce and direct. 


RKO’s 81 Shorts 

RKO’s 1952-’53 short subjects re- 


KAYE-FRANK-PANAMA 
FORM INDIE OUTFIT 

Hollywood, Nov. 4. 

Danny Kaye, Melvin Frank and 
Norman Panama have formed an 
indie . motion picture company, 
their first pic to be “Knock on 
Wood,” skedded for next spring in 


board member of RKO until last , ing 18 new Technicolor one-reelers. j 
' month, when the new RKO regime ; two True-Life Adventures, and a j 
! reshuffled its entire exec person- 1 special short program tagged 
nel setup. He had joined RKO as | “Mickey Mouse’s Birthday Party” 
manager of the southern district in observance of the rodent’s 25th 
in 1939. I anniversary. 


Yarn is an original by Panama 
and Frank. Sylvia Fine is penning 
music and lyrics. 

Abe Lastfogel, head of the Wil- 
liam Morris agency, is repping all 
I involved and handling all details. 




FILM HKVHEWS 






fr 


Wednesday* NovemI>er 5, 1952 


HlUfott Hollar Mersttaiil 

(COLOR) 


Trees ’ 1 for the average filmgoer. 
While needing help to get started, 
1 picture has an okay word-of-mouth 
potential and its chances in the 
regular market appear satisfactory. 

Plot idea of trees that grow 
money has general appeal and is 
successfully worked out in the 
; Leonard Fraskins-Barney Slater 
qi ' script by the trouping of Irene 
HoU^’oo^oPnbiow 1 jr.. j Dunne and Dean dagger, and the 


Esther Williams in conven- 
tional b.o. pic on career of 
Annette Kellerman; spotty en- 
tertainment but mcrchandis- 
able. -- 


i smoothly paced direction ot Ar- 
Mature, Walter Pidgeon, David Brian; _ thur Lubin o 


Theme is stretched a 


just adequate in their perform- 
ances as neither the script nor the 
situations into which they are 
tossed have credibility* The Indian 
boy is played by little Anthony 
Earl Numkeaa. Stuart Randall does 
the big chief. Adeline De Walt 
Reynolds, as an aged Indian squaw, 
and Howard Petrie, a Mountie in- 
spector, round out the featured 
players. 

Samuel G. Engel’s production 
features effective location scenery, 


.uaiurc, wauei riugcuii, . uiui uuuhi. xuc-uic ia oiiv,i.v.uv,u „ ; , — , ,, , T „ 

features Donna Corcoran, Jesse ^ h u e » bit thin in the 84 minutes of run- , beautifully lensed by Hairy Jack- 

»SKSga&. *®2Sl , StaTtoS! but rtffl holds the in- ! son Alex North's music score is 

e’ra {Technicolor), George J* Folsey, edi- ; terest. ; gOOQ. 


e’ra {Technicolor), George J* Folsey; ern- j terest, 

tor, John MeSweeney, Jr.; musical i Ttfice Dunne Slifihtlv zanv llOUse- 
direction, Adolph Deutsch; fountain and 1 - v ±iss l^unne, bugnuy i.auy miuac 


smoke ^numberT" staged by Busby Berke- ! wife married to JaggL-r, discovers 
ley; underwater choreography, Audrene ■ t be -j w0 trees she has planted in 
Brier Previewed Oct. 29. 52. Running.^ backyard flower $5 and $10 

Annette Xellerman Esther Williams bills. No one will believe SUCh an 

James Sullivan . . -n^ Y;l^ r • impossible situation, especially 

Ai»Sd H k amer 0rm ”.:::: ’ V ‘dKi5 1 SKS ' Jagger, but Miss Dunne has the 

Annette (10 years) Donna Corcoran s assurance Of a facetious letter 

Doc Cronnoi white t f rom the Treasury Department 

i that if the money meets all cur- 

Policeman Charles Watts r rency standards it is legit. The 

Garvey. p^Sson i housewife goes on a spending 

prosecutor . . james 8 ^ BeU binge, paying off .the mortgage and 

Conductor ’ James^ Flavin I redecorating the old homestead. 

Director WiUis Bouchey • un ^ £ be one fl aw j n the bills is 

„ ... . discovered. The notes, like leaves, 

Tins is a ^au^, conventional ; eventuaIly and crumble away, 

biQpic based on the career of An* j b yj. be f ore this is disclosed a na- 

p 6tte . KfljfT ma 2> n ap ^ op £i^j » ! t ionwide sensation results. Finale 
tagged Million Dollar Mermaid, , sees the trees destroyed for the 
Film has plenty of highly commer- ; good of American economy, 
cial values that augur well for its Miss Dunne and Jagger are a 
b.o. possibilities, despite being j s iick: pairing and capably sell the 
spotty entertainment. Esther Wil- > whimsy and the folksy flavor that 
liams’ nautical prowess and . swim- ; predominates * "the presentation, 
suit wearing ability are major as- : j 0 an Evans, the couple’s marriage- 
sets for marketing the picture. able daughter, and Richard Cren- 
The Australian swimmer's career j na, her bank clerk fiance, handle 
has been adapted to the pat screen j the young romance nicely. Edith 
formula of most show biz biog- \ Meiser, a snoopy neighbor; Les 
raphies and rambles through 115 I Tremayne, ForrestLewis, Malcolm 

. . « * * .1 1? ..1. i 9 1 t T A A DA/frTn AM #9 CAM 


minutes, of footage highlighted by 
several extravagant and spectacular j 


Lee Beggs and Frank* Ferguson, 
Government officials; Dee Pollock 


water numbers. Toppers of these j and Sandy Descher, the moppet 
are the fountain and smoke num- members of the family, and Bob 

bers, imaginatively staged by Bus- ] Sweeney, a reporter, are among 

1. - . « « « i -t \ nnnrn mirinrt 4 -a tna 


by Berkeley and boldly splashed 
with Technicolor hues. The old 
New York Hippodrome is re- 
created for the. production num- 
bers, which include a brief ballet 
by Maria Taliehief as Pavlova. 

Miss Williams’ enactment of the 
Kellerman character is backed by 
three male stars, Victor Mature, 
Walter Pidgeon and David Brian, 
all of whom furnish competent as- 
sists in answering the demands of 
the Everett Freeman script and 
Mervyn LeRoy's direction. Film 
opens with Miss Kellerman as a 
crippled child in Australia who 
heals her legs in taking up swim- 
ming. After becoming amateur 
champ Down Under, she heads for 
London with her musician father, 
played by Pidgeon, attracts the at- 
tention of Mature, a sports pro- 
moter, who brings ‘her to America. 

Romantic phase of the plot de- 
velops a misunderstanding between 
Mature and Miss Williams, and she 
goes to the Hippodrome under 
Brian's aegis, rapidly becoming a 
renowned figure for the spectacu- 
lar presentations staged there. Ma- 
ture tries to make it on his own, 
but doesn’t succeed until he brings 
Rin-Tin-Tin to the screen. 

The flashy aquatics are cut to 
order for Miss Williams, as art 
the one-piece bathing suits she in- 
troduces, so there is plenty of eye 
appeal during the nautical se- 
quences other than their imagina- 
tive . staging. The underwater 
choreography was done by Aud- 
rene Brier and the good musical 
direction by Adolph Deutsch. Film 
is minus songs except for a group 
sing on ‘‘Let Me Call You Sweet- 
heart” and an English tune heard 
in a London pub. 

Young Donna Corcoran is good 
as the swimmer as a child. Jesse 
White, Mature’s buddy, injects 
some chuckles into the footage and 
there axe satisfactory performances 
from such supporters as Howard 
Freeman, Wilton Graff, Frank 
Ferguson and James Flavin. 

The Arthur Hornblow, Jr., pro- 
duction is richly dressed. George 
J. Folsey used his cameras to 


**s contributing to the pleas- 
ant fun. Brog. 


Pomv Soldier 

(COLOR) 


Sky Full of Moon 

(SONGS) 


Saga of a young cowpoke and 
his first encounter with 
women; for lowercase book- 
ings. 


Hollywood, Nov. 4. 

MGM release of Sidney Franklin, Jr., 
production. Features Carleton Carpenter, 
Jan Sterling. Keenan Wynn. Written and 
directed by Norman Foster; camera, Ray 
June; editor, Frederick Y. Smithy music. 
Paul Sawtell? songs, Charles Wolcott, 
Harry Hamilton. Previewed Oct. 23, '52. 
Running lime, 72 MINS. 

Harley Williams Carleton Carpenter 

Dixie Delmar Jan Sterling 

A1 Keenan Wynn 

Customer Robert Burton 

Change Girl Elaine Stewart 

Otis ; Emmett Lynn 

Rodeo Official Douglass Dumbrjlle 

Balladeers . Sheb Wooley, Jonathan Cott 


Tyrone Power in Mounties vs. 
Indians outdoor actioner; mod- 
est entertainment and b.o. 


Hollywood, Nov. 4. * 

20th-Fox release of Samuel G. Engel 
production. Stars Tyrone Power; features 
Cameron Mitchell, Thomas Gomez, Penny 
Edwards, Robert Horton, Anthony Earl 
Numkena. Adeline De Walt Reynolds, 
Howard Petrie, Stuart Randall. Directed 
by Joseph M. Newman. Screenplay, John 
C.. Higgins; based on the SatEvePost story 
by' Garnett Weston; camera (Technicolor), 
Harry Jackson; editor. John McCafferty; 
music, Alex North. Previewed Oct. 30, 
’52. Runnting time, 12 MINS. 

Duncan MacDonald Tyrone Power 

Kon&h Cameron Mitchell 

Natayo -Thomas Gomez 

Emerald Penny Edwards 

Jess Calhoun Robert Horton 

Comes Running. - Anthony Earl Numkena 
White Moon . . . Adeline De Walt Reynolds 

Inspector Frazer Howard Petrie 

Standing Bear Stuart Randall 

Bryan Neeley Richard Shackleton 

Tim Neeley James Hayward 

>ks*Ki Muriel Landers 


advantage in showing off the ex- 
travagant values. Brog. 


It Grows on Trees 


Entertaining, whimsical com- 
edy. Word-of-mouth potential 
good and biz outlook satisfac- 
tory. 


> 


Po 

Custin Frank De Kova 

Crier Louis Heminger 

Shemawgun Grady Galloway 

Medicine Man Nlpo T. Strongheart 

Katatatsi Carlos Loya 

Indians ........ Anthony Numkena, Sr., 

John War Eagle, Chief 
Brightfire .Thunder-Sky 

Only a modest amount of- out- 
door action entertainment is of- 
fered in this Technicolored feature, 
and even the name of Tyrone 
Power ^>n the marquees won’t be 
able to lure more than just fair 
trade. While visually attractive and 
occasionally actionful, the presen- 
tation is unconvincing and the ap- 
peal for the outdoor fan very 
spotty. 

The film is based on a SatEve 
Post story Efy Garnett Weston 
utilizing an exploit from the files 
of the Royal Canadian Mounted 
Police as the plot springboard 
John C. Higgins scripted and 
loaded the screenplay with bana 
dialog that neither the players nor 
Joseph M. Newman’s direction can 
overcome. 

Power is a young Mountie as- 
signed to herd a tribe of Cree 
Indians back on its Canadian res- 
ervation. With Thomas Gomez, 
.helfnbceed, --as- guide>— the -Mountie 
crosses the boarder into northern 
Montana, where the Indians are 
raiding buffalo herds, fighting with 
the Blackfeet and American cav 
airy troops. After difficulties, he 
contacts the tribe and delivers Her 
Majesty’s orders to the resentfu 
redskins. The Mountie also finds 
the Indians have two white cap- 
tives, Penny Edwards and Robert 
Horton, and orders their release. 
The bold stand of the pony soldier 
wins over the tribe’s big chief, bu 
a lesser chief, Cameron Mitchell 
refuses to give in and tries to kil_ 
Horton. Failing that, Mitchell and 
his followers then seize the girl, 
ride off into the hills and prepare 
to burn her at the stake. Power 
takes after them, accompanied by 
the big chief and a small Indian 
boy who has adopted him. When a 
hail of arrows and rifle bullets 


Demands of the programmer 
market • are met in “Sky Full of 
Moon,” a mild saga of a young 
cowpoke’s first encounter with 
women and gambling. Film show- 
cases Carletop Carpenter as the 
brpnc rider and is passable, lower- 
case fare for general bookings. 

Both Norman Foster’s script and 
direction ambte along in getting 
the story on film. A Las Vegas 
setting is used for much of the 
footage as it shows Carpenter leav- 
ing the .range to enter a rodeo in 
that gambling spa. Jan Sterling, 
a change girl in a slot machine 
joint operated by Keenan Wynn, 
takes him under her lmowing wing 
and he rides a luck streak as they : 
do the town. Luck doesii’t hold, 
however, and situations are con- 
rived to have him collect a big 
.ackpot under suspicious circum- 
stances and flee the town with the 
girl. During the flight across the 
rugged country, the gal comes to 
realize he is just a simple, naive 
youth and sends him back to. have 
his try at rodeoing while she fades 
out of the picture. 

Performances are competent but, 
with the exception of Carpenter 
and Miss Sterling, the. cast has 
ittle to do in the Sidney Frank- 
in, Jr. t production. Balladeers 
Sheb Woolsey and Jonathan Cott 
do offstage singing of “A Cowboy 
Had Ought to Be Single,” by 
Charles Wolcott and Harry Hamil- 
ton, and a Paul Campbell arrange- 
ment of “Old Paint.” The picture 
rates excellent photography from 
Ray June, and the other technical 
credits are okay. Brog. 


captain Preston Foster. Wearing 
a mask to conceal his identity, he 
rounds up three gunmen to pull 
the job. They, too, don masks: 
Thus, none is known to the other. 
Heist is executed successfully but 
police seize ex-con John Payne fts 
a prime suspect. 

Cleared later, Payne hunts down 
the gang whom he suspects of 
framing him. It’s a dangerous 
mission that leads to Guatemala. 
There he discovers that Foster has 
engineered the robbery with plans 
of turning in his accomplices and 
pocketing the insurance reward. 
Up to this point the suspense has 
built nicely. However, the finale 
takes an obvious turn. For Fos- 
ter is killed and Payne cops both 
the . reward and Foster’s pert 
daughter, Coleen Gray. 

With exception of the denoue- 
ment, director Phil Karlson reined 
his Cast in a grim atmosphere that 
develops momentum through suc- 
ceeding reels. But failure of the 
windup to be a punchier one is 
also a scripting fault. Be that as 
it may, performances of the play- 
ers do much to make the action 
credible. 

Payne delivers an impressive, 
portrayal of an unrelenting out- 
sider who cracks the ring. Foster 
acquits himself well as the brains 
of the holdup. Miss Gray has- lit- 
tle to do aside from providing, la 
bit of romance between herself arid 
Payne. Roles of the three gun- 
men are effectively interpreted by 
Neville Brand, Lee Vah Cleef and 
Jack Elam. 

Camerawork of George Diskapt 
follows a documentary pattern via 
the graphic outdoor scenes and 
street chases, etc. Producer Small, 
provided good physical back- 
grounds in keeping with the de- 
mands of the story. Though there 
Hare few lags in action, editor 
* Buddy Small could have made the 
story even more crackling by trim- 
ming some of the print’s 98 min- 
utes. Giib. 


Hollywood, Oct. 31. 

Universal release of Leonard Goldstein 
production. Stars Irene Dunne, Dean 

Jagger, Joan Evans; featuros Richard 
Crcnna, Edith Meiser, Les Tremayne. 

Directed by Arthur Lubin. Story and 
screenplay, Leonard Praskins, Barney 
Slater; camera, Maury Gertsman; editor, 

.Illton Carruth; music. Frank Skinner. 

’’reviewed Oct. 21, '52. Running time, 14 
MINS. 

Baxter Irene Dunne 

£hil Baxter Dean Jagger 

Diane Baxter Joan Evans 

?alph Bowen Richard Crenna 

Mrs. Pryor Edith Meiser 

Murchison Les Tremayne 

Dr. Burrows Forrest Lewis 

Carrollman Malcom Lee Beggs 

Letherby Frank Ferguson 

Hip Baxter V.7.7. ^Dce^PoHock \ c i ears » Mitchell is dead, the girl 

vndge Baxter Sandy Descher saved and the Queen’s orders ful- 

. : filled. 

- -AB^Btertaining round of whimsy i Power and the others in the cast i __ „ „ 

;s offered up in “It Grows on , have little chance to be more than Kansas City bank is former police 


Kansas City Confidential 

Suspenseful entry for action 
market. 


United Artists release of Edward Small 
production. Stars John Payne, Coleen 
Gray; features Preston Foster, Neville 
Brand, Lee Van Cleef, Jack Elam, Dona 
Drake, Mario Siletti. Directed by Phil 
Karlson. Screenplay, George Bruce, Harry 
Essex, from story by Harold R. Greene 
and Rowland Brown; camera, George 
Dlskant; editor. Buddy Small. Tradeshown 
N. Y., Oct. 30, '52. Running time, *8 
MINS. 

Joe Rolfe John Payne 

Helen Foster Coleen Qjay 

Timothy Foster ....... i. . Preston Foster 

Tony Romano Lee Van Cleef 

Boyd Kane Neville Brand 

Pete Harris • Jack Elam 

Andrews Howard Negley 

Tomaso Mario Siletti 

Teresa Dona Drake 

Mrs. Crane Helen Klceb 

Mrs. Rogers Vlvl Janls 

Olson Ted Ryan 

Morelli George Wallace 

Diaz Don Orlando 


Trends ' Cast Case 

(BRITISH) 


Jupiter 

(FRENCH) 

Paris, Oct. 28 

Sirius release of Sirius-Raoul Ploquin 
production. Stars Dany Robin, Gcorce* 
Marchal. Directed by Gilles Graneion 
Screenplay, Rene Wheeler from a plav bv 
Robert Bolsey; camera, Marc Fossa rd- 
editor, Madeleine Gug; music, Georges 
Van Pnrys. At the Raimu, Paris. Running 
time, 90 MINS. * 

Jupiter Georges Marclul 

Yvette Dany Robin 

Benjamin . . Jean Ti.ssier 

Clemeance Huguette Duilos 

Gilbert Francois Guerin 

Based on a play, this is much loo 
talky. A sprightly story idea dis- 
sipates into a conventional comedy- 
drama that does not hold up due 
to telegraphed plot and dragging 
dramatics. Its intime quality might 
make this applicable for TV in the 
U.S. 

Story concerns a small town 
family w i t h an irresponsible, 
charming father who digs lor 
Roman ruins at old aqeduct while 
his wife tends to the family drug- 
store, and a romantic daughter 
who the mother has decided to 
marry to a distant cousin. The day 
the cousin is to arrive, the father 
finds a statue of Jupiter and an 
escaped asylum inmate is mistaken 
for the cousin. A lot of romantic 
nonsense and introduction of a 
dope addict winds it up. 

Pic has some charming bits be- 
cause of slick direction by Gilles 
Grangier. However, he can not 
overcome the essential theatrics of 
the piece. Georges Marchal is too 
expressionless to lend much charm 
to the Jupiter role. Dany Robin 
is properly winsome as the day 
dreaming lass while Jean Tissier 
good as the inadept but lovable fa- 
ther. Mosk. 


Boasts British name stars but 
looks minor U. S. entry. 


Producer Edward Small, an old 
hand at crime mellers, tackles the 
subject .agauvin._“Ki)iisas.. .City .Con- 
fidential.” It’s a fast-moving, sus- 
penseful entry for the action, mar- 
ket. John Payne and Coleen Gray 
are the marquee lures while Pres- 
ton Foster tops the supporting 
players. 

Title is a misleading one, for the 
book-reading public may think the 
film is based upon one of the Jack 
Lait-Lee Mortimer works. Actu- 
ally, Kansas City Is the locale of 
only a few scenes of the picture 
and the balance of this yam about 
bank , robbery takes place else- 
where. 

Four scripters who toiled on the 
story appear to have borrowed 
from both the famed million-dol- 
lar Brink’s holdup in Boston and 
“Actor” Willie Sutton’s exploits 
for material. Grotesque masks, 
utilized by the Brink’s thieves, are 
an important plot peg. A split- 
second time table for a bank heist 
in the film resembles Sutton’s tech- 
i nique. 

Mastermind of a holdup on a 


London* Oct. 29. 

British Lion release of Herbert Wilcox 
production. Stars Margaret Lockwood, 
Michael Wilding and Orson WeUes. Di- 
rected by Herbert WUcox. Screenplay, 
Pamela Bower; camera. Max Greene; edi- 
tor, Bill Lewthwaite; music, Anthony 
Collins. At Plaza, London, Oct. 29, '52. 
Running time, 98 MINS. 

Margaret Manderson. .Margaret Lockwood 

Philip Trent Michael WUding 

Slgsbee.Manderson Orson Welles 

John Marlowe John McCaUum 

Burton Cupples Miles Malleson 

Calvin C. Bunner Hugh McDermott 

Inspector Murch Sam Kydd 

Herbert Wilcox has fashioned a 
conventional whodunit from this i 
Er C. Bentley story but he has a 
marquee cast which should help to 
boost it for home trade. Anyway 
it’s quota and that helps to sell it 
to local exhibs, but it can only be 
regarded as a minor nominee for 
U. S. honors. 

While the suspense is adroitly 
kept going and the climax has all 
the demerits of surprise, the film 
suffers fr 6 m an excess of wordage. 
All the characters talk too much, 
and do very little. There is hardly 
any action and Michael Wilding 
appears to do his sleuthing by fig- 
uring things out in his mind rather 
than careful investigation. 9 ne 
glimpse at the scene of the crime 
and he~has it all worked out. 

An international financial jug- 
gler is found dead in the grounds 
of his country estate. The jury re- 
turns a verdict of suicide, but 
Philip Trent (Wilding), reporter 
for a national newspaper, is con- 
vinced it was murder. He is given 
the job of probing the facts. He 
does a quick investigation, and 
comes to the conclusion that the 
crime was the work of the dead 
man’s secretary (John McCallum), 
particularly since he is in love with 
the widow. He even confronts him 
with' 'the “svid'diee ~anir~tftis”pio 
duces a flash back of the events 
which preceded and resulted in the 
death. 

Production is lavishly staged 
with expensive sets and attractive 
costumes for Margaret Lockwood. 
It is acted on a competent plane 
by a compact cast. Miss Lockwood, 
in 1 her first major role for sortie 
time, is still a b.o. personality. {She 
shows her charm and poise even 
though the script gives her few 
histrionic opportunities. Michael 
Wilding is as smooth and refresh 
ing as ever as Trent, while Orson 
Welles (seen only In the flashback), 
is every bit the villainous and :al 
most insane millionaire. McCallum, 
as the secretary anti. Miles Malle- 
son playing Miss Lockwood’s uncle 
are at the head of a first-class sup- 
porting team. 

Wilcox has directed in work- 
manlike style avoiding all fancy 
and extravagant gimmicks. Max 
Greene has done fine lensing. 

Myro. 


Moglie Per Van AoUe 

(Bride for 3 Night) 
ITALIAN) 

Genoa, Oct. 21. 

Dear Film release of a Rizzoli-Mam- 
brettl production. Stars Gino Cervi. Gina 
Lollobrigida, Nadia Grey, Peolo Stoppa, 
Armando Frandoli. Directed by Mario 
CamerinL Screenplay, Franco ' Brusatl, 
Mario Camerini. from play by Anna Bon* 
nacci; camera, Tlno GlordanI; music. Ales* 
jfciiidra Clt'bgy bill • • "GIlMP'ia; • "Genoa. ■ 

Running time. 87 MINS. 

The count' . Gino Cervi 

The countess Nadia Grey 

The musician Armando Francioli 

His -wife Gina Lollobrigida 

This is a lightweight costume 
comedy. Good possibilities in 
Italy, aided by star names but 
abroad, dubbing is suggested be- 
cause pic is more of general audi- 
ence calibre than as an arty item. 
Pace, dialog and costumes have the 
French comedy* flavor. Both 
femmes are very comely. 

Intricate plot plays with the mis- 
taken-identity angle in enabling an 
unsuccessful musician to have his 
opera financed by a count. Latter 
thinks the woman he has faiien 
for is the musico’s wife — hence the 
financial aid. Actually, he is after 
the courtesan (Nadia Grey) \Vho 
has taken her place in full agree- 
ment with the musician. Confusion 
is furthered by overnight change of 
the wife (Gina Lollobrigida) from 
an ignored, ugly duckling into a 
sexy beauty. Filled with double- 
entendres and change of pace, plot 
has the inevitable happy ending. 
Gino Cervie is fine as the count, 
eyefillingly supported by Miss 
Lollobrigida and Miss Grey. Paolo 
Stoppa, Galeazzo Benti and Paole 
Panelli have their comic moments, 
while Armando Francioli seems 
unnecessarily dull as the musician. 

Although Mario Camerini’s direc- 
tion keeps things moving at a fast 
clip most of the time, he ha 6 not 
avoided some slow spots. But it 
still is a smooth job. Camera- 
work is standard and uneven. Mu- 
sic by Alessandro Cicognini is in 
proper ironic counterpoint. Film’s 
dialog is cut several notches above 
local standards. Hawk. 


La Fille An Fouet 

(The Girl With the Whip) 
(FRENCH) 

Paris, Oct. 21. 

Jeannlc release of Monopoly production. 
Stars Michel Simon features Gaby Morlay, 
Michel Barbey, Veronique Deschamps. Di* 
j:ented._„hy_-Jeam -DrevUle-^-- screenplay,. 
Jeanne Humbert; camera. Marc Fossard, 
editor, Jean Fayte. At Olympia, Paris. 
Running time, 98 MINS. 

Tutor Michel Simon 

Lamberts Gaby Morlay 

Pietro Veronique Deschamp* 

Calixe Michel Barbey 

Lorcnza Collette Darfeuil 

A girl loping around nude in the 
forest primeval is the orily ex- 
ploitation peg this has to give it 
any American chance whatsoever. 
Otherwise hokey scripting, bad 
thesping and substandard direc- 
tion relegate this mostly for lower 
casing on the strength of the 
three-sheeting possibilities of the 
nude plus the story of a girl who 
masquerades as a boy. 

Film has the improbable premise 
of a woman who loses her little 
son and takes the daughter of a 
dead smuggler of the Tyrolean 
fastness to replace the boy. The 
girl, grows' up and masquerades as 
a boy. Nobody seems to notice it 
despite the fact that she is getting 
curvaceous and walks and talks in 

(Continued on page 18) 


PICTURES 


Wednesday, November S, 1952 


P'fi&iEfr 



■4 — 4 - 


FTC Head Includes Fix Among Those 
Stifled in Tree Enterprise’ System 


Hartman Lays Down 4-Point Program 
For Tconomy Without Loss of Quality’ 


Present-day application of the4 
antitrust laws, as pertaining to the 
distribution of motion pictures and 
products in all other fields, has 
been branded as the forerunner 
of a stifled free enterprise system 
by Lowell B. Mason, ehairman of 
the U. S. Federal Trade Commis- 
sion. Mason attacked the Govern- 
ment clampdown on freedom in 
business endeavors in a recent 
Toronto address before the Ca- 
nadian Chamber of* Commerce. 
Copies of the talk have been passed 
along to film distribs, who’ve been 
on the defensive in hundreds of 
private antitrust actions in addition 
to Government complaints. 

For rhetorical effect, Mason 
placed ’ himself in the year 2,002 
and looked back to the causes of 
America’s economic decline,” the 
root of which, he insisted, was the 
restraint placed upon business be- 
havior. Instances he cited would 
apply to film distrib practices, such 
as the price-fixing condemned by 
the U. S. Supreme Court in the 
industry monopoly suit. 

Said Mason: “No one could 
charge or quote the same price 
as his competitors because, if he 
did, he was guiity of ‘conscious 
parallelism of action/ Hence, all 
businessmen were malefactors if 
they were srif&rt enough to know 

xnpxfe. for their | 
wares than their competitors, and I 
weren’t dumb enough to take less. 
If, when hailed before a court of i 
justice, a defendant endeavored to 
prove his prices were not frozen 
by the cold winds of conscious 
parallelism, but that they fluc- 
tuated with the exigencies of the 

(Continued on page 62) 

Par Studies Co-Prod. 

Plan With Rome Co.; 
20th Deal Up in Air 

Co-production deal between Par- 
amount Pictures and the Ponti-De 
Laurentiis Studios, Home, is still 
in. the tentative stage but has Par 
execs interested. Number of pix in- 
volved is set at 10. 

Par spokesman denied reports 
from abroad that Par may invest 
$3,500,000 in the deal. “For that 
money we can almost make 10 films 
in Italy,” he commented. Par has 
had previous ties with the Ponti- 
De Laurentiis outfit. It’s the global 
distributor of the studio’s “Sensu- 
alita,” for the U. S., and in this as 
well as other cases has advanced 
money at the pre-production stage. 

Likelihood looms that Par may 
advance from $35,000 to $40,000 
per pic if a deal is consummated. 
Par execs are still mulling the 
choice of taking the entire output 
of the Italian studio for distribu- 
tion or picking a selected few. 

Co - production talks between 
20th-Fox and members of the Italo 
delegation here recently to attehd 
the “Salute to Italian Films Week” 
have not shaped into anything defi- 
nite. 20th still has a deal with the 
Costellazione* studios under which 
it advances pre-production coin and 
is committed to distribute six pix 

in Italy wit h o ptions for othfelL 

countriei. Two of the six have been 
delivered and a third is nearing 
completion. 

Hayworth as ‘Sadie’ 

In Wald-Col Filming 

Hollywood, Nov. 4. 

Jerry Wald, new veepee and ex- 
ecutive producer at Columbia, ,will 
take personal charge of the produc- 
tion of “Miss Sadie Thompson," 
starring Rita Hayworth. Film will 
be made in Technicolor, starting in 
January, under the Beckworth 
Corp. banner.’ 

Wald, who holds screen rights oh 
the Somerset Maugham story, had 
been readying the script before he 
shifted from RKO to Columbia. 
Yarn was screened in 1923 as 

‘Sadie Thompson,” with Gloria 
Swanson starring, and in 1932 as 
‘■Rain” with Joan Crawford. 


Roy Rogerses Adopt 
Another Child in Dallas 

Dallas, Nov. 4. 

Roy Rogers and wife, Dale Evans, 
adopted a seven-month-old full- 
blood Choctaw Indian girl at Hope 
Cottage orphanage here last week. 
Cowboy star himself is part Choc- 
taw Indian. 

Rogers adopted another baby 
girl, Cheril, from the home 12 
years ago, and has five other chil- 
dren, three of them adopted. 


Basson Sits In 
On Pathe Talks 
To End Stalemate 

An attempt to end the stalemate 
in negotiations between Pathe In- 
dustries and the union represent- 
ing Pathe’s white collarites has 
been set for New York this week, 
with Joseph Basson, international 
representative of the International 
Alliance of Theatrical Stage Em- 
ployees, sitting in on the talks. 

Entry of Basson in the pact 
negotiations resulted from a re- 
quest to IA prexy Richard F. Walsh 
from the Motion Picture Home 
Office Employees Union, H-63, for 
permission to call a strike at Pathe. 
Basson will confer with the com- 
pany and the local to see if a 
strike can be avoided. 

Union’s contract with Pathe ex- 
pired Sept. 30. It was inked last 
year after extended negotiations 
which ended in a half-day strike. 
Union has been asking for a wage 
hike as well as certain extra ben- 
efits, such as free hospitalization 
and insurance. 

Walkout of the office help could 
result in a shutdown of the film- 
processing plant, since it’s held 
unlikely that other IA members 
would cross the picket line. None 
did so during last year’s half-day 
strike. 


Deny Receiver For ♦ 

Scophony in Suit 

Minority stockholder suit brought 
In N. Y. Supreme Court against 
the Scophony Corp. of America re- 
ceived a setback last week when 
Justice Irving Saypol denied a mo- 
tion for appointment of a tem- 
porary receiver under section 977-b 
of the Civil Practice Act. Court 
held that on basis of facts submit- 
ted such an appointment isn’t war- 
ranted. 

Plaintiffs in the action are John 
A. Stephen, Otto Augstein and 
Hans L. Kraft. Holders of 250 
shares of Scophony, they claim that 
company prez Arthur Levey trans- 
ferred the firm’s stock and assets 
to Skiatron Electronic & Television 
xorp7scveMlTearragorGrotrp"aiso 
asserts that certain Scophony pat- 
ents are “worth something” and 
they want an accounting. 

In denying the stockholders’ 
move for a temporary receiver, 
Justice Saypol pointed out that it 
had not been shown that Scophony 
had been “nationalized, ceased to 
do business^ or had been liquidated 
or that its charter had been sus- 
pended, revealed or revoked.” 
Proof must be clear and convincing, 

' the court added. 


Team Lupino, Duff 

Hollywood, Nov. 4. 

Ida Lupino and her husband, 
Howard Duff, have signed to star 
in “Jennifer,” skedded for January 
start by Richard Dorso, Bernard 
Girard and Berman Swarttz. 

Love story will be filmed in 
Santa Barbara. No release set. 


II, S. CUSTODIAN 

US JEKYLL-HYOE 

• 

Inability of many -foreign pic im- 
ports to satisfy American Produc- 
tion Code requirements, while a 
cause for much reflection abroad, 
is giving the Motion Picture Assn, 
of America a Jekyll-and-Hyde com- 
plex. 

MPAA finds itself in the em- 
barrassing position where on one 
hand* it is the official custodian of* 
the Code and on the other it is 
giving aid and encouragement to 
foreign lingualers in this market, 
many of which can’t get the Code 
seal and don’t even try for it. 

Latest instance of MPAA dis- 
comforture and pressure put on 
foreign producers t o recognize 
Code dicta came last week when 
the Assn.’s Advisory Unit on For- 
eign Films screened the Argentine 
pic, “Deshonra” (Infamy), for dis- 
tribs and exhibs in New York. 
Film was produced by Interameri- 
cana. Prior to its showing, the 
producer’s rep for the pic agreed 
to include in the program a note 
stating his intention to submit 
the film to Production Code Ad- 
ministrator scrutiny. 

. On at least one previous occa- 
sion, the MPAA had its hands 
burned, when it handled the Swe- 
dish “Miss Julie.” Pic later rated 
a “C” rating from the Legion of 
Decency and the Advisory Unit 
was criticized for taking it on in 
the first place. 

With foreign producers showing 
increasing determination to break 
out of the limited art theatre cir- 
cuit in the U. S., the problem of 

(Continued on page 19) 


DISNEY INTO 16M FIELD; 
1ST PIX BY 1ST OF YEAR 

Walt Disney Productions is en- 
tering the 16m field and will have 
a number of pix ready in this gauge 
shortly after the first of the year, 
it was announced' this week by Roy 
O. Disney, prexy of the Disney out- 
fit. 

Cartoonery will release both edu- 
cational and entertainment pix, all 
in color. First release is “The Alas- 
kan Eskimo,” initial Disney film 
produced exclusively for 16m audi- 
ences. It’s also the first film in a 
new series to be known as “People 
and Places.” 

Disney has already licensed 65 
distributing units to handle these 
films throughout the U. S. Carl 
Nater has been named to head the 
company’s non-theatrical depart- 
ment. 

Four subjects running from 18 to 
27 minutes in length, as well as 
three comedy shorts are included I 
in’ the first list of releases. All will 
be handled on a flat-rental basis. 

, 

Jack Connolly Among 17 
Getting State Dept. Honor 

Washington, Nov. 4. 

Jack S. Connolly, chief of the 
newsreel and special events 
branch of the State Dept.’s Inter- 
national Motion Picture Service, 
was anlong some 17 individuals 
who last week received Superior 
Service Awards from the depart- 
JQ.egt,. ™ .Ancnlades.— were- distributed" 
during ceremonies held here Fri- 
day (3D. 

Long in the newsreel field, Con- 
nolly joined the State Dept, film 
division in 1950 to supervise pro- 
duction of documentaries for Gov- 
ernment distribution. Previously 
he had received a letter of com- 
mendation from the President of 
Chile and a bronze medal from the 
Venezuelan government in the 
course of his duties. 

Connolly’s Superior Service 
Award was presented to a repre- 
sentative of the film field for the 
first time. 


Pic Awaits Crosby Return 
Hollywood, Nov. 4. 
Production of “Little Boy Lost” 
is marking time at Paramount, 
with cast rehearsing until Bing 
Crosby's return. 

He is expected to resume before 
cameras on Monday. 


WSR Okays Uppance 

For IA Cartoonists 

Hollywood, Nov. 4. 

Wage Stabilization Board ap- 
proved new wage rates for mem- 
bers of IATSE Cartoonists Local 
839, taking effect this week at 
Metro, Warners, Disney’s Lantz 
and United Productions of Amer- 
ica. 

New rate, retroactive to March 
15, calls for a 10% hike and a 
minimum of $137.50 a week for 
animators. ^ 


French Skedded 
To Turn Out Over 
100 Pix This Year 

Despite high costs the French 
film industry will probably turn 
out about 100 feature pictures this 
year, according to Henry Deutsch- 
meister, who heads Franco London 
Film. This . %ure v Which , is vir- 
tually the same as last year’s out- 
put, results from the efforts of 
some 50 individual producers. Of 
the latter, 10 made two or more 
films, while the remaining 40 com- 
pleted no more than one or two. 

Deutschmeister, who arrived in 
New York last week, made the trip 
to arrange distribution deals for 
his company’s product as well as to 
liffe up Hollywood stars for a cou- 
ple of pictures on the firm’s 1953 
program. Set for lensing are six 
films, of which one is already be- 
fore the cameras. Project is titled 
“Destinies.” It’s a three-episode 
venture, and will be shot in France, 
Italy and England. Michele Mor- 
gan and Anna Magnani have top 
roles and a third star is being 
sought. 

In keeping with Franco London’s 
policy of the past, most of the com- 
pany’s 1953 program will be filmed 
as co-productions in both France 
and Italy. An agreement between 
the two countries provides that 
producers receive certain tax re- 
bates from each nation in event 
their pictures are made on a joint 
basis. It’s also possible that F-L 
may turn out a film in Germany un- 
der a new Franco-German produc- 

(Continued on page 17) 

A&C’s $5,000,000 

U-I Suit Dropped 

Hollywood, Nov. 4. 

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello an- 
nounced the dismissal of their $5,- 
000,000 damage ’suit against Uni- 
versal Pictures and Realart .Pic- 
tures, declaring that a thorough 
examination of the case failed to 
substantiate their charges. Comics 
expressed regret over the trouble 
they had caused Universal. 

Pair_ had ...demanded.. an„ account:, 

"ing on the sale of shorts “secret- 
ly” taken from some of their fea- 
tures and on unitemized earnings 
on some of their Teissues. They 
had accused the company of “be- 
wildering” methods of bookkeeping 
and of padded costs and improper- 
ly reported receipts. 


Honor Joan Crawford 

Dallas, Nov. 4. 

Texas COMPO will honor Texas- 
born Joan Crawford at a tes- 
timonial dinner tomorrow (Wed.) 
at Brook Hollow Golf Club for her 
outstanding contribution to the 
1952 Texas Theatres' Crippled 
Childrens’ Fund for the Gonzales 
(Tex.) Warm Springs Foundation. 

Actress, here on a 10-day Texas 
visit, had appealed to Texas thea- 
tre patrons for foundation funds in 
a Hollywood-produced film trailer 
shown throughout Texas in August. 


Paramount production topper 
Don Hartman has laid down a 
fou^-point program for “economy 
without loss of quality” to all stu- 
dio producers on the upcoming 
1952-53 slate of pix. Hartman yes- 
terday (Mon.) said lie looks for a 
total of around 24 pix in the up- 
coming year, including indies such 
as Hal Wallis and Pine-Thomas. 

Hartman described the four- 
point program in meeting with the 
studio’s production roster, explain- 
ing it was a result of a careful 
check and detailed study of past 
production, plus opinions of de- 
partments heads. Program in- 
volves: 

(1) Careful selection of stories to 
eliminate producers and writers 
“playing around in order to keep 
busy or appear to keep busy.” 
They must avoid excessive writing 
cost. 

(2) Footage. Three-months’ study 
of footage problem has been made, 
Hartman said, showing where pix 
cut a good deal were usually chop- 
py and poor in the end result. He 
pointed out “it all starts with the 
writer; that is when the cutting 
should be done.” He told producers 
that In “the future we are going 
to have scripts of fewer pages,” 
and “general aim for general pic- 
tures will be for them to run 
around an hour and a half.” 

(3) Elimination of unnecessary 
setups. Hartman said this will bo 
under producers’* supervision, but 
•there will be future conferences 

(Continued on page 15) 

NLRB to Slate Dates 
On Col; NSS Elections, 
Both Last of the Holdouts 

Dates will be set shortly by the 
National Labor Relations Board 
for New York elections at National 
Screen Service and the Columbia 
exchange to determine if the Mo- 
tion Picture Home Office Em- 
ployees Union, H-63, IATSE, 
should act as the bargaining agent 
for white collarites at both outfits. 
Union has presented to the NLRB 
the signed applications of office 
employees, and after conferring 
with the union and the companies 
involved the Government agency 
will determine a polling date. 

This is the union’s second at- 
tempt to organize the white col- 
larites at NSS. At an NLRB elec- 
tion last year the outfit’s office 
help nixed H-63 as its rep, voting 
to remain unaffiliated. 

Both NSS and the Col exchange 
unit are the only two units former- 
ly associated with the defunct Dis- 
trict 65, Screen Office and Profes- 
sional Employees Guild, who have 
not as yet tied in with the IA 
union. 

Seek to Deport Rep 

Of Artkino in Chi 

Chicago, Nov. 4. 

Deportation proceedings were 
started last week against Izack 
Fialkin, former midwest represent- 
ative ..far... Ariklno*. SovLet-.fUm-.di*-- 
tributing firm. 

In the initial hearing it was 
brought out that Fialkin had en- 
tered the country in 1905 and sub- 
sequently became a member of the 
Communist Party. 


Ken Englund’s Chores 

Hollywood, Nov. 4. 

In switch from films to legit, 
several of Ken Englund’s sketches 
will be used in the new John Shu- 
bert Broadway revue, “Streets of 
Paris.” After completing script 
work on “Never Wave at a Wac” 
and “Androcles and the Lion,” both 
RKO, scribe now is at work rewrit- 
ing “So Where's the Money?” the 
next Martin & Lewis opus at Para- 
mount. 

Englund is currently mulling the 
possibility of a European trip to 
shape a film version of “Deep Se- 
ductive Wound,” 


s 


NCTtJKK GROSSES 


PSSWff 


Wednesday, November 5, 1952 


New Pix Fail to Boost LA .Biz; 


4* 



',000, ‘Everything’ Oke 
24G, ‘Gaucho’ NG 13G, ‘Androcles’ $G 


> 


Los Angeles, Nov. 4. - 

While ahead of the same week 
last year, first-runs currently are 
reflecting very spotty midweek biz 
that has hurt the deluxers here 
after sturdy weekend trade. Six 
Hew bills this frame but none is 
outstanding. A near okay $24,000 
looms for “Everything I Have Is 
Yours” in two theatres. 

“Springfield Rifle,” in three 
houses, is medium $30,000. “Way 
of Gaucho” and “Wife’s Best 
Friend” combo shapes mild $13,- 
000 in two spots. “Tomorrow Is 
Too Late” looks small $10,000 in 
four small-seaters. 

“Androcles and Lion” looms 
good $8,000, with upped scale, in 
showcase booking while “Magic 
Box” is getting the same figure 
also with boosted scale and in one 
showcase. “Snows of Kilimanjaro” 
is down to good $32,000 in second 
round with upped scale run in two 
sites. “Ivanhoe,” also in two sit- 
uations, still is fine in fourth week 
with $21,000. 

Estimates for This Ttfeek 

Loew’s State, Egyptian (UATC) 
(2,404; 1,538; 70-$1.10) — “Every- 
thing I Have Is Yours” (M-G) and 
“Scotland Yard Inspector” (Lip). 
Okay $24,000. Last week, “Apache 
War Smoke” (M-G) and “Hour of 
13” (M-G), $15,000. 

Hills treet, Pantages, Wiltern 
(RKO-WB) (2,752; 2,812; 2,344; 70- 
$1.10) — “Springfield Rifle” (WB) 
and “Secret People” (Lip). Medium 
$30,000. Last week, without Wil- 
tem, “Horizons West” <U) and 
“Island Rescue” (U), $12,800. 

. Orpheus, Hollywood ! Metropoli- 
tan- WB) (2,213; 2,756; 70-$1.10) — - 
“Way of Gaucho” (20th) and 
“Wife’s Best Friend” (20th). Dull 
$13,000. Lasf week, in other 
units. 

Four Star (UATC) (900; 80-$1.20) 
— “Androcles .and Lion” (RKO). 
Nice $8,Q0Q. Last week, second- 
run. 

Beverly Hills (WB) (1,612; SC- 
SI. 50) — “Magic Box” (Indie). Good 
$8,000. Last week, in another 
unit. 

Globe, Vogue, Ritz, Loyola 
(FWC) (782; 885; 1,370; 1,248; 70- 
$1.10)— “Tomorrow Too Late” (In- 
die and “Great Adventure” (Lip). 
Small $10,000. Last week. Globe, 
Iris, Ritz, “Thief” (UA) and “Arc- 
tic Flight” (Mono), $10,000. Vogue, 
Loyola, Orpheum, “Somebody 
Loves Me” (Par) and “Army 
Bound” (Mono) (2d wk), $10,200. 

Los Angeles, Chinese (FWC) 
(2,097; 2,048; 80-$1.50)— “Snows of 1 
Kilimanjaro” (20th) (2d wk). Fine - 
$32,000. 'Last week, below hopes 
* but still smash $50,000. 

* Los Angeles, Hollywood Para- 
mounts (UPT-F&M) (3,200; 1,430; 
90-$l. 50)— “Ivanhoe’* (M-G) (4th 
wk. Fast $21,OQO. Last week, $27,- 
200 . 

Downtown, Hawaii (WB-G&S) 
(1,757; 1,106; 60-$1.50)— “Miracle 
Fatima” (WB) (5th wk at Down- 
town, m.o. at Hawaii). Off to 
$6,500. Last week, Downtown, 
Beverly Hills, okay $8,500. 

United Artists, Wilshire (UATC- 
FWC) (2,100; 2,296; 80-$1.5Q) — 
“Quiet Man” (Rep) (5th wk). Hold- 
ing at $8,500. Last week, nice 
$11,600. 

Canon (ABC) (533; $1.20)— “Full 
House” (20th) (7th wk). Okay 
$4,600. Last week, $5,200. 

K.C. Biz on Skids But 
‘Men Okay With $7,000; 
Shows Smooth HG, M 

Kansas City, Nov. 4. 

Trade is mediocre this session, 
being fairly well divided between 
new entries and holdovers, and fol- 
lowing the slack pattern which has 
been developing in recent weeks. 
“Lusty Men” at Missouri shapes 
average while “Full House” is light 
in four Fox Midwest first-runs. 
Relatively good money looms for 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro” in third 
week at Orpheum, hut picture is 
not up to expectations. “The Well” 
is fairish at the Kimo. Interest is 
keyed high over the election, and 
no help to biz. Weather continues 
unseasonally warm and dry. 

Estimates for This Week 
Kimo (Dickinson) (504; 50-75) — 
“The Well” (Indie) (2d wk). Fain- 
ish $1,400. Last week, under hopes 
at $1,600. 

Midland (Loew’s) (3,500; 50-75) 
(Continued on page 19) 


Broadway Grosses 


Estimated Total Gross 

This Week $477,700 

( Based on 19 theatres) 

Last Year $470,100 

(Based on 20 theatres) 


‘Because of You’ 

Hep 13G, Frisco 

San Francisco, Nov. 4. 
Election fanfare is sloughing biz 
here -this stanza. Despite a special 
midnight Hallowe’en preview, 
“Lure of Wilderness” looks only 
light at the Fox. “Because of You” 
looms as standout of the new- 
comers with an okay session at the 
Orpheum.; “Hurricane Smith” is 

only fair at Paramount. “Spring- 
field Rifle” continues oke in sec- 
ond round at Gorden Gate. 
Estimates for This Week 

Golden Gate (RKO) 2,850; 65- 
95)— “Springfield Rifle” (WB) (2d 
wk). Off to $10,000. Last week, 
sturdy $16,000. 

Fox (FWC) (4,651; 65-95)— “Lure 
of Wildnerness” (20th) and “Lady 
in Iron Mask” (U). Light $16,000. 
Last week, ’'Snows of Kilimanjaro” 
(2QtJj). ..(2d. wkA». held to. strong $24,n 
000, with $1.20-$1.50 scale. 

Warfield (Loew’s) (2,656; 65-95) 
— ‘“Because You’re Mine” (M-G) 
(2d wk). Tepid $11,000. Last week, 
$16,000. 

Paramount (Par) (2,646; 65-95) — 
“Hurricane Smith” (Par) and “Bom 
to Saddle” (Indie). Fair $11,500. 
Last week, “Somebody Loves Me” 
(Par) (2d wk), $8,500. 

St. Francis (Par) (1,400; 65-^5)— 
“Turning Point” (Par). Good $10,- 
500. Last week, “Les Miserables” 
(20th), $11,000. 

Orpheum (No. Coast) (2,448; 65- 
95) — “Because of You” (U) and 
“Scotland Yard Inspector” (Lip). 
Okay $13,000. Last week, “Golden 
Hawk” (Col) and “Strange Fascina- 
tion”. (Col), $9,000. 

United Artists (No. Coast) (1,207; 
65-95) — “Something for Birds” 
(20th) and “Night Without Sleep” 
(20th.). Colorless $5,000 or near. 
Last week, “The Thief” (UA) (2d 
wk), $5,400. 

Stagedoor (A-R) (370; 85-$l) — 
“Never Take No for Answer” (In- 
die) (2dwk). Held at $2,800. Last 
week* nice $3,100. 

Clay (Rosener) (400; 65-85) — 
“Ivory Hunter” (U) and “Man in 
White Suit” (U) (3d wk). Held at 
$2,200. Last week, solid $2,500. 

Vogue (S. F. Theatres) (377; 85- 
$1)— “Cry Beloved Country” (UA) 
(3d wk). Thin $1,500. Last week, 
$ 2 , 000 . 


‘Turning Point’ Dim 7G, 
Balto; ‘Quiet’ 6G, 7th 

Baltimore, Nov. 4. 

Practically in solid holdover, biz 
in ’downtown sector here is way 
off currently. Lone newcomer, 
“Turning Point” is mild at Keith’s. 
Of repeaters, “Quiet Man,” in sev- 
enth week at Mayfair, „ is making 
local history for consistent trade. 
Rest of list is petering out. 

Estimates for This Week 

Century (Loew’s-UA) (3,000; 35- 
$1.20)— ‘Ivanhoe” (M-G) (4th wk). 
Off to $7JD00 after previous week's 
nice $9,700. 

Keith’s (Schanberger) (2,460; 20- 
70)— “Turning Point” (Par). Slow 
$7,000. Last week, “Horizons West” 
(U), $4,900. 

Little (Rappaport) (310; 25-90) — 
“Full House” (20th) (3d wk). Hold- 
ing at $3,000 near second week’s 
trim $3,200. 

Mayfair (Hicks) (980; 20-70)— 
“Quiet Man” (Rep) (7th wk). Main- 
taining $6,000 gait of recent weeks. 
New record here for strong long- 
run. 

New (Mechanic) (1,800; 35-$1.20) 
— “Snows of Kilimanjaro” (20th) 
(2d wk). Neat $11,000 after $16,200 
start. 

Playhouse (Schwaber) (430; 50- 
90) — "Stranger In Between” (U) 
(3d wk). Windup at $2,800 after 
bright $3,200 for second. 

Stanley (WB) (3,280; 


Campaign Talks Draw Better Than 
Pix in Det: ‘Mine’ $20,000, lien’ 18G 


Key City Grosses 

Estimated Total Gross 

This week $2,145,500 

( Based on 24 cities, 207 the- 
atres , chiefly first runs, includ- 
ing N. Y.) 

Total Gross Same Week 

Last year $2,383,000 

( Based on 24 cities, and 207 
theatres.) 


5 np 

Snows Terra 



in Pitt 


Pittsburgh, Nov. 4. 
Big noise here this week is 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro,” terrific 
in first stanza at Fulton with ad- 
25-75) I vanced prices, and obviously is in 


“Springfield Rifle” (WB) (2d wk). for run. “Steel Trap” at Harris 
Down to $6,500 after sluggish $9,- getting help from world preem 
200 opener. end personals by Joseph Cotten, 

Town (Rappaport) (1,500; 35-70) with fine notices- and 'proximity to 
— “Because You’re Mine” (M-G) Fulton also lending a hand. Turn- 
ed wk). Fine $9,000 after $14,400 ing Point” at Stanley and twinner 


first. Holds a third. 


‘Because’ Brisk 


$16,000, Philly 


Philadelphia, Nov. 4 
l biz dropped sli^ r ._ m 
and election holiday is proving no 


of “Hellgate” and “The Jungle” at 
Warner both are in the dumps. 
Estimates, for This Week 

Fulton (Shea) (1,700; 85-$L25)— 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro” (20th). 
Despite mixed notices, it's off to a 
great start, and a sensational $22,- 
000 looms. Holds indef. Last 
week, “Quiet Man” (Rep) (4th 
wk), strong $7,500. 

Harris (Harris) (2,200; 50-85) — 

Joseph Cot- 


Weekend biz dropped slightly 1 \ Steel Trap’ (20th). 

VinYirfo-u- I tCll 0311!* 15! fOT COUple Of d&YS VG 

launch world preem, and it’s help- 
ing. Okay reviews are helping 
and pic is heading for $7,500, fine 
here, and big compared to what 
house has been doing lately. Last 
week, “Something for Birds” (20th) 
was just that, giving this spot a 


great help currently. Result Is a 
spotty biz picture here. Few of 
the new pix displayed much draw- 
ing poweb, with the extended-runs 
showing up best. Frankie Laine 
heading stageshow at the Earle 
with “Bonzo Goes To College” 
started strongly but looms disap- new low of $3,000. 
pointing on the week. “Because of Penn (Loew’s) (3,300; 50-85) — 
You” looks as good as any of new “Because You’re Mine” (M-G) (2d 
films at the Randolph. “Eight Iron w k-5 days). Looks mild $7,000. 
Men” with personal by Mary Castle Last week, good $15,000. 

S^ ate ‘^Oui n et Squirrel Hill (WB) (900; 50-85) 

fifth* H^thaum session* 1 k Y 1 —“Edward .and Caroline” (Indie). 
1 tattaat^for Thfe Week NSH ? 1 ‘ 500 * Last week » “ Cr * Be " 

Aldine (TO) (1$SS 50-99) - loved Country” UA) 2d wk) ’ saine - 

“Thief” (UA).. (4th wk). Okay Stanley (WB) (3,800; 50-85) 
$4,500. Last week, $5,500. “Turning Point” (Par). Be lucky 

Arcadia (S&S) (625; 85-$1.20)— to get even $6,500, mighty drab at 
“Because You’re Mine” (M-G) (3d this blg-seater. Last week, “Lusty 


$10,000. Last week, I Men” RKO), slow $8,500. 

Warner (WB) (2,000; 50-85) — 
80-$ 1.20) — I— ' “Hellgate” (Lip) and “The Jun- 
gle” (Lip). Routine $5,000 or less. 
Last week, “Tomorrow Too Late” 
(Indie), okay $6,500. 


wk). Solid 

$ 12 , 000 . 

Boyd (WB) (2,360; 

“Somebody Loves Me” (Par). Oke 
$14,000 or near. Last week, “Mir- 
acle of Fatima” (WB) (5th wk), 
$7,500. 

Earle (WB) 


“Bonzo to coiie°ge” 50 (ij)' 10 with I/villc Lagging; ‘Monkey* 

Frankie Laine, Ruth Brown on- a i i ? 

stage. On disappointing side at SOCKO $7,500, SOUieDOUy 


$15,000. Last week, “Cat People’ 
(RKO) and “‘Hunchback Notre 
Dame” (RKO) (reissues), $6,000. 

Fox (20th) (2,250; 90-$1.50) — 
“Ivanhoe” (M-G) (4th wk). Strong 
$23,000. Last week, $27,000. 
i Goldman (Goldman) (1,200; 50- 
I (Continued on page 19) 


Interest in Election Bops Boston; 

‘Birds’ NG $9,600, ‘Mine’ Big 25G, 2d 


Boston, Nov. 4. 

Pre-election slump has hit a 
majority of downtown major spots, 
with biz poor around the loop. 
l^BHcmise - Ytru’r^Miire**- "ifr-secondr 
frame at Orpheum and State 
shapes as leader with nice session. 
Newcomers, “Something for Birds” 
at Memorial and “Way of a 
Gaucho” at Paramount and Fen- 
way shape sluggish. “Night With- 
out Sleep” at Eoston is fair while 
“Miracle of Fatima” in sixth week 
at Astor is still good. 

Estimates for This Week 

Astor (B&Q) (1,500; 74-$1.20)— 
“Miracle of Fatima” (WB) (6th wk). 
Slipping badly with $4,000 follow- 
ing fairish $6,000 for fifth week. 

Boston (RKO) (3,000; 40-85)— 
“Night Without Sleep” (20th) and 
“Swindlers” (Indie) (reissue). Fair 
$9,500. Last week, “Untamed 
Women” (UA) and “Ihe Ring” 
(UA), oke $10,500. 

Exeter (Indie) (1,300; 60-80) — 
“Brandy for Parson” (Indie) (2d 
wk). Shapes near $4,800 following 
satisfactory $6,000 for first. 

Fenway (NET) (1.373; 40-85)— 
“Way .of Gaucho” (20th) and 


OK 10G, ‘House’ M 9G 

Louisville, Nov. 4. 
Election week will put a crimp 
in downtown grosses, few of town’s 
first-runs getting the trade they 
deserve. “Monkey Business” at the 
Kentucky is brisk, but Rialto’s 

“Somebody Loves Me” and State's 
“Full House” are not up to expec- 
tations. “Springfield Rifle” in sec- 
ond Mary Anderson week is hold 
ing up welL Fall race meet at 
ChUrchill Downs, summer-like 
weather, and the tremendous in- 

“Dance Hall Girl?” (Indie). Slender ^ story 

$3,500. Last week, “Caribbean” a ^ boxoffice this week. 

(Par) and “Tropical Heat Wave” Estimates for This Week 
(Rep), $4,000. Kentucky (Switow) (1,000; 54-75) 

r- iHemoriai -(RKO) t3-,000r40^85)=^' -—^^onkTy' TOsffiessT'‘T2 
“Something for Birds” (20th) and $7,500. May stick around for three 
“Scotland Yard Inspector” (Lip), or four weeks in tfils 'small-seater. 
Blah $9,000 for 6 days. Last week, Last week, f ‘Duel Silver Creek” (U) 
“Lusty Men” (RKO) and “You for and “Lost In Alaska” (U) (2d wk) 
Me” (M-G) (2d wk), oke $13,000. lively $3,500. 

( T SS: Mary Anderson (People’s) (1,200; 

and““TnulhP^ y MpT i/ahS’ 54-75)— “Springfield Rifle” (WB) 
?Rpti) (2d wk) - sti11 breezing along at 

followtof okiy $16,500 f“ first a£ter test week’s solid 

“Because* 1 You’re'Mine^MM-G) 81 and e^i? to .ij Fou ?^ Ave T nue) (3 ’ 00( |, 
“Apache War Smoke” (M-G) (2d ?4- 7 5)~“Somebody Hoyes Me” 
wk). Holding nice near $15,000 (Par 2 and Red Snows” (Col). Bet- 
after solid $22,000 for first. ty s Hutton scores in this one, but 

Paramount (NET) (1,700; 40-85) wicket traffic is not up to par, with 
—“Way of a Gaucho” (20th) and nVflV At 


Detroit, Nov. 4. 

Widespread interest in the 
Presidential election, with poten- 
tial patrons sticking close to their 
TV or radio sets, is cutting sharp- 
ly into grosses this week. “Be- 
cause You’re Mine” at Michigan is 
the only entry which is doing good 
biz. “Lusty Men” is fair at the 
Fox. “Untamed Frontier” is just 
okay at the Palms. “Snows of Kili- 
manjaro” is falling off in second 
week at United Artists. “Ivanhoe” 
is holding big at the Adams. 

Estimates for This Week 

Fox (Fox-Detroit) (5,000; 70-95) 
— “Lusty Men” (RKO) and “Be- 
ware My Lovely” (RKO). Fair 
$18,000. Last week, “Hellgate” 
(Lip) and “Capt. Black Jack” (Lip), 
$16,000. 

Michigan (United Detroit), (4,000; 
70-95) — “Because You’re Mine'* 
(M-G) and “Apache War Smoke” 
(M-G). Good $20,000. Last week, 
i “Monkey Business” (20th) and 
| “Fargo” (Rep), $13,000. 

Palms (UD) (2,961; 70-95)— “Un- 
tamed Frontier” (U) and “Bonzo 
To College” (U). Okay $11,000. 
Last week, “Back at Front” (U) and 
“Oriental Evil” (Indie), $9,000. 

Madison (UD) (1,900; 70-95)— 
“Allegheny Uprising” (RKO) and 
“Annie Oakley” (RKO) (reissues). 
Mild $7,000. Last week, “Full 
House” (20th), $6,000! 

United Artists (UA) (1,900; 95- 
$1.25) — “Snows of Kilimanjaro” 
(20th) (2d wk). Slipping to $17,- 
000. Last week, great $25,000. 

Adams (Balaban) (1,700; 95- 

$1.25)— “Ivanhoe” (M-G) (4th wk). 
Socko $11,000. Last week, $12,000, 

‘FRONTIER’ FJST 8|G, 
PORT.; ‘DEYII/ $1 0,000 

Portland, Ore., Nov. 4. 

Biz at first-runs is still lagging 
after its recent nosedive. Election 
interest, newness of TV and mid- 
summer weather are- blamed. “Un- 
tamed Frontier” shapes nice at the 
Broadway while “Snows of Kili- 
manjaro” Is holding big in second 
round at Orpheum. “Miracle of 
Fatima” is a disappointment at 
United Artists. 

Estimates for This Week 
Broadway (Parker) (1,890; 65-90) 
— “Untamed Frontier” (U) and 
Go West, Young Lady” (Col). 
Fine $8,500. Last week, “Back At 
Front” (U) and “Old Oklahoma 
Plains” (Rep), $8,000. 

Liberty (Hamrick) (1,850; 65-90) 
— “Devil Makes Three” (M-G) and 
“My Man and I” (M-G). Tall $10,* 
000 or near. Last week, “Ivanhoe” 
(M-G) (3d wk), at upped scale, 
$13,000. 

Mayfair (Evergreen) (1,500; 65- 
90) — “Outlaw Women” (Lip) and 
Loan Shark’* (Lip). Mild $3,000. 
Last week, legit stageshow. 

Oriental (Evergreen) (2,000; 65- 
90) — “Leave to Heaven” (20th) and 
“Black Swan” (20th) (reissues). 
Big $3,200 in 5 days. Last week, 
“Wife’s Best Friend” (20th) and 
Brigand” (Col), $3,500. 

OrphcUm (Evergreen) (1,750; 90- 
$1.25)— “Snows of Kilimanjaro” 
(20th) (2d wk). Big $13,000. Last 
week, $16,500. 

United Artists (Parker) (890; 75- 
$1)— “Miracle of Fatima” (WB). 
NSG $6,000 in six days. Last week, 
“Quiet Man” (Rep) (m.o.) (6 days), 
nice $5, COO. 


“Dance Hall Girls”° (Indie). Slow 
$9,500. Last week, “Caribbean” 
(Par) and “Tropical Heat Wave” 
(Rep), about average $12,000. 

State (Loew) (3,500; 50-85)— “Be- 
cause You’re Mine” (M-G) and 
“Apache War Smoke” (M-G) (2d 


okay $10,000. Last week, “Back At 
Front” (U) and “Yankee Buccan- 
eer” (U), nice $11,000. 

State (Loew’s) (3,000; 54-75) — 
“Full House” (20th) and “Wife’s 
Best Friend” (20th). Modest 
$9,000. Last week, “Because 
You’re Mine” (M-G) and “My Man 


wk). Nice $10,000 following $15,- And I” (MrG) $9,500, way below 
000 for first. I hopes. 


Indpls. Sluggish But 
‘Thief Okay at $9,000 

Indianapolis, Nov. 4 . 

Election fever coupled with early 
Sunday night rain are sloughing 
grosses at first-runs here this 
.stanza*.. .._Qnly._*tandouiL la„ “.Snows, 
of Kilimanjaro,” still big in second 
week at Circle to lead city by wide 
margin. “Thief” at Loew’s is okay 
while “Way of Gaucho” at Indiana 
.shapes fair. 

Estimates for This Week 

Cirole (CockriU-Dolle) (2,800; 60- 
$1.10) — “Snows for Kilimanjaro” 
(20th) (2d wk). Fine $12,000 in top 
of sock $19,500 opener. 

Indiana (C-D) (3,200; 50-76)— 
“Way of Gaucho” (20th) and “Wac 
From Walla Walla” (Rep). Tepid 
$8,000. Last week, “Somebody 
Loves Me” (Par), nice $10,500. 

Loew’s (Loew’s) (2,427; 50-76)— 
“The Thief” (UA) and “Hour of 
13” (M-G). Oke $9,000. Last week, 
“Washington Story” (M-G) and 
“My Man and X” (M-G), $6,500 in 
5 days. 

Lyric (C-D) (1,600; 50-76) — 

“Hellgate” (Lip) and “The Jungle 
(Lip). Trim $6,000. Last week, 
“Strange World” (UA) and “High 
Sierra” (WB) (reissue), $5,000. 



Wedneiday, NovenJber 5, 1952 





THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE 


BUSINESS! 


CENTURY- FOX 


'.XAKavarttaAaaiaciaaa* v 3 - v 'wa m ’ 



















'VARIETY'S' LONDON OFFICE 
• St. Martin's Plact, Trafalgar Square 


P^RIBTT 


INTERNATIONAL 


11 


French Films Took Paris B.O. Lead 
, In Oct.; Yank Pix Toppers in Sept. 


Paris, Nov. 4. +* 

Pacing the field here in Septem- 
ber “An American in Paris” (M-G) 
was top grosser with a solid $201,- 
000 at three first-runs. Its success, 
overshadowing the usual Gallic ac- 
ceptance of film musicals, necessi- 
tated some schedule changes at the 
houses involved. Pic is still going 
strong in second first-runs and is 
back on the Champs-Elysees in its 
original version. 

Next money went to “Five Fin- 
gers” (20th)„ which playing at two 
houses, hit $90,000. In third spot 
was “At Sword's Point” (RKO) 
with a good $63,000. French film, 
“Jupiter,” garnered $54,000, and 
“Flying Leathernecks” (RKO) the 
same. 

Provinces gave the- top biz to 
“Sword's Point” (RKO, "Samson 
and Delilah” (Par), “Boniface,” a 
French Fernandel pic; and the 
Russian film, “Fall of Berlin,” 
runner-up pix were “The Perfec- 
tionist.” French film with Pierre 
Fresnay; “The Great Caruso” 
(M-G> and "Fanfan La Tulipe,” 
French costumer. 

October toppers here were “For- 
bidden Fruit,” the French trian- 
gle drama with Fernandel, with a 
nice $54,000; “Full House,” a 
French three-sketch who-dun-it, 
$45,000 and the English “Sound 
Barrier” (Korda) with $30,000. 

Runner-up films in the stix were 
“Little World of Don Camillo,” the 
Franco-Italo pic; “Monsieur Taxi,” 
a French comedy-drama with 
Michel Simon, and'the Italo drama, 
“Closed Shutters.” 


London CEA Cites TV 
Of Chaplin Pic’s Preem 
As Hurting Rim B.O. 

London, Nov. 4. 

Because London exhibitors took 
a severe beating when guest arrival 
scenes at the recent preem of 
“Limelight” were televised, the 
local branch of the Cinematograph 
Exhibitors Assn, in urging the par- 
ent body to appoint a special TV 
committee to watch all develop- 
ments. 

Reports received by the London 
CEA at its meeting last week in- 
dicated that most London theatres 
suffered a substantial drop in at- 
tendances and, consequently, they 
are urging that appropriate meas- 
ures be taken to prevent a repeti- 
tion. It was contended that a tele- 
vision panel could keep an eye on 
all aspects, particularly in relation 
to theatrical big screen video. • 

Local CEA branch is also reviv- 
ing the question of a full time pub- 
lic relations officer for the indus- 
try. claiming the appointment is 
essential to combat the frequent 
attacks on the film biz. 


AB-Pathe Coronation Pix 
To Employ Warnercolor 

London, Oct. 28. 

To enable Associated British- 
Pathe to do a full-length Corona- 
tion film, to be lensed in Warner- 
color, special emergency arrange- 
ments to cope with printing of the 
films are being set in motion. It is 
estimated that a minimum of 300 
prints will be required to achieve 
world-wide distribution. 

Because the Technicolor plant 
will be fully occupied with making 
prints for J. Arthur Rank’s color 
film, AB-Pathe is forced to rely on 
other lab resources. It is probable 
that some of the printing will be 
done on the Continent. Under 
consideration, also, is a proposal to 
handle .the American release prints 
in the Pathe New York labs. 


KIRK DOUGLAS TO DO 
‘HARVEST ffl ITA0 

Rome, Qct*28. 

Kirk Douglas, on * one-night 
stopover from Tel Aviv where he 
starred in “The Juggler,” said that 
he will make a film in Italy this 
year. Actor went to London for 
the Command Film Performance; 
but will go to France to . star in 
The Girl. on. the Vi# Flamminia,” 
for Anato'ze Litvak. r . 

Douglas comes back- here to do 
the pic, “Strange Harvest,” which 
will be produced' by Cy Bartlett, 
possibly in coproduction jvitii Jual 

"Italian jffriu.’ 


Greater Union's Rydge 
Asks More Sales Moxie 
By All Aussie Pix Biz 

Sydney, Oct. 28. 

Presiding at the annual sales 
convention of the major Greater 
Union Theatres' circuit,* chairman 
Norman B. Rydge urged that every 
man and woman earning their liv- 
lihood.from the film industry to go 
overboard selling pix in every sec- 
tion of this nation. 

Rydge said that figures supplied 
by the Commonwealth government 
showed . that in 1945 (the plush 
year) the average attendance was 
100 times per year at Aussie cine- 
mas. Figure had dropped to un- 
der 80 for 1952 according to pres- 
ent estimates, despite the fact that 
the Australia’s population had in- 
creased. Rydge pointed out that 
the 20% biz drop was bad enough, 
but going on a new population 
basis the decline was greater than 
20 %. 

Rydge said that there was a new 
era of intense selling in all com- 
mercial lines as vast volumes of 
goods poured into the market, with 
every industry fighting to main- 
tain sales. The pic industry, must 
fight to hold its own in the battle 
ahead. 

“If we give ground,” he said, “it 
will be because some other indus- 
try has beaten us .to the punch and 
taken our share of the public’s 
spending coin..” Rydge went on to 
say that theatre managers are the 
industry’s salesmen. Greater Union 
has 2,138 men and" women on the 
payroll. They must be converted 
into 2,138 salesmen, all trained by 
managers in' selling Ideas to win 
more patrons to the cinema, Rydge 
pointed out. 

“The day of the ready-made long 
lines is gone,” he stated. “The vol- 
ume of any industry’s turnover 
will In future be largely measured 
by. its salesmen: For every 100 
people who bought cinema tickets 
in 1945, less than 80 bought this 
year.- This position must be al- 
tered in 1953. The product com- 
ing forward from Hollywood and 
England is solid in entertainment. 
I believe the policy of making 
dvery man and women a salesman 
for motion pictures will be the in- 
dustry’s best insurance.” 


Scot Cinema Chief Asks 
Reds Get Coronation Pix 

Glasgow, Oct. 28. 

Sir Alexander King„ Scot cinema 
magnate, suggested here that Rus- 
sia should be given facilities to see 
J. c °lor film of the British Corona- 
tion next June. 

“Let them see how a democracy 
hves.” he commented. “Let us go 
gay for one fortnight, the small 
man showing the newsreel of the 
Coronation along with the big inan 
and tons of copies available for the 
Dominions, the Colonies and Amer- 
j ca - I know notfiing more impor- 
tant than that the Coronation film 
should be done in color and that 
the newsreel people should get a 
substantial amount out of the Brit 
tsh film levy,” 


2 New Cinemas Gives 

Haifa 17 Pix Houses 

Haifa, Oct. 28. 

This month saw the opening of 
two new cinemas here. The At- 
zmon, a 1,000 seater, one of them, 
belongs to an American-Israeli 
partnership and was two years un- 
der construction. 

The second house is a second-run 
on Mt. Carmel, seating 400. Policy 
of this one is run by the Armon 
management with only second-run 
£ix shown. Launching of these two 
houses gives Haifa 17 theatres or 
more than in Tel-Aviv although the 
latter has twice as large popula- 
tion. 


London Film Biz Up; ‘McLain’ Stout 
On Preem, “Widow’ Lively $12,300 
... For 2d, limelight’ Terrif 21G, 2d 


Yank Pix Slip 
At German B.O. 


Berlin, Oct. 28. 

Trend in film boxoffice popular- 
ity in West Germany’s most impor- 
tant key cities (including West 
Berlin) in September showed a 
loss by American and a good gain 
by German pix. U. S. films re- 
mained on top with 39.9% of play- 
dates as compared with 43.6% in 
August and 46.6% in 'July. Ger- 
man pictures held second spot with 
31.8% of dates as against 26.8% in 
August. French pix were next in 
playing time, 6.7% of dates, fol- 
lowed by Austrian pix and British 
films. 

German films were so successful 
in September that the first five 
money-grossers were local pix. 
“Pension Schoeller,” German pic 
released by London Films, was 
tops. “Desert Fox” (20th) was re- 
“Pension Schoeller,” German pic re 
leased the second part of Septem- 
ber, and immediately went ahead to 
become sixth biggest grosser. 
“Great Caruso” (M-G) again 
showed up well, being in eighth 
spot, as a high grosser. 

The most successful distributor 
last month was Deutsche London, a 
German-British outfit. Metro kept 
its second spot while RKO jumped 
from seventh to third in activity. 
20th was sixth, and Gloria, which 
handles Republic product, was 
seventh. 

A check of eight German key 
cities reveals that the crix liked 
Paramount’s “Detective Story’ 
best. It was released in Germany 
as “Pdlizei Revier 21.” Berlin crix 
chose Walt Disney^ “Fantasia” 
(RKO) as best pic, followed by 
"Detective Story.” 


Marquis de Cuevas Ballet 
Bows Paris Toe Season 

‘ Paris, Oct. 28. 

Fall ballet season was inaugu- 
rated at the Empire Theatre by the 
Ballet Du Marquis De Guevas. Bal- 
let opened Oct. 23 and is skedded 
to run until Nov. 23, with a possi- 
ble extension. Rosella Hightower 
and Serge Golovine are starred. 
Otherwise, company is not up to its 
predecessors here in corps de bal- 
let and repertoire. 

Premiere opened with a finely- 
choreographed “Concerto Barocco” 
by George Balanchine. Then the 
more ambitious, “The Sleepwalk- 
er,” which though uninspired in its 
group dancings, gave a fine inter- 
pretive lift in an eerie dance scene 
between a sleepwalker and her 
lover. The pas de deux of Miss 
Hightower and Golovine was bril- 
liant. Show closed with a gay spec- 
! tacle in “The Blue Danube.” 

House is doing near capacity. 
Acclaim is nowhere near that of 
the New York City Ballet or Ballet 
Theatre before them. Also expect- 
ed this year is the Sadler’s Wells 
Ballet, for the first time in three 
years. 


Film Biz in Spain For 
1st Half of '52 Soars 



Minor Wage Tilt Halts 


O- 

London, Nov. 4. 

The outbreak of token strikes 
throughout the major British stu- 
dios, • which dislocated shooting 
schedules and upped budgets thou- 
sands of dollars, came to a halt 
early last week. During the suc- 
ceeding days, union toppers have 
been in close confabs with top 
ranking producers discussing an 
addition to weekly pay. Negoti- 
ations appear to be ending with a 
modest concession for alf studio 
grades which will add 4c an hour 
to their earnings. 

. This offer- Was * originally made 
by tiie producers "but included 
conditions unacceptable to* the 
unions^ The pay rise eventually 
was agreed on an unconditional 
basis and without revision of the 
existing agreement. In the mean- 
nfhe," efforts will be made to re- 
sume negotiations on an all-em- 
bracing studio agreement. 


Charges London Revues 
Too Raw for Paris Stage 

London, Nov.-4. 

Producers of suggestive revues 
were accused of debauching the 
public by George Tomlinson, gen- 
eral secretary of the Public Moral- 
ity Council, at a meeting last 
Thursday (30) attended by R. A. 
Butler, the Chancellor of the Ex- 
chequer^nnd the Bishop of London 
Tomlinson avefred that the alleged 
Parisian revues here, specializing 
in so-called daring nude poses, 
would not be permitted in Paris. 

Of 58 legit productions viewed, 
32 had been commended and 17 
had not nvrited complaint or com 
mendation. Nine were criticised. 

Most of the criticisms, he ex 
plained, were on the “unhealthy 
exploitation of the female nude in 
revue perfprmances. This has long 
been a matter -on which the coun 
cil finds itself in disagreement with 
the policy of the Lord Chamber- 
lain who permits the exhibition of 
nudity provided his regulations as 
Lx.JUghting-^nd-absenee- ©f -move- 
ment are complied with/’ 


Washington, Ncv. 4, 
Film biz picked up steadily in 
Spain during the first six months 
of 1952, according to boxoffice re- 
ceipts at first runs in Madrid and 
Barcelona, Nathan D. Golden, di- 
rector of the Commerce Depart- 
ment film division, reports. Biz 
in the theatres during the period 
was 25% greater than comparable 
six months of 1951. 

’ Hollywood product continues to 
hold first place at the big city the- 
atres of Spain. U. S. films ac- 
counted for 68% of total receipts 
in Madrid for the first half of this 
year ,and 72% of receipts in Bar- 
celona. A total of 244 features 
were released In the two big cities 
in the six-month period, 54% of 
.them being American pix, an 
increase of 4% over the same pe- 
riod of last year. 

Golden points out also that the 
percentage of receipts going to 
Spanish-made, French and Mexi- 
can films declined from last year. 
No Argentine films at all were 
shown in the first half of ’52, as 
against nine playing the- .theatres 
last year. There was an increase 
in .the number of Italian and Ger- 
man pictures playing, in Spain. 

Spanish studios produced 41 fea- 
tures all last year, and 15 during 
the first six months of 1952. 


Aussie Paper Acquires 
Interest in Sydney Net 

Sydney, Oct. 28. 

Prexy Warwick Fairfax of Aus- 
sto’s oldest newspaper, Sydney. 
Morning Herald, and topper Clive 
Ogilvie' of station 2GB, key of the 
Macquarie network, consummated 
a deal whereby the SMH becomes 
a stockholder in the network. 
Largest shareholder in Macquarie 
is the Bartholomew Newspaper 
Group (London), in association 
with lodal station executives. 

Tire -Bartholomew buy into Mac- 
quarie created a political storm 
some time ago. 


Pull Old Vic's ‘Juliet' 

In London After 2 Mos. 

London, Oct. 28. 
Although the Old Vic production 
of “Romeo and Juliet,” starring 
Claire Bloom, could continue to 
play near capacity for an indefi- 
nite season, it is being pulled on 
Nov. 15 after a run of two months. 
It has been consistent SRO with all. 
["seats soid Tor' remmhder df run. 

The Shakespeare classic is being 
Withdrawn to make room for “An 
Italian Straw Hat,” which preems 
Nov. 18. This play, adapted from 
| the French of Eugene Labiche by 
Thomas Walton, has been directed 
by Denis Carey. Cast of new play 
includes Laurence Payne, Peter 
Finch, Paul Rogers, Gudrun Ure 
and Yvonne Coulette. 


Other Foreign News 
on Page 13 


‘Porgy* Aired in Vienna 

Vienna, Oct. 28. 

American-sponsored Red-White 
Red network broadcast a complete j 
tape-recorded performance of the 
recent visiting U. Sr production of 
Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess.” Ar- 
rangement was made with co-pro- 
ducer Robert Breen. 

• During the run of the folk-opera, 
the State Dept, operated network 
was permitted to place micro- 
phones in the auditorium. 


London, Oct. 28. 

The unmistakable impact of 
“Limelight,” which shattered the 
house record at the Odeon, Leices- 
ter Square, in its initial stanza, 
has set a new standard for the 
West End this past week. Although 
its start was slowed by unfavorable 
weather, biz, mounted appreciably 
midweek, with the Charles Chaplin 
film finishing its opening round 
with $20,300. Second weekend 
beat the opening one with pros- 
pect for at least $21,000 on initial 
holdover stanza. 

Also teeing off in fine fashion 
was “Big Jim McLain” at the War- 
ner. Although slipped in without 
the, customary press show, this 
John Wayne starrer opened to a 
surprisingly fast $5,700 in its first 
weekend. A new British entry, 
“The Gentle Gunman.” made a fair 
start at the Odeon, Marble Arch, 
with around $3,400 for first week- 
end while “The Holly and the Ivy” 
was below expectations with about 
$2,300 in first three days at the 
Carlton. 

“The Merry Widow,” pulled from 
the Empire to make way for the 
Command performance film, “Be- 
cause You’re Mine” hit a stout 
$12,300 in its second frame. “Quo 
Vadis” is still solid with $4,200 for 
third week of its new run at the 
Ritz. 

Estimates for Last Week 

Carlton (Par) (1,128; 55-$1.70)— 
“Holly and Ivy” (BL) (2d wk). New 
British pic opened moderately with 
$2,200 for first Weekend (three 
days). Stays at least a fortnight. 

Curzon (GCT) (500; 55-$1.35)— 
“Kon-Tiki” (RKO) and “Stranger 
in House” (GCT) (2d wk). Playing 
to stand-out biz with long lines 
nightly. Finished second frame 
with smash $5,300 after resounding 
$5,700 for first week. Stays indef. 

Empire .(M-G-M) (3,099; 55- 

$1.70) — “Merry Widow” (M-G) 
(2d wk). Steady $12,300 this round 
after .fair $14,500 opening week. 
“Because You’re Mine” (M-G) 
opened Command Film-run Oct. 
27. 

Gaumont (CMA) (1,500; 50-$1.70) 
— “Because of You” "(GFD) and 
“Horizon's West” (GFD. Modest ^ 
$3,100 opening weekend. Stays for ‘ 
three-week run. 

Leicester Square Theatre (CMA) 
(1,753; 50-$l. 70)— “Venetian Bird” 
(GFD) (3d wk). Petering out in 
final rotind to about $3,800. “It 
Started ltt Paradise” (GFD) opens 
Oct. 30. 

London Pavilion (UA) (1,217; 50- 
$1.70>— “Strange World” (UA) and 
“Red. Planet Mars” (UA) (2d wk>. 
Attracting above average trade 
with solid $6,200 this frame fol- 
lowed by big $3,600 for third, week- 
end. May hold a fourth wk. To 
be followed by “Narrow Margin” 
(RKO). 

Odeon, Leicester Square (CMA) 
(2,200; 50-$l. 70)— “Limelight” (UA) 
(2d wk). Likely to beat new house 
record established last week when 
it chalked up $20,300 in first frame. 
Second week looks powerful 
$21,000. Continues indef. 

Odeon, Marble Arch (CMA) 
(2,200; 50-$l. 70)— “Gentle Gun- 
man” (GFD). New Ealing film re- 
ceived lukewarm crix appraisal 
with fair $3,400 on first weekend. 
Will play normal three weeks. • 

Plaza (Par) (1,902; 70-$1.70)— 
“Turning Point” (Par) and “Sav- 
age” (Par) (2d wk). Finished first 
frame--at -okay “$fi,800 _ aiid~lioTditig ' 
firmly in final round. “Trent’s Last 
Case” (BL) moves in Oct 31. 

Ritz (M-G) (432; 30-$2.15)— “Quo 
Vadis” (M-G) (3d week). Still a 
top draw with over $4,200 this 
frame, play late here follows origi- 
nal six-month run. Stays indef. 

Warner (WB) (1,735; 50-$1.70)— 
“Big Jim McLain” (WB). Slipped 
in hurriedly but drawing big coin 
with near $5,700 for first weekend 
(four days). Holds. 


Wayne’s ‘Plunder’ in Mex 

Mexico City, Oct. 28. 

Production in English of “Plun- 
der in the Sun” is scheduled to 
start Nov. 3 by Wayne-Fellows 
Productions in the pop tourist belt 
of Oaxaca state and other locations 
in this country. 

John Wayne, Glenn Ford and 
Patricia Medina have the leads. 
John Fellows is director. 




Tke producers of tke screen’s greatest spectacles Lave done it again! Tke 

* 

public wliicli lias packed theatres to see tke wonders of "Quo V adis," 
tlie magnitude of Tvankoe,” now will revel in tlie spectacular excite- 
ment of tlie great adventure-romance "THE PRISONER OF 2ENDA/ 

In presenting tkis “masterpiece' of intrigue, lo veanddaring for tile rif St 

\ 

time in TECHNICOLOR, M-G-M stands ready to electrify tlie nation’s 
movie-goers again witk tlie kind of attraction tkey love! 


M-G-M present* In Color By Technicolor " THE PRISONER OP ZEND A ” starring STEWART GRANGER 
Deborah Kerr ♦ Louie Calhem • fane Greer * Lewie^Stene • Robert Douglae • andjAMES MASON. ae Rupert of 
Hentzau • Screen Play by John L. Bald erst on and Noel Langley * Adaptation by Welle Root from the novel by 
Anthony Hope and the dramatization by Edward Roue '.Directed by Richard Thorpe • Produced byPandro S ♦ Berman 


'VARIITY'*' LONDON pPFfCX 
t St. Martin's Flac*, Trafalgar Square 


vmrnrr 


INTERNATIONAL 


13 



Pushed Off Streetcar, 

Silent Star Asks 206 


'Tourist Upbeat Booms AD Show Biz 


rix talent to Boost nispano-Am. B,0, 


Buenos Aires, Oct. 28. -4-* 

Local film studios continue sign- 
ing up Spanish film talent on the 
supposition that this will help them 
in marketing their product in othev 
Hispano-American countries. EFA 
studios feel particularly happy over 
the acquisition of Spanish bull- 
fighter Mario Cabre, who has tested 
well before the cameras. Rushes 
of his first work here in “Mission 
in Buenos Aires” have been okayed 
bv director J. Gazcon. Part of the 
film’s cast leaves for Spain soon 
for sequences to be lensed in Ma- 
drid and Barcelona. 

On the other hand, Spain threat- 
ens to steal Argentina's prize lead- 
ing man. Carlos Thompson, who 
has received bids from Cesareo 
Gonzales, which he is flow mulling. 
Hollywood has also made tentative 
bids for this star, who speaks fairly 


good English. 

Development of new talent is' 
one of the producers’ biggest head- 
aches here. They are particularly 
short of juvenile male leads. This 
year’s crop of films has revealed' 
no startling finds, and apart from 
Carlos Thompson, Alberto Closas 
and Angel Magana, there is a singu- 
lar dearth of males available ‘.fpr 
producers. Great hopes are enter* 
tained for Spanish actor Jorge Mis- 
tral now at work on “Count.; of 
Monte Cristo” for Argentina Sdrio 
Filin. 

Some hopes are being held for 
Alberto Dalbes, who had a small 
part in the unreieased, “Donde se 
Separan los Caminos” (“Where the 
Roads Fork”), and who is rated as 
having good possibilities. He is b6- 
ing signed for a more important 
role iw “Una Ventana a la Vida” - 
(“A Window on Life”), which Mario 
Soffiei is to direct soon for Cordoba 
Films. Roberto Escalada has been 
selected for lead, to Laura Hidalgo 
in “Black Ermine,” which is to be 
adapted from a Chilean best-selling 
novel. 

Film companies here are trying 
out their pictures in sneak pre- 
views. with the great Atlantic coast, 
resort of Mar del Plata chosen as 
the preview spot. One' of the pix 
thus subjected to audience-wise re- 
action was “La Voz de mi Ciudad” 

( ‘ The Voice of My City”), produced 
by Artistas Argentinos Asociados, 
while “Stella Maris” (Argentina 
Sono Film), mostly lensed in Mar 
del Plata, was .given a big window 
dressing preem at that fepot. 

Cordoba Province's Film Unit 

A new production unit, set up by 
capitalists in the province of Cor- 
doba, has signed Alejandro Wehn- 
et\ recently arrived German di- 
rector, to make “Cerco de Piedra” 
("Stone Fence”) by Alberto L’arran- 
bedere. " ; 1 

The old Baires studios has been 
leased by Artistas Argentinos Aso- 
ciados (AAA) for shooting its next 
feature. “South Dock,” from a 
script by Carlos Olivari and Sixto 
Pondal Rios. Tulio Demitchelli will 
direct, with Mario Fortuna. playing 
the lead. Anita Lasalle, who has 
prestige on the stage but who has 
never done ,any screen work, has 
been chosen to make her first 
screen bid in this picture. 

After three months' of work, Car- 
los Hugo Christensen has just com- 
pleted “Immodest Angel” (“Angel 
Sin Pudor”) with Susana Freyre 
and Angel Magana in the leads. 
This is a Film-Andes effort, but 
was made at the San Miguel stu- 
dios. “The Perez-Garcia Family,” 
a popular feature of Argentine ra- 
dio ion the Mundo web) for over 
12 years, will be taken to the screen 
£m : - a -second: thner-m -“Wedding" alrj 
the Perez-Garcias,” which Carlos 
Borcosque will direct. Most of the 
screen characters will be played by 
the radio cast 

Argentina Sono Film, the most 
commercially successful of lo^al 
studios, has been able to work off 
most of the loans received from 
the Industrial Credit Bank under 
the Protectionist Law (which al- 
lows 60 % to 70% of production 
costs via bank loans), and is plan- 
ning a schedule of 15 feature films 
tor 1953. On the other hand, San 
Miguel Studios, currently under 
ivase for the shooting of “La 
-Muerte on Las Callus” (“Dfeatli in-, 
the Streets”), will stay shuttered 
indefinitely, becaiise Prexy Miguel 
Machinandiarena has been unable 
to arrange for financing. 

Carlos A. Petit has cabled from 
s l>ain that he signed two Spanish*, 
(utresses Aurora Bautista and 
d'lanitn Rcina for film chores in 
Argentina next year. 


/Samson’ to New Record 
For 4 Wks, in Indonesia 

■< ’Djakarta, Oct. 28. 

“Samson and Delilah’*- (Par) has 
finished its fourth week in Dja- 
karta's (Indonesia) Dutch-owned 
Garden HaU Theatre, beating the 
previous boxoffice record there 
held by postwar run of “Gone 
With the Wind” (M-G). 

“Samson” ‘has passed the $44,- 
000 for showing in the cities of 
Djocjacarta, Bandung and here. In 
post-war Indonesia, no picture has 
run for four weeks here. “Holly- 
wood Canteen” <WB) last year last- 
ed three weeks in the small As- 
toria Theatre, 


Vienna, Oct. 28. 

^ Asta Nielsen, a film star of the 
silent picture era. has asked $20.- 
000 damages from the Innsbruck 
Streetcar Co. Because the driver 
of the traiq earlier this year was i 
j sentenced to two weeks in jail, 
-chances are. that she may win her 
j damage suit. 

| Mi's. .Nielsen claims that the 
I driver shoved her off a crowded 
j platform, hospitalizing her for two 
i months. 


italo Govt. Threatens 
Tougher Rules on U.S. 
Filins, Frozen Rentals 

Rome, -Oct. 28. 

American distributors in Italy 
have asked the Italian government 
to continue discussions on lower- 
ing the rental ceilings from 42% 
to .40%. A committee has been 
set up to make a report, particu- 
larly on films coming under the 
heading of “exceptional” which 
have no ceiling price. 

U;. £}.« distributors feel that' exist- 
ing regulations on remittances and 
use of frozen ’funds here already 
IS rather .- strict. . They fear that 
these may become more strict 
later 1 , especially in view of the re- 
cent French-American negotiations. 
When the Italians saw what the 
French government .was imposing, 
they believed that possibly they 
had been too lenient in their rul- 
ings. Italian government also has 
clamped down on the use of frozen 
lire by American companies. For- 
merly the Americans had consider- 
able freedom in getting their funds 
out of Italy by various private dis- 
count setups. 

Lately, it has been necessary to 
exert pressure to get fupds unfro- 
zen for such items as travel and 
expenses of American reps in 
Italy. The new ceiling on rentals 
was decreed under the 1947 Great- 
er Film Law, and has been a sub- 
ject of discussions ever since; 

The Italo-American film trade 
agreement has been in existence 
since May of 1950. The first of 
next yepr it wjll be time to start 
drawing 1 up the next two-year pact. 

BBC’s ‘Facts of Life’ 1 
Show Skirts Sex Issue 

London, Nov. 4. 

Consciously skating on thin ice 
and desperately trying to avoid 
tlie controversial issues it was 
spotlighting, a British Broadcast- 
ing Corp. program. “Facts of Life" 
skirted the sex problem for teen- 
agers without ever seriously com- 
ing to grips. It was little more 
than a well intent ioned academic 
discussion. 

The program .was aired on the 
weekly feature, “The Under-20 
Club.” Discussion will be carried 
a stage further when tonight 
(Tues.) members of a youth club 
will be giving their reactions to 
the questions posed in the original 
show. 

Instead of indicating the degree 
of" sex 'ThsTnlctibn 'tlfat' m Fgh t ' r'e'a- 
sonably be given children, the pro- 
gram debated the responsibility 
for imparting it and. documentary 
style, indicated what might hap- 
pen tp children kept in ignorance 
by well-intentioned parents. 


Israel Longhair 
Season Opens Dull 

Tel-Aviv, Oct. 28. 

The longhair show biz season in 
Israel is making a very slow start 
this year. Aside from the Israel 
Philharmonic Orch, which as usual 
began its concert series this month, 
no prominent artists or groups, 
either local or foreign, are booked 
for Israel appearances in October 
and early in November. Some 
concert agencies are mpre reluc- 
tant than ever to engage foreign 
artists, since financial risks are 
much greater than last season 
what with higher airline fares and 
dearth of money with the public. 

Despite this, concert * agencies 
have contracted some foreign art- 
ists. Probably in accordance with 
public taste here, the agencies 
have favored booking Negro groups 
or soloists. The Ginzburg & Gillon 
agency engaged the Latin Amer- 
ica Ballet, a troupe of Hawaiian 
dancers and singers and - another, 
Negro fiance group, the Kathrin 
Flower ‘Banem, ■ for ‘ early next 
year. It also made contracts for 
the current season with -the pianist 
William Kapell, Yehudi Menuhin, 
and with the Marina Svetlova ballet 
group. 

The Parnassus agency has 
booked Negro .singer, Annabelle 
Davies for a concert tour next 
month. 


Stross to Set UA Pix Deal 

London, Oct. 28. 

Raymond Stroks, independent 
producer and exhibitor, visits the 
U. S. in January to finalize ar- 
rangements for two subjects out- 
standing in his three-picture deal 
with United Artists. .The first, 
“RhughshooJ.” starring*"- Joel Mc- 
Crea and Eveleyn Keyes, is in its 
final stages of lensing. 

Choice of subject for one of the 
two remaining UA .films has al- 
ready been made, being a free 
adaptation- of ; “Breach of Mar- 
riage”' a play dealing with artifi- 
cial insemination. This will be a 
modest budgeter. 


Ventura Buys Paris Cinema 

Paris. Oct. 28. 

The Olympia, first-run house, 
comes under the aegis of Ray Ven- 
tura and Bruno Coquatrix on Nov. 
7. This large theatre, which has 
been floundering of late probably 
because of product and being off 
the beaten path, will be given a 
better deal on pix by the new 
owners. Ventura and Coquatrix, 
being producers, probably 'will use 
the new spot to showcase their 
own films.. They also plan to turn 
tlie theatre into a variety house 
later. Coquatr;x, also a legit pro- 
ducer, will use the house for re- 
hearsals of his new operetta. “Po- 
paul and Virginie.” 

Mrs. Jacques Haik, widow of the 
late showman, asked that the name 
of her husband be kept under the 
Olympia name; heftce it continues 
as a memorial to the exhib. 


Legit Shows Abroad 

LONDON 

(Week ending Nov. 1) 

<, (Figures Indicate opening date) 
"Affairs of State/' Cambridge (8-21). 
"Bells St. Martin," St. Mart. (8-29). 

"Call Me Madam," Coliseum (3-15). 
"Deep Blue Sea," Duchess (3-6). 

"Dial M Murder," West. (6-19). . 
"Excitement," Casino (3-8). 

"Cay Dog," Piccadilly (6-12). 

"Globe Revue," Globe (7-10). 

"Hanging Judge," New (8-23). 

"Happy Marriage," Duke York (8-7). 
"Husbands Don't," W. Garden (10-1). 
"Innocents," Majesty's (7-3). 

"Little Hut," Lyric (8 r 23-50_), _ 

“Condon Taugns," XdelpIiT (4-12). 

"Love of Colonels," Wyn. (5-23-51). 
"Love from Judy," Saville (9-25). 

"Meet Callahan," Garrick (5-27). 

"Paris to Piccadilly," Pr. Wales (4-15). 
•"Porgy A Bess," Stoll (10-8). 
"Quadrille," Phoenix (9-12). 

"Relative Value," Savoy (11-28-51). 
"Reluctant Heroes," White. (9-12-50). 
"Romeo A Juliet," Old Vic (9-15). 

■ "Ranch In Rockies," Empress (6-5). 
"Seagulls Sorrento," Apollo (6-14-50). 
"Second Threshold," Vaude, (9-24). 
"South Pacific," Drury Lane (11-1-51). 
"Troublemakers," Comedy (9-16). 
"Water of Moon," Haymarket (4-19-51). 
Emlyn Williams, Ambass. (9-3). 

"Zip Goes a Million," Palace (10-20-51). 
"Young Ellx.," Criterion (4-2). 

SCHEDULED OPENINGS 
(Figures denote premiere dates) 
"Teddy Bare's Picnic," Ambassadors (4). 
"Dead Secret," St. James’s (5). 

"Wild Horses," Aldwych .(6). 

"Ring Out Bells," Viet. Palace (12). 


AUSTRALIA 

(Week ending Oct. 31) 

"Kiss Me, Kate," Royal! Sydney.’ 
"Folles Bergere," Tivoli, Sydney. 
"See How Run," Royal, v Adelaide. 
"Tommy Trlndel?' Show,"* Tivoli, Mel. 
"South Pacific," Majesty, Mel. 

"Ice Folfle," Majesty, Brisbane. 

"Ice Parade/' Empire, Sydney. 

Kiwis, Comedy, Mel. 


In Madrid; Lush Takes for Cafes 


Italo Film Prods. Swing 
To Venice for Locales 

Milan, Oct. 28. 

The city of Venice continues to 
furnish the background for a large 
number of Italian productions. 
Following the Venice-background- 
ed “L’Appel du Destin,” French 
product starring Jean Marais re- 
cently shot there, five other cur- 
rent pix are concerned with Ven- 
ice either in title or setting, or 
both. They are: “The Bridge of 
Sighs,” starring Frank Latimore, 
Francoise Rosay, Elvy Lissiak; 
“Merchant of Venice,” with Michel 
Simon in the title role of the 
French production; “I Piombi Di 
Venezia” (Venturini), and “Ii For- 
naretto di Venezia” (QCI), with 
Mariella Lotti.- 

Forthcoming “Signora Senza 
Camelie” to be directed by Michel- 
angelo Antonioni for* Erges Davan- 
zati, will use the Venice Film Fes- 
tival as part of background. 

Desert Fox’ Produces 
Varying Comment, Sock 
Biz in West Germany 

Berlin, O^t. 28, 

Although no recent disturbances, 
have been reported over the Ger- 
man preem, of “Desert Fox” (20th), 
pic biog of German African Gen- 
eral Rommel, the film is undoubt- 
edly one of the most talked-about 
pictures in Gerrriariy today. It is 
drawing at the .box office about as 
well as the German pic, “Thfc Sin- 
ner,” which created hot protests 
two years ago because of its al- 
leged sexy and immoral angles. 

Pic’ was released in West Ger- 
many about five weeks ago and at 
the Delphi Palast here a bit later. 
Crix on seven out of 10 papers 
favored the film’s subject matter.. 
However, only four papers out of 
10 praised its being released while 
three had mixed opinions and 
three strongly opposed it. 

With West Berlin newspapers, 
opinion varied* the same way. 
“Neue Zeitung, 1 ' U. S.-sponsored 
paper, skid pic has, artistically and 
technically, the usual high stand- 
ard of American films. But the pic 
offers a rather falsified picture of 
the German resistance and puts 
Rommel and other German leaders 
in too favorable a light, it held. 

In spite of differing opinion, 
“Fox” will probably turn out to be 
one of the biggest money-makers 
in postwar Germany since it not 
only appeals to usual film patrons 
but also to those who generally 
have only slight interest in the 
cinema, 

Mex Producers Dip into 
$2,890,000 Govt. Fund 

Mexico City, Oct. 

The film trade’s own bank, the 
semi-official Banco Nacional Cine- 
malografico, is using the $2,890,- 

000 which the government pro- 
vided, to >back film production. 
Three producers, Producciones 
Miguel Zacarias, Argel Films and 
Fernando Soler' y Sanchez Tello, 
who had* generally found their own 
coin for producing, availed them- 
selves of this government fund for 
making one film each. 

Besides, the" baTrik is using the 
•fund to accommodate its regular 
film customers. 

Another Brit. Studio 

Reopens for Telepix 

London, Oct. 28. 

Another British studio which has 
been dark for some time is to re- 
open for telepix production. High 
Definition Films, a new company 
headed by Norman Collins, has ac- 
quired the Highbury studios, for- 
merly operated by J. Arthur Rank. 
Company was launched earlier in 
the year to do TV production via 
film. The studios will swing into 
activity next year.. 

Finished films will embody a 
definition of approximately 700 
lines as against the 405 lines used 
in America. Collins returned last 
month from a quick trip to Canada 
where he discussed a project for 

1 tele pix production for TV there. 


* Madrid, Oct. 28. 

After the August lull, show biz 
is experiencing a fall season that 
is much stronger than in recent 
years. Locals are back from va- 
cations and tourists are filling 
hotels to capacity, with overflow 
taking rooms in the suburbs. Ger- 
mans and French /orm the bulk 
of the tourist trade with a good 
percentage of North and South 
Americans filling the smartest ex- 
pensive hotels. Numerous tourists 
from England and Holland also 
are reported. 

The result of this tourist inva- 
sion is that niteries are doing ex- 
ceedingly well. There are about 12 
nightclubs here, some offering 
only topical fare like flamenco 
singers and dancers, but these are 
apparently what the tourists want. 

. The Passapoga reopened Sept. 
12, with “Ballet Maruja Herrero,” 
11 Spanish dancers and singers 
just back from a tour of the Near 
East; Alicia Duncan, Argentine 
•chantosee; Chiquita Herrado, fla- 
menco daneer; and Tamara & Or- 
Ipff, acro-dancers. The Villa Rosa, 
in open air spot, continues with 
Argentine comedian Pepe Iglesias 
partnered by Carlos Froriti. This 
act has been here for the last 
three months, but because Iglesias 
is doing a pic for Cesareo Gonzales 
ahd Sue via Film, he will remain 
another month. Andres Canas and 
Pista Fekete orchs with warblers 
plus Ruben Melo as emcee high- 
light the show. Remainder of the 
program is composed of second- 
rate Spanish song and dance acts. 
The public likes Iglesias and fills 
the place. 

The Parrilla Pavillion has the" 
Three Hatas, ac^bats, and the 
ballet organized by Marife, the 
dancer who used to partner Al- 
berto Torres in the U.S. The Pa- 
villion also has the novelty of a lad 
emcee, Senorita Angelines Gara, 
comely femme. 

Raul Abril and his band have 
opened the fall season at the Casa- 
blanca nitery . where the bill is 
topped by Argentine chantosee 
Elena de Torres. 

The Conga has Spanish singers 
headed by Carmen Castillo and 
the California and Conga orchs. 
The Morocco, smartest, expensive 
nitery in Madrid, has opened with 
Chilean chantosee Helia Grandon 
and Spanish singer Salvador Mala. 
Club Castello also has opened for 
the season, but has only accor- 
dionist-singer Jean Freber besides 
the house band. 


FIRST ‘MADAM’ ROAD 
CO. SET FOR GLASGOW 

London, Oct, 28. 

The first British road company 
of “Call Me Madam,” with Noele 
Gordon in the lead, will play the 
King’s Theatre, Glasgow, end of 
the year. 

Production, presented by Jack 
Hylton, will not affect his London 
edition, which has been doing SRO 
biz at the Coliseum since its open- 
ing in mid-March. Billie Worth is 
star of the Coliseum show. 

Toronto Cracks Down 
On Big Theatre Signs 

Toronto, Nov. 4. 

Mainstem theatre marquees will 
be permitted illumination but can- 
not bill current features pix. Also 
sirgfi$"'or" 'banhers"TienceT6rt'fi ' wiTT 
not be allowed above or below 
canopies, according to a new by- 
law passed by the city council. 

Follows a bitter fight headed by 
legal counsel for the city’s major 
first-runs, plus Arch Jolley, spokes- 
man for the Motion Picture Thea- 

fc res 

The city's “beautification” plan 
by-law was passed last March 
forced removal of all projecting 
signs, including the newly-erected 
$60,000 spectacular of Loew’s The- 
atre and the $40,000 standard of 
the Imperial, largest theatre in 
Canada. Houses either dismantled 
perpendiculars, without replace- 
ment, or erected similar stands on 
their roof tops, thus beating the 
by-law. Existing marquees, had 
been permitted since last March, 
but pressure was subsequently 
brought upon city fathers by mer- 
chants’ associations. First-runs 
have decided not to battle the 
issue further. 



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Wednesday, November 5, 1952 



PICTURES 


15 


Inside Stuff-Pictures 


“There can't be any blueprint of programming for theatre television ‘ FniL ? ,-? e ,5 Pans Ana_ 
over a long period for the same reasons that applied to radio and TV : TTnuL^A 3 ^ starts shooting Dec. 1. ! 
broadcasting when they began operation*” states S. H. Fabian. The j £ rtl S S "i! 11 rele , as< T . ... 

eastern circuit operator has been one of exhibition’s chief advocates of ■ Douglas has male lead with 


theatre TV. 

At present, said Fabian, theatres with the video equipment are 
taking sports subjects because they’re the easiest to handle, following 
the pattern established by AM and TV at their inceptions. As for the 
future, he adds, “programs for theatre TV will increase as theatre 
facilities increase, and vice versa, one thing complementing the other.” 

Samuel Goldwyn’s “Hans Christian Andersen” copped unusually 
vide magazine attention in the past week. Current issue of Life had 
a six-page color layout on the film. November issue of Coronet car- 
ries a 16-page art feature on the “Ugly Duckling” fable in “Ander- 
sen.” and the current Newsweek, has a two-page piece on Frank Loesser, 
who did the score. 

Amid -the rapidrfire appointments — and dismissals — made at RKO 
over the past month, some hastily-drawn conclusions were made in the 
trade that Kay Norton, as RKO’s publicity chief, was the first femme 
to hold that spot at a major company. Actually, Hortense Schorr is 
a vet in that position, having been with Columbia for years. 


/SSe fufcinlSi. 1 Costs, Limited Time, Exhib Reluctance 

pic to be directed in Paris by Ana- ■ 

Stiff Preclude Big TV Bally for Pix 


femme spot yet to be set. Pic is be- 
ing made under the Benagoss Pro- 
ductions banner. 


‘Ivanhoe’ Oct. Champ 


Continued from page 4 


w eekly ratings. Film was ninth in 
September. 

“Back at Front” (U), inclined to 
some spottiness in the closing week 
of October, showed enough to fin- 
ish ninth. “One Minute to Zero” 
(RKOl landed 10th place, the same 
rating as in September. “Monkey 
Business (20th) was 11th, with crix 
appraisal not particularly helpful 
despite Cary Grant :having the top 
spot in the production. “Son of 
Paleface” (Par), second in Septem- 
ber rounded out' the Golden 
Dozen boxoffice winners although 
obviously having captured the bulk 
of its biz in the preceding month. 

“Sudden Fear” (RKO), fourth in 
September, and “Merry Widow” 
OI-Gx, . boxoffice champ a. month 
ago, were the runnerup films. 

New product just being launched 
late last month does not appear as 
promising as in recent week. How- 
ever, there are some newcomers, 
including “Snows” * and “You’re 
Mine,” that are already big enough 
to land in the October ratings. The 
month witnessed the launching of 
“This Is Ciherama” in N. Y. f which 
apparently" is assured of capacity 
biz for months to come at the 
Broadway Theatre. Hailed by 
many as a ^evolutionary tri-dimen- 
sional type process, it will depend 
on gross biz at tbe single house for 
the time being. , 

“The Thief” (UA), which has 
ranged from good to big or sock, 
shapes as a winner. “Springfield 
Rifle” (WB), mainly good thus far, 
is leaning on the fact that Gary 
Cooper is starred for nice money. 

“Limelight” (UA) got its U. S. 
preem in two N. Y. theatres near 
the end of the month. Charles 
Chaplin starrer was big at the 
As tor on Broadway and near- 
capacity at the Trans-Lux 69th St., 
where day-dating on two-a-day and 
upper-scale run. “Hellgate”' (Lip), 
somewhat uneven, did well enough 
to become a runnerup film one 
ueek. 

“Lusty Men” (RKO), another 
new pic, was somewhat uneven on 
initial playdates but managed to 
cop sixth place in final week of 
October. “Four Poster” (Col) on 
its two first dates in N. Y. was mild 
in the Broadway Victoria but fairly 
nice at the Small-seater Sutton. 
“Stranger in Between” (U> scored 
during the month playing arty 
theatres where it was largely big 
to sock. 

“Everything Have Is Yours” 
(M-G) ranged from fast to fair on 
initial playdates, possibly indicat- 
ing that the pic will need plenty 
■of - wiling: — 

lese” (U), good to okay in several 
scattered keys, looks to obtain its 
best results from smaller cities. 

‘ Way of a Gaucho” (20 th) varied 
from mild and dull showings to 
okay and nice. “Something for the 
Birds” ( 20 th), rated as having an 
unfortunate title, ranged froip slow 
and light to okay. 

“Full House” (20th) racked up 
some strong sessions, especially 
in so-called arty theatres. “As- 
signment Paris” (Col), fairly new, 
c nipped in with fair biz to o£ay 
and good biz. “Yankee Buccaneer” 
i 7 ’ varied from big to mild. “Devil 
Makes Three” (M-G) continued 
^ uggish — “Rose Bowl* Story” 
•Mono) did better on the Coast 
than elsewhere were moderate for 
the most part. 

“Son of All Baba” (U) added a 
oatch of very profitable sessions, 
vuh grosses described as mainly 
good to bright. “Caribbean” (Par) 
011 the disappointing side, with 


Max Cohen Seeks 

$11,915,000 In Suit 

Vs, Major Firms 

Total of $11,915,000 is sought 
from five major distributors and 
several theatre circuits in a triple- 

| damage, antitrust suit brought in 
N. Y. Federal Court last week by 
: the operators of the New Amster- 
j dam Theatre, a West 42d St., N. Y. t 
subsequent-run house. Anco Enter- 
prises, Inc., asks $1,332,000. Anwell 


numerous fair to mild showings to : Amus.' Eorp wanti TtJts.OOO. and 

frvJif ° k l y ? ates ' Gold “ | Ancore Amus. Corp. seeks $2,- 
en Hawk (Col) cashed in on some 1 

favorable playdates. “The Ring” 

(UA) showed up with some modest 

and-good sessions. 


“Hurricane Smith” (Par) weighed 
in with okay to spry totals. - “My 
Wife’s Best Friend” (20th) ranged 
from fair to strong in many loca- 
tions. “Duel At Silver Creek” (U) 
registered some fine to stout ses- 
sions. 



Hartman 



Continued from pace 

with • directors and -Hartman- on- 
each pic before shooting. He said 
a study showed sustained -scenes 
are “better played scenes” and 
audiences can “tire quickly of the 
routine method of cutting, routine 
method of shooting, so that we 
wind up always with a long shot, 
a medium shot or a close shot. This 
must be eliminated and a new 
style of shooting instigated that 
narrows down the number of set- 
ups, therefore the number of 


808.000. 

Named defendants are' RKO Ra- 
dio Pictures and four subsidiaries, 
Warner Bros, and two subsidiaries. 
Paramount Pictures and three sub- 
sidiaries, Columbia Pictures, United 
Artists and United Paramount The- 
atres. Three plaintiff corporations, 
headed by Max A. Cohen, charge 
that the distributor defendants 
have discriminated in favor of the 
Loew and RKO circuits in allocat- 
ing second-run product in the N. Y. 
metropolitan area. 

Five distribs, according to the 
complaint, split their product as 
follows: Loew’s gets Paramount, 
United Artists, Columbia and one- 
half of Universal while RKO re- 
ceives 20th-Fox, Warners and one- 
half of Universal. This alleged 
practice "would be broken up via 
an injunction. 

Cohen’s theatre firms also ask 
the court to restrain the distrib de- 
fendants from licensing features on 
Broadway runs for aYiy period ex- 
tending beyond such rtime as the 
court should determine, or is re- 
quired to prevent unreasonable 
withholding of availability of such 


shooting days.” . ^ A 

( 4 ) Cutting down number of features from the New Amsterdam 
sets in a pic. Hartman pointed out 1 * n addition, the action seeks to 


that all of the economy program is 
geared not to take away from audi 


compel the distribs to negotiate 
with Ancore in “good faith” and 


ence enjoyment, but said there’s ; honor an alleged promise in which 
“no evidence that audiences like • P 1 T od 1 H c * : w ? u * d be made available to 
pictures with 40 sets better than : * „ New Amsterdam 21 .days after 

* _ T» » _ .J _ . _% £ \ ^ * 


they like picture with 20 sets.” 
Hartman expressed his idea of a 


a Broadway run and 28 days after 
an opening at the Radio City Mu- 
j sic Hall, N. Y. Among other things 


‘ n W b n!! ding Play ; ' charged that ttTdSSS- 

ers citing Audrey Hepburn, a new j ants conspired to eliminate corn- 
player, being used with Gregory : ne tition 

Peck, a star, in “Roman Holiday.”! . * . . T . . 

saying Peck helps to pull her to * . ^ e w Amsterdam 

stardom i in Ancore leased the house to 

-j. . ' . . ,, . .. , .. . Anwell, which operated the prem- 

Hartman adds that the studio is j j ses through 1949. Ancore has run 
determined to build new, younger ; the theatre U p to the present. Rep- 


players, so Pa^ will have, before 
long, its “own roster of stars and 
not be forced into paying out-of- ! 


ping the plaintiff corporations is 
the law firm of Weisman, Quinn, 
i Allan & Spett. Similar antitrust 


line prices now demanded by im- : SU it~ seeking $ 9 , 000,000 was filed 

nrtrranr frpalan/>p nlavArc ” ! .• i n . • . « , 


; against the majors in N. Y. Federal ! 


portant freelance players. 

Hartman will present to home- • Court in November, 1949, by the 
office execs an idea for a half-hour j New Amsterdam’s operators. 

promotion short titled “How to. ! 

Break into the Movies,” with 
younger players on the studio ros- 
ter in the cast. Each player would 
be seen in the test resulting in his 
being signed by Par, with name of 
the director and perhaps Cecil B. ; j n to the RKG monetary picture by 
DeMille narrating. Hartman said , Hughes himself. Of that amount, 
studio would give short gratis to j the film corporation now owes 


Flirtation between distributors 
and TV as a potential medium to 
exploit their pix is entering a more 
serious stage, but high costs, lim- 
ited time availabilities and exhib 
reluctance to cooperate still pre- 
clude any close ties. 

Companies are showing consid- 
erable curiosity about TV’s poten- 
tial b.o. pull and they are experi- 
! menting with special trailers and 
j spots. Under the present setup, 
{however, returns as a rule fail to 
measure up to soaring expenses, 
and exhibs are unwilling to pur- 
chase TV time even on a co-op 
basis. 

Despite the limited experience 
behind them, distrib execs are 
juggling ad budget to see where 
TV might fit in. . For the moments 
most of them stick to the convic- 
tion that th,: vast amounts that 
must be poured into a TV spot 
campaign are still better applied 
to newspaper ads. But they don’t 
rule out the possibility that this 
attitude will change as TV grows. 
Execs foresee the possibility of 
the entire distribution pattern 
being changed to take utmost ad- 
vantage of TV campaigns, with 
saturation area premieres the rule 
rather than the exception. 

Latest experiment using TV to 
give a pic a sendoff boost comes 
today (Wed.) in New Haven when 
Universal opens “It Grows on 
Trees” at the Paramount Theatre. 
Comedy starring Irene Dunne, was 
plugged by series of 25 spots in 
Class A time over station WNHC. 
Spots, in 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. slot, 
come to $132 each, with U footing 
the bill. Pic opens. simuHaneously 
in Hartford and within a few days 
at other situations in the surround- 
ing area. 

U’s Activity 

U has been particularly active 
in using TV both through tieups 
and otherwise over the past two 
years. Distrib is one of few that 
makes film clips available when 
it’s deemed advisable and has ac- 
tually produced, special TV foot- 
age. Reels showing location work 
on “Bend of the River” and Alaska 
jaunt for “The World in His Arms” 
got good TV pickups. 

Columbia intends to sink coin 


Solomon’s Mines.” M-G stars still 
aren’t permitted to make “live” TV 
appearances. Otfyer studios, like 
<U and Republic, actually en- 
courage use of players oh' TV for 
promotional purposes. 

Execs, impressed with the re- 
sults of “King Kong,” which RKO 
gave the full TV treatment even 
in New York, where cream-time 20- 
60 second spots come as high as 
$775, haven’t quite figured out how 
much TV helps. They’re agreed 
that, at this point, TV support for 
a single opening is q waste of 
money. A recent Philadelphia 
ooll reportedly established, how- 
ever, that upwards of 25% of the 
patrons had their interest in a cer- 
tain pic whetted by the TV ad 
campaign. 

Economy-minded exhibs in key 
cities maintain they haven’t got the 
money to invest in TV. They say 
that national advertisers have 
grabbed all the top evening time, 
leaving no room for occasional spot 
campaigns. A number of circuits 
are among the Applicants for TV 
statiQns. Their spokesmen point 
to the example of the Wometco 
circuit in Miami which plugs its 
pix extensively over its own sta- 
tion. 


Dickinson Theatre In 

Kansas Bombed 

Kansas City, Nov. 4. 

A bomb blast early Friday (31) 
damaged the front of the Dickin- 
son Theatre, Mission, Kans., to the 

■extent of - $5,000. The- explosion 

evidently was caused by a dyna- 
mite bomb hurled at the front of 
the theatre from a passing car. 

Glen W. Dickinson, Sr., head of 
the circuit of which the Mission 
house is the anchor theatre, was 
unable to give police any reason 
for the bomb-tossing. Kansas City 
(Mo.) police Friday arrested Felix 
Ferina, holding him for investiga- 
tion. 

Dickinson said he himself re- 
cently has been involved in dis- 
cussions with the projectionists 
union. The projectionists at the 


VVIVIU1MA4I JU1 t^UUO VU OHU\ WH A i a» ^„a • ml _ . 

into TV campaigns for “The Happy j * 


Time” in seven or eight key cities. 
Distrib seeks co-op deals with ex- 
hibs, the latter footing the entire 
newspaper ad bill while -Columbia 
shells out the heavy TV money. 
Company used TV also for “As- 
signment Paris” but dropped it 
when the pic didn’t measure up. 

Ed Sullivan’s “Toast of the 
Town’VCBS-TV show a week ago 
Sunday carried a seven-minute 
film clip from “The Happy Time.” 
the longest excerpt to be made 
available for TV plugging by any" 
distrib. Plenty of old and *somc 
new footage is skedded to be aired 
Dec. 14 and 21 when Sullivan 


was believed to have been hurled 
at about 1:10 a. m. Five minutes 
earlier Mrs. Iva Brown, theatre 
manager, drove away after closing 
up for the night. No one was in 
the theatre. 


Souvaine, Mayer-K. 

Snare Italo, French Pix 

Souvaine Selective Pictures has 
acquired American rights to “The 
Siege of Alcazar,” Italian pic based 
on the Spanish Civil War. - Film 
stars Andrea Checchi, Marie Denis 
and Fosco Giachetti, and has Gen- 


$3,000,000 

Continued from page 3 


theatres. 



Johrisfon 

Continued from page 3 


expressed surprise over the news 
of Johnston’s projected “ South 
American jaunt. They pointed out 
that the Motion Picture Export 
Assn, board had given the MPEA 
prexy “carte blanche” in the mat- 
ter of tlie French situation and 
that he, therefore, was not bound 
to consult with anyone before mak- 
iny any decisions. Tenor of the 
comment was that the French prob- 
lem was of increasing concern, with 
the companies continuing their pol- 
icy of not picking up any dubbing 
permits* 

Spokesman for one of the dis- 
tribs indicated he understood John- 
ston had called off his originally 
planned trip to Paris on the ad- 
vice of the MPEA’s Paris office, 
which had told the MPEA. prexy 
that this was not a good time to 
come over. 


about $5,000,000. Banks have pre- 
rogative power to call the loan at 
any time but have yet to indicate 
•: any -intenHtm-of'd«mg- -so 7 

Of the $8,000,000 credit to be 
arranged by Hughes, it’s believed 
that $5,000,000 will be used to 
satisfy possible "call demands by 
the two banks. This, obviously, 
willtfgive the film outfit $3,000,000 
In new mopey. 

Despite Grant’s insistence that 
RKO is a solvent outfit and will 
survive its current fiscal ills under 
the present operation, some highly- 
placed financial analysts in -the pic 
business still suspect that Hughes 
may again take over RKO. This 
could materialize, it’s pointed out, 
via default by the new owners in 
their subsequent obligations to 
Hughes under terms of the buyout 
agreement. The Stplkin-Ahraham 
L. Koolish-Ray Ryan alliance gave 
Hughes * down payment of $1,250,- 
000 , and -a second installment in 
the same amount is .due Septem- 
ber, 1953. . Balance of the $7,350,- 


Cohn, Spingofd 

Continued from page 5 


dramatizes the lift oFsamudTofd- ! Z ftreword^™^ dcUvering 
been ylt taT cedin' 1 f Arthur Mayer-Edward Kingsley, 

to inciude bit/ from Mdwyn's j iTFe ’c^^^e^De^i^r'ear 1 ;? 
forthcoming “Hans Christian An-! Tr o rA i A - co t*. * ,. ”1 .Tt ** 

7 s ’" fFr'i t^' e ,“ T “ v ;i a c nd sttr?eH 

2 E*»«! 5 rE 5 

Sme’ time, haS *" Da "‘ 

Much thought is given to TV by j 
20th-Fox, which is mulling a plan I 
whereby exhibs might be supplied ! 
with material fitted for the less j 

costly 10 and 20-second spots, j 

-Scfeeme-w-Ulr-be-given-erpcrimcntal-r------- 

teyout on “Pony Soldier” and 18.83% of the 672.183 shares 
“Stars and Stripes Forever.” In • outstanding.. All officers and direc- 
the past, 20th made trailers avail- ; ^ ors collectively hold a total- of 
able through National Screen ! 1 85.941 common or 21.72%. Corn- 
Service, with exhibs obliged to let : mon outstanding, incidentally, has 
the company know whether they ; Been increased by 1,513 shares 
planned to use them. : over the figure recorded as of last 

Contracts at 20th were amended dan - 21. 
earlier this year to specify that Stock options calling for an ag* 
film clips with stars could be used j geegate of 39,660 shares are held 
on TV by the distrib for exploita- ; as °f Sept. 30 by veepee B. B. 
iton purposes. Company planned \ Kahane, foreign chief Joseph A. 
to put out a TV trailer on “Snows j McConville and Schneider. These 
of Kilimanjaro” but ended up with- I were granted at various times in 
out one when Metro refused per- | the past as inducements to those 
mission for Ava Gardner to appear. ; officers to enter into new employ- 
Miss Gardner, under contract with j uient contracts. 

M-G, was loaned to 20th for the; In oths" financial activities Co- 
pic. 

Odd Aspects 

^Situation has its odd aspects 
since M-G had a TV trailer for 
The Merry Widow.” ' Strip had 


lumbia recently completed new 
borrowing -agreements with three 
banks. Deal embraces $15,000,000 
in credits from the First National 
Bank of Boston, Bank of America 
Lana Turner and Fernando Lamas ! and the Bank of Manhattan. Trans- 
in short sequence from the film. In j action replaces one of $12,000,000 


000 purchase price is to be paid off j the past M-G has made available made with the same institution* 
in two years. ll’V trailers for “Kim” and “King ■ hi August, 1950. 


Pakiety 


Wednesday, November 5, 1952 


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Cauldron boil • • • and kettle bubble • . • 

Difficult though they may be, situations like these c/o come off; thanks to the care with 
which film and chemicals are keyed to specific photographic situation and production methods; 
thanks, also, to the rigid control of processing solution strength and temperature. 

In this area — in production, distribution, and exhibition, too — representatives of the 
Eastman Technical' Service for Motion Picture Film are proud to serve the industry. 

To maintain this service, the Eastman Kodak Company has branches at strategic centers 
. . . invites inquiry from all members of the industry. Address: Motion Picture Film Department, 
Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester 4, N. Y. East Coast Division , 342 Madison Avenue, New 
York 17, N. Y. Midwest Division , 137 North Wabash Avenue, Chicago 2, Illinois. West Coast 
Division , 6706 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood 38, California. 


I 




Wednesday, November 5, 1952 




PICTURES 


17 


Amusement Stock Quotations 

* (N,Yi Stock Exchange) 

Week Ending Monday (3) 


Weekly 


1952 

Vol. in 

High 

Low 


100s 

12% 

8% 

ABC 

36 

40% 

33 

CBS, “A” ... 

21 

3934 

32% 

CBS, “B” . . . 

17 

131/2 

11% 

Col. Pic 

18 

9% 

8 

Decca 

60 

48 

41% 

Eastman Kdlk 

277 

18% 

11% 

Loew’s 

182 

556- 

3% 

Nat’I Thea .. 

98 

30% 

21% 

Paramount . . . 

53 

35% 

26% 

Philco 

88 

28% 

23% 

KCA 

283 

4% 

3% 

RKO Piets... 

321 

4% 

n 3% 

RKO Theats.. 

114 

5% 

3% 

Republic .... 

18 

10% 

9% 

Rep., pfd. . . . 

2 

121/2 

10% 

20th-Fx (new) 

70 

2lU 

11% 

U. Par. Th. . . 

254 

13% 

11 

Univ. Pic. . . . 

18 

65 

57 

Univ., pfd. . . 

2.4 

15% 

11% 

Warner Bros. 

49 

86 

68 

Zenith 

33 

N. Y. 

Curb Exchange 


19% 

15 

Du Mont .... 

55 

3% 

2% 

Monogram . . 

33 

26% 

20% 

Technicolor. . 

107 

3 

2% 

Trans-Lux . . . 

14 


Weekly Weekly 

Tues. 

Net. 

High 

Low 

Close 

Change 
for week 

9% 

8% 

9 % 

+ % 

38 

37% 

37 7/ a 

+ 1% 

38% 

37% 

38 

4- % 

12% 

12 

12 

— % 

9 

8% 

87'a 

+ % 

43 

417' 8 

42% 

— % 

11% 

11% 

11% 

+ % 

3% 

3% 

3% 

4 % 

23 

22 

23 

+ % 

34% 

33% 

34% 

+ % 

27% 

26% 

26 7/ « 

+ % 

3% 

3% 

334 


3% 

3% 

3% 

+ % 

3% 

3% 

3% 


10 

9% 

934 

— % 

10% 

10 % 

10% 

~ % 

12 

11% 

12 

+ % • 

12% 

12% 

12% 

— % 

62% 

61% 

61% 

—1% 

11% 

11% 

11% 

+ % 

84 

80% 

82% 


16% 

15% 

16% 


3% 

3 

3 

— % 

26% 

25 

25% 

+ % 

. 2% 

2% 

2% 



Over-tlie-Counter Securities Bid Ask 

Cinecolor % 11.4 

CineralUa 6 7 

Chesapeake Industries (Pathe) 4% 4 7 '* 

U. A. Theatres 4% 5% 

Walt Disney f 6% 7% 

( Quotations furnished by Dreyfus & Co.) 


— % 
+ n 


Aggressiveness Abroad 


Continued from page 5 


“little ground has been lost" to 
Italian pictures this year. 

Italian Pix Gain 

With 128 Italian films this year 
compared, to 102. in 1951, Aboaf 
stated that native product is now 
commanding 29% of the gross as 
against 23% last year. Hollywood 
pix, on the other hand, are earning 
less. For they’re drawing 62% of 
the gross or 5% less than in 1951. 
Italian production, he revealed, is 
booming, with emphasis now on 
drama instead of the comedy and 
realism of the past. 

Production in Germany is also 
picking up, Aboaf pointed out. He 
partly attributed the increase there 
to co-production agreements with 
France and Italy. Latter two coun- 
tries have had such joint arrange- 
ments in effect for several years. 
Although negotiations for a new 
Franco-American film agreement 
have been temporarily suspended, 
the Universal exec feels that the 
situation isn’t as dark as it looks, 
for the French government’s re- 
cent $1,200,000 remittance repre- 
sents a goodwill gesture. 

Potentially, Aboaf said, condi- 
tions are good in Japan. Imports 
of foreign films, of course, are 
limited. But Japanese pictures 
are doing “tremendous business.” 
Grosses are good despite a drop in 
the textile market, which lias af- 
fected income of filmgoers in south- 
ern Japan, principally in the Osaka 
area. Of an estimated' 3,600 the- 
atres, he observed that 10% show 
foreign pix, 30% screen Japanese 
films and the balance run off a 
mixture of both. 

Elsewhere in the Far East, Aboaf 
declared, attendance is healthy, de- 
spite “terrorism” that’s prevalent 
in the Philippines, Malayg, Indone- 
sia and India. A theatre coiistruc- 
tipjOiopm is. juundexway.. in.. Manila,.. 
Okinawa and Formosa. Universal’s 
business has increased “substan- 
tially” in the latter country, where 
the presence of Chinese National- 
ist troops has been a big factor in 
the booming b.b. 

Among other ‘territories which 
Aboaf inspected in his mne-y^eek 
trek were India, Indonesia, Leba- 
non, Israel and Egypt. With its 
own film industry turning out 215 
pictures annually, he noted that 
India uses only a handful of for- 
eign features. Around 99% of all 
revenue at the country’s 3,200 the- 
atres is derived from native films.. 

Unrest and an unstable economy7 
Aboaf revealed,- has trimmed’ at- 
tendance in Indonesia with excep- 
tion of a few large houses in cities 
such as Jakarta. Lone exception 
to the Far East “terrorism” is 
Thailand, where, there is “rela- 
tive stability.” There’s much the- 
jdre building underway in Israel, 
ne added, and. the public there 
"'ml pictures of an intellectual 


content. Number of Cairo deluxers 
damaged in Egyptian riots last 
spring have been repaired, and in 
many cases they’ve incorporated 
physical improvements. 


Investment Lag 

Continued from page 3 ^ mmmm 

strength is Universal, at $12.75, 
compared with a high of $13.37%. 

The new 20th-Fox film issue hit 
a low of $10.50 and a high of 
$12.50. In contrast Is the formerly 
affiliated National Theatres, with 
a high of $5.62% and a low of 
$3,371/2. 

Incidentally, Donald Henderson, 
20lh’s corporate secretary, in- 
formed stockholders in a notice 
'last week that the stock transfer 
has been ruled tax-free by the 
Bureau of Internal Revenue. 
Stockholders received one share 
each in the two new companies in 
exchange for each share held in 
the former parent corporation. In 
considering the stock for costs or 
tax factors, the Bureau decided 
that the new issue is to be broken 
down on the basis of National’s 
stock being 25.8555% of the value 
of the dissolved parent corpora- 
tion’s stock, and the new film com- 
pany’s being 74.1445%. 


French Skedded 

. Continued from page 7 •• •- — 

tion arrangement which became ef- 
fective Oct. 1. 

Similar to the Italo-French 
agreement, the new Franco-Ger- 
man deal covers * a one-year pe- 
riod and calls for tax benefits to 
accrue to producers if their films 
are jointly financed, use some Ger- 
man stars, stories and studios, etc. 
’BetweefT'stx: and ~J2“Frictures~wotrItl • 
be eligible for rebates under the 
pact. 

Franco London’s “Les Sept 
Peches Capitaux” (The Seven Cap- 
ital Sins), for. example, had two- 
thirds filmed in France and the rest 
in Italy. Produced and directed by 
Roberto Rossellini, the picture 
stars Viviane Romance, Michele 
Morgan and Gerard Philipe. With 
Arthur Davis Associates distribut- 
ing, it’s slated for a U. S. preem 
in December. 

Also completed on F-L’s 1952 
schedule are Rene Clair’s “Les 
Belles de Nuit” (a co-production 
with Angelo Rizzoli), “La Minute 
de Verite” with Michele Morgan 
and Jean Gabin; “Hello, Elephant,” 
with Vittorio DeSica and Sabu as 
well as “La Maison du Silence’* 
(The House of Silence) with Jean 
Marais and Aldo Fabrizi. G. W. 
Pabst supervised the latter film, 
which is based upon a story by 
Cesare Zavattinl. 


Allied Expands 

Continued from 'page 5 s 


As it turned out, however, the op- 
posite occurred. Newsmen were 
barred from all sessions but one, 
leading to considerable loud has- 
sling and a blasting of TOA top- 
pers by newspapermen. 

Allied convention, set for Mor- 
rison Hotel, will be called to order 
on Monday, Nov. 17, by Ben Mar- 
cus, national treasurer. Greeting 
by an official of the city of Chicago, 
a welcome address by Allied prexy 
Wilber Snaper. and a keynote 
speech by Jack Kirsch, general 
convention chairman, will feature 
the opening morning’s activities. 
Snaper will be permanent chair- 
man. 

Afternoon sessions will be de- 
voted . to the “film clinics,” with 
William A. Carroll as coordinator. 
Clinic subjects will include small 
towns, large towns, large cities, 
key neighborhood and sub-runs, 
outdoor theatres and circuit buyers 
and biddings. The respective chair- 
men are Charles Niles, Ben Mar- 
cus, John Wolfberg, Morris Fin- 
kel, Rube Shor and Irving Dollin- 
ger. That evening there'll be a 
review of the displays of the The- 
atre Equipment & Supply Manu- 
facturers Assn. 

The clinics will be continued on 
Tuesday morning with an open 
forum, with addresses on various 
film subjects scheduled for the aft- 
ernoon. Also set for Tuesday is a 
demonstration of RCA large-screen 
television. Nate Halpern, prexy of 
Theatre Network Television, will 
lead a panel discussion over a 
closed circuit network, with True- 
man T. Rembusch, Kirsch, Leon R. 
Back, Snaper, Wolfberg and Na- 
than Yamins of the Allied televi- 
sion committee participating. An- 
other open forum session is sched- 
uled for the Wednesday closing 
session. 

In addition to the biz meetings, 
Allied has scheduled a full round 
of social activities for the conven- 
tion delegates and their wives. It 
winds up with a cocktail party and 
motion picture industry banqiiet 
Wednesday night. Registration fee 
is $30 for men and $25 for women. 


Cole Plan 

Continued from page 5 - 

the treatment being accorded them 
by the film companies, suggested 
that Allied consider relieving its 
leaders of certain outside assign- 
ments so that they can devote all 
their time and attention to those 
exhibitors, he was accused of en- 
gaging in a hollow gesture as bally- 
hoo for Allied’s 1952 convention. 

“The prevalent belief among ex- 
hibitors is th£t while their leaders, 
in a sincere effort to aid the whole 
industry were engaged in construc- 
tive cooperative activities, the film 
companies, like weasels, have been 
getting into the exhibitors' chicken 
coops and have now grown so bold 
that it will require a strenuous con- 
certed effort to save the remaining 
chickens — that is, unless the com- 
panies heed the colonel’s warning 
and voluntarily mend their ways. 

“It is a very serious matter when 
exhibitors report that they are not 
benefitting and cannot benefit from 
the current crop of good pictures, 
and must deny their patrons the 
privilege of seeing them, because 
they cannot possibly afford to ex- 
hibit them on the terms de- 
manded.” 


ijRKOReplacemeats 

*— ’ • Continued from page 3 - --- 

the corporation’s coming off the 
canvas. 

Upon approval of the new slate, 
Grant finally will get off to the 
Coast Friday or Saturday to .start 
on studio business. He’s been 
anxious to trek west for the past 
couple of weeks, largely to once- 
over possibilities for a new produc- 
tion head. Sherrill C. «Corwin, also 
a member of the board and board 
rep at the studio, returns to the 
Coast Friday after similar delays. 
Tomorrow’s conclave had been set 
for yesterday (Tues.) originally but 
was postponed because of the holi- 
day. 

Meanwhile, insiders still are 
inclining to the belief that Stolkin 
and his pards will ^ell out, now 
that they’re out of management. 
But if there are any prospective 
buyers, they’re not being iden- 
tified. 


B’way Warner’s Future Still Cloudy; 
Nearby Stores Press for Reopenhtj 


Projectionists Strike 

Threat Averted in L.A. 

Los Angeles, Nov. 4. 

Threat of a strike to close seven 
Los Angeles film houses was set- 
tled by an agreement between Mov- 
ing Picture Operators Local 150, 
IATSE, and Metropolitan Theatres. 
Company agreed to pay the road- 
show rate, $2.77 hourly, instead of 
the first-run rate, $2.52, during 
the 11-week run of “A Streetcar 
Named Desire.” 

Chain consists of the Orpheum, 
Rialto, Palace, Newsreel, Olympic, 
BroadWay and Pan Pacific. 


Cinema 16 Weighs 
Backing 16m Indies; 
Now in the Black 

Cinema 16, non-profit New York 
film society, is weighing the idea 
of establishing a special fund to 
help finance indie producers of 
16m experimental films. Launched 
on a shoestring in 1947 by Amos 
Vogel, outfit, which shows and 
distributes documentary and ex- 
perimental shorts, is now operating 
in the black after losing coin the 
first four years. 

Since it is a non-commercial, 
educational venture, the surplus is 
used to improve member benefits. 
Idea behind the financing of indie 
producers is to give the society 
first crack at showing the pix and 
also the distrib rights. Extra coin, 
also allows Cinema 16 to increase 
the number of showings per year 
for its membership. Annual ses- 
sions, for example, have been 
upped from eight to 14. In addi- 
tion, outfit has been able to 
maintain without increase its 
membership dues, or in some in- 
stances, to offer special reduced 
rates. For six years of its opera- 
tion, dues have remained steady 
despite increased operating costs. 
Regular yearly membership is $10, 
but special rates are offered for 
groups as well as for renewals. 

Currently Cinema 16 has a mem- 
bership of about 3,500, necessitat- 
ing the holding of three nr.d 
possibly four separate showings. 
In addition to nightly shows every 
month at Central Needle Trades 
Auditorium, N. Y., it holds Sunday 
morning screenings at the Paris 
Theatre. Besides the showing of 
specialized scientific, documentary, 
experimental and art films, it 
sponsors film forums. Slated so far 
this year^for these special-event 
programs are director Jean Renoir, 
N. Y. Post critic Archer Winsten 
and Sidney Meyers, writer-director 
of “The Quiet One.” 


Spinrad as Pix Consultant 

Leonard Spinrad, news and fea- 
ture editor of Warner Bros, home- 
office flackery, will ankle the com- 
pany next month to become an 
independent consultant on motion 
pictures. 

Spinrad, who joined the film 
outfit as a feature writer in 1940, 
will advise editorial and industrial 
clients. 

♦ 


Exhibs Splitting 

; Continued from page 4 ; 


Future status of the Warner 
Theatre, Warner Bros. New York 
flagship, continues to remain a 
Broadway mystery. For years an 
outlet for first-run Warner prod- 
uct, house has been shuttered 
since early summer except for a 
one-night stand for the telecast of 
the Walcott-Marciano fight. With 
its store tenants flanking the the- 
atre pressuring WB to relight the 
house, company has been trying to 
peddle its long-term lease or line 
up product. 

It’s apparent that WB has no de- 
sire to reopen the house with its 
own films. Company has been 
making deals with other Broadway 
showcases for Warner films. Com- 
pany has received many nibbles 
for rental of the theatre, and sev- 
eral deals have neared completion, 
only to fall through. 

Latest possibility to fall out was 
one involving 20th-Fox, with lat- 
ter eying the house as an outlet 
for several upcoming films. Plan 
was to relight the theatre about 
Xmas with “Stars and Stripes For- 
ever,” the John Philip Sousa biog 
starring Clifton Webb. “Stare,” 
meanwhile, has been booked into 
the Roxy as that theatre’s Yuletide 
presentation. 

Another deal reported brewing 
is one with an outfit hoping to 
install French vaudfilm, but talks 
are still in the preliminary stage. 
Several weeks ago WB dickered 
with agent-theatre operator A1 
Dow, who sought the theatre for 
popular-priced opera. However, 
negotiations collapsed when Dow 
considered the WB tSrms too stiff. 
Previously there had been talks 
with tele networks and legit pro- 
ducers. 

‘Gone With Wind’ 

Continues to Score 
Big Foreign Grosses 

“Gone With the Wind” (M-G) 
continues to chalk up remarkable 
returns and playing time in the 
foreign market. In addition to be- 
ing the ^current hit of Japan, 
“Gone” has never been off the 
screen in France since it was 
launched there three years ago. 

Si Seadler, Metro ad topper, re- 
turned recently from a tour of 
the company’s European offices 
and told of the law that compels 
a theatre in Paris to run quota 
pictures interspersed with Ameri- 
can or other nationality films. I£ 
has thus been necessary tg get spe- 
cial dispensation to allow “Gone” 
to have a consecutive long run. 
Then quota pictures are run off in 
a row while “Gone” moves to an- 
other theatre. In France, Italy, 
Spain, and in some theatres in 
Belgium “Gone” is shown in a 
dubbed version. A German 
dubbed version is currently being 
prepared and the film is booked 
to open in the western sector 
shortly. In all other countries, 
filip is exhibited with subtitles. 

Seadler said Germany was be- 
coming morq and more important 
as a market for U. S. films. He 
disclosed that it has displaced 
Spain, although latter continues 
to be a big revenue producer, as 
the third European country in se- 
quence of importance as an outlet 
for American pix. It’s now Italy, 
France, Germany and Spain, Sead- 
ler revealed. 


they couldn’t be a party to such a 
-praetiee under --the— -deerec—whieb- 
stipulates picture-by-picture sell- 
ing, the majority tacitly approve 
of splits as being to their advan- 
tage where comparable situations 
are involved. Wherever an exhib 
becomes unhappy over the arrange- 
ment, bidding must be reinstituted. 

Sales execs admit that exhib 
patterns don’t always suit them and 
that thfs is particularly true in 
the comparatively few instances 
Where theatres split one company’s 
product among themselves. Dis- 
tribs will kick too where they draw 
an unequal situation in per-com- 
pany splits. 

In such cases their only recourse 
short of pressing a conspiracy 
charge in the courts is to pull out 
of that particular situation until 
the inequity has been remedied. 
Distrib spokesmen add that, in 
most instances, exhibs are willing 
to listen to reason and agree on 
terms adjusted to the earning ca- 
pacity of the house. . , 


G. P. Skouras 

L— » « Continued from page 3 - 1 

division manager, will remain in 
New York to set policy and other- 
wise call the shots on operations, at 
least until a regular format is set. 

Complaint heard on the Skouras 
side, but not by the NT prez him- 
self, is that 20th, in operating the 
Roxy as a separate subsid prior to 
divorcement, caused the showcase 
to lose much standing as a Class A 
enterprise of Music Hall calibre. 
Film outfit, it's alleged, often gave 
the Roxy non-top quality pix and 
took out such steep rentals that 
the theatre couldn’t realize its 
proper profit. 

Skouras and his top exec aides, 
including John Lavery, R. H. Mc- 
Cullough and Edward Zabel, all 
of whom have been in N. Y. at 
work on plans for the house, re- 
turn to L. A. tomorrow (Thurs.). 


IS 


FI0TV1KKS 


P3EMU0T 


Wednesday, November 5, 1952 


4 4 HMHH ■l - fr - f » I 1 ! ■ ! ■ #- » fr- M - M - fr » M 4 -fr M f » 4 - M " 

* _ _ _ 

Clips From Film Row 

^ 4 4 , 4 4- 4 . | 4 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 4 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 4 - 1 


still confined to St. Mary's hospital 
here, recovering from injuries re- 
ceived while duck hunting. He 
was accidentally shot by another 
hunter. 

4 Federal Judge G. H. Nordbye 
company's Peter j has set baclc to Nov. 10 the date 

« for hearing arguments for a boost 

! ^ w , A 4 p>A AAA • 4 .L. A 


NEW YORK 

Leo Samuels, Walt Disney sales 
manager, and eastern pub 'rep 
Charles Levy went to Chicago to 
set a pre-release date there early | 
in 1953 for ‘ " 

Pan." 


James R. Grainger, Republic’s 
sales chief, back at the homeoffice 
after a four-day biz junket to Bos- 
ton 


from $125,000 to $150,000 in the 
judgment awarded Sol G. and Mar- 
tin L'ebedoff in their anti-trust 
clearance conspiracy suit against 


George Schur, assistant to Para - 1 ma j or distributors and United 
mount branch operations head Joe | Paramount Theatres and for a 
Walsh, back on job Monday (3) ; 5*29,000 fee to be paid by the los 

• « Ml I . F _ - • , wv . it 3 


after a six-week illness. 

Herman Maier, chief construc- 
tion engineer for Warner Bros., 


ing defendants. Defendants will 
have an opportunity then to file 
notice of appeal. 


elected prexy of the Warner Club, I Northwest Variety club at its 
succeeding Bernard Rosenzweig. ; monthly dinner meeting had as a 

I speaker Carl T. Rowan, only Negro 

* in a 1 member of Minneapolis Star- 

UlVlAnn ; Tribune editorial department and 

Safecracker at Muse Theatre was ' author of the best-seller “South of 
thwarted but escaped by • telling . Freedom.” 

janitor he overslept at show, and : “Quiet Man” in this territory is 

was escorted to exit. ; outgrossing Republic’s former top 

Andrew Burras observing his ; grosser, “Sands of Iwo Jima.” Pic- 
32d year as manager of Crete, Neb . ture ran five weeks here. 

Theatre. Leo Aved, owner of conventional 

Stanley Blackburn resigned as ■ neighborhood Empress here, build 

. nmViAiim i ^ . cue Afi« AA MOAI +ir ViAurl cVianPf 


manager of Tristates\ Orpheum 
here to join Mutual Benefit Health 
and Accident Assn. Don Shane, 
manager of the Omaha and Para- 
mount, is his successor; Carl Hoff- 
man moves from Des Moines to 
pilot the Omaha. 

ST. LOUIS 

Dale Thornton succeeded Earl 
Mitchell as manager of Star and 


ing a 575-car capacity bowl shaped 
amphitheatre drive-in at Navarre, 
Lake Minnetonka suburb, 14 miles 
from local Loop, 

Bill Murphy, Minnesota Am us. 
; Co. projectionist recovering from 
' a broken arm. 

i Clem Jaunich, circuit owner, re- 
covering from major operation. 

PHILADELPHIA 


Capitol, Fox Midwest Theatres, in The Earle is scheduling -first 
Benton, 111. I Negro amateur talent show ever 

Mrs. Carroll Calhoun named I put on here. Auditions are being 


manager of the Empire, Chrisman, 
111., vice Robert T. Campbell, re- 
signed. House? is owned, by George 


held three weeks in advance of 
contest date, Nov. 28. 

Ralph W. Pries; of Berio Vend- 


Rembusch’s Cracks 
About Texas; This Is 
A Friendly (?) Feud 

Franklin, Ind. 

1 f Editor, Variety: 

This will acknowledge your "re- 
ply to mine inviting you to .hold 
coats in the friendly fued between 
Indiana and Texas. Let’s keep it 
friendly tho’. ' For instance, you 
might look into the authenticity of 
Col. Cole’s and Bob O’Donnell’s 
Texas citizenship. I understand 
both of these gentlemen were born 
in Brooklyn. However, they never 
allude to that fact. 

Then too, there is a riimor that 
West Virginia is going to flatten 
out her jnountains and will be 
much larger than Texas. There is 
another rumor that Texas blocked 
the bill that would have admitted 
Alaska to statehood, because then 
Texas would not have been the 
largest state in the Union. 

Weather authorities agree that 
the terrific amount of hot air con- 
stantly coming out of Texas is re- 
sponsible for much of the inclem- 
ent weather suffered over the whole 
eastern part of the U.S. 

Knowing the versatility of my 
friends, Col. Cole and Bob O’Don- 
nell, I imagine they will dig deep 
into some of Indiana’s black his- 
tory. The point is, as covered in 
the first press release covering In- 
diana’s claim to the 1952 Cham- 
pionship Crown, to stimulate other 
states into showmanship endeavors 
so that they too may join in the 
fracaA. If this is done properly and 
kept alive, I am sure it will have 
an overall beneficial effect upon 
the industry. 

Trueman T. Rembusch. 


Barber who also has theatres in ing, is the new Chief Barker of 
Tuscola 'and vma GriJVe. m. / Tent 13; Variety Giub. Other- 


HONOR REAGAN, SALMON 

Charles -M:- Reagan, M-G v.p-., 'and 


J. C. Hunter Exits Tulsa 
Co. for Fla. Hotel Biz 

Tulsa, Nov. 4. 

J. C. Hunter, general manager of 
four major downtown houses oper- 
ated by Ritz Theatre, Inc., and Ma- 
jestic Amus. Co., has resigned as 
of Dec. 1 to enter the hotel busi- 
ness in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. With 
the Ritz and Majestic organization 
since 1927, he had also been active 
in the Theatre Owners of Okla- 
homa. 

Replacing Hunter in the general 
manager post is Ralph Drewry. For 
several years he had been Hunter’s 
assistant, joining the theatre firm 
| in 1929. Personnel shift was an- 
nounced by J. Harold Harris, prez 
of the Ritz and Majestic com- 
panies. 

* ‘Vanishes’ on Circuit 

“The . Lady Vanishes,” Alfred 
Hitchcock oldie which opened at 
the Globe in New York Christmas, 
1938, is getting the circuit breaks. 

Suspense pic, after a 12-week en- 
gagement at the Trans-Lux 60th 
Theatre, N. Y., yesterday (Tues.) 
moved into the Skouras circuit. \ 
It’s due to run through next Sat- 
urday (8). 

Rights to the film, a United Art- 
ists release, are beld in this coun- 
try by Clem Perry, general man- 
ager of the Rugoff & Becker cir- 
cuit. The pic, a Gaumont-British 
production, originally went out 
under the Fox label. Film Class- 
ics next acquired the rights ,and in 
1945 it was taken off the market. 
Perry made a five-year deal for the 
film in 1950, but sat on it until re- 
cently when he made his deal 
with UA. Pic has never played 
TV. 


10C.UAU UAAU * *■ »» » ■ A ~ A , 1 

Herman Ferguson, owner*, of ! cers are Norman Silverman (Re- Montague : Salmon, manager ot tne 


Gem and Liberty, Malden. Mo., 
suffered a fractured leg and frac- 
tured. ribs in an auto crash near 
Hayti, Mo. 

Mrs. Georgia Pitner, Fairfield, 
111., exhib convalescing at her 


Par’s 3-Mo. Advance 

New setup at the Paramount 


public branch manager), first . as- Rivoli Theatre, New York, were 

sistant barker; Maxwell Gillis the recipients last week of broth- - __ 

(Monogram branch manager), sec- erhood awards from the National homeoffice has a flack at work on 
ond assistant; Ben Biben, of RCA, conference of Christians and Jews. pix as as three months in ad- 
doughguy, and Mickey Lewis," Na- Honors were conferred at a vance of their release and covering 
ticnal Theatre Supply, property , uncheon noting at the Waldorf- «*"»* jNf 


home after surgery in St. John’s ! master. Astoria N Y with J Robert Rubin. tion angles under each of the three 

hospital. St. Loijis. I Great Northern Theatre closed Astoria. N Y mthJ KoDertKUDin respe ctive department heads. 

Nov. 1; will be torn down and con- Loews y p genera^ ruairman 

CHICAGO 


Film Reviews 

Continued from J>age fi 

fjt Fille An Fond 

a feminine manner. She becomes 
good friends with a' young moun- 
taineer but the relationship gets 
strained when he sees her cavort- 
ing in the nude. Love finally de- 
velops and she takes her rightful 
place as a woman. 

Pic hashes in a bit of everything 
from gun fights to floods and an 
operation in failing light. Lensing 
is good in. mountain exteriors and 
editing makes the best of the pro- 
ceedings. Veronique Deschamps 
injects interest in her weird boy- 
girl role. Michel Barbey is ex- 
pressionless as the confused lover. 
Michel Simon and Gaby Morlay 
are obviously just dragged in for 
name value with- small roles that 
'■"vp nothing to do with main 
theme. Mosk, 

Itioalc Frau Oesiudit 

(Ideal Woman Sought) 
(AUSTRIAN-MUSICAL) 

Vienna, Oct. 21. 

Union Film release of Sziffrrt-Scboen- 
brunn production. Stars Wolf Albach 
Relty; features Inge Egger, Waltraut 
Ilaas and Susi Nicoletti. Directed by 
Franz Ante!. Screenplay by Franz Antel. 
Friinz Boron, Julia Bornemann. 'Dr. 
Gunther Philipp; camera, Hans Theyer; 
songs. WiUy Befking; score, Johannes 
Fehring. At Haydn Kino, Vienna. Run- 
ning time, 85 MINS. 

Irene Martens Inge Egger 

Robby Holm .. Wolf Albach Rctty 

Luise Waltraut Haas 

Chcrie Susi Nicoletti 

Stephen Blitz Gunther Philipp 

As usual with, a Wolf Albach 
Retty vehicle, this has quite a bit 
of humor plus a reasonably good 
story of* .two competing magazine 
companies which nse many tricks 
to outwit each other on circulation. 
Circulation of pic itself looks lim- 
ited to German language countries. 

Femmes Inge Egger, Waltraut 
Haas and Susie Nicoletti lend them- 
selves to the fast pace with dig- 
n ; ty. Abetting Retty in. the com; 
edy a re Gunther Philipp- and -Os- 
kar Sima. 

Spotted through the footage is 
the tune, “Father Doesn’t Object” 
by Willy Berking, which is ear- 
catching. Franz Antel’s direction 
is below par, while lensing by 
Hans Theyer is good. Maas. 


verted into business property. °* the NCCJ Amusement Divisio , 
, . The Stanley-Wamer Lindley, presiding. 

Jimmy Trinz took over the Op- which had reopened for weekends, 
eration of . the Plaza from Dave j bas shuttered again. 

Gold. „ , 4 4 ! The U. S. District Court again 

State-Lake Theatre - installing , set back the trial date in the suit 
RCA-Victor large screen TV. i G f Independent Poster Exchange, 

Tommy Flannery, head of White { 0 f Philadelphia, agaiiist National 

Screen Service, to Feb. 16. 


Test-Run Policy 


Way Sign Co., named “Humani- 
tarian of 1952” by the Cinema 
Lodge of the B’nai B’rith; he will 
be honored at a dinner in Febru- 
ary. 

Eddie Silverman In the Oriental 
Theatre leasehold suit, brought by 
Emil Stern and the estate of Ed- 
die Spiegel, denied las$ week the 
lease wa^ speculative and that re- 
turns were not as high as expect- 
ed. Essaness Theatres, headed by 
Silverman, gave up operation of 
the house in 1950. 


Continued from page 5 


~ , t • . , . and “The Bride Comes to Yellow eac ^ P* c 

Mary Castle made four personal „ “ „ - 1 

appearances at the Goldman for OK J* „ , . + , 

preem of “Eight Iron Men.” , pla ” s P hnt 

The Earle has slated a shutdown Face intact, Boasberg said, but 

for Dec. 4. House will stay closed for subsequent-run situations the 


Assigned to the job is George 
Fraser, who resumed at Par within 
the past week following publicity 
work on a loanout basis for the 
Council of Motion Picture Organi- 
zations. He’s to study the future 
release sked with the ,view to ad, 
pub and exploitation tieups for 


Films’ Ups & Downs 


Continued from page 3 


MINNEAPOLIS 

Still another Twin Cities inde- 
pendent nabe house, the 400-seater 
Metro here, has shuttered, making 
three to close Within the last three 
weeks. Others to call quits were 
the Minneapolis Lyndale and St. 
Paul Garden. Since TV’s advent, 
a total of 17 theatres, nine here 
and eight in St. Paul, have gone 
out of business. Four of them 
have been downtown houses. 

Arthur W. Anderson, Warner 
Bros.’ district manager and North- 
west Variety club’s permament 
heart hospital committee chairman, 






BUILDING FOR SALE 

* TIMES SQUARE AREA 


RSo b u m m m i 


three weeks before Christmas. episodes will be marketed separate- 

The Dixie, South Philly nabe, ly. Thus, he added, “instead of 10 __ ^ w* 

marking its 22d anni this week, gteting around only 2,000 play- better year than 1952 and had less 

and Joe Woods is celebrating his dates for the picture as a whole, T \ ir 9 0 !P, p , 1 , 

19th year as house manager. we can achieve, between 12.000 and Mindful of the increasingly un- 

The Italia reopens Nov. 13 un- 14,000 via three versions. One of predictable nature of things, one 
der the management of Ralph tb g episodes is 50 minutes and the of the industry’s top financial men 

Schwartz. 

Paul Douglas received Page One 
Award from the Newspaper Guild 
of Philadelphia and Camden at a 
banquet held here. 


other runs 42.’ 

Others 

Films scheduled for the “test 
ran” treatment- 1 , are among nine 


said a few months ago that a do- 
mestic distribution gross of $7,500,- 
000 was definite for Paramount’s 
Greatest Show on Earth.” Beyond 
that he nixed any forecast for, he 


pictures which RKO has penciled said> degree 0 f aC curacy could 
for release through F ®bruary. ^ assure d in view of b.o. uncer- 
Group has an estimated negative ta j nt jg S The Cecil B. DeMille cir- 
value of $18,000,000. “Androcles 


ks 13caITor User ’ 

& 2 Floors^Available Immediately 

STANLEY M. ATLAS 
ABBOTT *& ADAMS. Inc. 

331 Madison Ave. MU 7-1255 


1 

I 


1 

1 

I 

I 

I 




PITTSBURGH 

Morris Finkel, independent ex vaiue 0I ^io uuo.uuu. Anarocies P „e pnir now hac $10 000 000 raked 

hib, took over the Cameraphone in • heinff tested this week in Den- ? us e % 1 ? now J 1 ? 8 ,u Xr ,uuu ^ ^ * 

East Liberty, one of the theatres v P r S? g Louis Salt jlke Citv and m and has yet to play thousands of 
WB had to get rid of under the Y er * h! eiSLSS dates * 

consent decree. Finkel also od- Los Angeles. It won t be screened citing the success of “Greatest 
erates the Shadyside, Hilltop, Mt. until shortly a-ter the g bow> ” execs reiterate that the an- 

Oliver and Capitol here. .°* th e y®ar- • swer to the b.o. dilemma is pro- 

Dave Brown, veteran Film Rower Set to go this month is the Jane 0 f on jy pi x w itii important 

and one of original founders of Russell starrer, Montana Belle. ^ values: color and splash, produc- 
the Variety Club, who recently re- Next on the slate is Face to Face ^on scope, marquee names. Para- 

Sl c r reen ^ ch c, m Z eS < mt0 J h Z Trans-Liix mount £ notable among the stu _ 

Art TS ih WR before /oins ?K d St ^ h i atre ’ N ' J.7 ri f0 i l0Wln , g dies to have seized upon that for- 

into the U S Ah- Force d?s? ° £ f, h ?, c r !{S ent ; °; H 1 nry 5 "iula. For in concentrating for the 

into tne u. b. Air ^orce, ais- Full House” (20th). Picture’s na- most Dart onlv on «i x Par 

charged, and is going back as as- tinnai rplpacfc will hp in rate De- mosx P ari . oni " P 1X : ^ ar 

j sistant manager at Melrose and g e Xr ‘‘BrackbLrd he Pirate^’- b ^ in !? for lhe r fir8t , s ! x 

i WhitehaH:. f r months -this- -year - climbed- te- 


NOTICE 

Mr. Mario De Vecchi and 
Mr. Jacque Mayer are no 
longer connected with Trans- 
Globa! Pictures, Inc. 






[ OUTDOOR 
REFRESHMENT 
SERVICE 
from Coast 
to Coast 
over i/ 4 Centvry 


SPORTSERVICE CORP 


Refreshment 
Service for 
DRIVE - IN 
THEATRES 


%i«; 


SPOBTSISviCI BlDC • SU"A.3 M » 


Louis E. Hanna, local distrib 
and theatre booker, named area 
rep for Souvaine Pictures. 

Beechview Theatre, closed for 
several months and last operated 
by F. D. (Dinty) Moore, Jr., re- 
opened by Paul Bronder, 

Bert C. Wild, alter more than 
13 years as manager of Warners’ 
Butler, Pa., houses, left for Tor- 
rance, Calif., where his wife is 
seriously ill. The Wilds’ future 
home will be there. He was suc- 
ceeded at Butler by William C. 
Decker. 

Grand in Hazelwood district re- 
ppened by its owner, Bob Leiber, 
with David Hadburg as manager. 


SALT LAKE CITY 

Tower Theatre, long a second- 
run nabe, reopened last Wednes- 
day (29) as an art house, kicking 
off new policy with “Man In White 
(Suit” (U). House is now leased by 
the Tower Corp., headed by L. 
Howard Marcus. 


* Christmas test at the $49,600,000, representing a $5,000, 
State Theatre, N. Y., while Never qqq j um p 0V er the first half of 
Wave at a Wac” may have a test 1951> Nat i 0 r.’s b.o. fell 109&cin the 
engagement New Year s Day. fi rs t s j x months of 1952, according 

Samuel Goldwyn s Hans CJms- Fe d era i t ax figures. Par’s upbeat 
tian Andersen” will open the Tues- was pa rtiallj due to strong foreign 
day before Thanksgiving at the income but there still was hefty 
Paris and Criterion Theatres, N.Y. improvement domestically despite 
Pre-release dates are also set the 10% slide, 
around Christmas in Boston and But also forging ahead, both do- 
Los Angeles. There also may be mestically and in foreign, is Uni- 
an unveiling in Miami in January versal, whose total gross for the 
with general release not set as yet. current fiscal year is estimated at 
Likewise, Walt Disney’s “Peter $67,000,000, compared with $65,- 
Pan” is due for pre-release early 200,000 in 1951. Contrary to the 
in February. Boasberg predicted “only-big-pix” theory for success- 
that the “$4,000,000 cartoon pro- ful operation, U has been turning 


duction will be 'one of our biggest 
grossing pictures of the year.” Oth- 
ers on the nine-picture slate are 
two Robert Mitchum-Jean Simmons 
starrers. “The Bystander” (for- 
merly titled *’ l The Murder”) goes 
out in January and “Beautiful but 
Dangerous” is set for distribution 
Feb. 27. 


out 'moderately-budgeted films as 
a substantial part of its overall 
program. “Ma & Pa Kettle” series 
has brought handsome coin across 
the country. 

So if the totally unrelated Ket- 
tles and DeMille have the key to 
tall money in the erratic present, 
who’s to crystalball the future? 


Cinque. Poveri in 
Automobile 

(Five Paupers in an Automobile) 
(ITALIAN) 

Genoa, Oct. 28. 

CEI-INCOM release Of Document o Film 
production. Stars Aldo Fabrizi. Eduardo 
and Tltina DeFilippo, Walter Cblari, An- 
tonelle Lualdi. Directed by Mario Mattoli. 
Screenplay, DeFilippo, Fabrizi, Stano, 
Monocelli, Cesare Zavattini. from story 
by Zavattini; camera, Mario Albertelli. 
At Cinema Verdi, Genoa.- Running time, 
101 MINS. 

Cesare Aldo Fabrizi 

Marlu Titlna DeFilippo 

Eduardo Eduardo DeFiUppo 

Busboy ' Walter Chiarl 


A basically good story by Cesare 
Zavattini has been given un- 
inspired scripting by several au- 
thors and surface treatment by di- 
jetor Mario Mattoli. Names 
should draw well at home, but for- 
eign slotting strictly as a lingiialer 
is indicated, with art theatre pros- 
pects light. 

Four people who share the win- 
nining ticket on a. car raffle -each 
get the vehicle for a day before it 
is sold for the cash they all need. 
They become five when a beggar 
throws himself in front of car and 
blackmails them into an equal 
share. 

Aldo Fabrizi ends up towing the 
car home with the help of his own 
buggy horse; Titina DeFilippo, old- 
time pic star working as an extra, 
thinks the auto has fooled her 
daughter and grandchild into be- 
lieving her Hollywood contract is 
real; Eduardo DeFilippo, a brick- 
layer, wants to show up a once- 
successful childhood enemy. Wal- 
ter Chiari wins his girl despite the 
car. Performances are standard, 
with thespers principally slotted in 

. t h eir_ _s p £ci al ties, Camera^ jnusic. . 

and other credits ate good. 

Hawk. 



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Wednesday, November .5, 1952 


PSmBff 


PICTURES 


19 


Picture Grosses 

% 


WASHINGTON 

(Continued from page 9) 
“Werewolf London" (Indie) (re- 
issues). Looks to hit good $6,000 
or near. Last week, “Hellgate" 
(Lip), $5,000. 

Palace (Loew’s) (2,370; 50-80)— 
“Dreamboat" (20th) (2d wk). Slim 
$7,000 in final 5 days after disap- 
pointing $12,000 last week. 

Playhouse (Lopert) (485; 50-$l) 
“The Thief" (UA) (2d wk). Very 
steady $7,500 after big $9,500 last 
week. Stays again. 

. Warner (WB) (2,174; 50-80)— 
“Miracle of Fatima" (WB) (2d wk). 
Holding at $12,000 after stout 
$19,000 opening week. 

Trans-Lux (T-L) (600; 60-$l) — 
“Eight Iron Men" (Col). Big $6,- 
000. Holds. Last week, “Carrie" 
(Par) (6th wk), okay $3,000 in final 
6 days. 


'Quiet’ Sockeroo $25,000, 
Denver; ‘Lure’ Lush 19G 

Denver, Nov. 4. 

' “Quiet Man" is the big news 
here this week, with smash takings 
in two houses. “Lure of Wilder- 
ness" also is. good in three spots. 
“Androcles and Lion" shapes big 
at Paramount. “Lion" and “Quiet 
Man" will hold. 

Estimates for This Week 

Aladdin (Fqx) (1,400; 50-85) — 
“Lure of Wijderness” (20th) and 
“Old Oklahoma Plains" (Rep.) day- 
date with Tabor, Webber. Good 
$7,500. Last week', “Rainbow Round 
Shoulder" (Col) and “Brigand" 
(Indie), fair $6,000. 

Broadway t ( Wolf berg) (1,200; 50- 
85) — “Because You’re Mine" (M-G) 
(3d wk). Off tp $5,000. Last week, 
good .$91)0(1. . 5 . . 

Denham (Cockrill) (1,750; 50-85) 
— “Somebody Loves Me” (Par) (2d 
wk). Mild $7,000. Last week, fair 
$10,500. 

Denver (Fox) (2,525; 50-85) — 
“Quiet Man" (Rep) and “Tropical 
Heat Wave" (Rep). Great $20,000. 
Last week, “Back at Front" (U) and 
“Cry Beloved Country" (UA), 
$9,000 in 6 days. 

Esquire (Fox) (742; 50-85) — 
“Quiet Man” (Rep), and “Tropical 
Heat Wave"* (Rep). Sock $5,000. 
Last week, “Back at Front" (U) 
and “Cry Beloved Country" (UA), 
$1,500 in 6 days. 

Orpheum (RKO) (2,600; 50-85) — 
“Fearless Fagan" (M-G) and “My 
Man and I” (M-G). Slow $8,000. 
Last week, “Devil Makes Three" 
(M-G) and “You for Me" (M-G), 
fair $11,000. 

Paramount (Wolfberg) (2,200; SO- 
BS) — “Androcles and Lion" (RKO). 
Big $16,000. • Holds. Last week, 
“Washington Story” (M-G) and 
“Lady Iron Mask" (20th), $11,000. 

Tabor (Fox) (1,967; 50-85)— “Lure 
of Wilderness" (20th) and “Old 
Oklahoma Plains" (Rep). Also 
Aladdin, Webber. Trim $8,000. 
Last week, “Rainbow Round 
Shoulder" (Col) and “Brigand” 
(Indie), $6,500. 

Vogue (Pike) (600; 60-90) — “Tom 
Brown’s Schooldays" (Indie). Poor 
$1,500. Last week, “Under Paris 
Sky" (Indie), fine $2,500. 

Webber (Fox) (750; 50-85) — 
“Lure of Wilderness” (20th) and 
‘Old Oklahoma Plains” (Rep). 
Good $3,500. Last week, “Rainbow 
Round Shoulder" (Col) and “Brig- 
and” (Indie), $3,000. 

KANSAS CITY ‘ 

(Continued from page 8) 

Assignment Paris" (Col) and 
“My Man and I" (M-G). Dull $8,- 
000. Last week, “Because You’re 
Mine" (M-G) and “Holiday for- 
Sinners" (M-G), mild $9,000. 

„ Missouri. (RKOX J2M&; -50,75 W 
Lusty Men" (RKO) and “One Big 
Affair" (UA). Average $7,000r Last 
week, “Miracle of Fatima” (WB) (2d 
wk), pleasing $7,000. 

Orpheum (Fox Midwest) (1,912; 
75-$l) — “Snows of Kilimanjaro" 
(20th) (3d wk). Big $9,000. Last 
week, sock $12,000. House will 
close out picture policy with this 
one. 

Paramount (Tri-States) (1,900; 
50-75 )— “Springfield Rifle" (WB). 
mfly $12,000 in 9 days. Turning 
Point” (Par) opened today (Tues.). 

Tower, Uptown, Fairway, Gran- 
ada (Fox Midwest) (2,100; 2,043; 
700; 1,217; 50-75) — “Full House" 
.^Oth) and “Wife’s Best Friend" 
uOth). Light $11,000., Last week, 
Bonzo To College" (U) and “The 
Raiders" (U), slow $10,000 in 6 
days. 

Vogue (Golden) (550; 50-85)— 
High Treason". (Indie) (2d wk). 
Sturdy $2,000'. Will go a third. Last 
"■eek, great $2,800, 


‘RIFLE’ HOT $13,000, 

. BUFF.; ‘SNOWS’ 14G, 2D 

Buffalo, Nov. 4. 

Biz is very spotty here this stanza 
but “Springfield Rifle" is doing 
nicely with a fat total at Para- 
mount. Other newcomers are mild 
to dull. “Snows of Kilimanjaro” 
still is great on second stanza at 
the Center. “Because You’re Mine" 
is lagging in second week at the 
Buffalo and stays on five days. 

Estimates for This Week 

Buffalo (Lo.ew’s) (3,000; 40-70) — 
“Because You’re Mine" (M-G) and 
“Hour of 13" (M-G) (2d wk). Hold- 
ing only 5 days, with tame $7,500 
likely. First week was nice $14,000. 

Paramount (Par) (3,000; 40-70) — 
“Springfield Rifle" . (WB) and 
“Night Without Sleep" (20th). 
Rousing $13,000. Last week, “Crim- 
son Pirate” (WB) and “Fargo" 
(Mono) (2d wk-4 days), $5,500. 

Center (Par) (2,100; 70-$l) — 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro" (20th) (2d 
wk). Great $14,000 after terrific 
$20,500 opener. 

Lafayette (Basil) (3,000; 40-70) — 
“Yankee Buccaneer" (U) and 
“Dance Hall Girls” (Indie). Slug- 
gish $8,000. Last week, “Back at 
Front” (U) and “Secret People” 
(Lip) (2d wk), okay $5,500 in 5 days. 

Century (20th Cent.) (3,000; 40- 
70) — “Untamed Women" (UA) and 
“The Fighter" (UA). Fair $9,000. 
Last week, “Hellgate" (Lip) and 
“Scotland Yard Inspector” (Lip), 
ditto. 


‘Mine’ Rousing $16,500, 
Toronto; ‘Somebody’ 16G 

Toronto, Nov. 4. 
Plenty of musicals current 
among newcomers, with “Because 
You’re Mine," “Somebody Loves 
Me" and “Everything I Have Is 
Yours” looming big. “Big Sky" 
looms healthy in second frame. 

Estimates for This Week 


Crest, Downtown, Glendale, 
Mayfair, Scarboro, State (Taylor) 
(863; 1,059; 955; 470; 698; 694; 35- 
60)— “You for Me" (M-G) and 
“Scotland Yard Inspector" (Lip). 
Dull $10,000. Last week, “Woman 
of North Country” (Rep) and “Rose 
Bowl Story" (Mono), same. 

Eglinton (FP) (1,080; 40-80)— 
“Washington Story” (M-G). Nice 
$7,500. Last week, “River" (UA), 
$ 6 , 000 . 

Imperial ' (FP) (3,373; 59-80) — 
“Big Sky" (RKO) (2d wk). Neat 
$10,000. Last week, $13,500. 

Loew’s (Loew) (2,096; 50-80) — 
“Because You’re Mine" (M-G). Big 
$16,500. Last week, “Ivanhoe" (M- 
G) (4th wk), $12,500. 

Odeon (Rank) (2,390; 50-90) — 
“Story of Mandy" (Rank). Nice 
$11,000. Last week, “Penny Prin- 
cess” (U), $10,500. 

Shea’s (FP) (2,396; 40-80)— 

“Somebody Loves Me" (Par). Big 
$16,000. Last week, “Just for You” 
(Par) (3d wk), $9,500. 

Towne (Taylor) (693; 50-75) — 
“Camille" ‘(M-G) (reissue) (3d wk). 
Holding well at $5,000. Last week, 
$5,500. 

University (FP) (1,558; 40-80)— 
“Wife’s Best Friend” (20th) (2d 
wk). Nice $8,000. Last week, $12,- 
000 . 


Uptown (Loew) (2,743; 40-80) — 
“Everything I Have Is Yours" (M- 
G). Neat $8,000. Last week, “Hori- 
zon West” (U), $6,500. 

( 

PHILADELPHIA 


(Continued from page 8) 

99) — “Eight Iron Men” (Col). Fine 
-$l§y09O.- —Last- - -week,- “■Back- ’••at- 
Front” (U), $10,000. 

Mastbaum (WB) (4,360; 85-$1.20) 
— “'Quiet Man" (Rep) (5th wk). 
Weekend helped to okay $10,000. 
Last week, $12,000. 


Midtown (Goldman) (1,000; 75- 
$1.30) — “Snows of Kilimanjaro" 
(20th) (3d wk). Socko $20,000. Last 
week, $24,000. 

Randolph (Goldman) (2,500; 50- 
99) — “‘Because of You” (U). Good 
$16,000 or near. Last week, “Way 
of Gaucho" (20th), dull $7,000 for 


second week. 

Stanley (WB) (2,900; 50-99) — 
“Savage" (Par). Mild $12,000. Last 
week, “Lusty Men” (RKO) (2d wk), 


NSG $8,000. 

Stanton (WB) (1,473; 50-99) — 
“Black Castle” (U). Slow $7,000. 
Last week, “Toughest Man in 
Arizona” (Rep) and “Without 
Warning" (UA). $7,500. 

Trans-Lux (T-L) (500; 85-$1.20) 
— “Night Without Sleep" (20th) 
(2d wk). Off to $3,000 in 5 days. 
Last week, oke $4,500. 


W. Va. Exhib Thinks 
Admen Know Much Of 
The Answer to B.O. 

By JOHN A. GOODNO 

Huntington, W. Va. 

A publicity or advertising man 
should be consulted before produc- 
tion starts on any picture. He’s the 
periscope on the submarine that 
tells you where to fire and when to 
fire, arid more importantly what to 
fire. 

The publicity adman frequently 
knows in advance what will make 
the public say, “Gee, I want to see 
that picture!” 

Furthermore the pub-adman is a 
producer at heart anyway. He 
didn’t start out that way of course 
but being a front-line fighter, he’s 
seen so many near-misses and 
been called on to rescue so many 
“exploitation pictures" that un- 
consciously he’s gone home at 
night and produced a picture that 
he knew had what it took at the 
old boxoffice. 

Me, I got a million of ’em! 

My red hot special for last week 
is “TV Follies of '53" which I have 
(mentally, anyway) all set up. Ex- 
ploitationally we could give 15% 
of the gate to the hospital up in Sar- 
.anac and 10% to Lowell Thomas 
and his Cinerama crowd as sort 
of a laboratory fee to hasten pro- 
duction and engineering of those 
sets to cut it down to one operator 
arid possibly save our balcony — you 
know, a sorta “Get us out of the 
trenches before Lent!" 

Now the longhairs on the Coast 
ain’t gonna like this adman produc- 
ing pictures but maybe Dizzy Dean 
was right when he said they ain't 
gonna eat either. The idea to them 
of a -Ned Alvord telling the late 
George Bernard Shaw what would 
click at the boxoffice wouldn't 
make sense but Shaw was a pub- 
adman at heart. 

However, the picture looks 
brighter. Who knows, the 1938-41 
boxoffice dip may be ending now 
in the 1948-52 history-repeats fash- 
ion, as the Dow Jones boys slide- 
rule it out. By the way, they got 
this alibi business down to a sci- 
ence-way ahead of us. 

You only have to look out the 
window down here and see the 
autumnal beauty of the broad Ohio 
Valley and movin’ along down 
there is Old Man River. Gone are 
the packet, boats, the show boats 
and the horse and wagons at the 
wharves but instead you see the 
sleek diesels moving right along, 
hauling more freight .than was 
thought possible two decades ago. 

Old Man River will always be 
with us and so will the theatre. 
Let’s keep rollin’ along. 


‘Rifle’ Sharp $9,000, 

Seattle; ‘Lure’ Oke 8G 

Seattle, Nov. 4. 

Holdovers of two pix playing at 
upped scales are attracting the 
most interest here this session. 
“Ivanhoe,” in third round at Music 
Hall still is big, while “Snows of 
Kilimanjaro" continues well in 
third frame at Fifth Avenue. 
“Springfield Rifle" is okay at Or- 
Dheum to pace newcomers. “Lusty 
Men" looms passable at Liberty. 
Estimates for This Week 

Blue Mouse (Hamrick) (800; 65- 
90)!_“Quiet Man” (Rep) (4th wk). 
Good S2.500 in 6 days. Last week, 
solid $3,700. 

Colisfeum (Evergreen) (1.829: 65- 
90) — “Lure of Wilderness" (20th) 
and “If Moscow Strikes" (Indie). 
Okay $8,000 or near. Last week, 
“Golden Hawk" (Col) and “Strange 
Fascination" (Col), oke $7,700. 

Fifth Avenue (Evergreen) (2.336; 
90-$1.25) — “Kilimanjaro" (20th) 
(3d wk). Fancy $8 000 for 5 days. 
La.st-W.eek,... swell, &L4J5QQ — 

Liberty (Hamrick) (1,650: 65-90) 
— “Lusty Men" (RKO). Passable 
$7,500. Last week, “Horizons 
West" (U) and “Stranger in Be- 
tween" (U), slow $4,000. 

Music Hall (Hamrick) (2,283; 90- 
$1.25)— “Ivanhoe" (M-G) (3d wk). 
Still big at $10,000. Last week, 
socko $12,000. 

Orpheum (Hamrick) (2.599; 65- 
90) — “Springfield Rifle" (WB) and 
“Park Row" (UA). Oke $9,000 or 
over. Last week, “Yankee Buc- 
caneer" (U) and “Toughest Man in 
Arizona" (Rep), mild $6,700. 

Palomar (Sterling) (1,350; 45-70) 
— “Son of Paleface" (Par) and 
“Merry -Widow” (M-G), (2d runs). 
Opened Monday (3). Last week, 
“Daltons Ride" (Indie) and “Des- 
trey Rides" (Indie), okay $3,500. 

Paramount (Evergreen) (3,039; 
65-90) — “Hangman’s Knot" (Col) 
and “Scotland Yard Investigator" 
(Lip). Very dull $6,000. Last 
week, “Monkey Business" (20th) 
and “Lady Iron Mask" (20th) (2d 
wk-5 days), $5,300. 


Class Showings of Arty Pix Spread 
Nationally as Boost to Boxoffice 


Malayans Ogle Pix 

Avidly, Avers Evans 

Hollywood, Nov. 4. 

Natives of Malaya are the most 
avid consumers of film entertain- 
ment in the world, according to 
John Evans, head of government 
motion picture censorship in that 
territory. 

As guest of honor at a Produc- 
tion Code luncheon, Evans said 
Malaya had 350 theatres and 5,000 
16m sound projectors to entertain 
its population of 7,000,000. In 1951, 
he added, they saw approximately 
900 features, 350 of which were 
made in Hollywood. 

‘Pay-What-You-Want’ 
Scores Big in Mpls. 

Minneapolis, Nov. 4 

Don Robertson, owner of the St. 
Paul 526-seat State, is finding his 
recently instituted “pay-what-you- 
want-to". Tuesday nights “profit- 
able." The voluntary payments 
plus the considerably increased 
concession stand business net him 
more than he previously garnered 
on those evenings, he says. The 
boxoffice is closed on the Tuesday 
“family nights” and the public has 
free ingress to the showhousc, 
which ordinarily charges, 30c ad- 
mission under its policy of dual 
last runs. 

The Internal Revenue Bureau 
has ruled that the 20% admission 
tax need not be paid from the “do- 
nations" which those attending are 
encouraged to make after seeing 
the show. Robertson, however, says 
the plan isn’t “a one-man fight" 
against the tax, a£ some industry 
members had suspected. 


20th Ups Tulipan 
Ira Tulipan, tradepress public- 
ity contact at 20th-Fox, last week 
was named newspaper publicity 
contact. He is succeeded by Harold 
Rand, Tulipan’s assistant for the 
past 13 months. 

Tulipan, with 20th since 1942 
and before that with Warner Bros., 
takes the place of Meyer Hutner, 
who has moved up to associate 
publicity manager. 


Code Balks MPA A 

• - Continued from page 7 * 

the Code looms high. So far, the 
majority of their pix aren’t sub- 
mitted for a Code seal and the 
indie distribs maintain that the 
absence of Code approval as a rule 
doesn’t deter exhibs from booking 
the pix. 

The situation concern the MPAA 
in yet another aspect since it adds 
fuel to the censors’ arguments. 
Currently on the hot seat, the 
scissor-wielders point to foreign 
imports as a reason for their con- 
tinued existence. 

Discussion of adherence to U. S. 
Code provisions go hand in hand 
with any talk on expanding the 
market here. An MPAA spokes- 
man expressed his conviction last 
week that “there will be a toning 
down in fpreign pictures as they 
make an effort to understand our 
situation here." 

Question of Code adherence is 
causing much exasperation among 
producers abroad. Some countries 
have codes patterned approximate- 
,!y. _ ter. . t h e .. U ..... S_. . . exa mpie^ . but, 
this doesn’t necessarily save them 
from trouble hem The French and 
Italians in particular argue that 
tailoring their pix to official Hol- 
lywood standards would thwart any 
attempt at individualism and 
would ruin their basic appeal to 
U. S. audiences. 

Conflict was highlighted at the 
recent “Salute to Italian Films 
Week” in New York, where a cer- 
tain number of paying customers 
were to have been admitted at 
each screening. Plans for public 
admission had to be abandoned 
for at least two festival pix — 
“Times Gone By” and “Umberto 
D”— when it was found they 
couldn't obtain a seal from the 
New York censor. 

Foreign countries solve this dif- 
ficulty in many instances in their 
own theatres at home by tagging 
certain productions “Adults Only.” 
Practice is practically unknown in 
this country. 


“Curtain at 8:30" gimmick, which 
turns the theatre over to a “class" 
film with trimmings at the s’ow 
mid-week'spot, is catching on wide- 
ly. Policy is seen as not only 
boosting attendance and bringing 
in a new kind of clientele, but also 
as a first-rate wedge . for foreign 
pix, which otherwise might never 
be seen in a community. 

Experiments, which started in 
Canada a year and a half ago, are 
being copied all over the country 
according to Harry Fellerman, 
head of Universal’s Special Films 
Division, who last week returned 
from a tour of nine exchanges in 
the mid and far-west. Fellerman 
said many circuits are adopting the 
“let’s go arty" slant on a once-a* 
week or twice-a-month* basis, sell- 
ing tickets either singly or, at a 
reduced rate, for an entire series. 
U naturally is eager to push its 
Rank product, but recognizes that 
there aren’t enough British films 
around to fill the bill. 

To alleviate exhib fears of Im 
sufficient foreign product to go 
through with the “Curtain" idea, 
U is offering to provide theatres 
with any information they may 
need on what foreign pix are han- 
dled by whom. Fellerman says 
British films are preferred and are 
winning mapy friends, but other 
foreign imports are welcome also, 
particularly if they are pictures 
that have been preceded by word- 
of-mouth praise. 

Fox-Midwest circuit calls its se- 
ries “An Evening at the Theatre" 
and sells tickets at $3 for a series 
of four. Fox Intermountain in 
Denver has adopted the “Gold 
Medal Cinema Series" tag, aqd Fox 
theatres in Kansas City run their 
special shows as the “Lyceum" 
series. 

Fellerman says a lot depends on 
the amount of work the local man- 
ager is willing to put into the pres- 
entations. “Once a couple of Brit- 
ish pictures get into a situation, 
they open the way and stimulate 
interest for others," he reports. 
“This is a new type of showman- 
ship where we really must go out 
and sell." The British are helping 
by improving quality and shorting 
the running time of their product, 
Fellerman believes. 

In the east, the Walter Reade 
circuit and the American Commu- 
nity Theatres are among the chains 
that have explored the “arty” ap- 
proach. Reade started late last 
year in Plainfield and Red Bank, 
N. J. Kingston and Saratoga were 
added for another quartet series 
of shows last spring. 

Latest chapter in the Reade 
“Curtain at 8:40" experiment kick- 
ed off last week in six houses for 
a series of four shows. Circuit is 
using “The Lavender Hill Mob" 
(British); “Under the Paris Sky" 
(French); “Rashomon" (Japanese), 
and “Encore” (British). There’ll be 
a repeat in the spring. 

Regular show is cancelled for 
the “Curtain at 8:40" night. Thea- 
tres close down their concession 
stands and serve free coffee. Tux- 
edoed ushers add class. The fea- 
ture is coupled with one or two art 
shorts. Reade chain says it’s had 
inquiries about its special shows 
from 20 to 30 circuits all over the 
country. 

Chi Indie Asks 225G 

From Majors, Others 

Chicago, Nov. 4. 

The _Re_na._ west side...ind.ie,...haji. 
fifed suiF "against ail the majors 
(except 20th(-Fox and RKO), Bala- 
ban & Katz and the 20th Century 
Theatre. Triple-damage claim for 
$225,000 was filed by Leonard 
Grossman and his wife in Chi Fed- 
eral Court and asserts the majors 
favored the B&K circuit and 20th 
Century, which is operated by Jack 
Kirsch, head of Illinois Allied The- 
atres. 

Pair operated the Rena from 
1949 to January, 1951, and suit 
says that they were forced to give 
up the house because of failure to 
obtain better product. 


Salesmen Reelfcct Joe Murphy 
Minneapolis, Nov. 4. 

The Minneapolis Reel Fellows, 
local member of the Colosseum of 
Motion Picture Salesmen of 
America, at its annual election, re- 
tained president Joe Murphy and 
all of its other officers. 


20 


tv-films 


MSSHBf? 


Wedneeclay, November 5, 1952 


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TELEPIX REVIEWS 


ADVENTURES OF KIT CARSON gentry. Suspicious after tracing a offbeat casting and story, result 
(The Bandit’s Blade) coupla killings to him, Carson puts being a miss as far ^as the mop- 

With Bill Williams, Don Diamond, his nose on the trail, and winds up pets who expect sheriff-'n -robbers 
others with the baddie holding him off at stuff is concerned. _ Circus eques- 


OF 


SCHLITi PLAYHOUSE 

STARS 

With Eddie Albert, Margo, others; 

Irene Dunne, hostess 
Producer: Edward Lewis 
Director: Eddie Mann 
Writers: A1 Lazio, P. Gorog 
30 Mins.; Fri.,: 0 p.m- 
SCHLITZ BREWING 
CBS-TV, from N. Y. 

( Letvnen & Newell ) 

Judging from the boring bit of 
comedies presented on the Schlitz 
Playhouse” vidpix series last Fri- 
day night (31) via CBS-TV, it’s a 
good thing that the producers of 
the show, are bringing in a new 
packager and story-department to 
work over the films. This one 
was a prime example . of what’s 
been wrong with vidpix produc- 
tions to date,, with a yam that was 
telegraphed from the opening 
scene and had nothing to sustain it 
until the closer. 

With Eddie Albert and his wife, 
Margo, to co-star, it was one of 
those cliched affairs in which Al- 
bert, as an aspiring young archi- 
tect, had to entertain a potential 
new client for his firm. He apd 
his wife obtained tickets for 
‘‘South Pacific” but their five-year- 
old son stuffed them down the 
mouth of his hobby-horse. Rest 
of the half-hour was devoted to 
their frantic efforts to locate the 
tickets, as the client and his' snob- 
bish wife stood around amazed. 
When a" cigar that the kid had 
stuffed down the horse started to 
bum, they tore the toy apart and 
there, believe it or not, were the 
tickets. And that^was it. 

Cast tried hard* but they never 
had a chance. Irene Dunne, as 
usual, was good in her hostessing 
role but the reason for her ap- 
pearance on the show, except for 
her name value, remains a ripley. 
Schlitz plugs were okay. Stal. 

DEATH VALLEY DAYS 
(The Bullfrog-Nugget) 

With Gail Davis, Jimmy Lloyd, 

others 

Producer: Dorrell McGowan 
Director: Stuart McGowan 
Writer: Ruth Woodman 
30 Mins.; 10 p.m, Fri. 

PACIFIC COAST BORAX 
KTLA, Hollywood 

( McCann-Erickson) 

A highly amusing story of the 
belle of Bullfrog (a mining hamlet 
in Death Valley) . is unraveled in the 
latest “Deafh Valley Days” story, 
with the lucky suitor being the one 
who capitalizes on the eccentric 
beauty’s penchant for eggs. By 
cornering the egg market in the 
Nevada town, he finally extracts 
from her her admission of love — 
for him as well as the eggs, thus 
winning over other equally ardent 
suitors. 

Mamie, a waitress, is the belle 
of the town, and the local boys are 
hot and heavy after her hand in 
marriage. One of them puts up a 
Rube Goldberg style stall shower 
to help his wooing, and another 
lets her use his gramaphone. It’s 
a tight, three-cornered fight, but 
the girl has a craving for eggs, and 
when the third suitor learns this 
he buys up all the eggs in town, 
thereby unlocking her heart. 

Gail Davis does right well as the 
femme lead in this gay froth and 
nonsense. 

Jimmy Lloyd is highly competent 
as the successful suitor, and Hal 
Smith, Wade Crosby, Emmett Lynn 
and James Seay are good in sup- 
port. Stuart McGowan’s deft direc- 
tion gives this one the right 
tongue-in-cheek treatment and it 
comes off as a diverting half-hour. 

. Daku. 


forts to begin living after too long 
a time of .not living fail miserably, 
and die decides to drop the try 
and put her nephew through col- 
lege. 

Effectively underplaying the lead 
role with admirable restraint is. 
Katherine Locke, and she gives the 
part full emotional impact. Isabel 
Jewell and Charles Halton are 
good as the greedy in-laws, and 
Bill Sheffield is, okay as the 
nephew. 

Direction by Sobey Martin is 
sensitive, and he plays the emo- 
tional content of script by Jerry 
Lawrence and Robert E. Lee for 
all it’s worth. Daku. 


Nelson Vice Cole 

Hollywood, Nov. 4. 

Harmon “Ham” Nelson succeed- 
ed “Bud” Cole as KNBH program 
manager. 

He was formerly with Kenyon & 
Eckhardt and Young & Rubicam 
agencies 


Producer: Revue Productions 
Director: John English 
Writers: Robert Schaefer, > Eric 

Freiwald 

30 Mins.; Mon., 7:30 p.m. 

COCA COLA 
KECA-TV, Hollywood 
( D’Arcy ) 

New series of Kit Carson oaters 
fits like a glove into the groove for 
which it’s patterned, and should 
keep the juves (and Coca Cola), 
happy. Kids don’t look for orig- 
inality; they want action, and 
that’s what they get in “The Ban- 
dit’s Blade,” by Robert Schaefer 
and Eric Freiwald, with Carson 
galloping along after the villains, 
and restoring the stolen rancho to 
the doll in distress. 

Tracking down a gang flooding 

early California with phoney $20 
bills, Carson runs into the heavy, 
who’s 1 posing as one of the landed 


gentry. Suspicious after tracing a 
coupla killings to him, Carson puts 
his nose on the trail, and winds up 
with the baddie holding him off at 
sword's point — literally. Badman is 
quite a fencer, and can’t resist 
when Carson challenges him to a 
duel. Of course the hero wins, 
and right triumphs, as it always 
will, particularly in oaters. 

Bill Williams is okay as Carson; 
same goes for Don Diamond as his 
pal, but acting honors go to heavy 
Denver Pyle. John English's di- 
rection is very good. Daku. 


THE CISCO KID 
With Duncan Renaldo, Leo Car- 
rillo, others 
Producer: Ziv 
Director: Eddie Davis 
Writer: Robert A. White 
30 Mins.; Mon., 7 p.m. 
INTERSTATE BAKERIES 
KECA-TV, Hollywood 
• ( Dan B. Miner) 

New series of “Cisco Kid” gets 
off to a sluggish start due to some 


TV Films in Production 


ARROW PRODUCTIONS 

KTTV Studios, Hollywood 
Second set of 13 in "RAMAR OF THE 
JUNGLE" half-hour jungle advpnture tel- 
epix series to resume shooting November 
11. Jon Hall stars. 

Producers: Harry S. 

Frhmkess 

Film producer: Rudolph Flothow 
Director: Wally Fox 


— - as of Friday, Oct. 31 

Exec chg. prod.: F. H. Fodor 
Production manager: Glenn Miller 


trian team of Poodles and Grace 
Hanneford was injected ihto this 
one, with story being built around 
them, and consequently the star of 
the piece, the Cisco Kid, rides in 
the rumble seat. 

Tenuous story line has circus 
scenes predominating, and it’s un- 
raveled haphazardly. Villains have 
the Hanneford? in their clutches, 
and under guise of working for 
the tent show, pull jobs, all over 
the countryside. .Ceesco Keed is 
offended considerably at all this, 
and after watching the Hanneforcls 
perform, goes out and catches the 
robbers. This one can be regarded 
as an interesting experiment, but 
this type of senes isn't meant for 
blazing new trails. 

Hannefords are outstanding in 
the circus sequence, while Duncan 
Renaldo as Cisco and Leo Carrillo 
as Pancho are also there to pick up 
the story threads.*. Direction by 
Eddie Davis, is routine, while Rob- 
ert A. White’s teleplay is a con- 
fusing mixture, half-oater, half- 


circus. 


Daku. 


FLYING A PRODUCTIONS 

6920 Sunset Blvd.', Hollywood 
. .. . „ Second series of 52 half-hour Gene 

Rothschild. Leon .Autry Western telepix shooting. Gene 
Autry. Pat Buttram set leads. 

“RANGE RIDER" shooting second se- 
ries of 52 half-hour videoters. Jack Ma- 
honey, Dick Jones head cast. 


Nov.' 14. Helene Stanley, Patti Lee head 
cast. 

„ Producer: Michael Phillips 
Associate producer: Dan Hadzick 
Director: Jo Graham 
"ERNEST HAYCOX THEATRE" series 
of half hour telepix skedded for Novem- 
■ her 18th start. Michael Phillips directs. 


REID RAY TELEFILMS, INC. 

8762 Holloway Dr.: HoUywood 

Iff A PIT V IMUWTfl DPT P"Rf>IYfTfTTONS Producer: Louis Gray "A SPORTING CHANCE" series of 13 

r „ v ° Directors: Wallace Fox. Geo. Archainbaud half-hour mystery telepix based on adven- 

„ -On Location, N. Y. New Series 0 f half-hour western dramas tures of a sports writer, skedded to begin 

series ,°£ * 3 fi ve-minute entitled "DEATH VALLEY DAYS" now shooting November 3. General casting for 

epix. To he sponsored by Mermen through shootia g. . *.U parts.. 

the Grey agency, starting Nov. 1. Producer: Darrell McGowan Producer-Director: Saul Elkins 

Producers: Jack Barry, Dan Enright Director: Stuart McGowan 


WM. BOYD PROD'NS, INC. GROSS-KKASNE, INC. 

11700 Ventura _ B1 Vd.: Los Angles RKO Pathe . Cu i V er City 

Hopalong Cassidy series of half-hour Now shooting »bIG TOWN" series of 

"°H W fJflVn Frip/r 26 half hour telepix sponsored by Lever Jng. 

Boyd and * eatunng Edgar Brothers. Patrick McVey and Jane Nigh- Cast: Stu Erwin, June Collyer, Ann Todd, 
Buchanan. _ _ leads. shniin .ion,. 

Producers: Jack J. Gross and Philip N. 

Krasne 

Director: B. A. Dupont. 


THE UNEXPECTED 
(One for the Money) 

WUh KaUieri.ne „Locfee, Isabel 
ell, others 
Producer: Ziv TV 
Director: Sobey Martin 
Writers: Jerry Lawrence and Rob- 
ert E. Lee 

30 Mins.; 8 p.m. Wed. 

IRONRITE IRONER 
KECA-TV, Hollywood 
A notch or two above the usual 
* Unexpected” vidpix, “One for the 
Money is a poignant story of a 
spinster whom life passed by as 
she cared for her invalid mother 
for 25 years, until the mother’s 
death. Customary gimmick ending 
series relics on is missing here, 
with climax obvious, but narrative 
benefits considerably from lack of 
buildup to so-called “surprise” or 
twist ending. 

When the mother dies, an un- 
pleasant court fight follows as it’s 
revealed the spinster’s slatternly 
sister and her lazy husband rigged 
a . will getting the senile mother to 
^ sign the paper giving them the es- 
m “de. Spinster fights the will and 
^ wins the coin, but her pathetic ef- 


ROLAND REED PRODUCTIONS 

Hal Roach Studios. Culver City 
“TROUBLE WITH FATHER" series of 
30-minute situation comedies now shoot* 


Executive producer: William Boyd 
Associate producer: Robert Stabler 
Production manager: Glenn Cook 
Directors: Derwin-Abbe, Tommy Carr 


Sheila James 

g roducer: Roland Reed , 

irector: Howard Bretherton 
Associate producer: Guy V. Thayer. Jr. 


JACK CHERTOK PRODS. 

General Service Studios, HoUywood 
"LONE RANGER" half-hour western 
series now shooting. 

John Hart, Jay Silverheels set leads. 
Producer: Jack Chertok 
Associate producer: Harfy - Poppe 
Directors: Paul Landres, Holly Morse 


BING CROSBY ENTERPRISES 

Hal Roach Studios, Culver City 
‘"Rebound" series of half-hour adult 
dramas. Sponsored by Packard Motor Car 
Corp. Now shooting. 

Executive producer: Basil Grillo * 
General Manager: Harve Foster 


JOHN GUEDEL PRODS. 

600 Taft Bldg,, Hollywood 
Art Lihkletter starring in a series of 
104 15-minute vidpix titled "LINKLETTER 
AND THE KIDS." 

Producer-director: Maxwell Shane 
Associate producer: Irvin -Atkins 

PAUL F. HEARD, INC. 

KTTV Studios: Hollywood 
Series of 13 quarter-hour telepics en- 
titled "WHAT'S YOUR TROUBLE?" With 
Dr. and Mrs. Norman Vincent Peale. 
Producer: Paul F. Heard 
Director: Paul F. Heard 
Production supervisor: Harry Cohen 


KEY PRODUCTIONS 

Eagle Lion Studios, HoUywood 
Shooting Red Skelton series of 30-min- 
ute comedy telepix. Stars Red Skelton. 


JOAN DAVIS PRODUCTIONS 

General Service' Studios, HoUywood 
"I MARRIED JOAN" series of half-hour 
situation comedies currently shooting for - _ 

General Electric sponsor. Starring Joan 

Davis Jim Backus. Director: Marty Racldn 

Producer: P. J. Wolf son 
Director: Hal Walker. 

Writers: Arthur Stander, Phil Sharp. 


REVUE PRODUCTIONS 

Eagle Lion Studios: Hollywood 
Half hour series of "ADVENTURES OF 
KIT CARSON" telepix now shooting for 
Revue Prods. 

Producer: Revue Productions 
• Director: John English. 

HAL ROACH PRODUCTIONS 

Hal Ruach Studios: Culver City 
"AMOS 'N' ANDY" series of character 
comedy* telepix now shooting. Sponsored 
by Blati Beer for CBS-TV. 

Cast: Tim Moore, Spencer Williams, Alvin 
Childress, Ernestine Wade. Johnny Lee. 
Horace Stewart. 

Supervisors: Freeman Gosden, Charles 
Correll, Sidney Van Keuren 
Director: Charles Barton 
Production executive: James Fonda 
Assistant director: ‘ Emmett Emerson 


DESILU PRODUCTIONS 

General Service Studios, HoUywood 
"I LOVE LUCY" half hour comedy se- 
es sponsored by Philip Morris shooting 
for fall season. 

Cast: "Lucille BaU, Desl Arnaz, William' 
Frawley, Vivian Vance. 

Producer: Jess Oppenheimer 
Director: WiUiam Asher 
Writers: Jess Oppenheimer# Madelyn 
Pugh, Bob CarroU, Jr. 

"OUR MISS BROOKS" half-hour com- 
edy drama series now shooting for CBS- 
TV. General Foods sponsor. 

Cast: Eve Arden, Gale Gordon, Jane Mor- 
gan, Dick Crenna, Gloria McMillan, Bob 
Rockwell, Virginia Gordon. 

Production Executive: Larry Beuu 
Director; A1 Lewis 
Assistant director: Jim Paisley 
Writers: A1 Lewis, Joe QuUlan 


VERNON LEWIS PRODUCTIONS 

Lewis Sound Films, 71 W. 45th St., N. Y. , , . JS , 

"NIGHT EDITOR" series of 15-minute Assistant director: Eddie Seata 
weekly newspaper-locaUed dramas, star- 


SCREEN GEMS 

1302 N. Gower, HoUywood 
Now shooting the FORD THEATRK 
series of 39 half-hour telepix. 
Producer-director: Jules Bricken 


ring Hal Burdick. Now shooting. Spon- 
sored by Kaiser-Frazer in five markets, via 
Weintraub. 

Producer: Vernon Lewis 
Director: M. Baron 


DOUGFAIR CORPORATION 

RKO Pathe: Culver City 
First 18 of half-hour adventure series 
"Terry and the Pirates" shooting. Canada 
Dry sponsors. 

Cast: John Baer, WilUam Tracy, Gloria 
Sanders. 

Producer: Dougfair Corporation 

-Associate - preduct-n-Wagrcn-'Lewig 

Directors: Lew Landers, Arthur Pierson 


THE McCADDEN CORP. 
General Service Studios: HoUywood 
"THE BURNS AND ALLEN SHOW" 
now shooting series of half hour comedy 
telepix. The Carnation Co. sponsor. 

Cast: George Burns and Gracio AUen, 
Fred Clark, Bea Benadaret, Horry Von 
ZeU. 

Producer: Ralph Levy 
Director: Ralph Levy 

Writers: Paul Henning, Sid Dorfmad, Har- 
vey Helm, WiUiam Burns 

MARCH OF TIME 

369 Lexington Ave„ N. Y. 
"AMERICAN WIT AND HUMOR" se- 
ries of 26 half-hour plx. Thomas Mitchell, 
narrator, with cast including Gene Lock- 
hart, Jeffrey Lynn, Arnold Motts, Ann 
Burr and Olive Deerlng. 

Producer: Marion Parsonnet 
Director: Fred Stcphani. 


SHELDON REYNOLDS PROD.’S 

Post Parlsien Studios, Paris 
FOREIGN INTRIGUE series of half- 
hour adventure fUms for presentation in 
U. S. TV for various sponsors now shoot- 
ing in Paris, starring Jerome Thor and 
Sydna Scott. 

producer-director: Sheldon Reynolds 
Assoc. Producer: John Padovano 
Director of Photography: Bertil Palmgren 
Musical Director: Paul Durand 


DON SHARPE ENTERPRISES 

AKO Pathe Studios, Hollywood 
Series of "FOUR STAR PLAYHOUSE" 
half-hour telepix dramas shooting. 
Producer: Don Sharpe 
"MY HERO" series of comedy-dramas 
starring Robert Cummings now shooting 
Producer: Mort Green 


shows "THIS IS THE LIFE. 
Cast: Forrest Taylor, Onslow 


Nan Boardman, Randy “Stuart, Michael Associate producer: WilUam Self 
Hall, David Kasday 


Producer: Scm Hersh 
Director: WiUiam F Claxton 


FEDERAL TELEFILM, INC. 

Goldwyn Studios, HoUywood 
"MR. AND MRS. NORTH" series of half 


SHOWCASE PRODUCTIONS 

Hal Roach Studios, Culver City 
"RACKET SQUAD" series shooting half- 
hour telepix. 

Producer: Hal Roach, Jr.j CarroU Case 
Director: Jim Tinllng 

~ telemount' * picTtS’ES^ me. 

& MUTUAL TELEVISION PRODS. 

9134 Sunset. Hollywood 
"COWBOY G-MEN" series of half-hour 
western vidpix now shooting. 

Cast: Russell Hayden stars with Jackie 
Coogan, PhU Arnold, Jackie Cooper, Jr., 
Byron Foulger, Dorothy Patrick feat- 
ured. 

PARSONNET TV FILM STUDIOS, Producer: Henry Donovan 

rvp Associate producer! Russell Hayden 

ac ao 77 , c, T V, , , „ Directors: George Cahan, Reg Brownie 

46-02 Fifth St., Long Island City, N. Y. 

Casting: Michael Meads. 


FAMILY FILMS TELEVISION 

KTTV Studios, Hollywood 

,T^5 n ,M?i h . a c lf *J^c r . r . e i , J I ° US dramatI ° telepix. Different stars featured each 
1 Ai1 ”’ week 

Stevens, producer: Meridian Pictures, Inc. 


MERIDIAN PICTURES, INC. 

Goldwyn Studios, HoUywood 
"SCHLITZ PLAYHOUSE OF STARS" 
series currently shooting 13 half hour 


Shooting half-hour dramas for series cn» 


m vfv i m ovsavo v* X iii j , . . — ,, r — 

hour situation comedies now shooting ««** T* h e Doctor," sponsored by Procter 
first 39. A John W. Loveton Production « Gamble. Features. Warner Anderson, 
starring Barbara Britton and Richard Parsonnet 


Denning. 

Producer: Federal TV Corporation. 
Director: Ralph Murphy. 

FILMCRAFT PRODS. 

8451 Melrose, HoUywood 


Production manager: Henry Spitz 
Directors: Robert Aldrich, Peter Godfrey, 

PATHESCOPE PRODUCTIONS 
580 Fifth Ave., New York City 
Now shooting "MAN AGAINST CRIME" 
series of 39 half-hour telepix, sponsored 


GROUCHO MARX starred in 39 half-hour SP ^?.SS 

audience participation film productions 

now shooting once a week for NBC. Xili?,™ ^I p + 0 il2 lamy heads c ? st * 


DeSoto-Plymouth sponsoring. 

Producer: John Guedel 
Film producer: 1. Lindenbrfum 
Directors: Boh Dwan. Bernie Smith 
"IT'S A SMALL WORLD," starring A1 
Gannaway in a series of 39 half-hour fam- 
ily-appeal programs. Now shooting. 

Cast: A1 Gannaway and others 
Producer: Isidore Lindenbaum 


Producer: Ed Montague 
Production Supervisors: Walter Raft, 
Robert Drucker 
Director: Oscar Rudolph. 

PHILDANJTV 
Eagle Lion Studios, HoUywood 
Series of 13 half-hour comedies "CA- 
REER FOR CATHY" to begin shooting 


VOLCANO PRODUCTIONS, INC. 

General Service Studios, Hollywood 
"THE ADVENTURES OF OXXII AND 
HARRIET," half-hour comedy series now 
shooting. 

Cast: OzzLe Nelson, Harriet HUllard Nel- 
son, David Nelson', Ricky Nelson, Don 
DeFore , 

Producers: Robert Angus and BiU Lewis 
Director: Ozzie Nelson 
Writers: BUI Davenport, Don Nelson, Ben 
Gershman, Ozzie Nelson 

ZIV TV 

5255 Clinton St., Hollywood 
Six in "BOSTON BLACKIE" scries of 
half hour adventure telepix shoot in Oc- 
tober. 

"FAVORITE STORY" series of half hour 
telepix now shooting. 

General casting for all pictures. 
Directors: Eddie Davis, Sobey Martin, 


CHEVRON THEATRE 
(Cali the Police) 

With Stephen .Dunne, Elizabeth 
Fraser, others 
Producer: Revue Productions 
Director; Robert S. Ktnkel 
Writers: John and Ward Hawkins 
30 Mins.; 9 p.m. Fri. . 

CHEVRON STATIONS 
KTLA, Hollywood 

(BBD&O) 

An involved piece of business 
about k murder, an embezzler an,d 
two femmes inextricably caught in 
the web ©f it all, adds up to an • 
interesting whodunit until the 
finale, when there’s a let-down in 
the far-fetched conclusions which 
strain credulity. Perhaps the weak- 
est point in script by John and 
Ward Hawkins is part of story line 
where one sister attempts to em- 
broil another in a nasty mess over 
a missing $51,000 swiped by an 
embezzler. 

Narrative opens' with the inno- 
cent sister killing a man who 
enters her home at -night, and 
whom she mistakes for a burglar. 
She calls her sis for help, and 
allegedly because they’re fearful 
of publicity they decide to hide the 
body in a car trunk instead of 
calling the police. This under- 
standably disturbs the innocent 
sister’s hubby when he gets home, 
and he proceeds to dump the body 
in the city dump. 

A melodramatic sequence of 
events reveals the murdered man 
is a detective sent to their 
home by the guilty sister, who 
seeks to distract the sleuth’s 
attention from her. Husband 
solves the whole business; and 
reveals his in-law as the gal 
who swiped the coin from the thief, 
who then committed suicide. So 
then the guilty gal pulls a gun on 
her sis and in-law, but breaks 
down and hands over the gun in 
a hoky ending unworthy of the 
preceding footage. 

Carolyn Jones and Elizabeth 
Fraser are good as the sisters, and 
Stephen Dunn adequate as the con- 
fused husband. Direction by Robert 
S. Finkel is okay. Daku. 



Hollywood 

Harry Mann is prepping a series 
of 26 half-hour telepix . . . Cast 
in Family Films’ “This Is the 
Life,” series, in support of Onslow 
Sfevens, - Nan. Boardman, Forrest" 
Taylor, -Randy Stuart, Michael Hall 
and Davis Kasday, are Marjorie 
Lord, Helen Parrish, James Seay, 
Mabel Paige, Dani Sue Nolan, 
Charlotte Fletcher and Maudie 
Prickett . . . Gene Hardy, Leoit- 
Burbank, Paul MoVey and Geral- 
dine Wall have been added to cast 
of . Gross-Krasne’s “Big Town” 
series . . , Producers Gil Ralston 
and Arthur Ripley are lining up 
top names for a new series for 
General Electric, to begin shooting 
Dec. 1 at Eagle-Lion studios . . . 
Joan Caulfield drew lead in 
Meredian Pictutres’ telepic based 
on Somerset Maugham’s “String of 
Pearls,” shooting at the Goldwyn 
studios for Schlitz* “Playhouse of 
Stars,” with Carl Esmond and Na- 
talie Schaeffer in support, Roy 
Kcllino directing, and Bill Self as- 
sociate producer . . . Gene Autry 
returned from rodeo stand at Den- 
ver, and began four telepix for 
Flying A 


Wedneftday, NoveinI>er 5, 1952 


PtS&iEfr 


TV-FILMS 


21 


CLIENTS PONDER ROLE IN VIDPIX 


Snader Sues Partners Over Sale 
Of Vidpix; Hearing Set For Nov. 12 


Hollywood, Nov. 4. 

Long-smouldering feud between 
vidpix producer Louis D. Snader 
and his partners ignited into court 
action over the weekend, as Snader 
filed suit against Alexander Bisno 
and Samuel Markovitch over their 
sale of 750 Telescriptions, and 
Superior Judge Frank T. Swain 
granted Snader a temporary re- 
straining order, and set Nov. 12 
as date for a hearing. Bisno and 
Markovitch will have to appear on 
that date to show cause why they 
shouldn’t be enjoined from sell- 
ing the 750 Snader Telescriptions 
without Snader’s okay. 

Snader filed against his partners 
and 400 John Does, asking an in- 
junction stopping the sale; declara- 
tory relief, receivership, account- 
ing, and a dissolution of the part- 
nership. The same day lie sent 
letters to every TV station in the 
country handling the product ad- 
vising them to ignore sale by his 
partners of the telepix. 

Snader’s legal action stems from 
sale by Bisnb and Markovitch of 
backlog to Ben Frye of Studio 
Films in Cleveland. Snader charges 
in his suit they “secretly and clan- 
destinely” entered into negotia- 
tions for the sale of the vidpix for 
$600,000 at the same time he was 
negotiating with unidentified Frisco 
parties, for the .sa!e..of .BSM. .Teie- 
icriptions and other allied compa- 
nies for $1,500,000. 

The producer says assets of 
BSM, one of a series of interre- 
lated corporations and partner- 
ships, are worth $1,500,000. Other 
companies involved are Snader 
Distributing, Snader Sales and 
Snader Telescriptions. 

Snader accuses the defendants 
of “entering into a conspiracy to 
cheat, trick and defraud” the re- 
maining partners in BSM, and asks 
a receiver be appointed “to pre- 
vent waste, great and irreparable 
injury to the assets,” charging 
defendants “have confused and in- 
termingled funds, credits and as- 
sets of the various organizations so 
that it is now impossible to ascer- 
tain the! financial condition of any 
of them individually, that this has 
been done to deceive him (Snader) 
and enhance the defendants’ own 
profits.” 


Rooney Fix Next 

On NBC-TV Sked 


Now that NBC has shifted into 
second in its new emphasis on situ- 
ation comedy shows (with the “Life 
of Riley” vidpix series snagging a 
sponsor a few weeks after “Mr. 
Peepers” had been sold), the web 
is putting the finishing touches on 
its new Mickey Rooney vidfilms, 
which it hopes will put the situa- 
tion comedy impact in high gear. 
Pilot is due in N. Y. this week. 

Rooney series is one of a group 
of such shows which NBC is now 
rounding into shape in an effort to 
break the rival CBS web’s lock on 
situation comedies. Web hopes it 
can wrap up a deal as fast as it 
•did •' wlfli ' ~“mrey7 , " > 


Indie Producer Sets 

Lamarr for Telepix 

Rome, Oct. 28. 

Producer Victor Pahlen has re- 
vealed that he has signed Hedy 
Lamarr to star in a series of 30- 
minute TV films to be made in 
Paly. Pahlen will be associated 
with Thetis Films of Rome, com- 
prising a group of Italian film 
biggies. 

Series to be called, “Great 
Loves,” includes subjects written 
by Aenaes McKenzie, Salka Viertel 
(Greta Garbo stories), John Kafka 
and several Italian writers. Deal 
is for 26 shorts, with options for 
another 13. All will be in Techni- 
color. \ 

Pahlen hopes to start production 
^ °v. 15. Erika Vail will be in sup- 
port in all the shorts. 


Health Info Vidpix 

Health Information Foundation 
has wrapped up a series of six half- 
hour vidpix, with name stars, which 
will be aired by ABC-TV on Sun- 
days at 10:30 p.m. Eddie Dowling 
stars in the initialer Sunday (9>. 

Victor Weingarten lensed the pix 
for HIF, which includes the big 
pharmaceutical houses. Films are 
aimed at showing communities how 
they can better medical conditions 
In their own areas. 


‘Juggler’ Juggled 
Between Pix-TV; 
Kramer in Beef 


Hollywood, Nov. 4. 

Stanley Kramer’s attorneys have 
made strong protests to Meridian 
Pictures, a telepic company, over 
a vidpic Meridian shot last week 
tagged “The" Juggler,” Kramer as- 
serting conflict in titles will be 
Injurious to his upcoming theat- 
rical film, “The Juggler,” based on 
Michael Blankfort’s tome. 

Kramer’s v.p., George Glass, de- 
clared, “While there is no connec- 
tion in subject matter, the mere 
fact that a telepic called ’The Jug- 
gler’ is shown on television might 
keep many people away from thea- 
tres showing our picture in the 
belief it’s the same one, and I’m 
very much opposed to it.” 

Meridian associate producer, Bill 
Self, replied he had been advised 
by CBS legalites he could go 
ahead and shoot it, and he did, 
with Richard Carlson in the lead. 
It’s for Schlitz “Playhouse of 
Stars.” 


MOORE SHOW COMEBACK 
WITH TWO NEW BACKERS 

CBS-TV’s Garry Moore show 
started on the comeback trail spon- 
sorwlse this week, with two new 
^ankrollers signing on for single 
quarter-hour segments of the day- 
time program. Show, which last 
year was SRO, is currently down 
to two quarter-hour sponsors each 
week. 

New bankrollers include Mas- 

land Carpets and Ballard & Bal- 
lard. Masland has decided to check 
off ABC-TV as an alternate-week 
sponsor of that web’s “Tales of To- 
morrow” after the Dec. 26 broad- 
cast, to shift its ad coin to Moore. 
Carpet firm takes over the Monday 
1:30 to 1:45 segment of the CBS 
day timer, starting Jan. 26. Agency 
is Anderson & Cairns. 

Ballard & Ballard, for its Oven- 
ready Biscuits, takes over the 1:45 
to 2 o’clock segment of the Moore 
show starting Dec. 2. Agency is 
Campbell-Bethune. Two new spon- 
sors join Best Foods, which now 
bars ‘the 'Ir45 _ t0 ‘2~segment Wednes- 
days, and Stokely-Van Camp, which 
has the same segment on Thurs- 
days. 



Brewers Hop Aboard 
’Favorite Story’ Vidpix 

Four brewers have already 
bought “Favorite Story,” Ziv TV 
series now being Jensed in Eng- 
land, for 14 markets, according to 
M. J. Rifkin, Ziv sales v.p. 

Schaefer beer will back series 
in N. Y. over WNBT, Sundays at 
10:30 p.m. when it’s released in 
January, and also pick lip tab in 
New Haven and Hartford. Gen- 
esse beer has bought the show for 
Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and 
Binghamton. Blatz is backing the 
vidpix in Milwaukee and other 
markets to be announced. Olympia 
beer has bought the entire "Coast, 
covering six markets. 


By BERT BRILLER 

Film tele garnered major atten- 
tion at the annual eastern confer- 
ence of the American Assn, of Ad- 
vertising Agencies in N. Y. last 
week. Chief emphasis was placed 
on the question of cutting costs. 

A warning to the talent unions 
was voiced by Lewis H. Titterton, 
AM-TV production chief of the 
Compton agency, who presided 
over the radio-tele section. “Cre- 
ative opportunities afforded by 
film are so attractive,” Titterton 
said, that film will he used “indef- 
initely aqd in large quantity” de- 
spite “skyrocketing costs.” 

Agency exec said that when vid- 
pix first entered the scene, the 
admen were greeted enthusiasti- 
cally by the unions and guilds 
“who had been suffering bleak 
unemployment.” He said they 
wanted to up employment and 
thus “took a realistic view of the 
relatively modest budgets avail- 
able” .and the necessity of speed. 
“The pyramiding volume of TV 
activity on the Coast doesn’t 
seem to have changed the basic 
attitude of the craft unions in fa- 
vor of continued full employment 
for their nfembership at good dol- 
lar levels, rather than looking to 
some form of reuse payments 'for 
part of their 'Compensation/. Tit« 
terton said. 

However, he noted, the Screen 
Actors Guild and the Screen Di- 
rectors Guild have negotiated 
contracts calling for certain mini- 
mum payments for a specified 
number of reuses of the picture. 
“If the negative is to be encum- 
bered by reuse, payments, the pro- 
ducer has to assess, carefully the 
business risk involved in deferring 
his recouping part of his negative 
cost through secondary sponsorship 
runs,” Compton exec said. So long 
as reuse costs are stated in dollars, 
which is the SAG and SDG pat- 
tern, the risks can be fairly close- 
ly estimated, he opined. However, 
he commented, the Screen Writ- 
ers Giuld-Authors League of 
America are out for indefinite 
reuse payments, without a cut-off 
point after which no payments are 
necessary. SWG-ALA also state 
reuse payments in percentage 
terms, rather then in dollars. 

Risk Without Rerun Benefit 

He declared that vidpic produc- 
ers feel unless there is a cutoff 
point and reuse payments are 
stated in dollars, future vidpic 
productions may be a “bad busi- 
ness risk.” The writers, he noted, 
feel that unless they are compen- 
sated for reruns, creativeness and 
quality will suffer. 

In the field of syndicated film, 
David Sutton, v.p. of MCA-TV, 
predicted a “great expansion.” He 
said that there are many stations 
which will lack the knowhow, tal- 
ent and physical equipment to 
produce divergent types of live 
programming themselves, and con- 
sequently would have to turn to. 
vidpix. Syndication companies are 
needed to supply children’s pro- 
grams, dramatic shows, situation 
comedies, etc., “at a price eco- 
nomically feasible for both adver- 
tiser and syndicator,” Sutton said. 

Citing the case of his firm’s Ab- 
|~bbff and "Costello' pix", "Sutfon saTd' 
that because of production costs it 
hid to be priced two and three 
times more than any previous bi- 
cycled series. At first, he said, 
there was some resistance from 
stations, but the A&C vidpix are 
now in over 30 markets. 

Syndicated film, he averred, 
would help bring new advertisers 
into TV. He also underlined the 
growing use of celluloid placed on 
a spot basis by national advertisers. 

Arthur Bellaire, AM-TV com-^ 
mercials chief for BBD&O, said* 
that there are many short cuts 
that can slice costs in film com- 
mercials. Among these, he said, 
are: eliminating needless lip 

synchronization, animation and 
elaborate ' opticals; using camera 
motion over a piece of art work, 
rather than using animation; plan- 
ning a series of plugs so footage 
from one commercial can be used 

(Continued on page 28) 


SAG, Film Producers Talks Snagged 
On Re-Run Fees for Pic Commercials 


ABC-TV Gets ‘Sky King’ 

Chicago, Nov. 4. 

Derby Foods has yanked its “Sky 
King” vidpix from its Sunday 
afternoon berth on NBC-TV and 
is moving it to a Saturday morn- 
ing slot on ABC-TV. Western 
series, produced by Jack Chertok 
and starring Kirby Grant, debuts 
on ABC Saturday (8) after a 26- 
week ride on NBC. 

Agency is Needham, Louis & 
Brorby. 


NBC to Explore 
“Victory at Sea’ 
As Theatre Pix 


There’s a likelihood that “Vic- 
tory At Sea,” the 26-part filmed 
documentation of naval operations 
during and after World War II, 
which NBC-TV is currently pre- 
senting as a public service, may 
eventually wind up as a feature- 
length film for theatre presenta- 
tion. 

Robert W. Sarnoff, top man in 
NBC-TV’s film operation, admitted 
last week that the web would ex- 
plore all the angles with an eye 
toward a possible conversion of 
“Victory” into a film for theatre 
distribution. This, he said, would 
require a complete re-editing job 
and a re-scoring of Richard Rodg- 
ers music to achieve a proper 90- 
minute continuity and dramatic 
impact. 

“Victory” preemed on NBC-TV 
last week, winning immediate ac- 
claim. Nothing will be done in the 
way of theatre showing to disturb 
the public service aspects of the 
presentation during its initial 26- 
week showing. However, while the 
re-runs are available for TV spon- 
sorship, NBC now feels it might 
even have a greater gross potential 
as a feature-length pic. 

“Victory,” made in cooperation 
with the U. S. Navy under the over- 
all supervision of Henry J. Salo- 
mon, cost NBC about $700,000. 


BOB LORD INKED AS 
TELEVIDEO PRODUCER 

Hollywood, Nov. 4. 

As part of its expansion pro- 
gram, Screen Televideo has inked 
Robert Lord as producer, and the 
former Metro man will begin his 
chores Dec. 15, on a batch of half- 
hour vidpix for the series bank- 
rolled by International Silver and 
Hamilton Watch Co. Lord earlier 
this year relinquished his inter- 
ests in Santana Productions, which 
he formed with Humphrey Bogart. 
Currently he is winding an assign- 
ment as special consultant for the 
U. S. Army Air Force Pictorial 
Service. 

Screen Televideo exec producer 
JacqueS" BraunsteliT an'd producing 
supervisor Rudy Abel said other 
top producers and writers are now 
being lined up for the company's 
expanded operations, which will 
probably encompass several more 
series. 

Braunstein left for Gotham for 
confabs in connection with the up- 
coming product. 


4- Breakdown in negotiations be- 
tween the Screen Actors Guild and 
the Film Producers Assn, on tal- 
ent scales for vidpic commercials 
is based on the issue of repeat pay- 
ments for re-use. SAG, while mull- 
ing a strike, Is talking to the Fed- 
eral mediators and some common 
grou 'C for settling the dispute may 
be found. 

SAG demanded that each vidpic 
commercial get one screening on a 
network TV program for the 
initial payment, with a second 
screening in any market calling 
for payment to the actor of his full 
original fee. A spot would have 
to be put on the air within six 
months of its production and 
shelved one year after completion. 

For “wild” spots, used, during 
station breaks* or on local or local 
participation, the original fee 
would permit use without limit for 
four consecutive weeks after its 
first use. Each additional four- 
week usage would require pay- 
ment of the full original fee. Spot 
would have to be aired within six 
months after completion and 
shelved six months after first tele- 
cast. 

Screen guild also demands that 
if a spot is used both as a network 
program spot and as a station break 
or local participation spot, thesper 
should- get- -two -separate fees. It 
also stipulates that when the pro- 
ducers transfer ownership of com- 
mercials to agencies or sponsors, 
SAG should be furnished copies of 
the transaction and will collect 
from the new owners of the spots. 

Position of the producers (with 
whom the ad ^gencies and station 
reps are sitting in) at first was, 
“We recognize the principle of ad- 
ditional payment for the extended 
use of film commercials where an 
actor is visually identified with the 
product being advertised, but only 
if this additional payment can be 
limited at a point where it is pos- 
sible to buy unlimited usage with 
no restriction.” 

Later the producers prepared 
counter-proposals, on the principle 
that some cut-off payment must be 
set which would permit unlimited 
use of film commercials for a spe- 
cific period, With differentials be- 
tween local, regional and national 
use. The Guild was willing to con- 
cede certain basic time period, 13 
weeks for the use of wild spots, but 
insisted on payment for each net- 
work use, with no limit on pay- 
ments. 

It was at this point that the talks . 
stalled. John Dales, Jr., SAG exec 
secretary, said that the producers 
want to televise a spot without 
limitation for a 13-week period and 
much longer if the spot is aired 
on 30 stations or less, with a 52- 
week span if the spot goes on five 
stations or less. “For a fee to the 
actor as low as $70, agencies want 
to telecast a blurb, without limit 
as to number of times,” Dales said. 
He added that in live TV each per- 
formance is paid for. 


Roebeck’s Vidpix 



New WCBS-TV Sun. A.M. 
Religiose With NYU Prof 

WCBS-TV, the CBS video web’s 
N. Y. flagship, has set a new quar- 
ter-hour religioso show to move 
into its Sunday morning lineup. 
Show, which will be aired in the 
11:30 to 11:45 a. m. period, will 
spotlight William D. Baer, dean of 
the college of arts and sciences of 
New York U. 

Dean Baer currently teaches a 
course on “The Bible as Litera- 
ture” 


Best means of selling filmed 
syndicated TV programming is to 
concentrate upon distribution ex- 
clusively, according to Peter M. 
Roebeck, general manager of Con- 
solidated TV Sales. In New York 
to look over new product and close 
some merchandising deals, he 
pointed out this week that by 
eschewing house production his 
company cannot be accused of 
favoring its own shows. 

Comparing Consolidated’s sales 
structure to United Artists’ po- 
sition in theatrical distribution, 
Rocbeck emphasized that packages 
his firm handles for independent 
producers are never “brushed off” 
to make way for a house show. 
Moreover, the company’s selling 
methods stress representatives in 
the field who not only are natives 

(Continued on page 62) 


22 


RAWO-TELE VISION 


Ptfo&EfY 


Wednesday, November 5, 1952 


How to Hake Money Without Spending 
Anyr-Hiat’slhe DuMont Election Story 


CBS Radio to Air Leigh 

Drama Series Shortly 

CBS Radio is expected to start 


Now that the election campaign +■ 
fever is over, with the. networks 
in a contemplative mood as they 
lick their wounds and tally their 
losses, it turns out that thg envy 
of the broadcasting industry in the 
i952 politico extravaganza is the 
DuMont Television Network. ; airing its second British-originated 

NBC, CBS and ABC, with their j s jj 0W j n th e near future, a series 

Ind ' 60 Admiral” ' July-te-Nowmber j °f half-hour dramatizations of the 
snonsorship of the Chi political i world’s standout plays starring 
conventions, °the Ike-Adlai cam- Vivien Leigh. Show is tentatively 
paigning and Election Night cov- j titled "Theatre Royale," and is be- 
erage took it on their collective ing packaged by Haijy Alan Tow- 
chin for an approximate $2,000,000 j ers for his Towers of London out- 

unprecedented Amount i ^CBS i S> presently broadcasting 
spent in radio-television in recent : T o w e r s ’ ‘‘Horatio Hornblower 
weeks on behalf of the rival can- : series. This one, also produced in 
dirtatM ; London, preemed originally via 

Tn charn contrast DuMont will 1 CBS and . subsequently got a 
Show a handsome pJoflt Jt had no j weekly spread via BBC in its coun- 
expense < except for the installation j try of origiq. 
of the pooled master control equip- } 
ment in Chicago last July), and 
hardly had to turn a hair. DuMont, 
in effect, for the privilege of be- 
ing a “relay station” for the CBS- 
Westinghouse feed to its New 
York, Washington, Chicago, and 
Pittsburgh outlets, cut itself in for 
a hefty chunk of the Westinghouse I 

billings. „ . ! 

To CBS, NBC and ABC fell the s 
lot — and an expensive one, too — j some of the 
of furnishing newsmen, producers, markets has 


Jos. Creamer to BBD&O 

Joesph Creamer, f&rmer director 
of advertising and promotion at 
WOR (&TV), N. Y., has joined 
BBD&O ’s creative copy and plan- 
ning staff. 

Creamer had been with the 
agency from 1930-33, leaving to 
work for the N. Y. Sun, Frank A. 
Munsey mags and McCall’s. He 
was at WOR from 1936 until last 
May, when he left to go to Holly- 
wood. 


m t rp itp j 

loast lo loscy 


low Frmgey Is 
My TV Show?’ 


on 


Jam-up of network shows 

single-station video 
reached the point 
directors, cameramen, technicians, j w h ere several such stations are 
set designers, even ™?ke-upm-Usts scheduling the networks’ top-rating 

bigleague politico coverage with j shows in their fnnge times. Pri- 
the exception of the commercials). I mary reason is that such outlets 
But DuMont was in a position to go 1 take feeds from all four major 


video webs and, with only so much 
Class A time available, other 1 
shows are necessarily shunted into 
the .. the late evaning hours,. Sunday aft-, 
j ernoons, etc. 

In New Orleans,- for example, 


vision lineup. WDTV is a 
Mont-owned station. Pittsburgh 
is the “home” of Westinghouse. 


along for a free ride as the four 
DuM outlets enjoyed the benefits 
of the slick “production” with 
-which - CB5-TV Eurrousded 
Westinghouse coverage. 

It was the price Westinghouse 

had to pay in order to bring Pitts- j WDSU-TV has been carrying a de- 
burgh’s WDTV- into the CBS tele- i layed kinescope of CBS-TV’s Wed- 
lirwann wfitv is a Du- i neS( } a y night “Godfrey & Friends” 

show Thursdays at 2 p. m. (sta- 
. tion carries only the alternate week 

DuMont agreed to ^the mating in ! half-hour sponsored by Toni), 
return for the full four-station feed j starting Dec. 13, the station will 
at regular rates, which also m- I carr y that portion of the show in 
eluded the 13-week “Pick.the Win- ; Hie 11:30 to midnight period Sat- 
urdays. In San Diego, KFMB-TV 
starts carrying CBS’ “I’ve Got a 
Secret Show” Friday (7). But, 
where the show originates on CBS 
Thursday nights at 10:30, the San 
Diego outlet will carry it Friday 
nights from li:30 to midnight, 
| utilizing a kinescope eight days 
after the original broadcast. 


ner” CBS series. 


LA. TV Channels 

Buck AFTRA Hike 

Los Angeles, Nov. 4. 

New contract presented to seven 
Los Angeles TV channels by the 
American Federation of Racho and 
Television Artists is expected to be 
followed by counterproposals, re- 
sisting the AFTRE demands which 
call for an overall wage boost of 
20 %. 

Stations, claiming they could not 
afford any wage increases at this 
time, had asked for a year’s “mo- 
ratorium,” but AFTRA couldn’t see 
it that way. Claude McCue, 

AFTRA’s executive secretary, 
leaves Nov. lO for N. Y. for net- : ! tail, so that the web’s affiliates can 


‘Mjffionaire’ Reduced 
To Sustaining Status; 

Pyramid-Co-op Deal Out 

Idea which ABC had for beam- 
ing “Live Like a Millionaire” on a 
combination “Pyramid” and co-op 
syndication plan has fallen through. 
As a result the airer started Mon- 
day (3) as a sustainer. Program 
has • been trimmed 40 seconds at 
ithe start and 40 seconds at the 


work TV negotiations. 


Smith Bros. Cough It Up 
For NBC Tandem After 
CBS Conflict on Chicle 

Smith Bros, coughdrops, which 
had signed on as a participant in 
CBS Radio’s tandem sales plan only 
to discover that it was running 
into a conflict with another spon- 
"•~surr switrircd~ite— busine ss~ -to - 

NBC’s Operation Tandem. Outfit 
has bought a four-week share of 
the NBC plan, from Nov. 9 through 
Dec. 11, in which it will participate 
as a bankroller in the three shows 
NBC has set up for its Tandem this 
season. 

CBS had the Smith Bros, order 
in the house about a month ago. 
Web then discovered that the 
Smith copy was the same as that 
being utilized by American Chicle 
(both revolved around an anti- 
unpleasant breath product), so ad- 
vised the coughdrop firm of the 
conflict and granted it a release 
from its contract. 

Three NBC tandem shows are 
“Barrie Craig,” Red Skelton and 
Judy Canova. NBC previously had 
signed Emerson Drug (Bromo- 
Seltzer) as a participant in the 
three shows for the entire season, 
with Emerson having teed off 
Oct. 21. 


Statns of MGM 
Radio Shows On 
Mutual Griddle 


Question of whether Mutual will 
pick up its $2,000,000 MGM Radio 
Attractions deal for another ride 
will be one of the key questions 
mulled at a series of six regional 
affiliates meetings which the web 
will hold Nov.- 13.-Dec. 9. 

Deal with the Metro ^outfit was 
for two seasons, with expiration 
date of the 10 hours of ptogram- 
1 ming weekly coming on Dec. 27 
Half of the shows, such as*“Crime 
Does Not Pay,” “Story of Dr. Kil 
dare,” “Hardy Family,” “Grade 
Fields Show” and “MGM Theatre 
of the Air,” are co-op, with the oth- 
ers available for network sponsor- 
ship. Web will ask the outlets 
whether a new contract should be 
inked, and on What basis, since the 
non-co-op stanzas didn’t bring the 
chain much in the way of commer- 
cial coin. 

The two-day MBS affiliate “semi- 
nars,” which have been held at in- 
tervals since May, 1951, when the 
Mutual, Affiliates Advisory Commit- 
tee was incepted. Meetings will 
start with a presentation of MBS 
plans and achievements by top- 
pers such as board chairman. 
Thomas F. O’Neil,' Jr., exec v.p. 
William H. Fineshriber, Jr., sta- 
tion’s v. p. Earl M. Johnson, Gen- 
eral Teleradio v. p. J. Glen Taylor, 
co-op director Bert J. Hauser, sta-*| 
tion relations director Charles 
Godwin, program v. p. Julius See- 
bach^ etc. 

After the introductory session, 
he affiliates will caucus with mem- 
bers of MAAC and come up with 
questions to toss l <it the net top- 
pers the following day. Skein is 
also interested in learning station 
opinion on its “Game of the Day” 
baseball operation, which was 
picked up this year in many mar- 
kets by Falstaff beer; what kind of 
co-ops they want; what’s happening 
on the local level in relation to day- 
time and nighttime radio rate 
values, etc. 

Theory is that since all net- 
works are giving their outlets less 
income, as a result of the rate 
cuts, the chains have to increase 
the services they provide to the 
affiliates. Thus the emphasis at 
Mutual’s confabs will be on finding 
just what services MBS can offer 
the local stations in view of the 
reduced coin. 

Meetings will be held in N. Y. 
Nov. 13-14; Chi, Nov. 17-18; Salt 
Lake City, Nov. 20-21; Atlanta, 
Dec. 1-2; Biloxi, Miss., Dec. 4-5, 
and Dallas, Dec. 8-9. 


NBC’s willingness, year after year, to plunk down in excess of 
$500,000 to sustain the NBC Symphony Orchestra and its eminent 
masetro, Arturo Toscanini, deserves more than a modicum of 
praise. It's not exactly a secret that these symphony broadcasts 
have a limited audience appeal that’s next to negligible on the , 
rating parade. And it’s been years since Toscanini ^tnd NBC en- 
joyed the benefits of an institutional-minded sponsor willing to 
pick up the costly tab. 

NBC is big biz, first and foremost commercial minded; even 
granted that the promotional values inherent in these broadcasts 
redound to the parent RCA company through the sale of Toscanini 
recordings, the important aspect remains NBC’s awareness <at 
out-of-pocket expense) of its “broadcasting-in-the-public-interest” 
obligation. To this minority, a Toscy concert, in this 85th year 
of the famed masetro’s life, is something to revere and cherish. 
Nothing in the musical realm quite compares with it. That Toscy 
is doing 14 such concerts this season is, to his legion of followers, 
an occasion for rejoicing. 

It’s a source of satisfaction that, in three successive weeks, NBC 
has demonstrated an acute recognition of both radio and televi- 
sion’s stature as mediums for culture and enlightenment, in all in- 
stances at network expense, since no commercials are involved. 

In its TV Opera Theatre presentations, in its notable “Victory at 
Sea” TV film series, and again in these Toscy-helmed broadcasts, 
which resumed last Saturday (1), NBC has more than fulfilled an 
obligation that merits wide commendation. Rose. 

ABC Won’t Equalize Day & Night 
Rates; Affiliates Protest Proposal 


starting 40 seconds late to permit 
insertion of a minute plug. How 
ever, it hasn’t previously lopped 40 
seconds off the tail of a sustainer 
without charging the outlets a 
talent fee. 

Originally the network had pro 
posed that “Live” allow for six 
one-minute breaks, 


KSFO’s Single Rate 

San Francisco, Nov. 4. 

Trend of Coast stations to- 
wards a single night-and-day 
rate was pointed up this week 
in the new rate card of KSFO, 
Frisco indie. 

New card has one rate from 
6- a.m. to midnight. Daytime 
charges were upped and dif- 
ferential between before-dark 
and after-dark charges were 
eliminated.' Previously, night- 
time-costs were twice daytime 
figures. 

General manager Alan Tor- 
bet told Variety KSFO long 
felt indies were hard put to 
justify double rates for night 
listening, even though evening 
audiences were larger than 
daytime audiences. 


insert one-minute spots fore and 
aft. 

Under this system, program will 
go on at 11:00:40 a.m. instead of 
11:00, with the 40 second delay, 
added to the 20 seconds from the 
chain break space following the 
preceding program allowing the 
affiliates to sell a 60-second 
plug. Similar arrangement results 
at the ehd of the show, with sign- 
off coming at 11:28:50 instead of 
11:29:30. wife, the web is rounding up sev- 

On sustainers, web has been eral name personalities to fill in. 


Hope Subs Crosby 

Hollywood, Nov. 4. 
With Bing Crosby expected to be 
absent from his CBS Radio show 
at least four weeks because of the 
death here Saturday (1) of his 


CBS Bolsters 
. Sun. Nite Setup 

CBS Radio’s Sunday night com- 
mercial lineup will look almost 
like the good old days of radio, 
starting early next year. Web has 
sold its Sunday 6 to 6:30 slot to 
American Baking Assn., starting 
Feb. 22, which will leave it only 
a single half-hour open on Sunday 
nights from 5 o’clock through 
10:30. 

Bakers currently bankroll “Hol- 
lywood Star Playhouse” Sundays 
at 5 on NBC, but is dropping that 
show to switch over to CBS. What 
program the outfit will sponsor on 
the lattei; web hasn’t been deter- 
mined, with CBS currently pitching 
a number of house properties for 
auditions. CBS has “December 
Bride” in the Sunday at 6 slot now, 
but will move that to another time 
period •when the bakers’ contract 
starts. 

New sponsor will leave CBS with 
only the 9:30 to 10 period open on 
Sunday nights. That slot is now oc- 
cupied by “Escape,” one of the 
web’s long-standing house pack- 
ages, but it has not yet succeeded 
in selling the time. 


Number of stars have ' vbTunteered 
to do the show and, while the line- 
up has not been set, it’s expected 
that Bob Hope, one of Crosby’s 
closest friends, will take over to- 
morrow night (Thurs.). 

Crosby was off the show last 
Thursday night (30), with Judy 
Garland subbing for him. 


Dental Ass n Bares Its Teeth 

Although practically everybody concerned is reluctant to talk 
about it, it’s. known that the “Doc Corkle” TV film series which 
Reynolds Metals recently ousted in favor of “Mr. Peepers,” brought 
down the wrath of the American Dental Assn. 

Series portrayed Eddie Mayehoff as a dentist and the ADA didn't 
like what the series did to the profession. ADA, it’s reported, 
descended like a ton of bricks on stations and NBC-TV, with the re- 
sultant decision to get Reynolds off the hook. NBC prexy Joseph 
H. McConnell stepped into the breach and wrapped up the “Peep- 
ers” sale. 


ABC s has shelved its plan to 
equalize nighttime and daytime ra- 
dio rates, as a result of its regional 
meetings with affiliates. 

Reason for the move is that most 
ABC stations feel that such a 
change in network radio rates 
would affect their own local rates 
and also their rates for national 
spot business. However, the plan 
to close the gap between the be- 
fore-dark and after-dark rates is 
still being studied for the skein’s 
owned-and-operated stations, al- 
though there is ho prospect of such 
a rate adjustment talcing place in 
the near future. 

The ABC plan for equalizing 
rates, first mulled this summer 
when the CBS Radio rate cut was 
in the works, was. not adopted by 
the ABC toppers because they felt 
it would require consultation with 
the affiliates. In the past month; 
as the chain’s execs exchanged 
views with affiliates, the idea was 
put forward with April 1 (six 
months after the Oct. 1 cut went 
into effect) as the target date. 

Under the Oct. 1 slash, the gap 
between day and night charges was 
narrowed. This was not done by 
cutting rates but instead by offer- 
ing bigger discounts (reaching the 
figure of 62% in some cases) to 
nighttime sponsors. The equaliza- 
tion envisaged by ABC would not 
appreciably change net pay- 
ments by advertisers or great- 
ly lower payments by the chain to 
stations. However, it would have 
eliminated the reliance on “exag- 
gerated” discounts. 

It’s argued by ABC that although 
equalization may not be a matter 
of six months away, it is coming 
“eventually.” Several affiliates, it’s 
stressed, have already equalized ‘ 
their rates and the trend may. 
“grow on its own,” by the stations’ 
own actions and without network 
prodding. Web had thought it 
could get a competitive advantage 
by being first to put through such 
an equalization. 


WN EW Pacts Clayvin 


To Replace Rayburn 

Replacement for Gene Rayburn 
on the Rayburn and Dee Finch 
show on WNEW, N. Y., will be 
Gene Clayvin, disk jockey from 
WTOP, Washington. Clayvin was 
seleotfed by the indie and ' Finch 
after a number of platter-spinners 
were waxed in quarter-hour audi- 
tions with Finoh. 

Rayburn is leaving the 21V£-hour 
weekly WNEW show to take over 
the 6-8:30 a. m. show currently 
handled by Bob Elliot arid Ray 
Goulding on WNBC, N. Y. His 
contract is up in mid-January, but 
he’ll probably be realeased earlier. 

Finch had also been wooed by 
WNBC, but elected to stay, thus 
breaking up the six-year-old early 
a. -m. team. Clayvin does trick 
voices and the zany character of 
\ the stanza will be kept. 


31 Co-op Shows 
Set MBS Record 

Mutual, which has always led 
the netwqrk field ln the co-op, jB.ro- 
gram sphere, is now setting a rec- 
ord by the amount of hours de- 
voted this type of program. MBS 
sked now has some 31 co-op pro- 
grams, accounting for better than 
33 hours of programming a week. 
That’s probably double the figure 
for MBS’ nearest competitor. 

On web’s recent additions, three 
football shows, sales have been 
inked by 112 stations, with many 
of the outlets getting backers for 
all three shows, according to co-op 
chief Bert Hauser. Three gridders 
are “Pigskin Parade” with A1 Hei- 
fer Fridays at 7:15 p.m., “Game of 
the Week” on Saturdays at 2 p.m. 
to conclusion and “Heifer’s Sports 
Digest” Saturday at 7 p.m. 

A new co-op is Mrs. Hume 
Dixon’s “Country Editor,” ' Satur- 
days at 6:30-6:45 p.m. Another re- 
, cent co-op addition is Eugenie 
| Baird’s “Off the Record,” five half- 
( Continued on page 28) 


Wednesday, Noveml>er 5, 1952 




BAWO-TELEVISIOIV 


23 



Godfrey & His Orange Juice Friends 

When, a couple weeks back, CBS announced that Snow Crop 
was signing up for sponsorship of the morning Arthur Godfrey 
radio-TV show starting in December, it created considerable con- 
sternation around the network. How, people were asking, would 
Godfrey take to the move? What, others inquired, of the pre- 
scribed tenets of commercial broadcasting that there be no prod- 
uct conflicts? 

For several years Godfrey has been Mr. Hi-V himself. As the 
big stockholder in the fruit juice concentrate cpmpany, his name 
has been as synonymous with the product as with Chesterfield or 
Lipton Tea. As such Hi-V has been the beneficiary — at established 
network rates, of course — of some merry Godfrey broadcast whirls, 
including his series of ukulele lessons under Hi-V sponsorship 
auspices. Yet here was the rival Snow Crop company invading the 
Godfrey premises. 

However, the cat’s now out of the bag, for it’s reported that God- 
frey and Hi-V are parting company, lock, stock and barrel, thus 
paving the way for Snow Crop's exclusivity. 

Just how long the Hi-V identity will continue to rub off on the 
Snow Crop commercials, however, is something else again. While 
CBS — or any other network, for that matter — makes no bones 
as to Godfrey's ability to sell a product like no one else in the 
business, it's recognized, too, that it isn’t easy to erase a top per- 
sonality's identity with a product, particularly when the star him- 
self has been, carrying the torch for the product. In the event 
of a Chesterfield exit, CBS is wondering, -what other cigaret com- 
pany would risk a commercial ride on a Godfrey stanza? Ditto 
for Lipton Tea. 

•the Columbia sales boys hope they won’t have to stew in their 
own orange juice. 


TV Networks Make With Production 


Gadgets to Lower Program Costs 


By BOB STAHL 

A new pedestal viewfinder for 
TV, designed to trim camera re- 
hearsal time, and development of 
push-button lighting controls for 
TV studios — these are but a few 
of the things which the major 
television networks are currently 
developing in an effort to trim 
production costs. 

Webs, struggling with the prob- 
lem of retaining present sponsors 
and luring new ones in the face 
of mounting time charges, have 
been pulling out all stops in ef- 
forts to lower program costs for 
savings which can be passed on to 
advertisers. Some of the new pro- 
duction gadgets are almost in. the 
realm of sclentifiction but network 
production chiefs generally follow 
the Hollywood film studios’ belief 
Jhat the greatest savings can be 
effected in careful pre-planning of 
all phases of each show. 

Lotsa NBC Activity 
Illustrative of the work being 
done at the nets is that at NBC- 
TV. Production veepee Fred M. 
Wile. Jr., citing the cost problem 
as highly important, breaks it 
down into two areas — that of com- 
pany costs (building maintenance, 
etc.) and show costs. While spon- 
sors benefit directly from savings 
in show costs, he said, any sav- 
ings in company costs are reflected 
in services from the shops, studios, 
etc. Wile said it’s impossible to 
estimate dollar-wlse how much the 
new savings represent. He pointed 
out, too 1 , that they might not be 
reflected in a show’s budget since 
a sponsor paying less for scenery, 
rehearsal time, etc., most often re- 
invests that money in better tal- 
ent, writing and Other program- 
ming facets. „ 

Among the new cost-saving de- 
vices currently in use or under 
development at NBC, Wile listed: 
1. Pedestal viewfinder. Device 

(Continued on page 34) 


Dick’s Click 

Sen. Richard M. Nixon's 
“Just Plain Dick” speech, in 
which he explained his cam- 
paign gifts, drew enough of a 
radio audience to grab off both 
third and ninth places in the 
latest Nielsen Top 10 ratings. 
Rating outfit scanned the audi- 
ences the week of Sept. 21-27, 
which permitted the Nixon 
speech, carried on the CBS 
Radio and Mutyal webs, to 
be included. 

Following -is the Top 10: 

Jack Benny (CBS) 9.6 

Lux Theatre (CBS) 9.6 

Nixon Speech (CBS) 8.8 

Groucho Marx (NBC) .... 7.7 
Great Gildersleeve (NBC) 7.6 

Big Story (NBC) 7.3 

Talent Scouts (CBS)..... 7.3 

Dr. Christian (CBS) 7.2 

Nixon Speech (MBS) .... 7.2 
Life with Luigi (CBS) .... 7.1 


NBC’s Joan & Scott 
Godfrey TV Threat 

Considerable trade interest is be- 
ing focused on the Wednesday 
night 8 to 9 competitive sweep- 
stakes on TV. Until this season 
CBS-TV’s Arthur Godfrey had the 
rating play pretty much to him- 
self. 

However, the brace of NBC-TV 
opposition entries — namely Joan 
Davis and “Scott Music Kail,” lat- 
ter starring Patti Page and Frank 
Fontaine, indicates a narrowing of 
the gap. Trendex 16-city rating for 
Oct. 22 is revealing, giving: 

Godfrey 30.7; Scott Music Hall 
20.8; Joan Davis 18.2. 


15-Minute Shows 
Find Favor With 
TV Advertisers 

Program most frequently being 
sought by advertisers in tele is a 
15-minute weekly stanza. That’s in 
contrast to the situation last year 
when the trend w r as towards the 
alternate-week half-hour entry. 

The prospective sponsors shop- 
ping around are eyeing the quar- 
ter-hour format for two reasons: 
(1) the cost factor, with both pro- 
duction and time charges reduced; 
and (2) the advantage of continu- 
ity of advertising, or registering 

.\vi^„ s _r-egulaivj^eMy--^pai?l 

At ABC-TV, for example, the 
web had no trouble in getting a 
sponsor for the 15-minute niche 
preceding the new Walter Winchell 
show at 6:45 p. m. Sunday, with 
American Vitamin Corp. inserting 
the BJLlly Daniels show into the 
period. Parliament cigarets is mull- 
ing purchase of a quarter hour on 
the skein for the Lilli Palmer 
show and another 15-minute lay- 
out kicking around is the Ed Thor- 
gersen show. v 

Another attraction of the shorter 
span is that it’s easier on the star 
and also less likely to “burn him 
out.” Some personalities less like- 
ly to gamble on a half-hour or hour 
production are willing to go . for 
the shorter haul. 

Certain shows naturally fall into 
the 15-minute pattern, such as news 
and Interviews, 


IBS STUCK Oil 
FRIT IMPASSE 


Wrapped up in the Whole fu- 
ture economics of network televi- 
sion is the question of whether the 
webs can ever successfully pene- 
trate outside the charmed spon- 
sorship hours of 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. 

As matters stand now, network 
TV is pretty much of a “three- 
hour baby” in terms of bankroller 
impact. It's conceded that the dif- 
ference between operating at a 
nominal margin of profit (as exists 
today on NBC and CBS despite the 
7:30 to 10:30 SRO cross-th e-board) 
and actually hitting the sponsor 
jackpot may very well rest on the 
ability of the networks to move In- 
to the so-called fringe areas and 
convert daytime TV into a com- 
mercial success. 

It's estimated that NBC and CBS 
could increase their earnings by 
$10,000,00 a year if they were in a 
position to recapture the desirable 
7 to 7:30 evening segments for net- 
work programming. It's already 
cost NBC a barrel of money, with 
Procter & Gamble, Vitamin Corp., 
and Coca-Cola alone in recent 
weeks calling off their sponsorship 
deals with the web because sta- 
tions refused to permit the network 
to reclaim the time. 

Same situation holds for the 
post-10:30 periods, which revert 
back to the stations for local sale. 
NBC-TV has had some ambitious 
pians blueprinted to inaugurate a 
late night counterpart of the early- 
mc/ming “Today” show (under the 
the title “Tonight”), but has vir- 
tually despaired of enlisting 
enough affiliates to embrace the 
TV chain. 

Unlike radio, daytime TV hasn’t 
been easy to sell. The networks 
are too well aware of the potential 
of daytime television, once spon- 
sors can be persuaded to “come in.” 
It could swell the web TV coffers 
by millions of dollars annually. 
But it’s in this area where the real 
selling job in TV remains to be 
done. 


TV Clients Pouring Top 
Coin Into Off-Air Shows 
As Promotion Buildup 

Advertisers backing bigleague 
teleshows are finding that it’s 
smart to follow suit with show- 
manship in their promotional and 
public relations efforts. For ex- 
ample, Colgate, which sponsors the 
“Comedy Hour” on NBC-TV, felt 
it had to put on a video-type show 
on its night for the Assn, of Na- 
tional Food Chains in Miami Beach 
last week, spending around $20,000 
for the blowout and flying in a 
lighting crew from N. Y. 

Show was produced and directed 
by Leslie Harris, Colgate’s AM-TV 
exec, who lined up .10 TV-type 
acts. Show was built around theme 
of a Night in Paris, with 11 can can 
girls flown in from- the Follies Ber- 
gere of Paris (in a challenge rou- 
tine with 10 local chorines); 
Michel Allard, Gallic music hall 
comedian, brought in from Cuba; 
film actress Corinne Calvet winged 
in from Hollywood; 20 models ex- 
hibiting Ceil Chapman gowns; a 24- 
pieee-OFehrete-. — 

Montgomery’s 1st Acting 
Of Season in O’Hara Play 

Robert Montgomery has set Nov. 
24 as the date on which he’ll make 
his initial appearance this season 
as an actor in the hour-long dra- 
matic series he produces for NBC- 
TV. He’ll star in an adaptation of 
John O’Hara’s* “Appointment in 
Samarra.” 

Montgomery in previous seasons 
played the title role on his series 
in an adaptation of F. Scott Fitz- 
gerald’s “Last Tycoon,” and also 
reprised the part he had in the 
film, “Ride the Pink Horse,” He 
also starred last season in his own 
TV production of Robert E. Sher- 
wood’s “Petrified Forest.” 


‘Show Biz/ Luckies in Hassle Over 
Alternate-Week Plan; Sothern In? 


This Is Amateur? 

NBC-TV affiliates around the 
country say that the still-con- 
tinuing batch of mail squawk- 
ing over the lopoff of Ted 
Mack and the “Original Ama- 
teur Hour” represents some- 
thing of a precedent in pro- * 
gram protests. Apparently nei- 
ther agency, client nor pack- 
ager of the show had an aware-' 
ness of the personalized audi- 
ence inroads made by Mack 
during the five-year TV run of 
“Amateur Hour.” 

Show has been off the air for 
a month (being replaced by 
Old Gold with the Herb Shrill- 
er “Two for the Money” pro- 
gram), but station managers 
say the mail barrage continues, 
in many instances at an accel- 
erated pace. 

There have been some client 
nibbles for the show in the 
past couple of weeks, but as 
yet no sale has materialized. 


Gulf Quitting On 
Live Drama; Buys 
‘Riley’ Pk Series 

Gulf Oil Co., which only a month 
back lopped off “We the People” 
and substituted a “Gulf Playhouse” 
dramatic series In the Friday night 
8:30 to 9 period on NBC-TV, de- 
cided over the weekend to call it 
quits on the new entry. Instead, it 
is plunking down $25,000 a week 
for the William Bendix “Life of 
Riley” series being filmed on the 
Coast. 

For a while Gulf was contem- 
plating retaining the dramatic 
show, but switching from live (in 
the east) to film (on the Coast). 
However, it was so impressed with 
the “Riley” pilot film that it 
grabbed it off (within five days 
after seeing the pilot) despite the 
$6,000 weekly budget hike entailed. 

“Riley” moves Into the . Friday 
spot upon expiration of “Gulf The- 
atre’s” initial 13-week cycle. It’s 
now an NBC prop erty, t hemetwork 
having made a deal with Irving 
Brecher, who created the show, 
whereby the latter will be paid 
$600,000 extending over a period of 
time. Tom McKiiight will produce. 


FULL ‘ALL-STAR’ SEASON 
DUE; SUB SPONSORS SET 

NBC-TV has decided to ride out 
the season with its Saturday night 
“All Star Revue,” claiming it has 
two sponsors standing by the wings 
and ready to step in, if Del Monte 
checks off the show as anticipated 
at the end of its first cycle. 

“All Star” is presently sponsored 
on a participating setup by Pet 
Milk, Del Monte and Kellogg's. 
Latter firm is cancelling at the 
end of the year, but NBC has al- 
jeAdy.„sXg jj std ... Johnson . &„ -J-Ohnsait. . 
to move in as a replacement the 
first week in January. With Pet 
Milk having signed on originally 
for the entire season, the web’s 
only problem now is Del Monte, 
which has run into budgetary 
problems. 

NBC, of course, Isn’t identifying 
the standby sponsors for competi- 
tive reasons. 


WMBM Sold for 100G 

Miami, Nov. 4, 

Sale of inijie WMBM was an- 
nounced this week by former own- 
er Kenneth S. Keyes. New operator 
will be Robert W. Rounsville, who 
also owns WXQI in Atlanta, Ga. 

Purchase price was $100,000 for 
the 1,000-watter which broadcasts 
on a daytime schedule. Sale is sub- 
ject to approval of the FCC. 


Lucky Strike failed to pick up 
its option on the new Red Buttons 
TV show on CBS, and instead 
looks set to latch on to the new 
Ann Sothern situation comedy film 
series, produced on the Coast. 
(American Tobacco has been “film 
conscious” of late, having recently 
also pacted for the “Biff Baker 
USA” vidfilm series.) \ 

Behind the proposed new buy 
is the attempt to resolve the TV 
situation involving Jack Benny, who 
is scheduled to do an alternate- 
week video show next season, when 
he drops out of radio. And since 
Benny Is headed for the Sunday 
7:30 to 8 period (where he cur- 
rently does a show once every five 
weeks), it would mean reducing the 
exposure of “This Is Show Busi- 
ness” to once every two weeks. 
Irving Mansfield, “Show Business” 
producer and creator, along with 
CBS, has registered a balk over 
the idea, claiming it would dissi- 
pate the show’s value. Further, he 
points to the program’s three-and- 
a-half-year track record as one of 
the enviable TV buys around on 
a rating and cost-per-thousand pay- 
off. 

If Luckies buys the Sothern 
show, it would move in on Jan. 18, 
when the “Show Business” contract 
with American Tobacco lapses. For 
the balance of the season it would 
go ofi three weeks of each month, 
with Benny occupying the fourth 
week. 

For a while it looked as though 
Luckies would pick up the Buttons 
show, \vhich has won critical ku- 
dos. In a last-minute switch of 
plans, however, BBD&O, agency 
on the Luckies account, decided it 
liked, the Sothern show better. 

Bob & Ray Win 
In Sponsor Tiff 

Bob (Elliott) & Ray (Goulding), 
who had been tiffing with their 
new sponsor, Embassy cigarets, 
over the format of their NBC-TV 
Tuesday night show, took advan- 
tage of the show’s preemption last 
week (27) by a political speech to 
prove to their bankroller they were 
right. Show, as a result, has been 
re-formed to meet their specifica- 
tions. 

Comedy team had been com- 
plaining -that the stylized format 
of their “Embassy Club” program 
failed to show off their x unique 
brand of comedies to best advan- 
tage. When NBC informed Embassy 
that it was preempting its quarter- 
hour last week for the Adlai Stev- 
enson speech, the comics talked the 
sponsor into letting them try out 
their ideas for the show for the 
production earmarked for those 
stations carrying it via kinescope. 
Sponsor saw the finished product, 
liked it and was convinced. 

Bob & Ray, meanwhile, have 
been added as a permanent feature 
of NBC-TV’s early-bird “Today” 
show. They’ll appear each Monday 
and Thursday morning doing their 
parody of man-in-the-street broad- 
casts. , 

FATTI STANDS PAT ~ 
ON TV ‘MUSIC HALL’ 

Patti Page has changed her mind 
about quitting the “Scott Music 
Hall” show on NBC-TV and when 
she goes before the video cameras 
tonight (Wed.) for her third time 
up on the musical-variety stanza 
she gets a star billing, plus all the 
“format attention” as the major 
attraction. 

Miss Page served notice the day 
after her last appearance on the 
alternate-week show that she was 
quitting, following a hassle with 
the J. Walter Thompson agency, 
producers of the program. The 
wrangling continued for a full 
week until the singer, getting what 
she wanted, decided to stick with 
it. 

Frank Fontaine is featured. 


24 


RABIO-T1XKTISION 


P&RIETT 


Wednesday, November 5, 1952 


British Adv. Agencies Prep For 
Comml TV; May Start With Color 


London, Oct. 28. 4 

Major advertising agents are 
opening their offensive in antici- 
pation of the entry of sponsored 
television into the British scene 
by next year. New divisions are 
being created to cope with produc- 
tion and advertisers are being en- 
couraged to start thinking in terms 
of this new selling medium. Offi- 
cially, there is still no clue as to 
when commercial video* author- 
ized by the government a few 
months back, may begin opera- 
tion, but the evidence points to the 
opening of the first wavelengths 
in a reasonably short' time. 

-One company, whose finance 
largely comes from show biz 
sources, the Associated Broadcast- 
ing Development Co., is largely 
scouting for sites for transmitters 
and requests for licenses have 
been sent in to the Postmaster 
General by many of the leading 
national newspaper syndicates, the 
major motion picture companies 
and others. The pressure is ex- 
pected to start soon to get the 
PMG to begin grinding out the 
licenses*. ^ * 

In an analysis of the prospects, 
one major agency insists that 
sponsored TV in Britain will not 
follow the “excess” of America 
and that Britain will be spared 
the intense competition between 
the 109 TV stations in America, 
emphasizing that development here 
would be conditioned by good taste 
as well as by an awareness that to 
“win its spurs it must overcome a 
substantial body of hostile opin- 
ion.” The agency opines that the 
first sponsored transmission “may 
well be in color.” It i& further 
suggested that if the public takes 
to sponsored video no political 
party would dare to destroy it. This 
last comment is designed to reas- 
sure reluctant advertisers follow- 


Becker to Air Features 

I. S. Becker, business affairs 
veepee for CBS Radio, Is shifting 
In the overall CBS setup to take 
over as managing director of Air 
Features, packaging firm which 
CBS recently acquired. Becker’s 
replacement in the radio web is to 
be named soon by prexy Adrian 
Murphy. 

Becker replaces Maurice Scopp 
at Air Features. Latter has re- 
signed to devote more time to his 
Certified Public Accountancy firm. 


Admiral Fights 
Video Rental 
Service in Can. 

Toronto, Nov. 4. 
Fighting television wire rental 
service in Canada on a subscriber’s 
weekly fee. Admiral Corp. of To- 
ronto, makers of radio and TV sets, 
has launched a test action in Fed- 
eral Exchequer Court against Re- 
diffusion, Inc., charging infringe- 
ment of copyright in telecasting. 
Admiral seeks payment of damages 
but leaves the amount to the court. 
Outcome of the case will determine 
whether or not Rediffusion will 
continue to pick up radio and TV 
programs and distRbute them with- 
out authority of the program origi- 
nators. Rediffusion has been given 
a month in which to file a state- 
ment of defense. 

{Rediffusion at present provides 

_ subscribers’ service of three to 

InfTthe Labor party~thre‘at that if three 2nd a half hours daily; one 
they were returned to power they channel carrying Rediffuston pro- 
would annul all licenses. grams, the other Canadian Broad- 

. « cast Corp. telecasts, plus a Muzak 

Another a £verbsi°£ channel supplying music 24 hours 

Masms ; and Ferguson , have already a day> Q n TV servi ce, this calls 

jumped on the sponsored TV band for a down-payment of $25 and a 
wagon and have hired Henry Cald- weekly rent £i charge of $5.60. For 
well, producer of “Cafe Contmen- 

— - (Continued on page 34) 

STOPETTE EYEING UNE’ 
ON RADIO AS PM QUITS 


tal” and “Shop Window,” as their 
television consultant. His function 
will be to advise potential advertis- 
ers on production. 

One important development of 
commercial TV, if it comes to stay, 
will be a greater interchange of 
material with American networks. 


Law on TV Mats 

Washington, Nov. 4. 

Members of the Catholic 
faith can’t escape their reli- 
gious obligations by going to 
mass via TV, says the Very 
Rev. Francis J. Connell of 
Catholic U. Writing in the cur- 
rent issue of Catholic Men, 
monthly publication cf the Na- 
tional Council of Catholic Men, 
Rev. Connell declares: 

“Apparently some Catholics 
believe they can satisfy their 
obligation of hearing mass on 
Sundays and Holy ^ Days by 
viewing the celebration of the 
Holy Sacrifice on television. 
They are wrong. ... To fulfill 
the law of the church, one 
must be physically present^ at 
mass, so that he can perceive 
the sacred rite taking place at 
the altar. . . . Physical pres- 
ence is necessary because /the 
mass is a public sacrificial act, 
in the offering of which the 
laity have an active part if they 
are present. . . . This does not 
mean that it is valueless _ to 
view the mass on the television 
screen. On the contrary, by 
doing so one can gain great 
spiritual benefits. It is a great 
blessing to have televised 
masses, especially for shut-ins. 

. . . But for those obliged to 
hear mass, the church law is 
not fulfilled by mere television 
presence.” 


From the Production Centres 


t 


Rival Spots Following 
Political Broadcasts 


Radio version of- “What’s My 
Line,” which has been ditched on 
CBS by Philip Morris, may be 
picked up by Stopette, firm which 
found a goldmine in the show on 
TV. - PM bankrolled the show 
Wednesday nights at 9:30 and is 
n ? retaining the time slot. If Stop- 

Protested as Indecent bu jv n - consequently, cbs 

will find it another period, which 
Protest against stations and net- win require some additional pro- 
works following a paid political gram reshuffling, 
broadcast of one party with a spot Ciggie firm dropped the show 
announcement for a rival party through dissatisfaction with the 
was made to the webs last week taping technique necessarily ern 
by Morris Novik, radio consultant ployed. With the musicians’ union 
to the Liberal Party, N. Y. Volun- prohibiting the use of recorded 
teers for Stevenson, American Fed- mus i c on a taped show, PM was 
eration of Labor, International La- forced to record the music live and 
dies Garment Workers Union then cut it into the tape. Result 
(AFL) and United Automobile ant quality, it complained, was not 
Workers (CIO). up to par. “Line” is packaged by 

Consultant . said yesterday that the Goodson-Todman office, 
three N. Y. web keys had shifted 
GOP spots away from Dem pro- 
grams, after receiving the protest'! 

Two other indies said they agreed 
with Novik’s point but had no such 
further “conflicts.” 

Novik said, “No one in our busi- ! 
ness thinks of scheduling a ‘Pepsi’ 
spot after a ‘Coke’ program. Yet, 


Westinghouse Expands 
Daytime CBS-TY Spread 


Westinghouse, which bought two 
new weekly half-hours on CBS-TV 
last week, expanded its daytime 
video spread on that network 
. w .4Mn, Ibejp^t we ek v network sta- further this week by pacting for 
tions have aired Eisenhower spots the Friday morning 10:45 to "if 
immediately after Stevenson pro- slot for a new show to star Betty 
grams. Furness. Series preems Jan. 2, and 

‘DUe to the limited number of while it will be tagged the “Betty 
hours in the broadcast day, it is Furness Show ” the specific for- 
patently impossible to avoid sched- mat has not yet been determined, 
uling competing political programs New time buy will have West- 
In adjacent periods, especially inghouse repped by three differ- 
during the hectic days at the end ent agencies on CBS at one time 
of a campaign. And even here the or another. McCann-Erickson con- 
political purchaser knows that a tinues on “Studio One” and will 


competing political program is ad- 
jacent. But the same situation does 
not prevail where spots and breaks 
are concerned,” 

Terming the practice “indecent/ 


also handle the new show with 
Miss Furness. Fuller, Smith & 
Ross placed the order for the 
Tuesday and Thursday 2 to 2:30 
p.m. periods last week for a new 


Hubbard’s St. L. 

TV Aspirations 

St Louis, Nov. 4. . 

A group of local civic and busi- 
ness biggies, headed by Stanley 
Hubbard, operator of KSTP and 
KSTP-TV, St. Paul, an NBC affili- 
ate, is raising money to launch a 
TV station here under the tag of 
the Missouri Valley Television Co., 
and which will seek the green light 
from FCC. 

Original working capital is to be 
approximately $500,000, half to be 
subscribed by Hubbard’s holding 
and the balance by 36 natives. The 
company will seek to obtain chan- 
nel 4, one of the commercial chan- 
nels, to operate a 100-kw. station 
utilizing a tower 570 feet high. The 
site for the tower has not yet been 
selected. 

FCC has allocated St. Louis 
channels for six more TV stations 
in addition to channel 5, now used 
by KSD, the St. Louis Post-Dis- 
patch station. The others are 9, 11, 
30, 36 and 42 with channel 9 re- 
served for a non-commercial edu- 
cational station. 

Kay Kyser to Lecture On 
TV Program Techniques 
At Schenectady Confab 

Schenectady, Nov. 4. 

Kay Kyser, orchestra leader cur- 
rently member of the North Caro- 
lina faculty, will be one of the 
speakers at a two-day N.Y. State 
Television Institute conference at 
Union College, Schenectady, Nov. 
12-13. Kyser, who has emceed 
radio-television shows and gives a 
special course at the college, will 
discuss programming techniques 
during the afternoon session of the 
second day. He took part in TV 
educational conference at Penn 
State last August. 

The Schenectady meeting, spon 
sored by the Assn, of Colleges and 
Universities of the State of New 
York, will analyze educational as- 
pects of TV. The Fund for Adult 
Education, sponsored by the Ford 
Foundation ,' lias" alTottedlfiOheyfor 
this year’s Institute. General Elec- 
tric will supply technical equip- 
ment. 

Educators attending will include 
Dr. Carroll V. Newsom, associate 
commissioner for higher education 
in New York State; William Jan- 
sen, New York City schools super- 
intendent; David O. Henry, vice 
chancellor of New York U., and 
Martha Gable, assistant director of 
educational TV for the Philadel- 
phia public schools. 


▼ 4 ♦ 4 4 4 f f ♦ 4H- | I44( > 444 ♦♦ 4 tl f t 4 444 - H 1 1 < ♦ H4I ♦ $ +4 . 

IN NEW YORK CITY . . . 

Donald Curtis has withdrawn from title role in ABC’s “Michael 
Shayne,” due to conflicting assignments/ and will be replaced by Rob- 
ert Sterling; show, is moving to new time, Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. 

. . . Jim Coy, WNEW staffer, wooed over to WNBC-TV as a newscaster; 
he had been at WNEW several years back, left for Kansas City where 
he had his own ad agency, and returned to the indie last year . . . 
Motorola picked up the tab for WINS’ election coverage, which was 
spearheaded by John Bosnian . . • Donald Buka’s busy week includes 
“Whispering Streets” Monday (3), “Mystery Theatre” tonight (Wed.), 
.“Front Page Drama” tomorrow and ‘^Eternal Light” Sunday (9). 

Marilyn Monroe guests on Edgar Bergen show Sunday (9) . . . Duke 
Ellington gabs on his 25 years in show biz on WWRL Saturday (8) at 
10:30 p.m. . . . George Crothers, CBS Radio religioso director, mod- 
erated symposium for the Protestant AM-TV Council . . . Frank At- 
kinson upped to. manager of ABC’s co-op department, with Ross Worth- 
ington named assistant manager for TV and Janies O’Grady assistant 
manager for AM . . . Windham Children’s Service, which asked WLIB 
to air spots for a week to place 40 Negro children in foster homes, got 
105 applicants in under three days . . Three insurance companies 

have bought Ziv’s Tyrone Power starrer, “Freedom, USA” in nine mar- 
kets, bringing total sales to 570 . . . Henry Hillman resigning as pub- 
lic relations chief of the Weintraub agency to open his own pub re- 
lations office . . . WEVD has added interviews with legit press agents 
on Sundays at 9 p.m., with Arthur Cantor kicking off Sunday (2) and 
Bill Doll and Abner Klipstein following in that order. 

Johnny Olson doing narration on CBS* “This Is Nora Drake” cross- 
the board . . . World Broadcasting System has inked Orton & Raring, 
Coast piano team . . . Four prof of Queens College to give a chamber 
music concert on WNYC Saturday (8) at 1 p.m. . . . Jerry Maulsby, 
CBS Radio manager of broadcasts, back after a Nantucket vacation 
. . . Book Find Club has bought seven quarter-hours weekly on WQXR, 
for 13 weeks starting Nov. 24 . . . William Wall, formerly with Cun- 
ningham & Walsh, joined Morey, Humm & Johnstone as AM-TV writer 
. . . WOR research chief Bob Hoffman, has a special Pulse, Inc., sur- 
vey showing that local shows on the MBS key outpull those on all 
other Gotham network flagships in the New Jersey market . . . Jon 
Epstein has returned to Frederic W. Ziv Co. after two years in the 
army, with a writing-production assignment in Hollywood . . . John 
Karol, CBS Radio sales v.p., sermonizes on “The Rediscovery of Radio” 
at the Indianapolis Ad Club tomorrow (Thurs.). 

Barbara T. Marcus, ex-Reporter magazine, has joined Weintraub 
agency public relations staff. 

Scripter Hector Chevigny out of town picking up a new Seeing Eye 
dog . . . Edward D. Brown, Jr. (ex-Pedlar & Ryan) into Ted Bates 
AM-TV department . . . Hal Korman, WWRL announcer, and Dolores 
Conlon, of Grey agency, engaged . . . Bndd Wildes, of CBS Radio, 
and new bride, Jill Squires, ex-BBD&O, back after Laurentians honey- 
moon . . . Selvin Donneson, WWRL sales manager, passed out stogies 
for a new daughter, Lisa . . . Red Barber narrates special diabetes 
show on CBS Nov. 14 . . . Bill Stem named sports chairman of Mus- 
cular Dystrophy Assn.; Hank Sylvera, Nelson Case and Johnny Olsen 
among those cutting spots for the cause . . . Former ABC announcer 
Don Morrow doing narration for RKO pic, “Captain Blackjack,” and 
has joined Leonard Sillman-Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., outfit . . . “Stella 
Dallas” marked its 15th anni with Anne Elstner in the title role since 
its preem . . . National Assn, of Radio & TV Station Representatives 
has lopped its moniker to Station Representatives Assn. . . . Harold 
Arlin, pioneer pro announcer, featured in an Election Night interview 
on CBS last night; he’s now with Westinghouse plan in Mansfield, O. 
. . . Clarke Gordon and Ann Loring have joined “Helen Trent” . . . 
Ginger Jones naw to “Just Plain Bill” . . . Mary Patton, Hal Studer, 
Tom Collins, Helen Claire and Anne Seymour Into “Front Page Farrell” 
. . . Norman Peterzell, former account exec with Grey, has joined the 
Biow agency. 


Novik Said it “adversely affects audience participationer, sched- 
every party.” He said that he has uled to kick off next March. And 
two alternatives, filing a protest Ketchum, McLeod & Grove, of 
or purchasing the adjacent spots Pittsburgh, . handled the Westing- 
to protect his client. He added house buy of CBS convention and 
that tHe industry should “clean election coverage for both radio 
house instead of waiting for legifi- and TV, as well as the intervening 
iative action/’ “Pick the Winner” series. 


• • 


IN HOLLYWOOD . 

S 

Jean Holloway, who has written some of the finest documentaries 
and : dramatic plays for radio, turned her talents to comedy and teeveo 
and whipped up scripts for “Luigi” and “Margi'e” . . . KFAC, the town’s 
longhair music station, stayed that way even on election night. Diok 
Joy, the news director, just popped in and out with significant returns 
. . . Some of the lads around Columbia Square would like to make book 
on next season’s radio logs carrying Amos ’n’ Andy. They say, just 
let Justin Dart, prexy of Rexall, call up “the boys” and purr “just one 
more season?” The two A’s have told friends they said “maybe” in 
their “retirement” interview. As for TV, they have only a detached 
interest, it being Columbia’s baby now . . . Zsa Zsa Gabor, who looks 
much better on TV than she sounds on radio, leads off the guest 
parade on Bob Hope’s Jello takeoff Nov. 10. 

IN SAN FRANCISCO ... 

Dean Maddox to St. Luke’s Hospital for checkup and treatments due 
to heart condition aggravated by recent auto accident. Walt Harris 
subbing on Dean’s daily “Sidewalk Reporter” show; Don Davis voicing 
his Amateur Hour” emcee chores . . . KYA removing equipment from 
Fairmont Hotel studios, preparatory to shifting operations to Candle- 
stick Point transmitter. Downtown auxiliary studio will be added . . . 
KEAR appointments: George Cook Atkinson as vice-president and 
general manager; Ray Barnett as sales boss . . . Ann Holden was wait- 
ing at the Fairmont when Sammy Davis, Jr., motored in from Las 
Veg*\s, taped an interview during rehearsal . . . Deejay Pat Henry 
switched from KWBR'to KROW . . . KNBC awarded citation from Na- 
tional Conference of Christians and Jews for its “Communism — A 
Clinical Analysis” series . . . Bill Pabst, KFRC boss, to Washington 
to attend NARTB’s “Standards of Practices” confab . . . Bill Weaver 
voiced his 1,000th “Waiting’ for Weaver” airer . • . Del Gore and Russ 
Coglin inaugurated a deejay double on KROW’s “Two for the Show” 

...... . ..,§am ..Hayes . in to receive aw ard from. West Berkele y Merchants . 

. . . FCC approved power increases, 250 to 1,000, for KVSM, San Mateo, 
and KIBE, Palo Alto . . . Hale Sparks’ “Science Editor” show now 
beaming coastwise via ABC. 


Buffalo. — Irving C. Haag re- 
signed Monday (3) as program di- 
rector of WKBW. His post was 
taken by James L. McGrath of the 
station’s news department. . .Ed- 
ward J. Wegman leaves his job as 
assistant manager of WBEN-TV 
this week to go into film produc- 
tion. No replacement yet named. 


9 9 


IN CHICAGO . 

Kay Ashton-Stevens returned to WBBM with a nightly 10-minute 
chatter session with th& Playwrights* Co. and legit producer Gilbert 
Miller sharing the tab . . , Louis G. Cowan’s “Quiz Kids” back on CBS 
radio next Sunday (9) after a 13-week layoff. Return marks the 12th 
season for the moppet quizzer hosted by Joe Kelly . . . Champagne 
Velvet Beer .billings have moved from Blow to Weiss & Geller . . . 
Freelancer Jim Lounsbury deejaying daily strips of WCFL, WIND 
and WJJD for Muntz TV , . . George Watson, major domo of WBBM’s 
“Gold Coast” string, notched his 24th year in radio last week. He’s 
been a Chi CBS staffer for the past 17 years . . . Edward Wiebe, for- 
merly WCFL sales promoter, joined Wright-Campbell agency (formerly 
Wright & Assocs.) as an account exec . . . George. Roesler, sales man- 
ager at WLOS, Asheville, N. C„ making the Michigan Avenue rounds 
. . . Preferred Risk Mutual Insurance of Des Moines bankrolling the 
“Songfellows” Saturday morning on WGN . . . Don McNeill, toast- 
master of ABC’s “Breakfast Club,” etched a lullaby narration for CoraL 
BC singers Peggy Taylor and Johnny Desmond featured on the flip- 
ver 


Wednesday, November 5, 1952 




- 4 - 


McCarthy & The Gredins 

✓ • Des Moines, Nov. 4. 

_ Television developed a new accent on political speeches here 
last week when Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s speech in Chicago was 
televised over WOI-TV, Ames. 

The picture of Robert E. Wood, who introduced McCarthy, came 
into view at the proper time, but the voice accompanying Wood’s 
moving lips was that of Luigi in “Life With Luigi.’’ “Thees is a 
greata country,” was the startling quotes from Wood. Then fol- 
lowed a commercial for coffee with another strange voice accom- 
panying Wood’s picture. It was seven minutes before the picture 
was finally synchronized. 

Because of the number of complaints that poured into WOI-TV 
(some of which accused “Democratic’’ gremlins at work) officials 
of the station explained they had been in conference with A.T.&T. 
to determine the cause. 

A telephone official in Des Moines said it is in dispute whether 
A.T.&T. received an order from WOI-TV for the audio portion of 
the McCarthy broadcast. A station official said the order for the 
sound was sent at 9:30 a.m. Monday in the usual way — by tele- 
type to A.T.&T. in Chicago. A.T.&T. in Des Moines said it had 
no line order for the McCarthy sound, therefore, WOI-TV w^s re- 
ceiving the McCarthy picture from the ABC network and sound 
from from the CBS network. 

It is explained that the picture for TV comes over microwave 
towers while the sound comes over wires and thus two separate 
circuits are involved. WOI-TV said there is no control by station 
employees in Ames over actual switching from one network to the 
other — that only one sound “audio’’ is received from A.T.&.T. 


TV Station Authorizations Reach 


200 Mark; Only 9 Non-Conimercial 


Washington, Nov. 4. + 

With 10 more permits issued by 
the FCC last week, the number of 
TV stations authorized by the agen- 
cy has reached the 200 mark. Of 
these, 191 are for commercial out- 
lets and the remainder are for 
noncommercial. Actually on the 
air are 110 stations, with .about a 
dozen others , planning to get 
started by the end of the year. 

Last week’s permits included 
two to theatre interests. They were 
for companies in Little Rock, Ark., 
and Sioux City, la., in which Her- 
bert Scheftel and Alfred G. Burger 
jointly own 50%. A permit for a 
station in Duluth, Minn., was pre- 
viously issued to the same inter- 
ests. 

Other authorizations went to 
KCSJ in Pueblo, Colo.; WATR in 
Waterbury, Conn.; WLBC in Mun- 
cie, Ind.; Booth Radio and Tele- 
vision Stations in Battle Creek 
Mich.; WISE in Asheville, N. C.; 
WFPG in Atlantic City, N. J.; 
WCSC in Charleston, S. C.; and 
Associated Broadcasters in Beth- 
lehem, Pa. 

Bethlehem permit was issued by 
a close vote, with three of the 
seven members of the Commission 
favoring denial because the same 
interests (Steinman Bros.) also own 
WGAL-TV i n Lancaster, Pa., 
WDEL-TV in Wilmington, Del., and 
six AM stations in the same gen- 
eral area. 

In a dissenting opinion by Comr. 
Frieda Hennock, concurred in by 
Chairman Paul Walker and Comr. 
Eugene Merrill, the question of 
monopoly was raised since Beth- 

( Continued on page 34) 

— - ■ ■ — — ■ i ■ 


3 Bluechip Clients 

Set WNBT Shows 


Three major accounts bought 
time on WNBT, N. Y., last week. 
Coca-Cola is taking five half-hours 
weekly, Esso is picking up a quar- 
ter-hour strip and New York Chrys- 
ler dealers are buying “Leave It to 
the Girls” as a local show. Sta- 
tion’s merchandising-promotion ad- 
juncts are said to be behind the 
new billings. 

N. Y. Coke bottlers, via Esty 
agency, are inserting “Sense and 
Nonsense” into the 6-6:30 p. m. 
cross-board niche, late in Novem- 
ber, for a 52-week ride. Coke re- 
cently axed Bob Dixon’s “Double 
C Ranch” on WABD, N. Y. 

Esso has bought the 6:45 p, m. 
slot, currently housing three five- 
minute strips, for its “Esso Report- 
cr " with the newscaster not yet 
sot ; Agency is Marschalk & Pratt. 

Chrysler dealers, via Berming- 
hatn. Castleman & Pierce, will put 
Leave It” into the Saturday 7-7:30 
P- m. slot. 


Suds in Your Eyes 

Buffalo, Nov. 4. 

Local representative of Col- 
gate-Palmolive-Peet was visibly 
disturbed recently when Buf- 
falo’s City Council President 
subbed for Mayor Joseph Mruk 
in greeting the two Boston cab- 
drivers enroute to present a 
Maxie-the-Taxi scroll to Ed- 
die Cantor in Hollywood. 

The Council President is 
named Luxj — Elmer F. Lux, 
who’s also a theatre film dis- 
tributor. 


Top CBS Brass, 
Press NY-to-LA 
For TV City Bow 

Hollywood, Nov. 4. 

Greatest concentration of net- 
work brass and news coverage in 
TV history will converge on CBS 
Television City Nov. 15 for the 
official dedication. CBS public re- 
lations director David Jacobson is 
on the ground coordinating prep- 
arations for the gala ceremony. 

Exec contingent from Gotham 
will include CBS prexy Frank 
Stanton and veepees Dan O’Shea, 
Howard Meighan; CBS-TV prez. J. 
L. Van Volkenburg; veepees Merle 
Jones, Bill Lodge, Hubbell Robin- 
son, Jr., and Frank Faulkner. Col- 
umnists, syndicate scribblers, mag 
editors and contributors are being 
flown here for the event. 

Sked starts Nov. 15 when the 
junketeers are guests of Earl Gil- 
more at Farmers Market. Next on 
the agenda is an afternoon dress 
rehearsal - the . ins ugucal „sho w. 
being produced on an idea by Jack 
Benny, who will emcee. After the 
preview, cocktails and a buffet din- 
ner are planned in the studio. With 
CBS-AM and TV stars attending. 

Press goes on a tour Nov. 16 
with Coast veepee Harry Acker- 
man hosting, and veepee Charles 
Glett holding open house for civic 
figures. Formal dedication of the 
$12,000,000 plant is skedded Nov. 
15 in the morning with a ribbon- 
cutting ceremony. 


Admiral’s $3,741,107 Net 

Chicago, Nov. 4. 

Admiral Corp. racked up net 
earnings of $1,217,752, equal to 
62c a share, on net sales of $39, « 
119,116 during the third quarter 
ending Sept. 30. 

Sales for tht nine months were 
$122,134,507, With a net of $3,- 
741,107, equal to $1£1 a share. 


IH-OUT deal: 




High-Voltage Radio-TV Vote Count 
Major Feat of Electronic Era 


That magazine type of selling, 
which the major radio networks 
embarked on some time ago to 
meet the challenge of drastically 
declining grosses, is apparently 
here to stay. Where the webs have 
been increasingly successful in ty- 
ing down sponsors to buy a half- 
hour show for an entire season, as 
in the good old days, they’re find- 
ing plenty of takers for the new 
system, under which an advertiser 
can buy anything from a five-min- 
ute show to an hour, for a one- 
shot or a season and from a< limited 
regional net to the entire station 
lineup. 

Indicative of the new era in 
radio sales is the new biz signed 
by both NBC and CBS this week. 
NBC had previously inaugurated 
its Operation Tandem plan as part 
of the system to attract new busi- 
ness but had held out for partic- 
ipants to sign on for a season. Web 
this week pacted with Smith Bros, 
to buy in on the tandem operation 
for only a four-week stretch, from 
Nov. 9 through Dec. 11. At the 
same time, NBC sold Chrysler Mo- 
tors a short-term saturation deal, 
under which the auto outfit will 
bankroll five different NBC shows 
on as many nights to help kick off 
its ad campaign for its new cars. 

CBS has similarly been success- 
ful In luring new biz via selling 
its shows on short-term deals or 
for saturation campaigns. Both 
Plymouth Motors and Chesterfield 
recently signed on for a group of 
shows to be bankrolled for a short 
stretch only. CBS also has its tan- 
dem operation, with American Chi- 
cle already in as one of the three 
required participants. And CBS has 
led the field in making available 
five-minute shows to interested 
sponsors, such as the deal set this 
week for Sonotone Corp. to buy a 
five-minute Cedric Adams show 
twice weekly — on Sundays, from 
4:55 to 5 p.m. and on Mondays, 
[from 10:35 to 10:40 p.m. Two or 
Hhree years ago the major webs 
could have found no time for five- 
minute shows in its cream evening 
periods. 

It’s ‘Pyramid’ on ABC 

ABC’s “mag-type” selling is 
keyed to its Pyramid Plan, utilizing 
a quartet of- shows on four differ- 
ent nights in the 8 p.m, strip. Pro- 
grams are of different types so that 
the maximum circulation can be 
picked up. Skein is also trying to 
get a second Pyramid started in 
the daytime periods. Flexibility in 
taking station lineups is pointed 
up by General Mills’ recent buys 

(three five-minute Betty Crocker 
* 

(Continued on page 62) 


That AM-TV Punch 

Citizens Committee for Eis- 
enhower-Nixon tried some- 
thing new in an ad in the 
N. Y. dailies Monday (3) call- 
ing attention to their radio- 
TV shows scheduled for that 
evening. Ad, headed “impor- 
tant TV message to Repub- 
licans, Independents and 
thoughtful Democrats,”, stated: 

“Tonight Ike speaks on TV 
and Radio from 10 to 10:30. 
We urge you to hear him. At 
10:30, we suggest you turn off 
your set and fix yourselves a 
little something. Then wake 
the children and bring them 
downstairs in time to tune in 
at 11 for one of the great 
hours in radio and television 
history ... an hour you and 
your family will remember 
the rest of your lives.” 

Punch, of course, lay in the 
fact that the Demos had 
bought the 10:30 to 11 period 
Monday night for a nationwide 
speech by Demo nominee Ad- 
lai Stevenson. N. Y. Times, 
incidentally, an Eisenhower 
backer, played the ad imme- 
diately underneath the Demo 
ad spotlighting the Stevenson 
speech. 


CBS Dropping 
Sloane In Red 
Rap Stirs RWG 

Contention that “Red Channels” 
is being used as basis for firings in 

broadcasting, two years after its 
publication, was again projected 
this week in the case of scripter 
Allan E. Sloane, whose employ- 
ment by CBS has been suspended. 
On Monday (3) Radio Writers 
Guild requested a meeting with 
CBS toppers to explore the ques- 
tion. 

Sloane told Variety yesterday 
(Tues.) that he is meeting with 
CBS v.p. Daniel O’Shea Friday 
( 7 ) , at the writer’s request. He said 
he had been told by another CBS 
exec last week he had been 
“canned” as a freelance scripter 
for “Lamp Unto My Feet,” CBS-TV 
religioso, due to “irresistible pres- 
sures” from groups which had men- 
tioned “Channels” and that it was 
a “closed case.” However, he add- 

(Continued on page 62) 


Saturation Point On Tele Politico 
Coverage Not Reached in ’52: Cronkite 


Chicago, Nov. 4. 

Now that the campaign tumult 
has finally subsided, the post-mor- 
tems-- are -under—w^-a^ televi- 
sion’s role in the just-ended presi- 
dential election. Did TV's whole- 
sale preoccupation with politics 
the past four months edge on the 
saturation point? Did the exten- 
sive use of video as a campaign 
vehicle by the spearheaders of 
the two major parties reach such 
a crescendo that it tended to cause 
the public to throw up its hands 
in a “plague on both your houses” 
dismay? 

CBS newsman Walter Cronkite 
doesn’t think so. And he should 
know. As the anchor man on CBS’ 
national convention marathon, and 
more recently “umpire” on West- 
Inghouse’s weekly “Pick the Win- 
ner,” he’s been directly buffeted 
by the hot winds of political ora- 
tory almost steadily since last July. 

The former United Press over- 
seas correspondent who was pro- 
jected into the national spotllgnt 
during hjs praptically tdund-the- 
cloc£ convention stints was here 


recently when the “Winner” orig- 
inated from WBKB, CBS’ Chi af- 
filiate. 

THjthlnrsIiiriff iteTurns" 

In discussing the impact of video 
on the political scene, he pointed 
out that back in the ’30’s it was 
claimed that radio and its use by 
the politicians would be sor&all-per- 
vading as to dull the citizens’ in- 
terest. While conceding there 
probably is a point of diminishing 
returns for TV’s coverage of the 
politicos’ doings, he sees little in- 
dication that that stage was { reached 
this year, which is the first time 
in history the sight medium- really 
covered a presidential race on a 
national scale. 

Cronkite takes as a clue the 
ratings garnered by the weekly 
“Winner” panel sessions, which 
featured spokesmen from the two 
camps. He notes the ratings 
climbed steadily as the campaigns 
gained momentum. Many of the 
polls indicated big chunks of the 
voters apparently were; slow in 
^Continued on Dace 62) 


The highest-voltage use of radio 
and tele as electronic electioneers 
wound late Monday night (3) and 
gave way last evening to the most 
extensive coverage of the vote- 
counting in history. 

As an example of the dramatic 
use of AM and TV to magnetize 
the electorate into the contending 
political camps was the Republi- 
cans’ utilization of N. Y. Gov. 
Thomas E. Dewey in a telethon — 
answering questions from listeners 
and viewers all day yesterday 
(Tues.) over WOR-TV, N. Y., with 
some segments carried by NBC’s 
radio and video webs. It was an 
extension of the technique he used 
in his own campaign for governor. 

In the Democratic fold heavy use 
was made of Oregon’s Sen. Wayne 
Morse, Republican, who had come 
out for Gov. Stevenson, who was 
booked on various stations and re- 
gional hookups in a round-robin. 
Democratic supporters even used a 
pro-Eisenhower radio spot to gar- 
ner votes for Stevenson. Spot was 
an appeal aired on a Southern sta- 
tion by pro-Ike spokesman, hitting 
Stevenson for his stand on the 
civil rights question. Volunteers 
for Stevenson aired this announce- 
ment, with their comment, North- 
ern stations with programs appeal- 
ing to Negro communities, 

Both major parties used tran- 
scriptions and kinescope recordings 
to get their message across on a 
selective market basis, in addition 
to networked shows. After Ike 
spoke on NBC-TV Saturday night 
he made a repeat kinnie. Sen, 
Morse similarly was kinescoped by 
the Dems. 

On behalf of Stevenson, his whis- 
tle-stop tour was given extensive 
radio coverage. Radio consultant 
Morris Novik, Lou Frankel (former 
head of WFDR, N. Y.) and Mike 
Roshkin (ex-ABG) called the sta- 
tions in every hamlet where the 
train was to stop, getting cuffo time 
for their candidate if free time 
had previously been given to the 

(Continued on page 36) 

Chi’s Hurry Up 
On TV Grants’ 

Chicago, Nov. 4. 

Chi city fathers and AFTRA, in 
separate actions, have sent appeals 
to the FCC to hasten the granting 
of additional TV stations for this 
No. 2 market. Windy City currently 
has four pre-freeze tele stations in 
operation with five commercial 
channels and one educational ear- 
marked for post-freeze applicants. 

City Council last week adopted 
a resolution asking the FCC to give 
immediate attention, to the Chi 
situation. Restitution notes that 
both New. York and the Los An- 
geles area have seven stations on 
the air and asks the FCC “to in- 
crease the number of TV channels 
here comparable to Chicago’s im- 
portance.” 

Earlier, the local AFTRA board 
diSpatcEed' a slmilar message to the 
agency asking consideration of the 
Chi problem. 


BBC TO AIR FINAL 
RESULTS OF ELECTION 

London, Nov. 4. 

Special arrangements are being 
made by th6 British Broadcasting 
Corp. to report on the results of 
the U.S. Presidential election. As 
soon as the result is known, pro- 
grams will be interrupted with a 
special flash. 

Decision to break into a program 
with the final returns will apply to 
all features with the exception of 
school and religious broadcasts. In 
the early part of the day, the BBC 
will feature a short recorded com- 
mentary on the result by its Wash- 
ington correspondents, and there 
wUl be a comprehensive feature to 
follow the 9 D.m. newscast. 


26 


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Wednesday, November 5, 1952 


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£• Mins.; Son., 8 pja- 
COLGATE j 

KBC'B', ffrcsa HoUyweod 

SC.^3. «'V~ J2“: & 

Jfeiy Carla'S s t&rnsg TV 

g.j<5,Vg^ ZZ.-& EC1 C-P tO 

the stas^aro ©f she roirnlaro en she 
Colgate ser-e**- Stanza-. . 10 « ever. 
2*ad ao’iis ^e<s<3 rjis^r.er-t? ard s©!Iic2 
guesters- in Libera. ■ve. Carl Ravazzs. 
Zsa Zsa G&h©ri Har,s Ccr-rei-i as3 
the Lactero.. 

&i the Lament 
s.Liatis© eo^ec* vess, 
at w-sit-'t gives ssraag 


Jae& Benny’s ae^ancS ©f fc.’.s 10 
a ha.' 75. siecheh £cr this series es 
CBS-TV £5 ene cf she he-it-pate-a 
he's ever (hare., St .Erovedi alcng 
a ©rested trsak fer its 2-0 nhssites 
East SjEday 2- asd sever p&issets 
orte to catch Lts fcreath. At the 
sarxe Siroe. ;t distirifcnted the Larshs 

Wssfe Ksah Share fa-hsg 

e&rLy is*© 


director Grey Lrfsekvrs&J. rnassal as Lasce ciisht co :t- 
Greeter George Bas^tr.an, and 
Ess.?, -i.ho naniied tr.e c.vizesg- 
rajhy. h *r!. 


Jane Fireman cn “'USA Canteen** 
■CSS-TV Sat. is so deeply .dien’s- 
hsd 'A-.tn srid.sr ertterta.men*. 
that she'd fee rrrt or character cs a 
ro-tdlciro so universal as ’i.heo^if 
he errttm-g and Gniro- she attempted anything else. Yet 


v.*n inter- 
polated lyrti-s. 

3Les Compagnorxs v.ere b-aek^ for 
a seat reprise tf ’ 3 Bells. ’ jheir 
top song hit. i©r whioh Sullivan 
annt'meed he brought them hack. 

Sullivan himself continues to 
become a vastly improved :n- 
-trodneer of acts, in addition _ to 
iesdssg himself to the sort ©£ :n- 
T 'tj into uhiea this sho-v 


role of Te^s M&ntgorierv. tne Miss Fro mas manages *0 reach seecis to be tailing more and more. 

ecmie brought forth ^hls every t>pe of listener vOth one of j The production stself on Sunday 

Benny Bide? Agam” spoefery that, the most artiriaiate sinking voices 1 ti’as imaginative, with especially 

not tintEciidenSally. demonstrated a m pc j p ranks. It’s a vooai tech- good lighting. KqSv':. 

say ©ff employing film that, for niece readily appreciated becassse 


By all odds this is one cf *?;e 
most ‘’ezclusive*’ video ■ver.^.es 
ever projected onto the local '.cere. 
It's aimed specifically and diree-Iv 
at the estimated 235.G1*0 joiing- 
sters of pre-school age in the Chi 
area. It features as its sins'. e ■ per- 
sonality." Dr. Frances R. Horv,.<:h, 
ersaarman of the Roosevelt College 
department of education and an 
authonty in nursery sehoo! anstme- 
Sion. Except for a brief segment at 
the %indup addressed to the moms, 
the session is angled strictly a* the 
tw o-to-li ve-year-olds. 

Before attempting to essay the 


Ahci*!i ; 
as m a 

t ->.+ **?£* tr 

eraprasls and 


©lit 


integration and ejnai'iiy, c^isld set 
am exaur.pEe in the held. Tne eel- 
liai©:d portions. sh©p_en location 
is Ssugiis. Cai, displayed Berm 5 
as a rns-St calf roper after sgits 
intro rode® clips in vs hi ch the 


larvr.ts. 



After opening v.fth a yodel -tjpe c-r>mic- was established as a tep 


warh.ir ig of ’T A.n t Get K&ixdS' 
in her Eiiihi.^y .scy»e. I'i.sS C'sn© va 
f ©nnd herself as tne w msisr ©f a 
webdsawing contest getting a free 
trip to Hollywood, On the train 
tr.e psg-t z-.led ^emedieitn e^was put 
in the same roemette with 
Gabor, which provided s* me laughs 
*;a the eor.tirast between the ultra- 
femansEe charms of tne Hungarian 
gai and the lack of hnesse ©f the 
country hezn-ykin. 

Lancers cprartet was worked in. 
doing a nice version cf '"Gypsy in 
ifj- Soafi'" in the eScab car ©f the 
train. Romero piaj> ed an envoy 


hand fighting to keep Dinah finer 
by r «7 Inning encugh contest mcney 
to prevent her marriage ' and less 


1*^ ♦r- 


the ©Id hemestesde to 


Tcmfe- 


natter roie was en- s 


stone Harry. 

acted with characteristic deft viS- ■ there's no telling hew f, 
»aisiy by rcc.Tyw©©^! s &ne«d©rs Foster's rr*?er53£ . s fEs^ 1 
Leonard, 

All the live portions were set in 
the Hasgtree SaTeen of Cactus 
Pc:n*. Tex., with Benny & troupe 


impact of the program on the tots 
At this point in _ihe baptismal at which it’s aimed, it should be 

is experiment is ccr- 
plenty of acclaim— 
from the appreciate 

^ideocesn. It is equally clear that, mothers but all and sundry hope- 
proseedmss The musieax elements ■ a20 r es5 a sj hands get together to fully scanning the local TV r.ori- 
are nrst rate. ^ ;• feSuepnr.t another course, his most zon for something new. venture- 

Fhi2 Festers disseroat.on in ' enthusiastic champions nail have some and imaginative. Although a 
Ero^klynese was laugn provoking, found themselves putting their - highly specialized format targeted 
The guy impresses as a natural ■ scratch on a horse purely on the at a specialized audience. "D.ng 
wit. If he c-a-tsM only devtse a basis of past performances, a.e., u Dong SchooP is all three. A ly pical 
fnhmg 


c©ppmg soces all one way m a 


poker 


g^d ending for his routines., ■ season of I&55-51 Jn particular. Chi NBC effort, this time under 

he’d go. when the nag paid off as the pride the general supervision of ttiuca- 

se Dressed of Du?«IoEt. ticn director Judith Waller, the 

as a GI. he te!d cl some of bis war- , comic's program last Satur- show is especially ( significant as 

i-me experiences. Otner c-tit-side- , j. appeared to carrv o^er the evidence that the pioneering spirit 
performer was Jimmy Cisco, who 5V jnptoms revealed on’ the fir-t hasn't been completely smothered, 

is n®w in-service. Cisco din a_J>ci couple of examinations, when he There are no tricks here. This is 

was clearly operating under strain. 2 kids show in the strict scn«e of 
Whether this relates to the serious- . phrase. In essence its tne use 


modernistic terping. “‘Night 


set-to. sh-t2ffileb©2rd beers. Flight"’ which seemed a fairly pre- 




s.p.Ti©g.boa,rd for the introduction of 
Ravazza and Liberace. Former did « 


which to hang a TV ba 1 


5n the panama class. And richly 

r . supported 05- the Mahion Merrick 

socked over some paan^stte fire- 




well by "Rock. Rock” and latter 


by other reasons that do not meet , .... 

_ daily half-hour can be credited to 

Miss Horwich who obviously has a 
full understanding, and a deep re- 
spect. for the child mind. She talks 
directly to the youngsters, with a 
warmth and friendliness that’s 
really pretty unique in a medium 
that abounds with "warm'’ and 
“friendly*’ emcees. 

Considering the context, it’s an 
. ‘‘active” session. For example on- 
the edition watched *29J. Miss Hor- 


works 
Ave. " 


WiiJh "Slaughter on KDfth 
<?ract- also teamed us» 


For 

rnent 


• Neither the text nor the timing be- 
. spoke of his stature as a comedian 


r sheer variety and entertain- ; and was a letdown following the ^ 1C .^ showed the toddlers how to 

. “Toast of the To^^n” will brisk opening, a challenge stint by r ^ 2 * ie a out of kernels; 

- — - - — - - showed them a handful of acorns 


Of course. JB performed at the command respect of the TV Indus- ; the 16 June Taylor Dan 



:ers. 


Jg 


Also lacking interest vlas his se- ant ^ ^° ;< ^ them how big trees grow 
ries of quickies on the contrast be- . from o such tiny seeds; displaced a 
tween emoting with music and row °^, pictures sent in b> the 

young fans, and repeated a tratfic 


rv r-^ ri *1-0 AHr-lf.-i/r ow “‘for relinquishing their time.” with important. Lincoin-Mercury. the without it. It was only in the sue- ‘ , ians * ^ u . . re V , a ^ 1 

i a hzth at Phil Harris. After the sponsors, must inevitably respect a ceeding sketch, "The Honeymoon- ; ight demonstration. Besides hold- 
ing Lxe comedienne ner -screen -- c^ed ^how that generates the institu- ers.” that the real Gleason, vis-a- ' ? R S p ^ c ^f w 


blood and thunder opus, he cue 

*^11 ^i !S 5s” In Aian HaSe, Jr., and Randy Stu- tional goodwill — and sale of auto- vis an 7 

srrf ? a ^ to p!ug their “Biff Baker, mobiles— of this alwavs-showman- Meadows, as the wife.t came into 

r {LS “SS2 ' US,A..~ starting tomorrow ^Thurs.» Ly layout. - ‘ " * * ’ 

idtss Canola fh^n Aa^b.ed f or Luckie« on CBS. 5Vi r»r*> an- Erf RhSHv 


aa 1 ^ai v/ aev&i* » u . « , - ti > . »• *. , » . 

ever-improving Audrey m a lot of “facts' for the young 
.u» uu ,s. as the '.vife . came into gre> matter sponges, 
focus.' Even then, the bits of busi- '. Th‘s is a novel venture. J. 11 he 
for Luckies on CBS. Score an- Ed Sullivan doesn't always come ness were no great shakes in hu- ' !nt c r e?ting to see if a sponsor rises 


fari'jferiLm; & and then ot * 3er , 0D€ up fojjthe “Jack Benny up with a slam-bang affair, but mor , being replete with trite if , to the bait. 

iaClat grimaces acts men qjj riU . »> TtQZL. rito'e- »t_: . trup msfprial ciif>h ac gpslrfinP from i 


‘He's Making Eves at Me 
excessive facial grimaces acu u«u c hr _ 
did a televersion of her "Maw and 
Paw’’ radio item, with Romero 
playing the lazy rube. Turn had a 
few diverting gags, but lacked a 
bas 
com 
on 

and — ..... — — , 

tion of "Je%se James.” course. Comedienne had been seri- seem 


Dare. 


he’s always pitching something - true material such as scalding from • 
novel to take this CBS show out , hot w ater and Miss Meadows’ rip- * 

#> . n ■ « .. * M «£f ^ *4 M 


SPORTS CORNER 


Martha Rayc scored again on her ^6 realm of ordinarv variety, i P^8 off of a mustard plaster from . With Joe Wilson 
second time out this season on There is no exhaustion " of ideas. 311 c , aUin f Gl eason. ; Directon Lynwood King 

Save for another skit, the stand- 10 Mins.; Mon.-thru-Thurs.. 6 p.m. 

^4 **T /\« t /I nrt A«t V» t* ««• 1 A *»♦ ^ t* .i m i 


shake 


Chicago 

/iv^tajirs uuu lmu i * , — ,• , j ■■■“ ' . , _ . , ^f the real vets of the Chi 

themselves loose ; s ^ ow s comedy facets. About mid- . t\ sportscasting scene \ ia his 
argic week-:n-and- s wa -’’ Ethel Waters sang "Stormy * early-dav association with WBKB, 
• j, v j p’narflMem'tinn » ruu^jj >/u«. t cauc^i fiuiti uc* uuy ntun.-v>ui luuuuiiigs. I snd ^ Cabin in the Skj, , Joe VI ilson is back on a regular 

ltsej:. if Lie jokel cnaractenzation mg thank-you notes, viewers * Last Sunday’s layout for in- the former amid introductory ram local assignment again with this 

and^if 1 °5hf's aI tnteeSte? n into ne | v/ouldn,t hale known, as she sang, ?. stance, benefited because’ of a fine f ffects ^ at bordered on the ama- ? nightly commentary' from WNBQ. 

and if she s integrated into a danced ^ mueefet j and aenerallv di.<^ Dresentatmn and imapinatinn in teur. The whole suggested that it stacks up as a happy alliance for 



MAGIC • writer once^^ain^ave Miss Rave Suflfvan^n^TFitzgerald ''zet 1 ^ ^ incidentail >*’ has been 50 offish \ n : cussion of the upcoming Ohio- 

Alan la modified book ^howVnU rime gether what do ‘ thev tail its manjner of P resent mg guest tal- . Northwestern football game was 

With Don AlflOf quests l ® niOoilllCQ OOOK snou f tms time t ^ ^ ^H3t GO tncj tsik 3pOUt, pnt finp of thp mv^tprips of thp • ^nippd hv <;omp film footn<YAc frnm 

Directon Dan Scbnffman 1 revolving around Pinza’s attack of It was the kind of small IrisTi talk s one 0f the m > slenes or the ^ * d b / s ®“f “ ] bet2S2f1he f 

30 Mins.: Sun., 5 pjn. J amnesia and the comedienne’s role that was engaging for its charm . p^nal inn in* drew awav entirelv : teams Then Ws rhai with a fhi 

BOWMAN dairy idea Sm g e've "fhem nTe°n?v ’ whirh 16 * & b 1 f nt f ri t ng t excba H nge from comedy "into what amounted : Board of EdScltton athlJtic offiSS 

TV ENR-TV, Chicago Lf chance for sinring ^dth^inM chance h Protestant had a to a long p i ug f or what Deems was also given added visual values 

With ABC-TV-S } A ' surnrfeinffiv ^nnd £% inin^T “ I n”h!u,-ieo : Taylor called an orchestral rhap- . by the use of a couple of charts 

# ‘Super Circus” trailblazing 
forepiece, this moppet 
magico outing has the 

a solid Sunday afternoon enter- one^of’’* T h o?e i t,^ 065 J n ^ hi J h h « . wiu s0 °n make dries’ oif montage's* “sometimer on ' regular ' “use'of film inserts 

I opener. Just One of Those ( h, s official show biz debut at New- . tw0 levels, with one line of June , other sight material make 

lorks trench Casino; the Szonys : Taylor steppers thrown above the strip a welcome addition 



• rr . . • , ♦.« J W r t v Ml/v VMV W4 A iiVOV 

pose. Unpretentious, yet with j Things," in which she displayed 

enough ingredients to reap atten- ■ her shapely gams in a production ; jn their smash dance routines; Alec ' 5rch” There' "were a number of .WNBQ's earlv-evenine roster 

Templeton. the_. .blind jdMiist^.in] ^her <to«cti^4t Undine J ^ ' *“"* Dave. 

an ably produced excursion into - 1 some novelty ivory-tickling; and r a “Poor Soul” scene with an inter- } 


’ ^Book’s^ooener^vas a «ni localed 1 ^ ,m P a 6n°ns de la Chanson • pretive dance bit by a mixed pair, i w _ . ___ 

i •_ .. - |f_-’ ci ow iv ; '^ be Companions of Song*, nine- ; A good deal of the merged hoofery « PAGES 


the world of magic with sleight- 
of-hand worker Don Alan giving a ' in the Bowery. Cameras slowly 
good turn to the emcee role. I panned across a 



especially the use of a couple of 
helpers from the studio young- 
sters. Also a good “localizer” was 
the contribution by a teenage tyro 
prestidigitator who worked the 
venerable box and hankie hide- 
away. 

Featured segment was taken 
over by guester Johnny Platt with 
his assortment of Hindu wrinkles. 
It was a slice of legerdemain, com- 
plete with fire eating and the 
standard rice bowl. Platt’s turn 


tried to convince his confreres that 
he w T as indeed the former Metopera 
and “South Pacific” star. Miss Raye 
had her best moments in a skit in 
which she 1 gave Sara Seegar a 
home permanent, only to discover 
that she had read instructions off 
the back of a ready-cake mix, and 
in Pinza’s apartment, where she 


contributions 
Radio and Tcle- 

the opening Persian Garden scene, fan ambitious^ production came out j VRd ° R Center has been a revamped 
in which the Szonys W'ere attired ; overburdened with tricks in such r schedule, which provides ftifr* new 
fittingly, Laine wore an incon- ! abundance as to overwhelm the \ program entries. A one-hour after- 
gruous summer dinner jacket as ; score, which was pitched as the j noon segment, “Woman’s Pages,” 


he mouthed “Jezebel.” Later in the 
bill, while singing “High Noon” 

• with a western background), he j Gleason has experienced. Trau 
was still attired in the same tux. 

Robinson, who is about to give 

*. L«y» mi t • . _ 


principal item. It was one of the : is a summary of topics aimed to 
roughest hours, apparently, that [ interest the femme viewer, by 

| concentrating on fashions, enter- 
j tainment, menus, sports and cur- 


was given full values with adroit . 
tight lensing by Dan Schuffman’s ! Miss Raye and Pinza, was terrif, 
crew. I All 


Young & Rubicam production j rent events, 
was forced "to imperson*ate the j U P bis middleweight boxing crown . staff has contributed some of the Edition caught teed off with Peg-* 

maestro of Milan's La Scala opera. I for greasepaint. w*ent through a i best live drama in TV during the gy Towne, one of local TV vet- 

* * * ’ » 1 l . j i . making 

take 
- her 

Templeton showed an unerring i its highly qualitative “Playhouse j how to fix garlic bread, tomatoes 

rise of shnwmanchin nan inul <irlv ! of Stars" to switch to a half-hmir ’ stnffeH wifh hoonc nr canned 


Bowman’s messages w’ere given t rite bow 


an okay sell by John Weigel. 

Dave. 


Morgan; 

Billy Friedberg and A1 Singer; TV I contralto would do it and then I 


(Continued on page 36) 


• Continued on page 36) 


Wednesday, November 5, 1952 


P^Bziety 


27 



You spend a lot of time trying to pick the right television program . . . one 
that will create the right climate for sales. You hope for a big, fat rating 

of course, because that's a sure indication you're getting around. 

% 

But every once in a while, you can be pleasantly fooled . . . find a program 
that may not shoot the rating-needle right off the dial every time*, but steadily 
and gratifyingly sells you like hotcakes. 


“If all Garry's loyal listeners are like us, we'll 
buy out the stoves in appreciation." 

“We try to buy all the products he advertises 

“There are many of us who never write fan let - 
tcrs but quietly sit by and try to buy the prod- 
ucts of a sponsor." 

“We make a list of his sponsors and go out and 
buy anything and everything he sponsors just 
because we think so much of him." 

“We will buy any product he advertises ." 

“I'm so grateful to Stokely-Van Camp^and Rit I 
buy their pi'oducts whether I need them or not 1" 


“Thanks 'to Stokely-Van Camp and Rit. 1 can see 

That's the kind of program the Garry Moore Show is . . . the kind that now wh v iheir products are better and i surety 

will use them more so than ever." 


recently brought in the mail... by the bushel. (One sponsor alone received 


“1 am grateful to the two sponsors. I will con- 
tinue to buy their products." 


14,000. ) All of it showing a keen awareness of the equation between program 

* 

and product... all demonstrating the kind of loyalty that goes into buying - 


.imparting enough affection for its cast to 
make the purchase of the products it advertises 
so painless it's a pleasant duty." 

“Stokely-Van Camp and Rit know a great show.** 


action ... a loyalty that ratings alone— or money alone— can't always buy. 

This kindr ofnrailkeeps coming in . . . and "SO have two -additional bpon^- 


“This segment of the public is much more likely 
to express its appreciation by buying the prod- 
ucts he recommends than by writing fan letters." 

“FraxseSe id ^mW-Vanljcmf'and' Best 


sors...C. H. Masland & Sons, Inc., and Ballard & Ballard Co. 


Garry Moore could convince your customers, too. 


CBS TELEVISION 


r vvus. 



“Three cheers for Stokely-Van Camp Inc. an 
Rit for recognizing a program and pet 
sonality acceptable to every mem 
ber of the family." 

“Thank God for the two loyc 
sponsors that have made his shot 
available to us." 



“S cheers for Van Camp's; 3 cheers for Rit." 



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Wednesday, November 5, 1952 


P&tffiTt 


29 







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RADIO REVIEWS 


2 8 



WetltieflcTay, November 5, 1952 


ROBERT Q. L^WIS SHOW 
with Lewis, Chordettes, Lee Irwin, 

organ; Warren Sweeney, an- 
nouncer 

Director; Bruno Zirato, Jr, 

15 Mins*, Sat, 10:45 a.m. 

PINE-SOL 
CBS, from N. Y. 

( Gordon Best ) 

Robert Q. Lewis’ amiable fooling 
is back on CBS for a new sponsor, 
with satisfying results for comic. 
Bankroller and audience alike. 
Lewis’ easy, relaxing style and 
fresh, slightly offbeat material 
make for an amusing quarter-hour, 
to give a lift to a Saturday morning. 
Comic doesn’t take himself or his 
work seriously, and the light vein j 
pays off in laughs. j 

Saturday’s (1) opener had Lewis 
rolling off a few funny gags; sing- 
ing a song, “Walking My Baby Back 
Home,” with quippy interpolations; 
joshing with the Chordettes, and 
joining with them for a final song 
number. He also got'in some refer- 
ences to the election, and to mud- 
slinging, which led into another 
couple of good gags, and finally 
into a commercial. Lewis does his 
own commercials, and delivers 
them in the same light vein as his 
other material, but getting the 
message over. 

The Chordettes, a good femme 
singing quartet with a special style, 
sang "Lonesome for You” a capella 
to fine results. Lewis joined with 
them at the close for “Zing a Little 
Zong.” Comic wasn’t above plug- 
ging his recordings, personal and 
nitery appearances, etc., on the 
program, but it was inoffensive 
and in keeping with ’the informal 

y— ■ i.i ■■ 


style of the show. Bruno Zirato, 
Jr., direction kept program moving 
l smoothly and deftly. Bron. 


OUT OF THIS WORLD . 

With Jackson Beck, narrator; Rob- 
ert R. Coles, others 
Writer; Robbie Robertson 
Producer-director: Milton Kaye 
25 Mins., Sun., 4.35 p.m. 

WNEW, N. Y. 

This is an interesting series, part 
science, part fiction, with which to 
idle away a Sunday afternoon half- 
hour advantageously. Above the 
level of simple science fiction, 
series is a combination of scientific 
discussion and science-fiction dram- 
atization, with a science question- 
| and-answer period interposed be- 
tween segments of the drama. It’s 
a sort of science-fiction setup for 
adults, and as such, pretty palat- 
able. 

Sunday’s’ (2) segment, third in 
the series, concerned a young 
couple in 1993 leaving on a trip 
to the moontas their vacation. In 
a space ship traveling at 18,000 
miles-an-hour speed, with no sound 
or noise as it floated through space, 
the couple talked to the earth by 
phone, to give their impressions. 
Folksy quality of the dialog, and 
everyday impressions of the duo, 
were alright; the sentimental ro- 
mantic bits that were thrown in 
were slightly extraneous. 

What made the airer unusual was 
the interchange between narrator 
Jackson Beck and Robert R. Coles, 
of the Hayden Planetarium, on 
this, fictionalized story. . Coles 
averred that a trip to the moon 
was closer than one thinks; that 


rocket propulsion experiments have 
brought it near. His other com- 
ments, such as conditions on the 
moon, its heat, cold and gravity, 
were also intriguing. Combo of 
fact and fiction blended . nicely; 
dramatic cast W’as persuasive, and 
Beck’s intelligent queries and com- 
ments and Coles’ informed re- 
marks made this a lively airer. 

Bron . 


JASON AND THE GOLDEN 
FLEECE 

With Macdonald Carey, Bill Con- 
yad, others; Frank Worth, music 
Director: Art Jacobson 
Writers: Herb Ellis, Cleve Her- 
mann 

30 Mins.; Wed., 10 p.m. 

Sustaining 
NBC, from H’wood 
The Macdonald Carey name and 
competence combine with a racy 
script to give “Jason and the Gold- 
en Fleece” a better than even 
chance to survive radio’s night- 
time downbeat in its particular 
niche. Filmite is the Jason whose 
60-foot cabin cruiser. The Golden 
Fleece, accounts for the title. 

Carey is cast as a “philosophic 
adventurer,” whose ownership of 
a bistro on Bourbon St., in the 
French quarter of New Orleans, 
plus the craft, provide opportunity 
for atmospheric goings-on in w T hieh 
he is -the central but by no means 
dominant character. As per the 
setup of the inltialer (29), program 
aims to mak£ with off-the-beat 
happenings in the lives of assorted 
persons who ,xent his boat for fish- 
ing or other purposes. 

The opener brought together a 



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The American farmer has always been the backbone of 
America. Through far-reaching changes in the last twelve years, 
the farmer has become one of America’s most important consumers as well, 

- Here arc some of thc,factors that have made him “Your Best Customer:” 

\ 

Tttl940 income from farming was less than $11 billion; in 1951 it was $37.5 billion f 
.v In 1950 the farmer’s purchases of consumer merchandise were 2 l /a times 




what they were in 1940. 


In 1940 total farm assets'were $54 billion. By 1951 they were $153 billion. 
In this same period, mortgages, in relation to assets, were reduced 67 c fc. 


In 1940 the spendable cash held by farm families was $4 billion; in 1951 it was 
nearly $20 billion— $3,178 per family— many times the liquid assets 
““of“thTe'"averagc'cit'y -tlwdfcr; — — 


These are just a few of the statistics that illustrate hpw important 
it is to reach the rural market— your best customer. In WLW-Land, 
WLW radio reaches more of them more often for less 
than any other medium. Ask to see the WLW story 
of ’Your Best Customer”. 



WLV The NationT Station 



1932 • 1992 



; i . 


wealthy former Tulane All-Ameri- 
can footballer,* his unhappy, im- 
bibing wife, and their more un- 
happy son whose misery stems 
from an inferiority complex in re- 
lation to his smug, boastful sire. 
As these facts were established 
and as Jason took them off on a 
cruise, listeners were dead sure 
that the old man would have his 
comeuppance and that the son 
would become a “man.” They were 
not disappointed by the conven- 
tional happy finale. 

Within this cliche framework, 
the incidents seemed real and 
easily identifiable in the human 
equation. The scenes were hypoed 
by Frank Worth’s original score 
plus a concertina inserted for flash 
in Jason’s bar. Jason’s sidekick and 
hired hand is Bill Conrad, as Louis 
Dumont, a regular in this tran- 
scribed series. Trau. 


AFTER TV SHOW 

With Tex Ferguson 

60 Mins.; Sun,-thru-Sat„ 12 Midi- 

night 

Participating 
WOKO, Albany 

Roundup of hillbilly and West- 
ern music, roped by Tex Ferguson, 
with songs to guitar accompani- 
ment by Ferguson added, has been 
variously called “After ‘Television 

Show” and “Midnight Owl Show.” 
The post-video tag was applied 
and publicized on the theory that 
the area public could tunein a 
midnight radio program after TV 
had dropped the curtain for the 
day. 

Ferguson, who has led an instru- 
mental group on WO WO day timers, 

! is a homey, friendly, drawling em- 
cee, speaking authoritatively on 
hillbilly and Western music and 
its principal artists. He spins a 
wide selection of records, some of 
them in response to telephoned 
requests. He kiddingly calls his 
own warbling “corny,” but the 
last time the show was caught it 
sounded rather good. He was, in 
fact, “up” all-around — a goal 
toward which he should consistent- 
ly strive: Ferguson V diction isuot 
clear; frequent comments about 
searching for platters, and some- 
time difficulty in finding them, 
should be curtailed. 

The advertising, some of it P. I., 
runs overboard. Jaco. 


BILL BENNETT SHOW 
H5 Mins.; Mon.-thru-Fri., 2:05 p.m. 
Participating 
WPTK, Albany 

Bill Bennett presents a pleasant, 
unobtrusive disk jockey show on 
this afternoon segment, after spin- 
ning records on * the 6 to 9 a.m. 
slot. He lets the music speak for 
itself, commenting briefly if at all. 

His choice of tunes is wide and 
sound. Such introductions as the 
dee jay makes are graciously han- 
dled. Bennett seems rather gener- 
ous In spotlighting numbers by 
singers and bands who have played 
or will play the Albany area. He 
includes interviews, live or via 
telephone. Tony Aloma and Rober- 
ta Quinlan were among the former, 
in recent weeks; Tommy Edwards, 
the latter. Eddie Waitkus, Phila- 
delphia National League club first 
baseman, who has joined WPTR 
for the off-season, appeared with 
Bennett on several broadcasts, par- 
ticipating in the exchange with 
Edwards. Jaco. 


Radio Followups 


With Bing Crosby bowing out of 
his scheduled CBS Radio show last 
Thursday night (30) because of the 
critical illness of his wife, the 
web’s Coast office put Judy Gar- 
land in as a last-minute sub. Miss 
Garland failed completely to live 
up to expectations, to the point 
where it was difficult to imagine a 
singer with her known ability hit- 
ting so many clinkers in a single 
-half = h ou r, — Therc-are -a -number- •&£ 
mitigating factors, of course, such 
as the short rehearsal time she 
had, her impending motherhood, 
etc., but even so, she was a far 
cry from the Judy who wowed ’em 
at the Broadway Palace last winter. 

Miss Garland worked with Cros- 
by's regular crew, including the 
John Scott Trotter orch, the Mod- 
ernaires, announcer Ken Carpen- 
ter, etc. Show itself was nothing 
to rave about since, with little time 
for preparation, the web. merely 
had Miss Garland lead a half-hour 
songalog. -That would have been 
’okay if she -had been up to par but, 
sans her anticipated sock, it was 
hlmost embarrassing to listen to. 
Her numbers were well selected, 
ranging from “Alexander's Rag- 
•tme Band” through “Carolina in 
• he Morning” and “Wish You- Were 
Here,” .but only, seldom did she 
sound like the Garland of old. 


Steve Allen as CBS 

Standby Sustainer 

CBS Radio lias Steve Allen 
“standing by” for a sustaining 
ride in the Thursday night period 
which is currently under option 
to Lucky Strike. 

Clggie company has bought the 
Horace Heidt show for AM but 
hasn’t decided on the network. 
Allen, of course, goes in, in event 
that Luckies drops the option or 
latches on for an NBC or ABC 
ride. All the webs are pitching 
for the business. 


Clients Ponder 

Continued from page 21 


in another; using stock footage; 
using rear screen projection, slides, 
stylized backdrops; shooting out- 
of-doors; using fewer films and us- 
ing them more frequently, etc. 
“Film commercials we create 
have to improve day by day, just 
as the programs themselves,” Bel- 
laire declared. 

E. Carlton Winckler, CBS-TV 
production manager, pointed out 
ways in which live TV was adding 
3 to its scope and giving its show* 
the flexibility of film production. 
He cited CBS’ new standard hard- 
surfaced flats for building-block 
scenery; makeup and colored fil- 
ters that permit characters to age 
gradually; devices permitting illu- 
sion of reflections In rippling 
water; web’s electronic gunshot 
gadget; its electronic rainmaker; 
and its matting amplifier which 
permits live actors to be shot in 
model sets. 

Paul Phillips, AM-TV director 
of the Aitkin-Kynett Co., spoke 
on TV on a small budget, saying 
that “there is an unfortunate 
tendency for many stations to fall 
back wholly on film without ex- 
amining” imaginative ways in 
which live programs ■arid" commer- 
cials can be used. “Don’t put all 
your eggs in the celluloid basket,” 
he warned. “It has an Insidious 
w r ay of drying up your own cre- 
ative personality and the person- 
ality of the product you have to 
sell.” 


Co-ops 

9 

Continued from p age 82 

hours weekly at 9:30 p.m. There 
are also eight co-op news shows 
and five MGM Radio Attractions 
for co-op sale. 

An important reason « for the 
greater emphasis on co-ops by all 
webs is their appeal to local out- 
lets. As such, it's a service to the 
affiliates and one method of ap- 
peasing them in view of the recent 
rate cuts, which have cued some 
affiliates’ anger at the chains. 

It's understood Mutual will con- 
tinue to add co-ops if it finds suit- 
able properties. A sportscast with 
Harry Wismer is expected to start 
shortly. 


Syracuse— A1 Gillen, WSYR-TV 
salesman here years, has 

moved to WHAS, Louisville, as 
commercial sales manager. 



AMIXICAN MUSIC HALL end 
U S. COAST OUARD SHOW 
IViXT SUNDAY, ARC, RADIO 
CIS- TV 

CORAL RICORDI Dir.: MCA 


PREPARE NOW FOR JOES IN 

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Wednesday, November 5; 1952 


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HOLLYWOOD 7026 SANTA MONICA 01* D OlADSTONf 3; Of, 





SO HADVO-TELEWSION 



Wednesday* Novemjtar 5, 1952 


4 



‘New York 

Herb Shriner appears on Variety 
Clubs benefit telethon in Pitts- 
burgh Nov. 22-23 . . . Colony Mo- 
tors inked 13-\veek sponsorship par- 
ticipation on WJZ-TV’s “Spotlight 
on Harlem,” via .William Warren, ' 
Jackson & Delaney . . . Rex Cos- 
ton, ex-CES, now in AM-TV dept, 
at Hewitt, Ogilvy, Benson & j 
Mather. J 

Dorotfiee Long, French actress I 
who was featured on “Goodyear J 
TV Playhouse” on Oct. 26, had a ; 
double occasion that date — it was j 
first anni of her arrival in the U. S. 
She's wife of Printers’ Ink man- 
aging ed Joel Lewis. 

Mike Wallace, co-star with his | 
wife. Buff Cobb, on CBS-TV’s 
“Mike and Buff” show, set to em- 
cee “There’s One in Every Fam- 
ily” on the web Saturdays starting 
Nov. 15. John Reed King con- 
tinues as emcee Mondays through 
Fridays on the show, aired from 11 
to 11:30 a.m. . . . Ronald Dawson, 
who’ll be featured on NBC's “Mar- 
tin Kane” tomorrow night (Thurs.), 
has sold a radio adaptation of his 
‘‘Revolt of Motjer” to the CBS net- 
work . . . Duncan MacDonald, Du- 
Mont’s supervisor of women’s pro- 
grams, named to act concurrently 
as chief of religious programming 
. . . Milo Frank, formerly with the 
William Morris office on the Coast, 1 
named chief talent scout for CBS. 
He’ll scout the country for new tal- 
ent . . , Mary Morriss named by 
the Biow agency as agency pro- 
ducer on NBC’s “My Hero” show, 
bankrolled by Dunhill cigarets . . . 
Edward Ratner, formerly radio-TV 
copy chief of Product Services, 
named radio-TV director for the 
Friend-Reiss-McGlone agency . . . 
Francis Bethencouxt, who was fea- 
tured on NBC’s Robert Montgom- 
ery show Oct. 27, set for a repeat 


on the program nejit Monday night 
< 10 ). 


Hollywood 

William Veneman has been 
named account exec at KTTV . . . 
Fletcher Jones is picking up tab 
on KNBH’s new quizzer, “Anybody 
Can Play/’ debuting Saturday on 
channel four; Maier Brewing Co. 
is sponsoring A lex Cooper show on 
same station . , . KLAC-TV bought 
a block of 28 feature films from 
Tom Corradine, repping Atlantic 
TV. Bought for a 15-months pe- 
riod, pix are good for seven runs 
each . . . Rosemary "Clooney set 
for guest shot on Bob Hop©*s Col- 
gate Comedy Hour stint on NBC- 
TV Nov. 9 . . . KLAC-TV manager 
Don Fedderson in Las Vegas on 
business . . . Margaret Whiting 
to Gotham for TV guestings . . 
Vonne Godfrey to N. Y. to narrate 
Perma Patterns teleblurbs . . 
Academy of Television Arts and 
Sciences held membership meet- 
ing at NBC's new TV" plant in 
Burbank, with members touring the 
new factory . . . Mai Klein, for- 
merly with KLAC-TV, has shifted 
over to KECA-TV as account exec 
. . . Jim Hawthorne developing 
routine for national TV guestings 
. . . “Nelson Eddy’s Backyard” was 
auditioned at El Capitan last week, 
with Chick Chandler and Jan 
Clayton in support of the singer 
. . . Robert Bennett has been upped 
to account exec at KTTV, with 
Jack Duffield taking over his for- 
mer job of assistant sales service 
manager . . . Hudson Jewelers and 
Thrifty Food are sponsoring “Ja- 
lopy Derby” on KTTV for 13 weeks 


San Francisco 

Freddy Martin, now at St, Fran- 
cis, to make pilot film for new TV 
show when he returns to Holly- 
wood, Nov; 18, with Hoagy Car- 
michael featured in the test run 
. . . Forrester Mashbir, after a year 


and a half at KTTV, Hollywood, 
returned to KPIX As production 
manager and TV director . . . 
Danny Thomas due at .the Opera 
House for a St, Jude Hospital ben- 
efit, Nov. 28/ R?aury Foladare in 
to set the scene . . Betty Wing, 
Jr. f to hospital for minor repairs 
. . . Les and Georgienne Malloy to 
Mexico for a 10-day break. Les 
taped his daily air shows in ad- 
vance; Bob Day subbing on TV . . . 
“Normandie Candlelighters,” with 
Kenny Burt and Bill Edwards, old- 
est KGO-TV sponsored show, ex- 
tended from 15 to a half-hour . . , 
Director Jim Baker took over the 
new “View The Clue” teevee show 
. . . In election coverage, Examine? 
tied in with KGO and KGO-TV, 
Chronicle with KNBC and KRON- 
TV, News with KSFO and KPIX, 
Call with- KFRC . . . Rusty Draper 
to Hollywood, Nov. 9, to demon- 
strate multiple guitar and voice 
techniques on “You Asked For It” 
. . . Del Courtney dropped all com- 
mercials, donated two of his KPIX- 
tures to the United Crusade with 
singer Polly Lawrence and Lyle 
Bardo’s band helping the cause . . . 
Lee Giroux pbpped into the hos- 
pital for a weekend rest cure, then 
featured “Lee’s Day At The Hos- 
pital” on his TV extravaganza . . . 
The Bay Area’s “Big Game” (Cali- 
fomia-Stanford) to be teeveed lo- 
cally by KRON. 


Chicago 

Milt Fricdland upped to the na- 
tional spot sales manager post at 
WBKB With Julian Kanter taking 
over as traffic chief . . . Ken Mac- 
Donald added to the WENR-TV 
staff to head up the station’s new 
merchandising adjunct . . . Chi 
City Council committee consider- 
ing the licensing of tele service 
outfits . . . Deal was finalized last 
week after prolonged negotiations 
for a limited resumption of Black 
Hawk hockey telecasts. Chi Sta- 
dium topper Arthur Wirtz green- 
lighted Sunday night beamings of 
the final home game periods via 
WBKB with Household Finance 
bankrolling. Package was set up 
by Jack Paige . . . Richard Ricker 
and Edwin Weinshelbaum, both ex- 
Chi Trib staffers, switched to 



Marc "BUTCH" Cave! I one of the most promising young 


juveniles in show business returns to New York for radio 
and TV commitments November 10th after completing 


a featured role 

i 


in "Man From The Alamo" for Universal- 


WGN-TV as time peddlers . . . 
General Foods grabbed off the 
Thursday segment of WENR-TV’s 
“Adventure Time,” Western film 
series narrated live by Bob Atcher 
. . . Erwin Wasey will handle the 
new DuMont Bishop Fulton J. 
Sheen series which bows Nov. 18 
for Admiral . . . Duane .Bogie, 
Foote, Cone & Belding producer, 
in cooperation with the Joint Civic 
Committee on Elections, put to- 
gether a half-hour documentary on 
vote frauds which was aired Sun- 
day night (2) on WGN-TV . . . 
Monday and Wednesday portions 
of Bill Hamilton’s “Top ’O the 
Weather” on WENR-TV peddled 
to Hastings Manufacturing . . . Lyn 
King calling the shots on WNBQ’s 
new Saturday morning aviation 
show, hosted by Lt. Cmdr. Robert 
Horder of the Glenview Naval Air 
Base . . . Elgin American running 
“Hollywood Guest Star” vidpix on 
WENR-TV Thursday nights for a 
five-week ■•pre-Christmas push. 


London 

British Legion Festival of Re- 
membrance attended by the Queen 
to be telecast from the Albert Hall 
on Sat. (8) . . .Emlyn Williams’ “The 
Morning Star” to be aired on Sun- 
day (9). Gladys Henson, Roddy 
Hughes and Gladys Young are in 
the cast . . . Fashion display to be 
beamed from Claridges Wed. (12) 
. , .First televised disk jockey pro- 
gram to be aired on Friday week 
(14) starring Jack Jackson. . .Rich- 
ard Afton will present first trans- 
mission from* Glasgow of “Music 
Hall” on Saturday week (15). 
Gracie Fields heads the bill which 
-also includes Tessie O’Shea, Harry 
Gordon, Robert Wilson,. Dave Wil- 
lis, Bobbie Kimber and Jack Rad- 
cliffe . . “If This Be Error” by 
Rachel Grieve will be produced by 
Stephen Harrison on Tues. (11), 
Cast includes Shelagh Fraser, 
Peter Cushing, Dandy Nicholls, 
John Grant, Valerie White and 
Frank Allenby . . . Markhanita Laski 
will be guest in “Leisure and 
Pleasure” on Tues. (14). 


ANTI-PRESSURE GROUP 
IN TV-AMIS SOUGHT 

Hollywood, Nov. 4. 

N. Y. Herald Tribune TV col- 
umnist John Crosby met here last 
week with members of the Radio 
and Television News club of South- 
ern California for a discussion on 
freedom of the air, and conclusion 
reached was that formation of a 
national organization of AM . and 
TV broadcasters would be the most 
effective means to combat pressure 
groups. 

. Crosby opined in most cases an 
individal under fire from pressure 
artists suffers from publicity meant 
to help him, in that it creates a 
controversial figure, adding ad 
agencies and sponsors shy away 
from anyone controversial. 

It was agreed an exception is the 
case of Drew Pearson, who when 
unde ’ attack from such groups was 
aided by L. A. Daily News pillarist 
Paul Price, who launched a cam- 
paign to swamp ABC with requests 
Pearson remain on the air, result 
being Pearson stays on. Crosby had 
nothing but kudoes for Price. 


Chi Early Morning Time 
Shaping Up Now as Most 
Saleable News Segments 

Chicago, Nov. 4. 

In the re-alignment of radio’s 
values, the 7 to 9 o’clock period in 
the mornings is showing signs of 
replacing the same evening period 
as the most saleable segment. 

When WGN revamped its rat* 
ings, it put the morning price tags 
on a par with the nighttime fees. 
And now, WMAQ, the Chi NBC 
anchor, is shuffling its a.m. lineup 
to make room for additional five- 
minute newscasts in the new 
“prime time.” 

WMAQ sales manager Rudi 
Neubauer has succeeded in selling 
Wieboldt Stores, occupants of the 
8 to 8:30 weekday morning slot 
for the past 18 years, to cut back 
their record show to 25 minutes 
to make room for a news show at 
8:25. Store chain is using the 
money saved on the -slicing to buy 
spots and station breaks during the 
rest of the day on the station. 

Neubauer has tossed nearly the 
same idea at the Northwestern R.R., 
which for years has held down the 
7 to 7:55 a.m. berth’ on WMAQ. 
Sales topper, looking for a place to 
work in some more spot biz, has 
asked the railroad execs to check 
out of the first half-hour and stay 
on with the last 25 minutes. He 
plans to insert another five-minute 
news cast in at 7:25 and use the 
7 to 7:25 period fqr participations. 

New plan will give the station 
morning news squibs every half- 
hour from 5:55 to 8:25, all of which 
are sold out or optioned. Also by 
breaking up the block into smaller 
program units, there’s a big pickup 
in station break availabilities. 


Fire Razes Ariz. Station 

Coolidge, Ariz., Nov. 4. 

This town’s only radio station, 
KCKY, was destroyed early Sun- 
day (1) by fire of unknown origin, 
which caused damage estimated at 
$50,000. 

Everything but the station’s 
steel towers was razed, including 
8,000 records, tape recorders, tele- 
type machines,- and broadcasting 
equipment. 


iiiniiiiiiiiriiiii 

KALAMAZOO 


IS 



HUM 

KANSAS 

CITY 


International. 



In New York Confacf 
ARTISTS SERVICE 
SU. 7-5400 

In - Hollywood 
Call CR. 4-541 6 


Screen Credits 
"UP FRONJ” U-l 


‘Howdy Doody’ Canadian 
Sellout Within Month 

Canada’s radio sponsors appar- 
ently rush in where American 
bankrollers fear to tread. NBC’s 
radio version of “Howdy Doody,” 
which has been relatively unsuc- 
cessful in latching onto a sponsor 
stateside, is completely sold out in 
Canada, within a month after its 
preem on the Canadian Radio Do- 
minion network. 

Show, which is aired Saturday 
mornings from 8:30 to 9:30, is be- 
ing offered in the U. S. under 
NBC’s Minute Man plan, in which 
- the- web*s- -effi-ltates- -have~fche- right- 
to take it if they want in order to 
line up local sponsors. Web made 
the show a straight participation 
deal in Canada, and it is now bank- 
rolled by Kraft Foods and St. Law- 
rence Starch, each of which has a 
quarter-hour, and Ogilvie Flour 
Mills, which bought the other half- 
hour. 


Unreleased 

"THUNDER h the EAST" 
Paramount •*>. 


Wayne Nelson’s AM Bid 

Greensboro, N. C., Nov. 4. 

Wayne R. Nelson, Greensboro 
radid station pioneer, has applied 
to the FCC for. a new standard 
radio station here. 

Nelson, whose WNRC was the 
first iii Greensboro, later estab- 
lished a radio station in High 
Point. After that, he moved to 
Concord. The station here later 
was assigned call letters of WBIG ; 


AS A TV MARKET! 


(236,653 Sets 
Against 218,045!) 

WKZQ.TV (Official 
Basic C.B.S. Television 
Outlet for Kalamazoo- 
Grand Rapids) readies 
23 rich counties in 
Michigan and Northern! 

— Indiana- - -which. 

Vidcodex reports that 
WKZO-TV delivers 
93.4% more TV 
homes than Station 
“B”I Gvi all the facts! 


WKZO-TV 

.FETZER BROADCASTING 

COMPANY 

KALAMAZOO 

• * 

AVERV-KNOOEL. WC., REPRESENTATIVES 

IU.JJ.I1UI 11.1 11 1 IJI 



Wednesday, November 5, 1952 



Mpls. Burns at Ike’s 
‘Burnout’ in KSTP-TV 
Installation Snafu 

Minneapolis, Nov. 4. j 

KSTP-TV foiftid to its sorrow ‘ 
that it’s just too bad when a sta- i 
tion has to go off the air in' the 
midst of a Presidential candidate’s ’■ 
address during a hot political cam- 
paign. 

Burnout of a transmitter when 
an Eisenhower speech telecast was j 
less than half finished blanked j 
out the station and the flood of I 
protests and lambastings from in- 
furiated ' and indignant Republi- 
cans. via telephone, telegram and , 
letter. * still has president Stan 
Hubbard staggering. v j 

Most of the indignation appaf- ; 
ently resulted from a belief that ; 
KSTP purposely had cut' Eisen- j 
bower off. There also were rumors, : 
however, that -organized labor, 
with whicjj KSTP is ifi disfavor, 
was responsible through some 
sabotage of equipment. These, ofj 
course, were entirely -unfounded, 
the burnout having been due to a 
faulty installation. Before it was 
repaired KSTP-TV was off the air j 
two hours. 

Citizens for Eisenhower head- 1 
quarters here promptly asked re- 
scheduling of the program. Acced- 
ing to the request, Hubbard and 
other KSTP officials, their ears 
still burning from the irate re- 
marks, arranged for the re-broad- 
cast. The station also went to 
great efforts to acquaint the pub- 
lic with the facts through paid 
newspaper ads, explanations over 
the air and newspaper stories. 


ZENITH PROFITS WAY UP 
WITH TELE FREEZE LIFT 

Chicago, Nov. 4. 

Impact of the melting of the TV 
freeze is reflected in the nine- 
month earning statement issued by 
Zenith Radio Corp., which includes 
a report that the 1953 tele line is 
currently in an “oversold condi- 
tion” despite record shipments in 
September. 

Sales totaling $35,637,794 during 
the September quarter earned a 
profit of $1,239,855, or $2.52 a 
share, compared to earnings of 
$493,106. or $1 a share, for the 
same period a year ago. 

For the three quarters this year 
Zenith racked up a net of $2,576 - 
212 on sales of $82,563,305. com- 
pared to $75,123,518 last year. Per 
share earnings were $5.23 this year 
and $5.46 for the nine months last 
year. 


CBS SWITCHES JERGEN’S 
TO DEAL ON ‘ROMANCE’ 

CBS Radio found a new way of 
getting added revenue' this* week. 


Residual Rights For 
‘Beulah’ Radio Re-Runs 

Hollywood. Nov. 4. 

CBS Radio, which plans to con- 
tinue reprising some of the best 
“Beulah” shows until at least the 
first of the year following the death 
here two weeks ago of star Hattie 
McDaniel, has set up a “residual 
rights” deal for payment to the 
cast. 

Miss McDaniel’s fee, which is 
well over scale, is being paid into 
her estate for the re-runs. Others 
in the cast are being paid between 
two-thirds and three-quarters of 
their regular salaries. Show is 
bankrolled cross-the-board on CBS 
by Procter & Gamble. 


Need of Ethics Code For 
Political Candidates 
Seen hy Religious Heads 

Louisville, Nov. 4. 

Appearing as regular members 
of the WHAS. Louisville, panel 
show, “Moral Side of the News.” a 
group of Kentucky religious lead- 
ers last week proposed that a code 
of ethics be drawn up and accepted 
by political candidates as a means 
of raising the moral level of future 
campaigns. 

Proposal was made by Harry 
Schacter, department store exec, 
and moderator of the panel. He 
said it was too late for this year, 
but delegated the panel members 
to go about drawing up the first 
planks of such a code to be used 
as the starting point of a National 
Code for Candidates. Religious 
leaders in accord with Schacter 
were Rabbi Joseph Rauch, of Tefri- 
ple Adath Israel; Monsignor Felix 
Pitt, secretary of the Catholic 
School Board: Rev. Robert T. Wes- 
ton. pastor of the First Unitarian 
Church, and Rev. Floyd L. Cook; 
pastor of Wall St. Methodist 
Church, Jeffersonville, Ind. 

“Moral Side of the News” 
(WHAS-radio, 9:30 p.m., Mondays! 
recently was awarded a special 
award “for courageous attempts to 
keep the public morally informed 
about the nation’s vital topics of 
news.” 


44-Station Network in French TV 
Long-Range Plans; War Balks Hypo 


Fort Wayne — Guy Harris, writer 
and producer for WOWO, Fort 
Wayne, has been named program 
director, effective Nov. 10, to suc- 
ceed Carl Vandagrift. who has been 
moved to the post of station man- 
ager. 


By JACK LEVY 

Paris, Oct. 28. 

! Television is headed for big 
| things in France, ’television Fran- 
caise, the government owned-and- 
operated network, is. in the process 
of great expansion. The manufac- 
turing industry gives promise of 
making an important contribution 
to the French economy. ParadoxU 
cally, that much-needed contribu- ' 
tion must be • slowed, pending 
ability of the government to fi- 
nance * construction of stations. 

The recently-concluded Tele- 
vision Salon, the second annual | 
receiver exposition, reflects the . 
growing interest in the visual me- 
dium. With 65,000 paid admissions . 
during the 10-day show, attend- 
ance was three times last year’s. ■ 
But more important, actual re- ; 
reiver sales exceeded 5,000, aside j 
from prospective sales, as a result 
of the Salon. Considering that J 
France has only 40,000 sets in use. j 
sales at the Salon are impressive. ! 

The readiness of the manufac- j 
turing industry to supply TV equip- 
ment was evident at the Salon. 
Twenty-seven makes of receivers 
were displayed, with each manu- 
facturer offering from 10 to 20 
models. Prices ranged from about 
$250 for the simplest table models 
to more than $1,000 for fancy com- 
binations. 

At present, Television Francaise 
(TVF) consists of two stations in 
Paris and one in Lille. One of the 
Paris transmitters, which operates 


I on the old 441-line standard, will 
be abandoned in 1958. By the end 
of 1953 there will be three more 
stations — in Strasbourg, Lyon and 
Marseille. All stations will be con- 
nected by microwave relay, com- 
pletely duplicating the Paris sched- 
ule except for regional programs 
to be broadcast weekly. 

This is the immediate program. 
The long-range plan calls for a 
network of 44 stations to bring TV 
to 90% of the French population. 
It is hoped to have 20 stations built 
within the next five years, by 
which time, if plans are carried 
out, there would be 2,000,000 sets 
in use. 

Government Priority** 

Unknown element in the situa- 
tion is the priority to be given by 
the government for carrying out 
the project. Considering that the 
Indo-China war is costing France 
$4,000,000 a day, aside from costs 
of rearmament and reconstruction, 
it would not be surprising if Parli- 
ament decides that TV must bide 
its time." But should the military 
situation take a turn for the bet- 
ter, TV development would likely 
be accelerated. 

TVF now operates 30 hours a 
week, with 55% of live programs 
(as contrasted to 30% last year) 
and 45% film, including newsreel 
and special subjects produced by 
the network. Under its new pro- 
jected schedule, four feature films 
are to be televised monthly, on£ of 

(Continued on page 36) 


This Is 




Web talked Jergen’s Lotion into 
dropping its “Hollywood Play- 
house,” which is a Frederic W. Ziv 
package, to pick up “Romance,” a 
CBS house package. Switch is to 
be made Dec. 4, with the show 
holding down the Thursday night 
9 to 9:30 period. 

Jergen’s is one of the sponsors 
utilizing CBS’ selective facilities 
plan, under which a bankroller is 
permitted to buy only a limited 
number of stations if it does not 
want the complete station lineup. 
Web has been feeding “Romance” 
to the sustaining stations until 
now, and will continue with that 
policy, meaning the show will be 
carried on all CBS outlets but 
sponsored in only a certain number 
by Jergen’s. 


Houston Mayor Plans 
TV Show on Retirement 

Houston, Nov. 4. 

Mayor Oscar Holcombe is consid- 
ering a weekly TV show after his 
retirement as mayor of the city on 
Jan. 1. Holcombe has served 11 
terms in the office. 

He would receive for his telecast 
more pay than he Is receiving as 
mayor, which is $20,000 annually. 
The telecast would be a quarter- 
hour program to be known as “City 
Hall in Review.” 


WROK’s New Ownership 

Rockford, 111., Nov. 4. 

Rockford Broadcasters, Inc., last 
week sold WROK, 1,000-watter 
ABC affiliate, to a newly-fprmed 
corporation headed by E. Kenneth 
Todd. New outfit, known as Winne- 
bago Newspapers, has also pur- 
chased the two dallies "here as~part 
oi the same deal. 

Major stock interest in the sta- 
tion and the newspapers had been 
held by Albert G. Simms of Al- 
buquerque, N. M. 



\ 


A stead y habit . • • 

t 



of stead y buyers! 

* 


0 


When Hollywood Playhouse hits the screen 
at I o'clock TV tune-ins really |ump. Here is a 
show that literally captures audiences . . . it's 


MON. THRU SAT. 
1 TO 2 P.M. 


Seattle’. 183,400 Sets 

Seattle, Nov. 4. 

More television sets were pur- 
chased in the KING-TV area in 
September than in any previous 
month to bring area set count to 
183.400. 

12,400 sets were purchased In 
September, 38% more than in Ne- 
vember, 1951, which was the previ- 
ous record month, according to 
Bobert Prcbe, Assistant to the gen- 
eral manager of the station. Sep- 
tember sale was approximately 
double that of same month a year 
ago, when 6.409 sets were soldi 


become an afternoon habit with thousands of TV 
fans. We can give you one success story after 
another of advertisers whose products are sold on 
Hollywood Playhouse. Complete details on request. 


Television Baltimore 

WBAL-TV 

NIC in Maryland 


Nationally Kapr—ntad ky tDWAKP PKTKY A COMPANY 

^ o rfp n « * ■* 









Edward R. Mitton, President 
Jordan Marsh Company 

"Jordan Marsh is pleased to begin its fifth consecutive 
year with WHDH. Our exclusive fifteen minutes of news 
. every. .morning .7:3.0 to. , .7:45 . on .this . station plays an 
important part of our radio advertising.” 


Arthur G. Plante 
Ass't Vice Pres . Public Relations 
New Haven Railroad 

"Our sponsorship of the radio coverage of the Demo*- 
.era tic an.d.Hepub.Uca.n National Conventions over 
WHDH exclusively was one of the most effective adver- 
tising promotions ever used locally by the New Haven 
Railroad. It was an excellent supplement to our continu- 
ing sponsorship of 'Hal Clancy Reports the News’ 52 
weeks of the year.” 



Ralph Carey, AC E. Manager 
Shell Oil Company 

"Shell Oil Company has sponsored five-minute news 
programs at least twice daily over WHDH for the past 
five years. When motorists drive in to service stations 
with requests for the products advertised, we know 
WHDH is producing.” 


What Leading Agencies Think 




Francis W. Hatch, Vice President 
Batten, Barton, Durstine 8c Osborn, Inc. 

"Ohr programs "for the First National 'Rank' of Boston ' ' 
have been on WHDH without interruption during the 
past 2% years, Tins continuing campaign has been most ' 
effective in helping to promote bank services.” 


J. Paul Hoag, President 
Hoag 8c Provandie, Inc. 

"For many ycars'we have bought substantial amounts of 
both program and spot time on WHDH for various 
clients. Listenership figures provide a measure of the 
large and loyal audience that WHDH enjoys. Our own 
experience proves its responsiveness, measured by out- 
standing sales results.” 


Jerome O’Leary, President 
Jerome O’Leary Advertising Agency 

"We find that Boston radio, used iritclligentlyVwiil' pro- 
duce more customers per advertising dollar than any 
other medium*. Our agency’s radio bitting is among the 
highest in New. England. More advertising dollars are 
placed on WHDH than on any other individual radio 
station.” 


* 

j 


Owned and Operated by The Boston Herald-Traveler Corporation • Represented Nationally by John Blair 8c Company 




PSsilEff 




4 


33 




! 



Arthur J. Chanter 
New England Regional Manager 

j Studebaker Corporation 

» 

"Studebaker’s sponsorship of the 6:00 P. M. news 
| nightly over WHDH is now in its fifth year. Such lon- 
gevity would never have been possible without the full 
support of individual dealers. Nor would that support 
have been forthcoming but for the demonstrated value 
of the program.” ^ 


• H. Gilson, President 
Washburn Candy Corporation 

"The Washburn Candy Corporation has made great 
strides in the promotion of its Waleeco Cocoanut Bar; 
in this, WHDH has played a major role. Our program 
sponsorship is now in its fourth year.” 


Ralston H. Coffin 
Director of Advertising and 
Sales Promotion , Consumer Products 

Radio Corporation of America 

RCA. Victor Division 

✓ 

"WHDH’s promotion for 45 rpm records helped to 
spearhead our national campaign. Their ideas, follow- 
through, and cooperation have been outstanding.” 


\bout Boston’s 






John C. Dowd, President 
John C. Dowd, Inc. of Boston 

..P°wd, .Redfield.&i Johnstone* fnc* 
of New York 

Pacing business from New York as well as Boston, ©nr 
a S«ncy realizes the stature of WHDIT as one of the 
county leading independent stations. We feel it is an 
tttremcly effective vehicle in any local advertising 
ttapaign” 




Gabriel M. Stern, Exec. Vice Pres . 

Hirshon-Garfield, Inc., Boston 

0 

/ 

n Our numerous weekly radio-programs on WHDH have 
all done effective jobs Tor our clients in the' food, cloth- 
ing, houseware, and luxury product fields by creating 
strong New England consumer demand for the clients’ 
products, at a comparatively small cost.” 


fO KILOCYCLES • 50,000 WATTS * BOSTON 


George C. Wiswell^ Treasurer 
Chambers 8c Wiswell, Inc, 

"WHDH and Curt Gowdy snake a great sports team. 
We arc currently sponsoring a very successful sports pro- 
gram on WHDH five nights per week for the Chevrolet 
Dealers Association.” 





34 


RAMO-TELEWSION 


P'SssfflFf 


Wednesday, November 5 , 1959 


TV Production Gadgets 


Continued from page 23 


* l 


video nets, are devoting so much 
of their time and. money to cost- 
saving techniques for live shows 
indicates their belief that there's 
a long and healthy future for live 
(vis-a-vis film) TV. 


mounted on* the camera pedestal 
which makes it possible for a pro- 
ducer or director to block out his 
shots in advance and thus save 
on the number of hours of costly 
stpdio rehearsal time. Wile cited 
as a sidebar savings here the long- 
er life of camera tubes and other 
studio equipment, which would 
automatically result from a cut- 
back in studio rehearsal time. 

2. Increased use of rear-screen 


TV’s Voice Synch 

• NBC-TV has recently inaug- 
urated the use of pre-record- 
ing the audio portion of a tele- 
vision show to permit perform- 
ers, particularly in a musical 
or vaudeo production. greater 
ease of mobility and wider 
scope in choreography. Holly- 
wood film studios have used 
the technique successfully for 
a number of years and NBC 
preemed it commercially on > 

• the Donald O’Connor stanza on 
“Colgate Comedy Hour" ’re- 
cently with equally good re- 
sults. 

Under the system previous- 
ly used, a singer or dancer on 
-'TV was forced to confine his 
movements to the range of the 
overhead mike boom. In the 
pre-recorded system, O'Connor 
recorded his songs in advance 
and then synchronized his lip 
movements with the lyrics 
while the show was on the air. 

In this way, he could move 
freely to all parts of the stage 
with no fear of getting out of 
the mike boom range. 

projection. - Wile said, 'NBC has 
upped its rear-screen, projection 
use bv almost 300 c £ in the last 
18 months, with’ such shows as 
“Voice of Firestone” and “Hit Pa- 
rade” utilizing it primarily. This 
. device, of course, saves scenic 
costs, including designing of sets, 
construction, painting, hauling, 
etc. 

3. Front projection. New' de- 
vice which can utilize a slide the 
size of “a postcard and which per- 



Now ctarrlni *n NBC's 
ALL STAR REVUI 
Saturdays, t-f EST 

Mgt.: William Morris: Afoncy 


mits actors to work in front, be- 
hind and “through” the set. Wile 
revealed that NBC has made a deal 
with Paramount Pictures for com- 
bined research on a new French 
technique, labeled Vistascope, in 
which Par. which has a major in- 
terest, will send an engineer to 
work with NBC engineers in its 
development. 

4. Progress in general simplic- 
ity of design. NBC exec cited the 
increased use of drops to replace 
tri-dimensional sets, and the con- 
struction of only the scenery actu- 
ally needed for. each show', rather 
than what a producer might think 
in advance might be needed. This, 
of course, is done via the pre- 
planning route. 

5. Use of new lighting techniques 
for added scenic values. Wile 
cited the work done by Alan 
Handley on the Dinah Shore show 
and scenic designer Richard Day 
on the Tallulah Bankhead show’s 
as evidence of w r hat can be done 
in this line. 

6. Suggested scenery, rather 
than actual physical dressings, 
such as used by Max Liebman on 
“Show of Show's.” 

"Library” of Scenery 

7. Acquisition of stock scenery. 
NBC is rapidly Building a 'library 
of re-usable materials, w ? ith units 
which can be fitted together in 
various combinations for set con- 
struction. 

8. Greatly expanded use of spe- 
: cial effects. In this department. 

Wile said, NBC is now putting all 
emphasis on getting them to work 
electronically, since any such de- 
vice generated inside the camera 
saves time, space and costs. 

9. Automatic lighting controls, j 
This will enable the lighting en- I 
gineer to move his light positions 
from a control panel in the con- 
trol booth, rather than having 
stagehands do it physically. This 
will also permit changes In light- 
ing positions while a show r is on 

! the air. 

10. Lighter technical equipment, \ 
such as smaller cameras. Savings [ 

1 here will be reflected in speed 
j and ease of handling. 

| 11. Transistors— the new pint- 

sized tubes which again will re- 
duce the size of equipment. 

12. Construction of a control 

booth on wheels. In this way, a 
control booth could be moved from 
one studio into another and thus 
save ‘ the ‘ tremendous costs in- 
volved in building* a separate 
booth for each studio. * 

13. Construction of scenic shops 
and rehearsal rooms adjacent to 
studios, which NBC has done in 
its new Burbank, Cal., plant. This 
makes it possible to move scenery 
into the rehearsal studio and then 
directly into the broadcast studio 
at low cost. 

While Wile did not say so spe- 
cifically, incidentally, the fact that 
NBC, as well as the other iprjor 


200 TV Stations 


Continued from page 25 


lehem, Lancaster and Wilmington 
are less than 65 miles from each 
other. This presents, said Miss 
Hennock. “an unusual concentra- 
tion of ownership and control of 
the .mass media of communications. 
Clearly, the application for a third 
TV station in the same vicinity 
raises a substantial question of 
monopoly control.” 

The dissenters favored an inves- 
tigation before giving the Stein- 
man interests a permit in Bethle- 
hem. Such an inquiry. Miss Hen- 
nock asserted, “would be instru- 
mental in evolving some definite 
Commission policy and standards 
on this vital question of concen- 
tration and control, the determin- 
ation of which, is so necessary at 
thip critical stage of television’s 
growth after the lifting of the 
freeze.” 

Miss Hennock felt that the Beth- 
lehem grant “sets an unfortunate 
precedent for dealing with this 
problem in other areas of the 
country” and cannot be justified 
under the public interest require- 
ments of the Communications Act. 

Meanwhile, the Commission an- 
nounced that still-pending applica- 
tions for TV stations are approach- 
ing the 900 mark, the bulk of 
which will require hearings to de- 
cide contests for channels. So far, 
hearings have been scheduled on 
80 applications and notices that 
hearings will be necessary have 
been sent to 230 other applicant^. 

For the time being, the Com- 
mission is concentrating on un- 
contested applications in order to ! 
speed issuance of permits and es- \ 
tablishment of stations in non-TV j 
areas. 


Inside Stuff— Television 

Out-of-court settlement w r as reached last week in the suit institm .a 
by Tom Moorehead, sports director of WFIL, Philadelphia, over riuhi ■ 
to “Meet the Champ,” the video boxing series spotlighting GI pucili< * 
from various service camps around the country, Moorehead, in con 
sideration of an unspecified sum paid him bv Wally Butterworth dS 
fendant in the case, relinquished all rights to the show'. Butterworth 
will now continue as producer. . h 1 

Series is expected to go on film in a new hour format. Armed 
Forces have requested that the boxing bouts originate from Korea v 
well as from Europe. Program is a William Morris agency package 
and was bankrolled previously on ABC-TV by Lucky Strike. 1 ** 

Just under 300 agency and client reps attended the two-day open 
house at Chi NBC-TV last week. The sessions, which included guided 
tours through the video plant, w T ere set up to give the percentages 
and sponsors a behind-the-scenes peek at the intricacies of tie produc- 
tion. Another feature w r as a two and a half-hour capsule closed cir- 
cuit wrapup of WNBQ’s lineup of local shows with announcer Norm 
Barry at the overall emcee. x • 

Project, w’hieh may be adopted by the W'eb’s other o.&o.’s. was an 
eye-opener for many of the visitors who went away w'ith a better un- 
derstanding of the manpower and facilities required to put even a 10- 
second station break out through the transmitter. 

Fifth annual communion breakfast of the radio and TV industries 
has been set for Nov. 23. w'ith industry Catholics receiving communion 
at the 9 a.m. mass in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, N. Y., and then attend- 
ing a breakfast at the. Hotel Waldorf-Astoria. Most Rev. James II 
Griffith's of St. Patrick’s; Father Keller, head of the Christopher 
Movement, and Bob Considine, will speak at the breakfast. Others 
on the dais will include NBC board chairman Niles Trammel; Father 
Edwin B. Broderick, Helen Hayes and George Sokolsky. NBC’s James 
(Uncle Jimj Harkins is permanent chairman of the annual affair. 


Admiral's Canada Fight 


Continued from page 24 


I 



oft stations in this 
rfcfttff mark*!. 

L*t it stll your product *ff*cHv*!y, 
•conomically. 

Writ* for information. 


fry U. S Dapt. «f Commerc*. 


Applicants Shy 
From TV Hearing 

Washington, Nov. 4. 

Indication that TV applicants are 
shying away from hearings was 
seen in actions last , week by the 
FCC granting petitions for dis- 
missal. Such withdrawals are elim- 
inating 'contests for channels and 
paving the way for early issuance 
of permits. 

Among requested dismissals last 
week were those of Sparton Broad- 
casting Co. and WHKM in Jackson, 
Mich., two of the three original ap- 
plicants for channel 48. Their with- 
drawal left the channel free to ra- 

diq station WIBM and as a conse- 
quence the latter applicant was re- 
moved from hearing status. 

Another petition for dismissal 
was granted to KFBI in Wichita, 
which was in a contest with KWBB 
for channel 16. Unless a competi- 
tive^ application is filed, the Com- 
mission will now be free to grant 
the KWBB application. Five other 
applicants in Wichita are compet- 
ing for channel 3 and two for chan- 
nel 10. 

Also withdrawn was the applica- 
tion of WABX in Harrisburg. Pa., 
for channel 71. leaving Harrisburg 
Broadcasters, Inc., as the only ap- 
plicant for the channel. 

In some cases, applicants are 
shifting channels.. in order, to avoid 
hearings; in other cases they de- 
cide to pursue better channels after 
finding themselves in contests for 
UHF. An instanced the latter was 
that of the W. S. Butterfield The- 
atres, Inc., which amended its ap- 
plication from UHF channel 16 to 
VHF channel 12. Its action left 
WTAC as the sole applicant for 
channel 16. Butterfield will have 
to compete against WBBC for 
channel 12. 


radio service only. Rediffusion 
charges a down-payment of $5 and 
a weekly rental of 75c., this cover- 
ing three radio channels and the 
Muzak channel. TV equipment, 
rented to subscribers, is manufac- 
tured in Britain, where Rediffusion 
originated more than a couple of 
decades ago.) 

Admiral also claims that Rediffu- 
sion newspaper advertisements con- 
travene the Unfair Competition 
Act; that Rediffusion ads make 
“false statements to the effect that 
Rediffusion can offer all the pro- 
grams from the Canadian Broad- 
casting Corp. and absolute assur- 
ance at all times of perfect decep- 
tion.” The ads also “discredit the 
wares” of the Admiral Corp., claim 
the plaintiffs. Admiral’s legal bat- 
tery also claims that they have paid 
for live telecasts to the Canadian 
Broadcasting Corp., to increase the 
sale of Admiral TV sets,. that these 
were copyright and could not be 
supplied to Rediffusion subscribers. 
In its claim for damages, Admiral 
accuses Rediffusion of picking up 
such Admiral-sponsored telecasts. 
Fitzgibbonc Plan 
Application of J. J. Fitzgibbons, 
president of Famous Players Cana- 
dian, for transmission of television 
shows direct to the home' by wire 
has been set over by Toronto’s city 
council pending Exchequer Court 
test case initiated by Admiral 
against Rediffusion, which also 
services TV homes by wire. 

(First foreign rights franchise of 
International Telemeter Corp., in- 
cluding exclusive manufacture and 
distribution of equipment in Can- 


KtjmenM fry 


ROBERT MEEKER ASSOCIATES 

Ntw Y# tMcag* Aftftfos Sun Fnmctfco 


Louisville— “Coffee Call.” WHAS 
morning audience participation 
show, Which started sixth year of 
airings Tuesday (4), now goes on 
an out-of-town trek once weekly, 
playing under auspices of Home- 
makers and Economics Clubs in 
various small towns In the Ken- 
tucky and Indiana area, and within 
a 50 to 106 miles radius of Louis- 
ville; 


ada, were personally bought in Au- 
gust by Fitzgibbons, whose com- 
pany controls some 620 houses 
! across the Dominion.) 

Mayor Lamport claimed the Fitz- 
i gibbons proposed service should be 
• given every encouragement, but 
' city council spokesmen insisted 
; that the Fitzgibbons request for 
; permission to erect community 
j aerials required for the Toronto 
. service (this dispensing with the 
need of individual householder an- 
tennae) should not involve the city 
fathers in legal entanglements o»* 
charges of monopoly on the Fitz- 
gibbons pay-as-you-see plan. 

! Kansas City. — Randall Jessee, 
director of news and special events 
■ at WDAF-TV, has been appointed 
chairman of the Missouri State 
Athletic Commission. He succeeds 
Charles P. Orchard in an an- 
nouncement made last week by 
Gov. Forrest Smith. 


LEVER BROTHERS 

LIKE 

Their 

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ROBERT MEEKER ASSOCIATES 

Ntw York L** Ang*tt* - San Francitco Isfticag# 


Wednesda y, November 5, 1952 

Inside Stuff— Radio 

Forum on TV will be featured at next meeting of the Radio & TV 
Executives Club at itfl Roosevelt Hotel, N. Y», lunch on 'Wednesday 
Nov. 12. Prexy Robert W. Samoff lined up Fletcher Markle, CBS pro- 
ducer; Thomas Phipps, scripter; Sidney Lumet, director; and Rita 
Gam or Maria Riva to handle the thesping front. Bob Elliot and Ray 
Goulding will handle the lighter side. 

Another feature will be announcement of the William I. Kaufman 
awards for best tele scripts. 

Samoff and Club’s officers are trying to expand activities beyond 
the lunch meetings, to include a workshop and discussion forum, regu- 
lar news bulletin, a permanent office and secretary. 


WF1L (AM-TV) Launches ! 
Integration Pattern In 
Shift to New Studios 

Philadelphia, Nov. 4. 

Opening of the new WFIL Radio 
and Television Center in West 
Philadelphia has brought on a re- 
organization and integration of 
personnel. Departments which 
will span the AM*TV stations un- 
der new alignment are business, 
advertising and promotion, music, 
maintenance, engineering, news 
and talent, according to Roger W. 
Clipp, general manager. 

Traffic and continuity depart- 
ments of WFIL and WFIL-TV be- 
come a single unit. Each station 
•will maintain its own program, pro- 
duction and sales staffs. 

Executive reorganization gives 
Donald. S. Kellett, former assistant 
to the general manager In charge 
of television, the job of coordinat- 
ing advertising and promotion, con- 
tinuity, traffic, talent, general filing 
and maintenance. John D. Scheuer, 
Jr., formerly assistant to the gen- 
eral manager in charge of opera- 
tions, now coordinates the AM add 
TV program departments, headed, 
respectively, by Felix Myer and 
Jack Steck, with Roddy Rogers as 
director of television production. 

Reporting directly to the general 
manager are Kenneth W. Stowman, 
in charge of TV sales, and George 
A. Koehler, radio sales manager; 
Lee Irgang, business office man- 
ager, and Chief Operations Engi- 
neer Henry Rhea. 


Cordic Switches Pitt TV 
Stint for AM Bankroller 

Pittsburgh, Nov. 4. 

Rege Cordic had to give up his 
- teevee show, "Movie Quick Quiz," 
sponsored on WDTV by Braun Bak- 
ing Co., last week when arrival 
bakery bought a longtime partici- 
pation on Cordic’s long-estab- 
lished, early-morning radio pro- 
gram on WWSW. The new bank- 
roller, Bond Baking, objected to 
Cordic plugging another bread, 
even though on another medium, 
and since the AM stint is the com- 
edy gabber's first love, he imme- 
diately relinquished the TV stint. 

Ray Scott was picked to replace 
Cordic on "Movie Quick Quiz” and 
has already taken over. • 


WFAA’s TV Tower Bid 

Dallas, Nov. 4^ 

WFAA-TV has filed a request 
with the FCC to erect a new 1,747- 
foot television tower to bring an 
improved signal to an area of 18,- 
261 square miles in North Texas, 
embracing a 1950 census popula- 
tion of 1,573,602. Channel 8 video 
outlet, owned by The Dallas Morn- 
ing News, has also asked a power 
increase from its present 27.1 kilo- 
watts to 316 kilowatts, more than 
an 11-fold increase in signal 
strength. 

Proposed tower would be taller 
than the 102-story Empire State 
Building 4-72 -feet highf after* 
adding the N. Y. structure’s 222- 
foot TV tower installed last year. 

Seattle — Much movement in lo- 
cal radio circles, with personnel 
shifting around. Maury Rider, vet 
P/oducer and announcer, has left 
KIRO to go to KJR where he is 
doing an early morning program. 
Announcer Bob Ryan from KJR 
to KING. Don McLeod, formerly 
annouacer at KOL to West Pacific 
Agency and Frank Kincaid, ac- 
count exec at KXA, has moved to 
JtHp in same capacity. Earl 
Reilly, formerly "Spike Hogan" on 
RaA, has left performing field to 
nminie account executive at 
KING. A1 Cummings, with morn- 
jog show on KRSC, has added 
thioo limes weekly stint on KOMO 
a t 1 U:30 p.rrt Merceedes, femme 
Piijnist, now has five-times a week 
jjaif-hour program on KING at 
b >R) p.m. ■ ' 


Swanson Exits ‘Name,’ 
Johnson Wax Moves In 

Swanson foods is bowing’ out of 
"The Name’s the Same" on ABC- 
TV, but Johnson’s wax will pick up 
the alternately-weekly sponsorship. 
Bendix appliances is remaining 
with the Goodson-Todman panel 
package. 

"Name’s" will switch time slots 
on Dec. 2. Currently it’s in the 
7:30 p. m. spot on Wednesday, but 
it will go to the 10:30 niche on 
Tuesday. Although there will be 
no ABC-TV network show on Tues- 
day between "Beulah" at 7:30-8 
and "Name’s" at 10:30, sponsors 
feel they’ll get a better break in 
terms of the lessened competition. 

Omaha — By Krasne has been 
upped to news director of KOLN, 
Lincoln, by general manager Hap 
Anderson. 


ATLANTIC CITY’S FIRST 
TV ER BOWING DEC. 20 

Atlantic City, Nov. 4. 

This resort’s first television sta- 
tion will be in operation by Dec. 
20, Fred Weber, president of the 
Neptune Broadcasting Corp-., which 
operates WFPG, said Thursday 
(31), when he learned that the FCC 
that day had authorized construc- 
tion of nine new commercial TV 
I stations, one of which was WFPG- 
TV. 

Weber, was in New York over 
the weekend making network pro- 
gram arrangements. WFPG is an 
outlet for CBS here. Weber said a 
tentative schedule may be an- 
nounced this week, and added that 
a test pattern will be made about 
Dec. 15 giving a preview of what 
residents of the area may expect 
Dec. 20. 

Weber added that the station 
plans to have a mobile pickup unit 
in operation for on-the-spot tele- 
casts. This will open up possible 
telecasting of the Miss America 
Beauty Pageant and special con- 
vention and resort events. 


Lethbridtre, Alta. — Commercial 
manager of CJOC, Lethbridge, 
since 1945 and a staffer since 1936, 
Cameron A. Jerry has been named 
assistant manager of CJVI, Vic- 
toria, B. C. William Guild, manager 
of CJOC, was recently named man- 
ager of CJVI and was succeeded 
by Norman Botterill, manager of 
CKRM, Regina. 


RADIO-TELEVISION 


Conn. Educators Prep 3-Station TV 
Setup Despite Apparent Solon Nix 


Hartford, Nov. 4. 

Although it lacks the funds and 
the go-ahead the State Education 
Department is proceeding with 
plans for a three station education 
television network. Despite the 
move on the part of the education 
department, indications are strong 

.that the Legislature will thumbs 
down the venture. 

, Commissioner of Public Works 
Ralph J. Macy, in behalf of the 
education board, has forwarded 
application, for authority to con- 
struct three TV stations, to the 
FCC. The stations, with studios, 
would be located in Hartford, 
Bridgeport and Norwich. 

Cost Qf the stations has been 
set at approximately $1,200,000 for 
technical equipment. Buildings and 
studios will be extra. Current plans 
call for program origination at 
Hartford and to be fed to the other 
two stations. Occasionally, the 
other stations will operate inde- 
pendently. The network would be 
known as the Connecticut Edu- 
cational Television Network. 

With the state facing a deficit 
of more than $10,000,000, certain 
top political leaders who deal with 
state finances, are known to be 


opposed to anything that will add 
to the state’s financial burden. 
These same leaders are also 
known to be opposed to the idea 
of a state educational TV setup. 

Several months ago when Con- 
necticut first sought channels, Lt. 
Gov. Ned Allen wrote the FCC 
that a bill to provide money for 
the stations would be presented to 
the Legislature. 

One fear of the state’s leaders 
against TV is that the education 
systsem is already too frilly. Other 
criticism heard is that a TV ma- 
chine could be turned into a pro- 
paganda machine not wholly in the 
best interest of the state. 

Fleer’s Pulls Plug on ‘Pud’ 

Fleer’s is cancelling out of 
“Pud’s Prize Party" on ABC-TV, 
Saturdays at 11:30 L 11:45 a. m. in 
mid-December. 

Reason is that the web is shift- 
ing stanza into the 12 noon period 
to make room for Derby, which is 
bringing in "Sky King" this Satur- 
day (8). On top of that, Todd 
Russell, emcee on "Pud,” is also 
on "Rootie Kazootie," which simi- 
larly is coming over from NBC-TV, 
starting Dec. 13. 


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Wednesday^ Ntfveittil)er-5, 1952 




Tele Followup Comment 


Contisned from page 26 


which goes back, to his own quar- 
terbacking days at Michigan State, 
and there is never any hesitation 
' In his calling the signals for these 
Sunday pro games. Kahn. 


/Playhouse” series at the end of 
December to buy NBC’s "Life of 
Riley” vidpix. And judging from 
the socko show staged by the Y&R 
crew on "Gulf” Last Friday.. nigh(, 
( 31 1 . the live production will be 
sorely missed. 

For the second successive week, ; 
producer-director Frank K. Tel- 
ford used an original story by 
Carey Wilber. This one, titled "Mr. 
Nobody,” was an intensive attack 
on all people in the world' today 
who sit idly by and refuse, to fight 
for "what they consider right. Lo- 
called in the Russian sector of 
Berlin during the present time, the 
yarn had Thomas Mitchell as a 
German civil servant who had 
worked through four regimes in 
Germany, each time changing his 
political background to suit the 
politics of the party in power. 
When he failed to inform on a 
young revolutionary who had tried 
to convert him in the fight against 
Communism, he himself was ar- 
rested by the State as* a traitor. 
Not until he was being marched 
out to face the firing squad did 
he realize the supreme necessity 
to die for something, whereas he 
was dying for nothing. 

Telford had a terrif cast to work 
with and the players gave it their 
all. Mitchell etched a finely-shaded 
performance as the chameleon-like 
civil servant, generating the maxi- 
mum in interest and suspense. 
Kevin McCarthy Y as fine as the 
young revolutionary and Everett 
Sloane turned in a studied charac- 
terization as the ruthless head of 
the Communist police who signed 
Mitchell’s doom. Telford once 
more demonstrated on me show 
his unique finesse with the cameras 
to punch up the story, and the 
sets, musical backing and other, 
production credits were top- 
drawer. Stal. 


In a last-time-past-the-grandstand 
edition. CBS-TV’s "See It Now” 
wrapped up the Presidential elec- 
tion campaign Sunday (2). Ed 
Murrow - Fred Friendly airer 
opened with groups in a Brooklyn 
school and in an Iowa village get- 
ting instructions on balloting — the 
point being that whether you vote 
with a machine or with paper-and- 
pencil, go out and vote and vote 
thoughtfully. 

Next segment showed the last- 
ditch electioneering of Stevenson 
and Eisenhower, with both of them 
filmed as they stumped in New 
York’s garment district. Most ef- 
fective section, taking over half 
the program, was devoted to the 
rival rallies . in Madison Square 
Garden, N. Y„ the Dems’ on Tues- 
day (28.> and the GOP’s on .Thurs- 
day (30). Dramatic cutting and' 
editing was utilized, as the cam- 
eras switched back and forth be- 
tween Robert Montgomery spieling 
for Ike and A1 Kelly doing a dou- 
blefalk political rib pro-Adlai. 
Helen Hayes appearing for the 
General and Tallulah Bankhead 
appealing for the Governor, Mrs. 
Eisenhower taking the stand for 


her husband and Mrs. Roosevelt 
speaking for the Democrat. 

Best of all was the intercutting 
between A$Hai and Ike on the is- 
sues, thecnarges of one man being 
answered by the other, back and 
forth, in a slickly-edited montage. 
"See It” didn’t see the Garden 
rally which took place that week 
for the Progressives’ Hallipnan. 

Finale was a bull-session among 
employees in a milk bottling plant, 
which provided an informal pro- 
and-con on the two candidates. 

Bril 


Tele Reviews 


Continued from page 26 


Election Sidelights 


Possibly because his preem show 
was so socko. Red Buttons dis- 
appointed on his second time out 
for CBS-TV last Tuesday night 
<28>. (Buttons collapsed from ex- 
haustion a few minutes before he 
was -scheduled to take the air the 
preceding Tuesday, so that last 
week’s show was actually the third 
Tuesday* since he preemed.) Comic 
was just as personable as. on the 
initialer and certainly tried just 
as hard but he was ' not blessed 
with material even half as * good — 
and therein lay the 'difference. 

Buttons” stable of scripters 
loaded him down with two sketches 
for this one. First skit was an 
overlong bit, which had hihn trying 
to cash his first paycheck from 
CBS at a bank. He and Joe Silver, 
as a bank officer, did their best 
but the routine was dragged out 
so long that the payoff completely 
lost its punch. Second sketch was 
a takeoff on the Stanley Kramer 
film, "High Npon.*\*Fact that Sid 
Caesar attempted the same thing 
two weeks * earlier on NBC-TV’s 
"Show of Shows” — and with much 
more satisfactory results — prob- 
ably militated against Buttons from 
the start. Even so, his material 
emerged as almost unadulterated 
slapstick and so missed fire. 

Young comic again had viewers 
with him in the between-skits 
shenanigans, trading again on his 
lower East Side upbringing -via that 
little song-and-dance routine. Im- 
pression remains, on a second 
viewing, that Buttons is a major 
TV comic potential. But his writers 
must match the quality of their 
initial output if he’s to make the 
grade. Stal. 


Ifashion show, with town and coun- 
! try clothes, and the models com- 
i menting on the garb, as they fon- 
j died each collar, cuff and button. 
: George* Walsh, WFIL-TV sports 
'director, took charge of the lady’s 
sports pages, in an interview with 
Adele Smith, athletic director of 
West Catholic Girls High, who 
spoke on the increasing interest 
in sports that has developed in the 
adult girl’s life. 

Last feature was pitch for "Ice 
Capades,” playing at Aren?, which 
had Howard and Mary- Jones( sta- 
tion’s long-established husband- 
and-wife duo) in typical guest shot 
interview* with rink revue stars, 
Tommy Travis and Sonia . Kaye. 
They didn’t get off the floor since 
they had rubber guards on skates, 
although comments of pair on 
learning to skate w*ere best bit in 
show.. "Woman’s Pages” furnishes 
routine femme fodder, and certain- 
ly is not fare for the same haus- 
fraus for whom WFIL-TV puts on 
its "University of the Air” earlier 
in the day. 

Subjects of other guest column- 
ist slated to appear on "Woman’s 
Pages,” who will combine their 
talents to keep the homemaker in- 
formed, are to range from garden- 
ing to the manipulation of stocks 
! and bonds. Gagh. 


Gov. Adlal Stevenson was able to watch the balloting returns Iasi 
night (Tues.) through a special relay worked out for him by NBC-Tv 
! Web’s transmission from its St. Louis affiliate, KSD-TV, was inter 
| cepted at Gillespie, 111., and hop-skipped via microw*ave to the roof 
! of the Leland Hotel in Springfield, Gov. Stevenson’s state capital 
Three Philco receivers shipped especially from the east were installed 
in the hotel for the press, W’ith tw f o others installed in Stevenson’s 
private office, Installation was made at the request of the Domn 
cratic National Committee. 


Harry Wismer, broadcasting the 
New York Giants grid games on 
DuMont, is wasting fewer words 
and reveals a‘ good reportorial 
sense in his description of the 
plays. In,* radio Wismer had at 
times become a little too dramatic 
in his “enthusiasm,” but this year 
he’s being more objective in the 
play-calling and giving his video 
audience credit for a little, intelli- 
gence in figuring out the plays for 
themselves. He’s doing a, good job 
of filling in where the home audi- 
ence can’t avail themselves of the 
basic statistics. All this was par- 
ticularly evident Sunday .(21 fallen 
Wismer spieled -the Grants’ 28-6 
victory over the Cardinals, the win 
sending them inlp a first-place tie 
with the Browns. Wismer has a 
technical know-how of the game, 


SPLIT SECOND IN. HISTORY 
With Walter Lewis, Barry Cassell 
Producer: Glen Bernard 
Writer: Arnold Rabin 
15 Mins,; Fri., 10:30 pan. 

GEMEX WATCH BANDS 
WCAU-TV, from Philadelphia 

Bowing in with an eight week 
contract, sponsor-conscious time 
theme of "Split Seconds* is the 
latest idea of Charles Vanda, v.p. 
in charge of television at WCAU. 
Watch band company had previous- 
ly used spots to promote its prod- 
uct. 

Film clips of events where quick 
decisions had lasting effects pro- 
vide graphic illustration for nar- 
rator Walter Lewis. The rescue of 
the Submarine Squalus and the 
saving of some of the crew by shut- 
ting off watc - +5 ght compartments, 
at the cost of tiie other men trap- 
ped by the inrushing sea, made for 
a dramatic segment. 

Lewis- delivers with good feeling 
i and the right intensity. ■ Cassell’s 
I commercial - is straight selling 
| palaver. "Seconds” should tick. 

Gagh. 


L wnv] 




BLOOMINGTON 


> 


Serving a 2 BILLION S MARKET 

34% ol fh*- PEOPLE 
34% of the FAMILIES 
accounting for 

35% of the SALES 
in ALL INDIANA 

WTTV — affiliated with all nets — main tains 
its own micro wave relay system between 
Cincinnati and Bloomington to bring LIVE 
network shows to vie.wers. WTTV is owned 
and operated by Sarkes Tariian and 

Represented' Nationally by 

ROBERT MEEKER ASSOCIATES, Inc. 

New Yo^ • Chicago • Los Angeles • Sm Ftancuc: 




CBS-TV, in order to preeiri its Election Night coverage for its Coast 
election headquarters, staged a half-hour, full-dress rehearsal of its 
electioneering facilities Monday afternoon (3) via a clOsed^circuit pre- 
sentation. Coast crew, operating out of the new TV City, was to kine- 
scope the show so as to get sr specific idea of tlie devices and tech- 
niques which were to have been used by the web last night (Tues.) 
All personnel and equipment taking part in the actual coverage par- 
ticipated in the preem. 


Recognizing that many thousands of voters faced the prospect of 
balloting for ,the first time on modern voting machines, WFIL-TV in 
Philadelphia offered a visual course in proper use with a saturation 
film campaign, conducted as a public service. 

Complete facilities of both WFIL and WFIL-TV were mobilized to 
familiarize fledgling voters with new apparatus, now installed in all 
polling places in area. The stations put on a major publicity promo* 
tion drive to acquaint public with complete schedule of times u'hea 
the films were to be telecast. 

Film shoioings began (1) and were aired on round-the-clock sched- 
ule up to and including Election Day (4). Pics are concise demon* 
strations of all the motions involved in voting straight tickets, with di- 
rections for splitting tickets and presented in step-by-step fashion that 
begins with voter's entry into booth. . 

Public service program stems from remarkable success in recent 
registration drives, all of which point to a record turnout of voters for 
Presidential balloting. 

Two different machines were in use in metropolitan Philly area, 
and WFIL-TV newsreel unit had filmed procedure, for proper ballot- 
ing on both, emphasizing fact that a hurried vote may be an invalid 
one. Station alerted public to film campaign with series of front page 
announcements in the Philadelphia Inquirer, and through special 
stones in election news coverage of paper. 


WWRL, N. Y., indie, waxed a series of one-minute dramatic spots 
to plug "get out the vote”’ campaign. Written by Herb Norman and 
produced by Joseph Losgar, spots were short vignettes, such as a 
wedding scene with the groom absent — he was out to vote. 


Walter White, Negro civic leader, devoted his transcribed program 
Saturday (l) to phone interviews with Negro politicos in nine key 
states, for estimates on how the Negro voters in their states would 
ballot. Estimate was that 60-75% of the vote would go to Gov. 
Stevenson. 

Show is aired on WLIB, N. Y., and seven other cities. 


High-Voltage 

Continued from page 25- 

; opposition. Vn some communities 
I the time was bought. Ads were 
! also placed in the local papers call- 
j irig attention to the train’s visit and 
j the broadcasts. 

Much of the 'time-buying and 
particularly the content of pro- 
grams beamed in the last leg of the 
campaign was kept "top secret” so 
that the opposition would be sur- 
prised. A "cloak and dagger” aura 
.surrounded the politicos AM-TV 
plans. 

. On the returns-covCrage front, 
ABC radio made a unique arrange- 
ment' to cover the possibility of the 
race not 1 being settled by 9 a.m. 
today (Wed.), Plan is for the entire 
morning sponsorship block to be 
shifted to the afternoon, into the 
2:30-4:15 p.m. period, which is al- 
most completely sustaining. Web 
called the bankrollers for their ap- 
proval, informing them that heavy 
on-the-air promotion would be 
used to call attention to the one- 
day shift. Shows are to be taped 
at the regular time, played back 
in the afternoon. 

All the AM and TV networks 
lined up full-scale coverage of the 
returns, amassing big staffs of cor- 
respondents, commentators and 
vote tabulators and utilizing a com- 
munications web which criss- 
crossed the country. To keep on 
top of the trends, the webs used 
electronic "brains,” NBC using 
Monrobot; CBS, the Univae, and 
ABC, IBM rhachines. Concentration 
was on those critical states and 
areas, such as New York" and Cali- 
fornia, where the voting was ex- 
pected to be extremely close. 

Davidson Taylor, who headed up 
•the NBC-TV coverage, explained 
that the web was stressing "telling 
the electoral vote story as -cleanly, 
concisely and quickly as possible." 
,To point up.tho $vqnd in iolecterxil 


WQXR, N. Y., polled the two major Presidential candidates on their 
favorite music on a special edition of its “Music Magazine” titled} 
"After the Missouri Waltz, What?” 

Ike’s preferences include the "Anvil Chorus” and "Turkey in the 
Straw.” Adlai favors Chopin, but also is partial to Gershwin’s "Rhap- 
sody in Blue,” as well as musicomedy tunes. 


votes, NBC utilized a map of. the 
U. S. in which, the states were dis- 
torted according to size of their 
electoral vote. 


1 

u 


French TV 

Continued from page 31 


which will be first-run product if’ 
satisfactory arrangements can be 
made with the French film in- 
dustry. 

Programwise, French video, be- 
cause of its limited schedule lacks 
the variety of American Ty. But 
some of the shows, particularly the 
interview type, have an easy in- 
formality which is pleasing. Pretty 
i women announcers, well-poised 
| and using good diction, add an air 
. to it. Except where films are used, 
j every effort is made to utilize the 
true visual elements of the video 
medium. 

Technically, France TV is far 
| superior to the American variety. 

1 Employing an 819-line definition, 
the picture is sharper, and com- 
parable to motion picture film. It 
also is better . suited to French 
needs in that it lends itself to com- 
munity reception via projection. 

.The high,. definition is achieved 
by use of a lOmc channel band- 
width which has the further ad- 
vantage in that it can accept any 
system of color television. Stephen 
Mallein, director and chief engi- 
neer for development of the 
French TV network, sees color, as 
a basic part of TV m France. 

He believes that the 10 me chan- 
nel will permit adaptability of the 
field sequential system (CBS) into 
a compatible system. This will be 
done, he explained, by building 
bracket standards (as was pro- 
posed by the FCC before it au- 
thorized CBS color) iijto receivers 
at the factory. 

"We expect that a good TY sys- 
tem will be achieved,” he told 
Variety. "If jve should operate on 
color we will .adopt the field se- 
quential system, but we expact no 
difficulties because we can wait 
until a definite system has been 
developed.” Reeeiyers built for the 
field sequential system, he added, 
wpuld be quite cheap, 

The purpose of color would be 
to provide a better system. * "We 
try to give to our people the most 
satisfaction that is possible,” he 
said. 


Lift TV Grappling Curfew 

Boxing Commission has relaxed 
the 11 p.m. pqrfew on New York- 
originating wrestling in the case of 
WJZ-TV, N. Y. Starting Nov. 13 
the ABC station will be able to pick 
up the Thursday night events from 
Ridgwood Grove from 10 p.m. to 
midnight. It> first time the state 
curfew on grapplers lias been 
lifted. 

Show* had previously been on 
WOR-TV, but had to sign off at 
11 . 


Greensboro, N. C. — L. O. Hutch- 
ins has sold his' financial interest 
and has resigned his position as 
sales manager of WGBG' here and 
is now on the staff of WBIG 



C i * * 


> / * l 1 


• 4 Reasons Why 

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HARP0 MARX 

NBC-TV 

RCAWICTOR 

Mgt.: GUMMO MARX 


, A m £-• 


Wednesday, November 5, 1952 



PttSnffrt 


OKCIUESTttASMUSIC S7 



— — f 

‘Room for Another Gershwin, Herbert, 
Kern But Where Are They?’— Dreyfus 


LOOMS AS TUP 




By ABEL GREEN 


Touching 80, and in the music 
business over a half-century, Max 
Dreyfus, head of the powerful 
Chappell Music interests on both 
sides of the Atlantic, is concededly 
the grand old man of the industry. 

Virtually every one of the contem- 
porary greats in songsmithing, 
\vith the exception of Irving Ber- 
lin— and in a way he, too, is affili- 
ated with Dreyfus in England — 
has been under the Dreyfus wing. 
That includes Gershwin, Romberg, 
Friml, Herbert, Kern, Porter, You- 
mans, Rodgers & Hart, Rodgers & 
Hammerstein, DeSylva, Brown & 
Henderson, Dietz & Schwartz, 
Loesser, et al. 

"Without the good will of the 
writer you’re out of business,” says 
Dreyfus, who somewhat sadly sur- 
veys the current music panorama. 
"The doors are wide open, and 
have been for years, and still there 
is no new Gershwin,” Drey- 
fus deplores. Where are the great 
melodists like Jerry Kern, Vincent 
Youmans and Victor Herbert? They 
are the ones who gave the music 
game their real substance.” (Anony- 
mously, Dreyfus, for all his hard- 
headed approach to the music 
business, calls it ‘music game,’ but 
it's more in the idiom of an af- 
fectionate regard for a canvas 
against which- has' played so rielra 1 
segment of show business, and in 
which he was so vital in bringing 
the top Broadway and West End 
producers together with his top 
stable of songsmiths). 

"When I was playing the piano 
for T. B. Harms in 1302,” Dreyfus 
i Continued on page 44) 


Merger of Negro, White 
Coast AFM Locals Hit 


By Initiation Fee Snag 

Hollywood, Nov. 4 . 

Proposed amalgamation of Ne- 
*ro Musicians Local 767 and AFM 
Local 47 has developed into a con- 
troversial question as to whether 
it will be a merger of the two 
unions or whether members of 767 
will be required to pay initiation 
fees for admission into 47. 

Marl Young, a member of the 
board of trustees of 767, took 
* harp Issue with C. L. Bagley, 
AFM veepee, who recently assert- 
ed that under the AFM constitu- 
tion it is permissible to have two 
musicians’ unions in the same city, 
loung quoted from the constitu- 
tions of both AFM locals: ‘lit is 
provided that in no case whatso- 
ever can the jurisdiction of a local 
union extend into the municipal 
lives of a town or city in which 
another union is chartered.” He 
also declared he had evidence that 
James Petrillo; AFM -prexy, would 
nave no objection if the proposed 
merger is submitted to the na- 
tional office. 


Local 47 is sending out ballots on 
tne proposal for a vote on Dec. 15, 
Young declares the ballot has 
omitted the preamble Which ex- 
plains that the proposed merger 
jould result, in members, of ^24 
in ni ^ nj? *° pa Y dues and taxes 
■Mediately after the merger is 
*) summa ted and. that such a mer- 
f* r ) v °uld not result in financial 
*°ss to either side. He added: 

are not proceeding on the 

? *? lse of Joining 47, but are pro- 

°! 1 tIle basis of a merger. 

iniM^ ustifies no consideration of 
mutating fees.” 

i Sai( J the constitutions of both 
wifh« 5 a 1 for unlt y of musicians 
anH , re 8ard to race or color, 
vnwi • Lhqfce is no politics in- 
niftn k ln . merger. In conclu- 
S characterized the AFL as a 
tinn ,, on^lly Jim Crow organiza- 
fav- Policy is in 


or 


of FEPC legislation. 


9* s * ie orch opens at the 
gdowbrook, Cedar Grove, N. J., 
1 for a week. 


A; 


Amateur Cleffers 

Taken for 7G in Chi 

Chicago, Nov. 4. 

Ted Claire, former operator of 
a theatrical school here, was in- 
dicted by the Federal grand jury 
here last week on charges of using 
the mails to defraud two amateur 
jingle writers of $7,000. 

George Russell and his mother 
said they met Claire in Chicago 
two years ago when they came 
here to try and sell the jingles to a 
business firm. They gave him the 
money when he said that he could 
sell the rhymes to the company’s 
overseas branches if they would 
send him to Europe. 


D of J Resumes 
Music Biz Quiz 

After a hiatus of a couple of 
months, the Dept, of Justice re- 
sumed its investigation of the mu- 
sic publishing industry with an 
examination of the Santly-Joy 
books. The Santly-Joy examination 
•is the latest -in a series of Justice ’ 
Dept, probes of other music firms, 
including Paramount Music, the 
Robbins, Feist & Miller (Big 
Three) combine, and Shapiro-Bern- 
stein. 

Reason for the probe still re- 
mains a puzzler for industry execs. 
Some trade leaders believe the 
Justice Dept, is looking for evi- 
dence of price-fixing on sheet mu- 
sic, which would be a violation of 
the antitrust law. Another specula- 
tion is that th'e Government is ex- 
amining . the tie ups between the 
film companies and the music pub- 
lishing industry. 


2 COS. CITED FOR 
HSKE DISK VIOLATIONS 

Bard Records and Sonart Music 
were cited for contempt in N. Y. 
Supreme Court last week for dis- 
tributing disks cut by Dwight Fiske 
despite a previous court order ban- 
ning them from selling the sides. 
Contempt citation stems from a 
pact inked by Fiske with Gala 
Records in 1943 under which the 
disk company agreed to suspend 
distribution • of his disks if they 
failed to pay royalties in any 'given 
quarter. 

Bard Records, meantime, alleged- 
ly began distribution of the Fiske 
disks and the court has set thte con- 
tempt trial for later this month. 

Chicago GAC Office 

In Broad Reshuffle 

Chicago, Nov. 4. 

General Artists Corp. office here 
is going through a series of changes 
with Charles Suber, controller and 
office manager, leaving Nov. 15. 
Snhejv,.whn ..has.. hejen,..AVi.th. . QAC 
for the past seven years, becomes 
advertising manager with the Mars 
Publishing Co, Jacqueline Rich- 
ardson, in charge of the contract 
department, also leaves to join the 
Mars firm. Gene Marshall has been 
upped to office manager. 

In addition, Mort Ruby, who 
joined GAC a month ago and was 
to head up the cocktail unit de- 
partment, has resigned due to ill 
health, and leaves for California. 
Johnny Lewis has been placed in 
charge of the jobbing and packag- 
ing department, GAC t last week 
moved to new quarters in Chicago. 


Tex Bcneke To Texas 

Austin, Tex., Nov. 4. 

-Tex Beneke orch has been book- 
ed for a one nighter here oif, Satur- 
day < 8 ). * ~ _ 

Band will play at Gregory Gym 
for the student union of the uni- 
versity of Texas* 


Likelihood of a James C. Petrillo 
proposal for a stronger musicians’ 
union bite on gross disk sales is 
looming as the most serious prob- 
lem for the platter industry next 
year. Although the American Fed- 
eration of Musicians’ contract with 
the companies will not expire until 
the end of 1953, disk execs are 
already frankly worried by the pat- 
tern of Petrillo’s recent deals in 
the vidpix field. 

In the latter field, Petrillo has 
been asking for and getting a 5% 
cut on gross revenues for the Music 
Performance Trust Fund, which al- 
locates coin for the employment of 
AFM members for free concerts. 
In the disk field, the Trust Fund 
collects only 1% on disks selling 
for $1 or under, which covers the 
bulk of the pop singles. 

Petrillo, who regards disks or 
canned music as the greatest single 
factor in contributing tc AFM un- 
employment, will reportedly put 
the hiked bite for the tyPTF on 
the top of the agenda when nego- 
tiations with the disk companies 
open. Disk execs, moreover, fear 
that Petrillo ' will not make any 
compromises in this matter since 
the Trust Fund has been his special 
baby since its formation after the 
last war. 

Since the Fund’s 1% tax was 
(Continued ©a -page .41.) . 

Rackmil Firm On 
Decca’s EP Stand 

Milton R. Rackmil, Decca prexy, 
has reiterated the company’s status 
quo price’ stand in the 45 rpm field 
in a statement to dealers last week. 
Rackmil stated that after investiga- 
tion of the .45 album situation, the 
company decided not to change its 
lits price or convert its present 45 
album catalog to the “extended 
play” disks. 

Victor kicked off the EP platters 
a couple of months ago, and Co- 
lumbia, Capitol and Mercury have 
followed suit, also reducing prices 
to bring 45 sets into line with the 
33 rpm albums. 

Rackmil, meantime, is due back 
in the U. S, from London Tuesday 
(11) after a 10-day visit. It’s under- 
stood Rackmil huddled with E. R. 
Lewis, British Decca chief, on legal 
matters concerning the long-pend- 
ing U. S. antitrust suit against the 
major disk companies’ ^istrib tie- 
ups with foreign record firms. 


GOODMAN OLDIES IN 
TOP SELLER FOR COL. 

Released only a week ago, Benny 
Goodman’s new concert set of his 
1937-38 broadcasts has already 
stepped out as one of Columbia 
Records’ bestselling albums. Over 
20,000 sets have been sold to date 
which, at $11 a set, means over 
$200,000 in sales at the retail level. 

Goodman’s initial album, “B.G. 
At Carnegie Hall,” has already 
gone 6 ve’F the TOO, 000 marker. 


Victor to Cut ‘Juliet’ 

After Old Vic ‘Macbeth’ 

RCA Victor is planning to ex- 
pand its Shakespearean original , 
cast album repertoire on wax with 
“Romeo and Juliet.” Set will be 
cut with the original Old Vic cast 
in Britain. Show is currently run- 
ning in London with Claire Bloom 
(of Charlie Chaplin’s “Limelight”) 
in the Juliet role. 

Decision to cut “Romeo and 
Juliet” was sparked by the favor- 
able advahec reaction to • “Mac- 1 
beth,” which was cut for HMV by 
the Old Vie Players and -stars Alec 
Guinness and Pamela Brown, The 
“Macbeth” waxing is skedded for 
release .next September, . . , 


Philly Wide-Open Payola Town 
For Disk Jocks Among Indie Labels 


Atlantic Releasing 
New ‘Two-Eared’ Disk 

Atlantic Records is prepping re- 
lease of its*rinitial binaural long 
play disk cut by Wilbur DeParis 
and his Rampart Street Ramblers. 
The binaural process, which was 
revealed last week at the Audio 
Fair at the Hotel New Yorker, N.Y., 
by Atlantic, is a new technique in 
sound reproduction which allows 
for the “two-eared” quality of nor- 
mal listening. 

Heretofore, only a single source 
of sound has been in the waxing 
process, giving it a “one-eared” 
quality,- but the new binaural pro- 
cess was developed by Emory Cook, 
of the Cook Laboratories, Stam- 
ford, Conn. 

Columbia Up 
22 % Over 1952 

Columbia Records’ pace-setting 
position in the disk industry for 
the past couple of years was again 
put. .into focus this week via the 
diskery’s latest royalty statement 
to publishers. „ 

Totals for the quarter ending 
Sept. 30 showed that Columbia’s 
royalties zoomed 31% over the 
previous quarter and 22% over the 
same period last year. Percentage 
hike over last year, was accom- 
plished though the. 1951 quarter 
was one of the best earning periods 
for the company until this time. 

Columbia’s business, moreover, 
is better than the percentage totals 
show since these cover only the 
major publishers affiliated with the 
American Society of Composers, 
Authors & Publishers. During the 
last quarter, Columbia had several 
top-sellers, such as “Half as Much,” 
“Jambalaya” and “You Belong to 
Me,” Which are BMI-published and 
not covered in the royalty state- 
ment. 


3 HERMAN SIDEMEN 
NABBED ON DOPE RAP 

Salt Lake City, Nov. 4. 

Three members of Woody Her- 
man's band were picked up here 
Oct. 26 on narcotics charges. The 
band was playing a one nighter at 
Jerry Jones’ Rainbow Randevu. 
Three hauled in were Louis M. De 
Santo, comic who works under the 
name of Lou Daley; John R. (Dick) 
Hafer and Sam Staff. The last two 
are sax men. -4 - - 

The three were 

dowhtom hotel cha^S^jiirfwjiW 
gal possesion. Coja^jw^^O^f. 
marihuana, nembutal* add barbitu- 
rates. Officers say they got the tip 
from Los Angeles police and Fed- 
eral agents. Pinch was first made 
on DeSanto and when lie- said he 
had driven to town with Hafer and 
Staff, they were grabbed.- Dope was 
.found, hi ..their .moms and. Jn. the., 
car. 

Accused were released on $1,000 
bonds and took off with the band 
to Laramie. They’ll return for trial. 
When queried by officers Herman 
said he was “not a nursemaid for 
men who were merely employees.” 

Price Division Mgr. 

For Col in Revamp 

Columbia Records revamped its 
distribution ‘setup last week with 
the appointment of Forrest Price 
as division 'manager of' the Boston, 
Albany, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and 
Buffalo ’territories: William Gal- 
lagher Was jhamed district manager 
under 1 ' Price* in Cleveland; : 

James. Wilson replaced Gallagher 
as district manager for Minneap- 
olis. 


Philadelphia, which has been the 
spawning ground of more inde- 
pendent disk companies than any 
other area in the country, is now 
being spotlighted, as a wide-open 
payola town for disk jockeys. The 
payola situation stems from the 
competition among the indie labels 
for airtime on the local radio out- 
lets. 

The indies are buying several 
Philly deejays outright but with- 
out any cut-in on the part of the 
station’s management. Prices for 
steady spins oil the payola dee jay 
shows range from $50 to $100 
weekly, depending on the amount 
of airtime and pulling power of 
the particular deejay. 

One reason why the Philly dee- 
jays have been able to command 
such prices is that they have de- 
monstrated their ability to sell 
disks to their listeners. Several 
indie labels have broken through 
in tlu Philly area repeatedly with 
local hits, selling from 20,000 to 
40,000 copies, as a result of the 
deejay paid-for drives. The fact 
that the deejays are susceptible to 
payolas has also encouraged the 
increase in the number of indie 
disk companies that hope to crack 
the national market as a result of 
the Philly spins. 

The major companies are burn- 
ing at the Philly situation but 
some of them are preparing to 
play the same game in order to 
get spins. One major • company 
exec said he intends to pay off the 
deejays since they are apparently 
delivering saleswise. • 

Victor Trying to Figure 
Sales Impact of RD Plug 
For Toscy’s Beethoven 9th 

RCA Victor faces a merchandis- 
ing problem with the forthcoming 
(December issue) reprint by 
Reader's Digest of an Atlantic 
Monthly cover story by John M. 
Conly on “Toscanini Records 
Beethoven’s 9th.” In itself an un- 
usual plug, the RD reprint is fig- 
ured to spurt sales, but to what de- 
gree is something that concerns 
RCA In that the four-sided 12” 
LP is a $10.90 item, and not to be 
regarded like an ordinary pop 
platter. 

It has sold 30,000, which Is a 
big sale in itself, and is figured 
to hit 50,000 soon. It cost $20,000 
for the recording date. However, 
there have been four other ses- 
sions which the maestro discarded, 
meaning an $80,000 item has long 
since been written off by Victor. 
This version is figured to be a 
steady seller for years and prob- 
ably will equalize even the entire 
100G mark. The perfectionist that 
he is, Toscanini nixed release of 
his four previous versions but the 
current version was approved by 
him, whereupon Victor gave it a 
/big ride. It got a Look mag edi- 
torial plug and kindred eneo- 
lrilums. 

Meantime, London , rushed out 
its album of Beethoven’s 9th by 
Erich Kleiber and*’ the Vienna 
Philharmonic, and ' Westminster 
Records also has its version on 
the market, conducted by Herman 
Scherchcn with the Vienna State 
Opera ''Orchestra. 'Columbia" Rec- 
ords also has recordings by Felix 
Weingarten (a reissue) and Bruno 
Walter. 

In the belief that an RD plug 
usually creates extraordinary de- 
mand for new commodities, RCA 
doesn’t quite know whether this 
will hold true with a longhair al- 
bum. . 

Two AbbotU in N.Y. 

Leslie Abbott, professional man- 
ager of Peer International’s Lon- 
don office,’ arrived in New . York 
Saturday (1) Tor a series of con- 
fabs with pub topper Ralph 25; 
Peer. . 4 

Abbott expects- to. return td.his 
London, desk later this week. 

Hi* father, John Abbott, « direc- 
tor of Francis, Day*: Hunter, got in 
by ship on Monday (3) for a pro- 


4 fi * ■£ . f . tttl t e i M b a 4 a * It j 4raot«d JB* holiday* * * * 



ss 


OMCIBKSTHAS-MITSIC 


r?r, 


Jocks , Jokes and Disks 


By MIKE GROSS 


Eileen Barton: “Don’t Let The 
Stars Get In Your Eyes”-“Tennes- 
see Tango” (Coral). Eileen Barton 
is due for her merriest whirl since 
“Baked A Cake” with “Stars Get 
In Your Eyes.” It’s a clicko piece 
of country styled material that’s 
due for plenty of coverage but the 
other diskeries will have to go 
some to top Miss Barton’s vibrant 
rendition. Her bouncy style 
matches the tune’s free swinging 
quality making it a surefire pleaser 
for the platter spinners and the 
coinbox trade. Blending of alfalfa 
and south-of-the-border rhythm on 
the reverse, expertly worked over 
by Miss Barton, makes the platter 
a two-sided gold mine. 

David Rose Orch: “Magic Music 
Box”-“Flavia” (M-G-M). With the 
vogue fdr the strictly instrumental 
platter still riding strong. David 
Rose’s treatment of “Magic Music 
Box” looms as a solid commercial 
entry. Tune’s bright melodic line 
gets an imaginative reading via the 
Rose styling. The tinkle of a‘ mu- 
sic box is built into a rich and 
colorful musical display giving the 
etching an ear-arresting sound 


closer to the hit bracket with each 
successive release, takes a big 
jump forward with “Be My Baby,” 
Tune is catchy both lyrically and 
melodically and Miss Turzy gives 
it an effervescent reading that 
guarantees hefty juke play. Re- 
verse is in a similar groove and 
will get its share of the spinning 
time. 

Don Estes: “One Kiss”-“A11 
Day Singin’ And Dinner On The 
Ground” (Victor). Don Estes, re- 
cent addition to Victor’s pop 
stable, could catch on via this folk- 
grooved coupling. “One Kiss, al- 
though imitative of the Guy Mitch- 
ell-Mitch Miller output for Colum- 
bia, is a jaunty item that could 
end up high ’ in the ' spinner’s 
column. Estes has a plenty-piping 
style and projects an ingratiating 
warmth that’s pegged for the (fem- 
me trade. He pours it on nicely 
and they should go for it. Reverse 
is another bouncy item but may 
be a little too folksy for big pop 
impact. Norman Leyden gives him 
a spirited backing. 

Dorothy Collins-Snooky Lanson: 
“Jump Back Honey”-“I Will Still 


Best British Sheet Sellers 

(Week ending Oct. 25) 

London, Oct. 28. 

Here in My Heart Mellin 

Homing Waltz Heine 

Isle of Innisfree Maurice 

Half as Much Robbins 

High Noon Robbins 

Blue Tango Mills 

Meet Mr. Callaghan Toff 

Sugarbush Chappell 

Walkin’ My Baby .... Victoria 

Auf Wiederseh’n Maurice 

Feet Up Cinephonic 

Somewhere Along Way. Magna 

Second 12 

Pm Yours Mellin 

Forget-Me-Not Heine 

Day of Jubilo Connelly 

Kiss of Fire Duchess 

Zing a Little Zong. . Maddox 

Rock of Gibraltar ..Dash 

Trust in Me Wright 

Faith Hit Songs 

When You’re in Love . Connelly 

Botch-a-Me Kassner 

.^Walkin’ to Missouri Dash 

My Heart Dash 


Wednesday? November 5? 1952 



Best Bets 


EILEEN BARTON . . .“DON’T LET STARS GET IN YOUR EYES” 

(Coral) “Tennessee Titngo” 

DAVID ROSE ORCH “MAGIC MUSIC BOX” 

(M-G-M) “Flavia” 

LISA KIRK “BOOMERANG” 

(Victor) • “Hurricane” 

ROSEMARY CLOONEY-GENE AUTRY.. “NIGHT BEFORE XMAS” 

(Columbia) “Look Out The Window ” 

EYDIE GORME “TELL ME MORE” 

(Coral) “Night of Heaven ” 


which commands replays. “Flavia,” 
on the bottom deck, is a tasteful 
orch production but lacks the in- 
spiration of its mate. 

•Lisa Kirk: “Boomerang”-“Hur- 
ricane” (Victor). “Boomerang” has 
strong, driving impact and could 
be the piece of material Lisa Kirk’s 
been waiting for to push her into 
the top selling bracket. Tune gets 
off . to a fast start and doesn’t let 
up in intensity pf forceful melody 
and lyric. Miss Kirk’s warbling 
gives it the kind of excitement 
that’s pegged for clicko returns. 
“Hurricane” is a dramatic number 
which Miss Kirk handles with emo- . 
tion but it’s to little avail. 

Rosemary Clooncy-Gene Autry: 
“The Night Before . Christmas 
Song”-“Look Out The Window” 
(Columbia). Powerhouse tandem of- 
Rosemary Clooney and Gene Autry 
duo-piping an adaptation of the 
fave Clement Moore Xmas poem, 
“The Night Before Christmas,” is 
a solid seasonal entry that should 
pick up plenty of spins and sales 
from now until Dec. 25. The popu- 
lar verse has been set against a 
neat melodic . pattern and the 
Autry-Miss Clooney rendition gives 
it an all-age appeal. “Look Out 
The Window,” is a moderate sea- 
sonal item enhanced by the duo’s 
superlative harmonizing. 

Eydie Gorme: “Tell Me More”- 
“Night Of Heaven” (Coral). Eydie 
Gorme, who recently ankled the 
vocalist’s post with Tex Beneke’s 
orch, makes an impressive solo 
debut with “Tell Me More.” Thrush 
has a big, exciting voice which 
can milk a ballad or ride a riff 
for sock impact. The emotional 
side of her piping style is given, 
an excellent showcasing in “Tell 
Me More.” It’s a hard hittipg bal- 
lad which Miss Gorme takes in 
her piping stride. Due for a solid 
ride on all levels. Reverse, a re- 
hash of a standard Spanish item, 
gets a rousing workover by Miss 
Gorme and an expert backing job 
from Monty KeHy: Rates plenty of 
spins. 

Patti Page: “Why Don’t You Be- 
lieve Me”-“Conquest” (Mercury), 
The diskery scramble for top disk 
on “Why Don’t You Believe Me” 
is on but it’s doubtful that even 
such a standout etcher as Patti 
Page will dent the impact of new- 
comer Joni James’ version on the 
M-G.-M label. The topflight ballad 
gets a standbut reading in Miss 
Page's familiar styling and al- 
though the side is hampered a bit 
by a pretentious choral backing, 
it’ll please her devotees and get 
spins because of them. June Valli 
takes a crack at the tune for Victor 
and gets plenty of poignance into 
it. But, as in Miss Page’s case, 
shes too late. Miss Page drives 
hard on “Conquest,” but tune is 
reminiscent of too many others 
that didn’t make it. 

Jane Turzy: “Be My Baby”- 
Am’t It A CryinJ §ha<me”; {Decca). 


Jane Turzy, who’s been moving 
Love You” (Decca). Initial cou- 
pling of Dorothy Collins and 
Snooky Lanson comes off as only a 
fair entry. Harmonizing technique 
is okay and the material, although 
not outstanding, is above par but 
they don’t seem to get as much 
out of the numbers as they should. 
“Jump Back Honey” lacks the 
frenzied delivery the tune de- 
mands and dissipates its values. 
“I Will Still Love You,” a moder- 
ate novelty number, gets an okay 
dueting job and should get occa- 
sional spins. 

Helen O’Connell: “Don’t Bother 
To Knock”-' 4 You’re The Only One 
I Adore” (Capitol). Helen O’Con- 
nell’s high-geared delivery is ex- 
cellently showcased in this cou- 
pling. It’s not a top bracket plat- 
ter but it could make noise in some 
sectors. She whips out “Don’t 
Bother To Knock” with a solid 
beat and its suggestive lyric in- 
sures lots of action in the juke 
market. “You’re The Only One I 
Adore” moves at a merry clip and 
shows off Miss O’Connell’s styling 
to advantage. Backing is by Har- 
old Mooney’s Monsters, which 
should be self-explicit. 

Platter Pointers 

Sandy Solo has breakaway po- 
tential in “Close Your Dreamy 
Eyes” on the indie Barry label . . . 
Ricky Hqle makes an impressive 
wax debut with his Dana Records 
coupling of “Open Your Heart” 
and “If You Love Me .Little 
Sylvia could break through with 
“A Million* Tears” (Jubilee). . .Burl 
Ives has * standout kidisk entry in 
“What Kind of Animal Are You” 
(Decca) / . . Bobby Wayne is effec- 
tive on “If I Didn’t Love you So” 
(Mercury) . . . Herbie Fields orch 
has a sock remake of “Dardanella” 
(Coral) . . . Billy May’s orch work- 
over of “High Noon” bn the Capi- 
tol label has a clicko potential . . . 
Vaughn Monroe’s treatment of 
“Yours” rates plenty of spins . . . 
Ruby- WrfghtV eut~ of' ~ “Honey 
Baby” on King could take off . . . 
Louis Armstrong-Gordon Jenkins 
Xmas entry of “Winter Wonder- 
land” and “White Christmas” on 
the Decca label can’t miss... The 
Modemalrcs have a nice workover 
of the oldie “Gotta Be This Or 
That” (Coral) . . . Bob Houston has 
a good entry with “It’s Christmas 
Every Day” on the indie Wheeler 
label . . . Mark Mathews shows up 
well on “When I Fall In Love” 
(Blue Mill) ... Bernice Parks has a 
standout slice in “So-So” (Segar) 

. . . Alan Paul's coupling of “Bravo” 
and “Love Oh Love” on the indie 
Rialto label rates spins . . . Pat 
Terry does a fine job on “April 
Fool” (Derby) . . . Gerry Mulligan 
Quartet has an exciting cut of 

Carioca” (Fantasy) . .Russ York’s 
version of “If I’m To Blame” on 
Jubilee is good spinning fodder 
. . Les Baxter will get a good 
snare of the Xmastime spins for 
“Santa. Claus’ OEfarty” (Capitol) . , 

•ir ' } , . j 


Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 in 
D and Symphony No. 4 in B-flat. 
i These two Beethoven works are 
lighter and less significant, per- 
haps, than the more-famous Third 
.or Fifth. But they stand out on 
their own for their graceful tex- 
tures, especially when performed 
as charmingly as in the new back- 
to-back disk of the N. Y. Philhar- 
monic under Bruno Walter (Co- 
lumbia, LP, $5.45). Lyric quality 
of each comes off well in serene, 
unhurried readings. 

Bruch. Concerto No. 1 in G 
Minor. Victor has a new, distin- 
guished recording of this violin 
concerto, in Jascha Heifetz’s ver- 
sion with, the London Symphony 
Orchestra under Malcolm Sargent 
(RCA Victor, LP, $5.45). Brilliant 
tone and sure technique bring 
out all its melodic charm and 
sentiment. Columbia has a new 
disk of this • w.ork, too, by Zino 
Francescatti, assisted by the N. Y. 
Philharmonic under Dimitri Mi- 
tropoulos (Columbia, . LP, $5.45). 
Francescatti’s tone is lush and the 
performance of superior grade. 
Heifetz’s interpretation is the more 
dazzling and gifted, but both are 
high-class. 

On the Heifetz reverse is a 
smooth performance of Saint- 
Saens’ Sonata No. 1 in D Minor. 
On the Francescatti reverse are 
two graceful Beethoven Romances 
(No. 1 In G, No. 2 in F), assisted 
by the Columbia Symphony Or- 
chestra under Jean Morel. H/on. 


I 


< . 
- > 


* 


Disk Companies’ Best Seilers 

CAPITOL • ' ARTIST 

1. IT'S. IN THE BOOK (2 Parts) J-ohnny Standley 

2. MY BABY'S COMING H&ME Les Paul-Marv Ford 

LADY, OF SPAIN 

3. MEET MR. CALLAGHAN Les Paul-Mary Ford 

^ TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS AND HOLD ME 

4. COMES ALONG A-LOVE Kay Starr 

THREE LETTERS 

5. FAITH CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS Nat (King) Cole 

RUBY AND THE PEARL 


COLUMBIA 

1. KEEP IT A SECRET . . . . Jo Stafford 

ONCE TO EVERY HEART 

2. JAMBALAYA Jo Stafford 

EARLY AUTUMN 

3. WALKIN’ TO MISSOURI Sammy Kaye 

ONE FOR THE WONDER 

■4. HALF AS MUCH Rosemary Clooney 

POOR WHIP POOR WILL 

5. YOU BELONG TO ME Jo Stafford 

PRETTY BOY 


CORAL 

1. I Don Cornell 

BE FAIR 

2. TAKES TWO TO TANGO Pearl Bailey 

LET THERE BE LOVE 

i 3. YOU'LL NEVER GET AWAY. . . Don Cornell-Teresa Brewer 
THE HOOKEY SONG 

t 4. STRING ALONG Ames Bros. 

ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER 

l 5. HOLD ME, THRILL ME, KISS ME Karen Chandler 

ONE DREAM 

DECCA 

I 1. GLOWWORM .* Mills Bros. + 

AFTER ALL 

X 2. JUST SQUEEZE ME Four Aces { 

HEART AND SOUL 

I 3. TAKES TWO TO TANGO Louis Armstrong t 

I LAUGHED AT LOVE 

J 4. BLUE TANGO ..Leroy Anderson X 

BELLE OF THE BALL 

8* TRYING : Ella Fitzgerald 

MY BONNIE LIES OVER THE OCEAN 

MERCURY 


Buddy Morris to Romance 
Hillbillies Via Exclusive 
Deals, Publishing Outlets 

In a move to latch on to the 

\ 

country-folk vogue in pop music, 
E. H. Morris Music is prepping a 
drive" to tie-in alfalfa composers 
via exclusive deals similar to those 
arranged with the more orthodox 
pop writer^ Morris also is inves- 
tigating possibilities of setting up 
separate companies to specialize in 
the corn product. 

According to Sid Komheiser, 
Morris’ general manager, the run- 
of-the-mill Tin Pan Alley writer 
isn’t coming up with the. kind of 
material that’ll click in the market 
so its necessary to grab the fel- 
lows who do. Writer deals *which 
Morris is planning for the country 
tune composers will be similar to 
those which had been arranged for 
such writers as Harold Arlen, 
Hoagy Carmichael, Frank Loesser 
and Jule Styne. Although the firm 
offers the writers no coin guaran- 
tees, it does guarantee top promo- 
tion and exploitation on their 
product. 


Como Named by D.C. Tenl 
As ‘Show Biz Personality’ 

Washington, Nov. 4. 
Perry Como chosen by local tent 
of Variety Clubs as the 1952 “Per- 
sonality of the Year in Show Busi- 
ness.” Como will receive a plaque 
at the club’s 17th annual dinner- 
dance at the Statler Hotel, Nov. 22, 
giving him the award “in. recogni- 
tion of his outstanding contribution 
to the world of entertainment.” 

Singer will be the fourth recipi- 
ent of the plaque. First winner, in 
1949, was A1 Jolson. Arthur God- 
frey won in 1950 and Joe E. Brown 
last year. . . 


1. 

I WENT TO YOUR WEDDING 

YOU BELONG TO ME 


2. 

MY FAVORITE SONG 

SINNER OR SAINT 


3. 

WHY CAN’T YOU BELIEVE ME 

CONQUEST 


4. 

IT'S WORTH ANY PRICE YOU PAY . 
KENTUCKY BABE 


5. 

YOURS 

HOW AM I TO KNOW 

Ray Cura 

M-G-M 


1. 

WHY DON'T YOU BELIEVE ME 





3. 


* 4 . 


5. 


PURPLE SHADES 

LAZY RIVER Art Mooney 

HONESTLY 

YOU WIN AGAIN Tommy Edwards 

SINNER OR SAINT 

BE FAIR Billy Eckstine 

COME TO THE MARDI GRAS 

JAMBALAYA 

WINDOW SHOPPING 


.Hank Williams 


X RCA VICTOR 

1. WISH YOU WERE HERE Eddie Fisher t 

THE HAND OF FATE 

t 2. BECAUSE YOU’RE MINE Mario Lanza 

THE SONG THE ANGELS SING 

f 3. SLEEPY TIME GAL T6ny Martin 

DANCE OF DESTINY 

% 4 . LADY OF SPAIN Eddie Fisher 

OUTSIDE OF HEAVEN 

X 5. SOCKO THE SMALLEST SNOWBALL Spike Jones 

BARNYARD CHRISTMAS 


Sarah Vaughan Booked 
For Concerts in London 

London, Nov. 4. 

Charles- Munyard, ~whe- -recently- 
joined Reeves Sc Lamport, has 
booked Sarah Vaughan for series 
of concerts, with the singer due 
here Jan. 28. Munyard is present- 
ing Miss Vaughan in association 
with local long hair promoter 
Maurice Kinn, who sprang into 
prominence last summer when he 
started negotiations with Bing 
Crosby to appear In England, with 
deal falling through at the last 
minute. c 

Management of Cafe de Paris is 
reportedly awaiting the results of 
the American singer’s debut here, 
with a month’s date at the cafe 
a possibility. 


Violinist Michael Rabin back in 
New York last week (30) after a 
four-month tour of Australia and 
New Zealand, sponsored by the 
Australian Broadcasting Commis- 
sion. , 


Paucity of Latin Disks 
By Majors Cues Morand 
- - ToSpcialize in Field 

Paucity of straight Latin Ameri- 
can etchings by the major diskers 
has cued Jose Morand, head of 
Femora Music, to launch his label, 
Fiesta Records, which will special- 
ize- in this field. 

Morand stated that he was com- 
pelled to start the disk operation 
to find a wax outlet for his Latin 
catalog since tile majors only oc- 
casionally cut such tunes and then 
with a pop, rather than Chile, 
flavor. 

Fiesta’s disks will be cut in Mex- 
ico under a tieup with Hermanos 
Marquez, Maxico City publisher 
who will send the masters to the 
U. S, Six disks are on the initial 
release, with Tempo Music, a K *• 
distrilp^pdfipg fly^alej , end. i 



OIICIIESTRAS-MUSIC 


Wednesday, October 15, 1952 


Pffijtmrr 


39 


ZaSffiY Scoreboard 

OF 

TOP TALENT AND TUNES 


Compiled from Statistical Reports of Distribution 
Encompassing the Three Major Outlets 

Coin Machines Retail Disks Retail Sheet Music 

as Published in the Current Issue 

for 

========= WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 1 


NOTE: The current comparative sales strength of the Artists and Tunes listed hereunder is 
avvlved at under a statistical system comprising each of the three major sales outlets enu * 
metated above. These, findings are correlated with data from wider sources, which are exclusive 
with Variety. The positions resulting from these findings denote the OVERALL IMPACT de- 
I ve.loped from the ratio of points scored: two v:ays in the case of talent (disks, coin machines), 
I mid three ways in the case of tunes (disks, coin machines , sheet music). 




- TALENT 


POSITIONS 



This 

Last 



week. 

week. 

ARTIST AND LABEL 

TUNE 

1 

1 

JO STAFFORD (Columbia! 

\ You Belong to Me 
/Jambalaya 

2 

2 

PATTI PAGE (Mercury) 

\ I Went to Your Wedding 
" * ’ * ) You Belong to Me 

3 

4 

MILLS BROS. (Decca) 

. . . . Glow Worm 

(Wish You Were Here 

4 

3 

EDDIE FISHER (Victor) . . . . 

....-( Lady of Spain 

[Outside of Heaven 

0 

5 

HILLTOPPERS • (Dot) ! 

Trying 

6 

7 

PEARL BAILEY (Coral) 

.... Takes Two to Tango 

7 

6 

LES PAUL-MARY FORD (Capitol) . . . 


8 

. . 

JONI JAMES (MGM) 

Why Don’t You Believe Me 

9 

8 

FRANKIE LAINE (Columbia) 

High Noon 

10 

9 

JOHNNY STANDLEY (Capitol)...- 




TUNES 


POSITIONS 

- 


This 

Last 



week. 

week. 

TUNE 

PUBLISHER 

1 

1 

I WENT TO YOUR WEDDING ........ 


2 

2 

YOU BELONG TO ME 


3 

3 

JAMBALAYA 

Acuff-R 

4 

5 

GLOW WORM 


5 

4* 

WISH YOU WERE HERE 


6 

8 

TRYING 


7 

• * 

TAKES TWO TO TANGO 


8 

6 

MEET MR. CALLAGHAN 

Leeds 

9 

10 

BECAUSE YOU’RE MINE. ; . . . 

Feist 

10 

7 

HALF AS MUCH 

Acuff-R 


■ 

RETAIL SHEET BEST SELLER! 





s 




PRriety 

Survey of retail sheet music 
sales based on reports obtained 
from leading stores in 12 cities 
ancT showing comparative sales 
rating for this and last week. 


New YorkjM.D.S. 

* 

M 

01 

SS 

o 

(A 

•H 

“C 

"CT 

» 

o 

w> 

CO 

O 

XI 

Q 

r ■ 

Los Angeles, Morse M. Preeman 

Boston, H. N. Homeyer 

: j 

Philadelphia, Chas. DuMont 

Kansas City, Jenkins Music Co. 

4 -X 

Minneapolis, Schmitt Mus. Co. 

St. Louis, 1st. Louis Music Supply 

San Antonio, Alamo Piano Co. 

Seattle, Capitol Music Co. 

Rochester,; Neisner Bros. 

Indianapolis, Pearson’s 

T 

O 

T 

A 

L 

P 

0 

1 

N 

T 

S 

Nov. 1 

This Last 

!Y k - wk. Title and Publisher 

— 


1 1 

You Belong to Me (Ridgeway). 

* • • 

1 

1 

1 

i 

2 

1 

7 

1 

2 

2 

6 

5 

n 


2 2 

I Went to Your Wedding (Hill-R). 


2 

2 

2 

6 

2 

6 

2 

1 

1 

4 

3 

99 

13 4 

Jambalaya (Acuff-R) 

• « • 

3 

4 

5 

5 

3 

3 

• • 

4 

-3 

.>3 

5 

7 

76 


4 3 

Wish You Were Here (Chappell) . . 

, 

3 

3 

6 

. . 

4 

3 

3 

4 

10 

10 

8 

56 


> 5 

Half As Much (Acuff-R) 

• • • 

10 

, 

6 

3 

4 

5 

• 

5 

6 

7 

8 

• • 

45 


6 8 

Because You’re Mine (Feist).. 

« » • 

5 

6 

. • 

« • 

• • 

8 


6 

• • 

• • 

9 4 

1 

38 


7A 6 

7H cT~ 

Auf Wicdcrsch'n (Hill-R) 

V 

4 

Q 

10 

10 

Q 

10 

4 

IS 

6 

7 

~8~ 

SS 

53 

5 

9 


29 

29 

— 

• 1) y 

8 7~ 

Domcwncrc Along way lunueu/.. 
Meet Mr. Callaghan (Leeds) 

O 

* 

• 

i7 

4 

9 


To - 

To“ 

» • 

5 

4 

4 ♦ 

m 

25 


!) 13 

GJiow Worm (Marks) 

• • • 

9 

8 

♦ . 

. • 

8 


4 

,J 8 

8 

9 

• t 

# * 

23 

10A . . " 

Takes Two to Tango (Harman). 

• • • 

* * 

" 9 

« 

7 

i 

• • 

5 


• 

6 

4 

• • 

17 

1 0B IT” 

Early Autumn (Cromwell) 

• • • 

• i 

• 

• 


• • 


1 

• 

• 

■ • 

« 

4 

17 

ii ir 

Outside of Heaven (B.V.C.) .... 

• • • 

7 

"7 " 

. ♦ 

. . 



• 

* 

• • 

• « 

3 

• • 

16 

1 

9 

Trying (Randy Smith) 

• » • 

6 

• 

• . 

i * 

7 

9 

4 

• 

JJ 

• « 


• 

15 

13 i(j 

* High Noon’ (Feist)'. . . : 

< ♦ ♦ 

rmui-0 

- 

8 


. L 

1 i 

* * 

• « 

9 

• • 

• 

2 

1 J4 .5 


Big BMI Disk Promotion Key to Click; 
Carlton Raps ASCAFs A.K. Methods 


Cole, Vaughn, Kenton 
Draw $9,300 in Cincy 

Cincinnati. Nov. 4. 

“Biggest Show of ’52,” with Nat 
(King i Cole, Sarah Vaughan and 
Stan Kenton’s orch drew a 5.000 
admission and a $9,300 take Fri- 
day (31) night in the Cincinnati 
Garden. 

Scale was $1.50 to $3. 


k Joe Carlton, Mercury Records’ 

I artists and repertoire chief. Jiays it - 
Son the line for publisher affiliates 
J of the American Society of Com- 
! posers, Authors & Publishers by 
j declaring that Broadcast Music, 

I Inc., is more on the ball as far as 
| disk promotion is concerned. Al- 
though he says it is ’‘ridiculous” 
to talk of a conspiracy against 
ASCAP by the diskers, Carlton as- 
j sorts that BMI firms tend to get 
; more consideration because they go 
! out and push records. 


Alan Livingston, 
Hilliard See No 
Disk-BMI Hookup 

Hollywood. 

Editor, Variety: 

I was quite Interested in the 
Variety article about BMI vs. 
ASCAP. Frankly. I had never 
given too much thought about our 
own trend here at Capitol. .Be- 
ing without benefit of a radio net- 
work hookup, we obviously would 
have no leanings one way or the 
other. Nevertheless, I took the 
trouble to check our records. 

I examined only the successful 
records released during the year 
1952 (those selling 75,000 or over), 
and found that 63% of them were 
ASCAP. With a comparative ex- 
amination of other record compa- 
nies. you might be able to arrive 
at some conclusions. 

Undoubtedly an important con- 
sideration is the type of recording 
being done by record companies 
today. Perhaps you will find that 
Capitol’s hit records are built 
around a different type of selection 
and recording artist than those 
of some of our competitors. By 
that I mean, for example, that the 
kind of hit which Nat Cole has is 
based on a different class of mu- 
sic from the many “gimmick” , in- 
dividual records which have been 
successful this past year — without 
mentioning any names. 

Whether the music itself or the 
performing rights society is the 
major influence elsewhere is some- 
thing about which I am, of course, 
in absolutely no position even to 
comment on. At Capitol, how- 
ever, we are without any question 
completely uninfluenced^ by any- 
thing but the song itself, plus the 
ability of the publisher to exploit 
it, regardless of nis affiliation. 

Alan Livingston. 

(Capitol A&R V.P.) 


The trouble with the big ASCAP 
publishers, Carlton adds, is that 
they still think of plugging songs 
via the old channels of live radio 
and TV performances. Maybe 
that’s the way ASCAP pays off, but 
i the hits, according to Carlton, are 
now being made on platters ex- 
clusively. 

BMI is taking the play away on 
wax because they concentrate their 
whole power on getting the disk 
spins. Carlton pointed out that 
j key to BMI’s surge on the hit lists 
is their cooperation with the disk 
firms before a disk is released and 
their consistent romancing of the 
disk jockeys once the record is is- 
sued. 

Still a Road Company 

1 Carlton says that some big 
: comeback is only a matter of arith- 
i metic. BMI only paid out a little 
: more than $3,000,000 against 
j A S C A P’s $14,000,000. Since 
ASCAP is more loaded, Carlton 
asks why they can’t plough back 
some of that $14,000,000 into rec- 
ord promotion. Only if they do, 
the Mercury exec asserts, will they 
be able to recoup the ground they 

have lost to the BMI publishers. 

Carlton contends that several 
major ASCAP publishers are re-*' 
fusing to play ball with the disk- 
ers on giving execlusives. “They 
want it all their own way,” Carlton 
adds, “while giving little in re- 
turn.” “We must have exclusives 
in the current market or else it 
isn’t worthwhile to record a song. 
Second money on a hit record is no 
longer attractive, and that’s why 
the disk companies are no longer 
covering records put out by other 
labels.” 

Carlton says that some big 
-ASCAP publishers are still resist- 
ing exclusives but that other 
ASCAP publishers are now coop- 
erating with the diskers in that 
respect. That means putting more 
tunes on the market, Carlton con- 
ceded, but it also gives the disk 
company a chance to break through 
with a big hit. 

. 9 

Top Can. Tooter Board 
Nixes Appeal of Symph 
Sidemen Tagged as 'Reds’ 


Case of Supply & Demand 

New York. 

Editor, Variety: 

I cannot speak for A&R ihen 
with ofher labels, but as far as I 
am concerned, the actual thought 
of whether a song belong? to 
ASCAP or BMI never enters ,my 
mind when going over material.. 
When you stop to consider, rthat 
over. 2.000 publishing firms pe- 
riodically submit material for re- 
cording consideration, it ' simply 
boils down to a case of “Supply and 
demand: 

Frankly, I am looking for ma- 
terial which can create entertain- 
ment on records, and it makes no 
difference to me who happens to 
control the performance rights. 

If the current top sellers seem' 
to favor the BMI group in listing, 
it can only mean that the general 
public favor their product. The 
public have a unique way of mak- 
ing up their own minds and I as- 
sure you the average record buyer 
doesn’t care whether ASCAP, BMI, 
SESAC or any other licensing 
agency controls the performance 
rights so long as the song itself 
appeals to them. Songs come and 
go in what seems to be a never 
ending flow. Only a small part 
ever get to the stage of actually 
being recorded, and out of that 
amount only a small part give the 
publisher and recording company 
a return for their investment. 
From a recording standpoint, we 
have to be as selective as possible, 
with both eyes on the public for 
what they may or may not like. 
j j i i » ) 


Toronto, Nov. 4. 

Highest body they could appeal 
to, international exec board of the 
Musicians’ Union (AFL), has re- 
fused to consider the case of the 
six members of the Toronto Sym- 
phony who were fired when U. S. 
.immigration officials recently re- 
fused them entry for a Detroit 
concert on grounds the six were 
subversives. Other 79 members 
were admitted. 

Rejection by U. S. authorities 
was followed by large advertise- 
ments in all Toronto dailies, these 
paid for by so-called “liberal” 
groups charging “American domi- 
nation of Canadian musicians’ live- 
lihood,” but the Canadian Musi- 
cians’ Assn, refused to come to the 
aid- of the ousted -sextet; ‘ditto ■'tire 
Canadian Congress of Labor, of 
which the musicians’ union is an 
affiliate. 

Prior to weekend dismissal of 
the appeal to the International ex- 
ecutive, protesting delegation on 
“civil liberties” also appeared be- 
fore the Toronto city council, with 
the mayor insisting that he would 
have nothing to do with the inci- 
dent unless the six dismissed musi- 
cians appeared in person to “an- 
swer some honest questions.” 

Group had also attempted to en- 
list the aid of Lester Pearson, Sec- 
retary of State for Canada, who 
presented formal inquiries to 
Washington but was told by the 
U. S. ( State Department that^their 
decision must stand and that “there 
lias to be some way of preventing 
I the admission of known Commu- 
j njsl$.’\ covering denied entry* do 


Jimmy > Hi Ward j - 
(Decca A&R Chief) l America. 
















40 


OR€HESTlA^I»fU$V€ 


MBzIEfr 


“Wednesday, November 5, 1952 




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OKCHESTItAS-MUSIC 


41 


Wednesday, November 5, 1952 


Songs With Largest Radio Audience 

The top 30 songs of week ( more in case of ties), based on 
copyrighted Audience Coverage Index & Audience Trend Index, 
published by Office of Research , Inc., Dr. John Gray Peatman , 
Director. Alphabetically listed. 

Survey Week of October 24-30 

Because You’re Mine— -^‘Because You’re Mine” Feist 

Caravan Amer Aca 

Comes A-Long A-Lovb .■» Shapiro-B 

Everything I Have Is Yours .. ■ Robbins 

Glow Worm Marks 

Half As Much ' Acuff-R 

High Noon — t“High Noon” Frank 

I Went To Your Wedding St. Louis 

Jambalaya Acuff-R 

Lady of Spain Fox 

Meet Mr. Callaghan Leeds 

Mood Indigo Mills 

My Love and Devotion Shapiro-B 

No Two- People Feist 

Outside Of Heaven Bregman-V-C 

Punky Punkin Paxton 

Roses Of Yesterday.. Berlin 

Ruby and the Pearl Famous 

Solitude , ’ Mills 

Somebody Loves Me— t“Somebody Loves Me” Harms 

Somewhere Along Way United 

Sophisticated Lady Mills 

Stay Where You Are Broadcast 

Takes Two to Tango Harman 

Thanks to You Paramount 

To Know You (Is To Love You). Roncom 

Walkin’ My Baby Back Home DeSylva-B, H 

Wish You Were Here — *“Wish You Were Here” Chappell 

You Belong To Me. Ridgeway 

Yours Marks 

Second Group 

A Shoulder to Weep On . Laurel 

Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart Hill M R 

Blues In Advance Hollis 

Down by the O-hi-o Forster 

Early Autumn Cromwell 

Forgetting You DeSylva-B,H 

“I” Sherwin 

If ’n Disney 

Keep It a Secret Shapiro-B 

Live Oak Tree Burvan 

Lover Famous 

Nina Never Knew Jefferson 

Once In a While Miller 

Sinner Or Saint Witmark 

Sieepytime' Gal* ;-. . ....... ;v. . . Miller 

String Along Regent 

There’s a Ship Coming In . . . . Amusement 

Till The End Of The World Southern 

Voters on Parade Morris 

Whispering Serenade Chappell 

You’ll Never Get Away Bourne 

Zing a Little Zong — t‘*Just For You” Burvan 

Top 10 Songs On TV 

Half as Much Acuff-R 

I Went to Your Wedding. St. Louis 

Jambalaya Acuff-R 

Punky Punkin Paxton 

Somewhere Along the Way... .United 

South Rampart Street Pr.rade Feist 

Trick or Treat Disney 

Trying Smith 

Wish You Were Here — ’•‘‘‘Wish You Were Here” . . . .Chappell 
You Belong to Me Ridgeway 

FIVE TOP STANDARDS 

Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend Robbins 

Do I Worry Melody Lane 

I Whistle a Happy Tune Williamson 

Thine Alone Witmark 

This Can’t Be Love Chappell 

t Filmusical. * Legit musical. 


Talent Agencies Follow Disk Sip 
By Booking Vocalists in ‘Hot’ Areas 


New England On 
Hillbilly Binge 

Boston, Nov. 4. 

Spurred on by ever-increasing 
takes by country artists on tour in 
New England, that section’s radio 
is programming more and more of 
the rural flavored ditties. Area’s 
disk jockey offerings are headed by 
Nelson Bragg, who aires daily from 
Boston’s WCOP, where he has been 
building for past year. • Other 
names of note, are Jerry Clemans, 
Tvho has been getting full approval 
of WDEV heads in Waterbury, Vt., 
for his across-the-board a, xp. stint; 
and Clarence Kneeland, who holds 
forth from WICH in Norwich, 
Conn,, and WERI in Westerly, R.I 

WNLC in Groton, Conn., is clear- 
ing time for vet d. j. “Cousin 
Johnny” Small, who recently re- 
signed from similar duties at 
WOCB in West Yarmouth, Mass., 
when recalled to active duty with 
the Armed Forces at Groton’s Coast 
Guard Institute. This is station’s 
first country spinning enterprise 
and will necessitate the building of 
a rural wax library. 

WPAW in Pawtucket, R. I., 
launched a new country record pro- 
gram tagged “Country Song Party” 
on Sept. 29 with A1 Roberts doing 
the spinning chores. Roberts is a 
veteran in the field,- having had 


similar duties for two years at 
KHMO in Hannibal, Mo. New show 
aires Monday through Friday from 
1:15 to 1:55 p. m. . WPAW is also 
adding a special section to their 
library for the new classification. 

While sections of New England 
have long been recognized in coun- 
try circles musically, the past year 
has brought ' out general coverage 
for artist’s appearances, record 
sales and radio work. Manufactur- 
ers, booker and managers are 
watching this section closely as 
“the new frontier for Tennessee- 
styled promotion.” 


AFM Bite 

■ -"j Continued from page 37 * 

instituted, the disk companies have 
raised prices on their single re- 
leases by over 10% and Petrillo is 
expected to use this fact as the 
major argument for a bigger cut 
for the musicians. The disk com- 
panies, on the other hand, fear that 
a bigger cut for the musicians may 
necessitate another price hike to 
maintain their slim profit margin. 

The MPTF has been collecting 
about $1,000,000 annually from the 
licensed disk companies. Many lo- 
cal AFM leaders hold ‘this figure 
to be too small to support the un- 
employed tooters in their ranks. A 
5% bite, however, would raise the 
figure to $5,000,000, a total that 
union execs believe could help the 
jobless situation. 


Country Chatter 

Jimmy Dickens guests with Red 
Foley on his Nov. 8 Prince Albert 
“Grand Ole Opry” show, Martha 
Carson takes the spot the follow- 
ing Saturday (15). 

Ambrose Haley (KHMO-Hanni- 
bal, Mo. singer and jockey) due 
in Nashville Nov. 8. 

Eddy Arnold set for Houston’s 
1953 Fat Stock Show by manager 
Tom Parker. 

Long known in country circles 
for his all night WRVA record 
show from Richmond, Va., Sam 
Workman recently gave up the an- 
nouncing duties to return to full 
time farming. Cuzzm Don McGraw 
has taken over the honors at 
WRVA after • resignation from 
similar duties at WFHG in Bristol, 
Va. 

Tom Edwards who spins pop 
records daily on Cleveland’s WERE 
has just started a Saturday morn- 
ing country show. 

Smiley Burnette set to headline 
a series of TV films for coast to 
coast release. Work will be han- 
dled by Radiozark Enterprises of 
Springfield, Mo., which also han- 
dles Burnette’s radio work. 

Free lancer Fred Wamble of 
Birmingham taking over three- 
hour show on WAPI each Friday 
night beginning Nov. 21 with coun- 
try records. 

Bill Thall, m.c. of WLW’s Cin- 
cinnati country programs, lost his 
wife in Cincinnati Oct. 31. 

Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper 
with their Clinch Mountain ■Olan 
just returned from two very suc- 
cessful weeks in Canada, on per- 
sonals. With them on the tour 
were Cowboy Phil, Golden West 
Girls and Big Slim, all WWVA 
Wheeling, W. Va., artists. 

Capitol’s Redd Harper set for 
Indiana religious appearance this 
week (3-9) 

Biff Collie, Houston KNUZ 
country platter pilot, out with two 
new original sides on Specialty. 
This is Collie’s first recording 
effort for national, distribution 
after a indie label release in the 
Texas area. 

Baton Rouge’s singer and d. j., 
A1 Robinson, recuperating at home- 
after a local hospital confinement. 

Louisville’s Decca distrib, Alan 
Stephens, was host to 25 of the 
area’s leading artists, jockeys, and 
music men last week honoring 
label’s new singer, Jimmy Logs- 
den, who spins country records at 
WINN in Louisville. 

Nick Lucas, The Singing Trouba- 
dour of some years back, signed 
with Tom Spinosa of Cavalier Rec- 
ords to do many of the old 
favorites. 

2-Party Straggle 
For 892 Control 

The election fight for control of 
Local 802, American Federation of 
Musicians/ has settled Into a two- 
party struggle between the admin- 
istration’s Blue Ticket, and the op- 
position’s Musicians’ Ticket. Bal- 
loting is set for Dec. 4 in N. Y. 

Sam Suber, incumbent prexy, 
will again head the Blue Ticket 
while A1 Manuti, veteran oppo- 
sitionist, will be. the rival stand- 
ard-bearer. Dick McCann, former 
Local 802 prexy, has come out of 
retirement to run again with the 
Blues for the executive board in 
view of the defection of A1 Knopf 
and Hy Jaffe from the administra- 
tion ranks. Knopf is ' vice-prexy 
‘Candidate and Jaffe is running for 
treasurer for the Musicians’ 
Ticket. 

U. S. Pub Wants to Join 
Austria’s AKM to Get 
U. S. Performance Coin 

Vienna, Oct. 29. 

A unique situation arose in the 
Austrian Society of Authors, Com- 
posers and Music Publishers 
(AKM), when Robert H. Green- 
well of Washington, D. C., applied 
for membership on the grounds 
that ASCAP in the U. S. refuses to 
account for music published by 
him as American citizen in the 
U. S. 

Greenwell acquired the rights 
for English speaking countries 
from various European publishers, 
among them Astoria Verlag, Vien- 
na. Despite the fact that an inter- 
national agreement among the 
various licensing societies makes 
it obligatory for each independent 
society to account for works reg- 
istered by their members, ASCAP 
has allegedly refused membership 
for Greenwell-, and did not account 
for any of the songs. 


RCA Starts New Radio, 
TV, Disk Plant in Rome 

Rome, Oct. 28. 

Radio Corp. of America has 
broken ground just outside of this 
city for the new RCA manufactur- 
ing plant, to be constructor soon. 
The Rome unit will make disks, 
radios, and electronic equipment. 
Later, it will go into the manufac- 
ture of TV sets. Rome will* be the 
center of supplies for Italy, Swit- 
zerland and the Near East. The 
machinery and equipment will be 
brought from New York. 

RCA will not make new record- 
ings, at least for the present, but 
bring in the masters from the 
U. S. and make the pressings here 
as the public demands. The new 
plant is privately financed with 
American money. • * 


Victor Launches 
Pop Sales Drive 

RCA Victor Is launching its big- 
gest sales drive of the year this 
month in a move to get wide cover- 
age in the pop field prior to the 
anticipated Christmas season rush. 
Company toppers have selected 12 
pop singles, two albums, five coun- 
try releases and three blues and 
rhythm entries for the concentrat- 
ed promotional push. 

Victor’s whole field staff has 
been alerted to join the sales drive 
with special promotional material 
for retailers, local disk jockeys and 
jukebox operators. Push is being 
supplemented by heavy advertising J 
coverage for the four-week period. 

WJJD ‘Suppertime Frolic’ 
Hayseed Bonanza, With 
17-Year Record as SR0 

Chicago, Nov. 4. 

Although Chicago has never held 
a place as a major center of coun- 
try music, it has produced a radio- 
program for over 17 years that has 
held one of the largest radio audi- 
ences on record. Long recognized 
as one of the nation’s leading hay- 
seed promotions, WJJD’s “Supper- 
time Frolic” is now in it’s 18th year 
on the air. Ever since its begin- 
ning in 1935 there has been a wait- 
ing list of sponsors. 

Randy Blake began direction of 
the show in 1935 for agency, Ben- 
son & Dali, Inc., which spot he con- 
tinues to hold. Show began utiliz- 
ing live talent but with the rebuild- 
ing of the record industry the for- 
mat gradually switched to records. 

Currently and for recent years 
the show has held over two hours 
of WPPD’s choicest time. Cur- 
rent agency handling program is 
O’Neil, Larson & McMahon, which 
is a reorganization of original firm 
with offices in Chicago. 

Morris Preps Cornball 
Song Folio for South 

Influence cf the NashVille elc- 
i ment in current 'pop music is be- 
ginning to take effect in future 
planning of some of the major 
publishing firms* educational de- 
partments. . The pubberles now 
are angling their material at the 
corn belt and revamping their 
standard stuff with country appeal. 

Sparking 1 the educational depart- 
ment drive into the alfalfa groove 
is E. H. Morris Mudic. Phil Lang, 
who heads Morris’ educational 
division currently is prepping 
folios for use solely in Southern 
schools. Lang points out that the 
“Big 10” folio, firm’s biggest seller 
in the east and midwest, doesn’t 
sell at all in the south. “They’ve 
got different marching songs down 
there and different holidays,” he 
said, “and we’ve got to start giving 
them instrument and/or band ar- 
rangements of such numbers as 
“Sioux City Sue,” “Pistol Packin’ 
Mama” and “Somewhere In Old 
Wyoming.” 

Lang has been lining up South- 
ern colleges and high schoolr on 
deals to publish arrangements of 
all their hymns and marching 
songs. 


Talent agencies’ booking pat- 
tern of vocalists in... their stable 
has been steadily shifting with disk 
trends. The agencies, which have 
been latching on to new artists as 
soon as their platters break 
through, now are centering their 
booking drives on areas where the 
disk is making the most noise. The 
agency men claim that a new 
vocalist’s disk can be “breaking in 
Philly” where they can command a 
high price for a personal appear- 
ance date and still have no impact 
at all in Cleveland where theatres 
or niteries aren’t interested at any 
price. • 

The agency submissions now de- 
pend on the area where the artists* 
disk impact is strongest. Through 
trade paper charts and record 
company distributor reports, the 
agencies learn where they can get 
the most coin for their property. 

The spot booking practice- has 
been pointed up in recent months 
with the breakthrough on wax of a 
flock of young warblers. In to- 
day’s highly competitive market, 
the newcomers’ waxings start mov- 
ing out slowly in separate terri- 
tories via disk jockey spins and dis- 
tributor drives. The agencies, 
therefore, gear their submissions 
to disk sales reports. 

Spot booking technique was 
launched initially by agencies han- 
dling rhythm & blues artists. Shaw 
Artists, for example, maneuvers 
its roster so that each artist can be 
appearing in cities where their 
disk impact is strongest. 

In the pop field, the William 
Morris Agency is following along 
the same lines with its new acquisi- 
tion, Joni James. Miss James, 
whose etching of “Why Don’t You 
Believe Me” on the M-G-M label 
has topped the 200,000 mark, is 
racking up her biggest sales in the 
Philadelphia and Chicago area. Ac- 
cording to diskery sales reports, 
Philly and Chi account for more 
than 100,000 of the national sales 
total. Morris, therefore is pitch- 
ing her at Philly (she’s currently 
at the Rendezvous Room there) 
and at Chi. They also are begin- 
ning to plant interest in the Bcs- 
ton-Hartford axis where the disk 
is beginning to make some noise. 
Another example of the follow-the- 
disk trend is thrush Karen Chand- 
ler’s personal appearance concen- 
tration in the New England states. 
Although the Coral Records chirp 
has made little impact in the 
market on the national scale t her 
platters are big in New England so 
that’s where she’ll play until they 
break elsewhere. 

Satchmo’s Sock Biz On 
European Tour Credited 
To Big Disk Popularity 

Genoa, Oct. 28. 

In its latest swing through Eu- 
rope, the Louis Armstrong unit, 
composed of singer Velma Middle- 
ton, Arvell Shaw, Bob McCracken, 
Trummy Young, Napoleon Marty 
and Cozy Cole, once more has been 
making sizable dents in local box- 
offices. Crowds and enthusiasm 
have been even greater on this 
jaunt than on Satchmo’s preceding 
sock tour. And again extra police 
protection at all dates has been 
necessary. The new spurt in pop- 
ularity, principally credited to *iisk 
penetration and related publicity, 
has amazed Armstrong. 

Tour, which started Sept. 25 with 
a swing through Scandipavia, and. 
then going through Belgium, Hol- 
land and Germany, continues its 
Italian itinerary following two 
shows yesterday (27) here. Italian 

dates include""" Milan, Florence,' 

Turin, Prato, and Rome. In the 
Italian capital, the unit will lense 
a number for a yet untitled Italian 
pic. Band then does two Dutch 
dates, four in Switzerland and 12 
in France, before heading for 
Africa and shows at Oram, Casa* 
blanca, and Algiers. Trip Is sched- 
uled to wind up in Paris, Nov. 24. 
Tour was packaged directly from 
New York. 


Kennecott’s Symph Coin 

Salt Lake City, Nov. 4. 

Kennecott Copper has pacted 
with KSL, CBS outlet, to air 13 
broadcasts of the Utah Symphony, 
starting Jan. l.° Sessions are one 
hour each, with four shows live 
and the rest tapes of previous Tab- 
ernacle concerts. 


42 


ORCHKSTRAS-MUSIC 


PfistiEfr 


Wednesday, November 5, 1959 


10 Best Sellers on Coin-Machines ?! 

"♦ ♦♦ + + 4- M I • » M -4-4 

1. I WENT TO YOUR WEDDING (8) (St. Louis) ! . . Patti Page Mercury 

1 Jo Stafford Columbia 

2. YOU BELONG TC ME (10) (Ridgeway) {Jean Martin Capitol 

3. GLOW WORM (6) (Marks) Mills Bros Decca 

"4. TRYING (4) (Randy Smith) Hillloppers Dot 

5. J AMBALAYA (9) (Acuff-R) , Jo Stafford Colmnbia 

6. MEET MR. CALLAGHAN (7) (Leeds) Les Paul-Mary Ford . ... .Capitol 

7. WHY DON’T YOU BELIEVE ME 4) (Brandon) Joni James M-G-M 

8. TAKES TWO TO TANGO (3) (Harman) Pearl Bailey Coral 

( Nat (King) Cole Capitol 

9. BECAUSE YOU’RE MINE (2) (Feist) (Mario Lanza Victor 

10. WISH YOU WERE HERE (12) (Chappell) Eddie Fisher Victor 


■< ► 

- ► 


X 


Second Group 


YOURS (Marks) 

HIGH NOON (9) (Feist) 


* ; Vera Lynn London y 

J Frankie Laine Columbia y 

* • j Bill Hayes •*. . . MGM * ’ 

I LAUGHED AT LOVE (Redd Evans) Sunny Gale ...Victor y 

HALF AS MUCH (8) (Acuff-R) * Rosemary Clooney Columbia 

Eddie Fisher Victor y 


| Vera Lynn London -- 

l Eddy Howard Mercury y 


LADY OF SPAIN (Fox) 

AUF WIEDERSEH’N (17) (Hill-R) 

X OUTSIDE OF HEAVEN (B.V.C.) Eddie. Fisher Victor f 

COMES ALONG A-LOVE (Shapiro-B) Kay Starr Capitol -- 

J YOU’LL NEVER GET AWAY (Bourne) D. Corncll-T. Brewer Coral 

+ EARLY AUTUMN (Cromwell) J° Staff o~d Columbia „ ’ 

STRING ALONG (Regent) . . ... ... Ames Bros Coral 

t INDIAN LOVE CALL (Harms) • Slim Whitman ....... .Imperial 

X FOOL, FOOL, FOOL (Progressive) Kay Starr Capitol 

WALKIN’ TO MISSOURI (Hawthorne) Sammy Kaye Columbia ^ 

MY LOVE AND DEVOTION (Shapiro-B) Perry Como Victor y 

— ,„ T .. _ v \Nat (King) Cole Capitol ,, 

+ SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY (8) (United) (Tony Bennett Columbia -- 

I LUNA ROSSA .Alan Dean MGM J 

(Figures tn parentheses indicate number oj weeks song has been in the Top 101 



Erroll Gamer plays a three-day 
date at the Bolero Club, Newark, 
Nov, 7-8-9 . . . Matty Matthews 
named Sammy Kaye band manager 
. . . Danny Sutton 'opens at Frank 
Palumbo’s Club, Philly, tomorrow 
(Thurs.) . . . Bette McLaurin into 
Birdland, N. Y., tomorrow (Thurs.) 
for two weeks . . . Art Tatum 
opened at the Ebony Club, Cleve- 
land, Monday (3) . . . Austin 
Powell orch opens at the Rendez- 
vous Room, Philly, tonight (Wed.). 


On the Upbeat 


New York 

A1 Calder handling disk promo- 
tion for Don Cornell and Tony 
Alamo ... Harry Belafonte began 
a four-week engagement at the 
Boulevard, L. I., last week (30* . . . 
Alan Dean opens at the Ranch 
House, Johnston, R. I., tomorrow 
(Thurs.) . . . Eydie Gorme, new 
Coral Records pactee, out on a 
three-week disk jockey trek 


sino, Philly, tomorrow (Thurs.) . . . 
Vaughn Monroe plays a two-day 
date at the MeadovVbrook, Cedar 
Grove, N. J., Nov, 8-9 . . . Gene 
Ammons orch opens at the Glass 
Bar, St. Louis, Friday (7) . . . Nat 
(King) Cole into La Vie En Rose, 
N. Y , Dec. 5 . . . Nellie Lutcher 
booked into Storyville, Boston, for 
one week beginning Nov. 10 . . . 
Billy May orch pencilled into the 

Hotel Statler, N. Y., for March 23 
. . . Illinois Jacquet orch into the 


.through the east and midwest . . M v 91 

Georgia Gibbs into the Latin Ca- Apollo Theatre, N. Y., Nov, 21 



JILLA WEBB 

Sings 

THE LOVE IN t MY BABY'S 
YOUR EYES I ARMS 


MOM 11328 
K 11328 


78 RPM 
*45 RPM 


MGM RECORDS 

THE G * : £ ’ t. i T \ A V ? \ F N ’ t ? ' A \ v 5 \ 


** . r \ r ’.v • O P - ■ ■■ 


Chicago 

Bill Bailey, Chicago western tee- 
vee performer, is forming his own 
orchestra and will make midwest- 
em appearances in addition to us- 
ing the band on video . . . Chuck 
Cabot signed for two weeks at 
Melody Mill Nov. 12 . . . Lee Ben- 
nett set by Frank Hogan as the 
first band for new Chevy Chase 
Country Cltib Ballroom Nov. ( 7 . . . 
Leo Peiper pacted for Oh Henry 
dancery Dec. 3 for three frames 
with Ray Pearl coming in Dec. 25 
for an indefinite run. Peiper plays 
the Tulsa Club, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 
Dec. 25 for a week for a reported 
$4,000 . . . Henry Busse goes into 
the Texas Hotel, Ft. Worth, Dec. 
31 for four weeks . . . Delta 
Rhythm Boys and Will Mahoney 
headline at the Home Show, Sioux 
Falls, S. D., Nov. 25 for a week 
and then the Delta group comes 
into the Blue Note Dec. 5 with 
Terry Gibbs Sextet. Blue Note 
then brings >back Duke Ellington 
Dec. 19 and follow with Dave Bru- 
beck’s combo Jan. 2 . . . Buddy 
Charles held over at Colony Club, 
Omaha . . . Jimmy Featherstonc 
plays the Muehlebach Hotel, K. C., 
two weeks opening Dec. 3 . . . Don 
Reid is in for three weeks at the 
Peabody Hotel, Memphis, Dec. 3, 
following Buddy Morrow Nov. 17 
. . . Jimmy Palmer does a repeat 
at the Lake Club, Springfield, 111., 
Nov. 12 for nine days. 

PitttbuTgh 

. Johnny Morgan, out of the Army, 
is the new trumpet man with 
Howdy Baum’s pit band at the Ca- 
sino . , . The Stuarts, who just 
closed a long engagement at Bill 
Green’s cocktail lounge, depart 
Dec. 1 for a 17-week USO-Camp 
Shows tour of Europe opening in 
Glasgow" , T . inidegarde brings 
her own orch to the Horizon Room 
Monday (10) so AI Marsico will 
switch that week to the Vogue 
Terrace , . . Bemie Armstrong’s 
first two sides for Dorset records, 
“Queen of the Nile” and “Could 
It Be,” have just been released. 
Armstrong uses his KDKA staff 
outfit, plus a string choir, with 
vocals by Margie Ray, brought on 
from the West Coast for the as- 
signment . . . Al DlLemie Trio 
spoked now in the William Penn 
Hotel 5 4 Terrace Room for dinner 
sessions as well as the Continental 
Bar for cocktail stanzas , Billy 
t* a d option picked Up 
at Hotel Roosevelt’s Sylvan Room 
. . , Lee Kelton’s band landed two 
S?£ ur<1 * y ni 8ftt bookings (15-29) 
thrs month at William Penn Tav- 
ern . . , Zany-Acs into Bill Green’s 
cocktailery . Nino Nanni back 
into Monte Carlo, for three weeks. 


Inside Orchestras-Music 

I 

; 

Unusual sleeper-record possibility has resulted from ex-U. of p \ 
Mask & Wig Show writer Pat Ballard discovering some dusty mss in '' 
his trunk, dating back to the early '20s. Ballard picked a couple of ' 
unpublished oldies and called a quick recording session this summer i 
using top name-record musicians and singers who weren’t busy, under I 
the moniker "The Merry weathers.” He turned the masters over m ! 
Graham Prince, Cadillac Itecord prexy, and played the dubs for a I 
bunch of Yale students who happened to be at a wedding party Bal- 1 
lard attended. Result was the New Havenites flipped on a claD-hanri* ' 
cornball called "Clinging Vine” and Ballard is getting a strong reac- 1 
tion from other coliege groups. The record is backed with another ! 
unpublished oldie, "Tears, Tears, Tears.” i 

Ballard has set up an ASCAP pubbery to handle the tunes, and anv I 
others that might emerge, from the time he was the top dance band. ^ 
leader on the. U. of P. campus, employing Ted Weems as trombonist ■ 
and Art Weems on. trumpet. . . f 


Although sheet music • dealers generally wait for a tune to break ' 
out on records before stocking up on the song, there’s been an un- I 
precedented rush on Johnny Marks’, new Xmas entry, "The Night i 
Before Christmas Song.” • Initial • etching, Rosemary Clooney-Gene I 
Autry tandem via Columbia, won’t hit the market until next week but 
already more than 100,000 sheet copies, including the rack, have been ! 
peddled around the country. Tune was adapted by Marks from the I 
fave Clement Moore poem, "The Night Before Christmas.” Marks i 
incidentally, also is the publisher and composer of the click, "Ru’ I 
dolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” \ 

Frank Luther, who's been specializing in the kidisk field for Decca I 
Records, gets his first crack in the pop field in more than four yeai*s 
with this week’s release of "I’ll Ring You Up” and "Jig a Jig Jig.*' 
Luther, however, Is still training his sights on the kiddie platter. Last 
week he hit the market with 10 new juve entries. j 


Decca founder Jack Kapp’s pioneering of showtune albums back In 
1930’s was spotlighted by the N. Y. Times in its special Sunday (3) 
record supplement. Kapp’s initial venture in the original cast field 
Was with the union-sponsored legit revue, "Pins and Needles,” from 
which Decca packaged a two-disk album. Later, Decca issued another 
set of four sides from "Panama Hattie” with Ethel Merman. 

Kapp’s most successful •venture In the cast album field was, of 
course, "Oklahoma,” in 1943: It was the first time that a complete I 
score of a Broadway musical was put on wax and proved to be a ! 
smash. The "Oklahoma” album hay since gone over 1,500,000 in sales, j 


When Frank M> Folsom, returned from his five-week European sur- 
vey exploring expanding .merchandising horizons, the RCA prexy 
found,, he had won a strange prize which dated back to the midsummer 
replacement by Ed.dy Arnold t>f Perry Como on the Chesterfield show. 
Folsom rarely goes tp such shindigs, but because both are top RCA i 
Victor artists and, more to the point, personal friends of the RCA • 
topper, Folsom went and participated m an Intra-company raffle, con- \ 
cerning which he had forgotten. He later found out he was the winnah. j 
The prize? — an RCA Victor portable three-way phonograph. Just the j 
thing he needed. 


As a result of the action on the E. B. Marks tune, "Yours,” following 
Vera Lynn’s etching for London, Vaughn Monroe has been assigned 
to cut the tune for RCA Victor for the second time. He originally 
waxed the number for Victor in 1941. Number is an adaptation of j 
the Latin standard, "Quiereme Mucho.” j 

Monroe, incidentally, hit the market with an unusually large num- 
ber of releases in October, with Victor releasing four disks and an 
album of college tunes. One of the sides, "Voters on Parade,” was a 
public service waxing to get out the vote for yesterday’s (Tues.) elec- 
tion. I 


Woody Herman, who has organized his own label. Mars Records, for j 
his own band etchings, recently sat in with the Leon Kelner band in i 
New Orleans’ on a recording session. The disk will be released on the | 
M-G-M label. Herman is featured on one of the sides, "I Cried for ■ 
You,” as lead alto and vocalist. The bandleader, incidentally, worked j 
for “M-G-M before exiting for his indie enterprise. i 


T 1 

Writers of "I,” ballad recently plattered for Decca by Don Cornell, J 
may have achieved distinction of producing ditty with shortest title j 
ever known. It’s hard to see ho.w.’X’ could be improved on for brevity. \ 

Runnerup, • perhaps,- is a- 1019- opus by Howard Johnson and Byron j 
Gay, titled “O,” but this was followed by "Oh!” in parenthesis, thus: \ 
0(Oh!) , I 


Erroneous report that British songwriter Jimmy Kennedy, a long- 
time resident in the U.. S., had become an American citizen resulted 
in recent British tax difficulties for Kennedy. Tax authorities in- 
formed him that 50% of his British earnings would be withheld if the 
report were true. Kennedy is actually an alien resident in the U. S. 
and does not plan to give up his British citizenship. 


Shellac Is Plentiful 
So Cap Is Scrapping 
All Returned Platters 

With plenty of shellac on hand ' 
for the manufacture of new plat- j 
ters, Capitol Records is continuing 
its policy of permitting dealers to 
destroy the shellac platters they’re 
allowed ~to" return" on tlie - dealers’' 
5% privilege plan instead of send- 
ing them back to the diskery. Pol- 
icy was instituted early this year, 
and according to Cap execs will 
remain in force as long as the sup- 
ply remains plentiful and the price 
stays down. 

Cap’s shellac requirements have 
been greatly reduced since its 
plants began using a blending of 
ethyl cellulose and shellac. How- 
ever, if the market price of shellac 
begins to rise the diskery will ask 
dealers to start sending the plat- 
ters back in order to maintain its 
shellac scrap heap. Practice of hav- 
ing dealers destroy shellac records 
was launched by RCA - Victor in 
1950. Victor, however, is now tak- 
ing back the shellac returns. 






The following merchandise has been "picked for potenticll ,, — based on 
immediate and sharp reaction from record buyers, deejays, dealers and 
coin-operators across the country. These are your Best Bets ... top of the 
chart merchandise! 


PLAY 'EM! 
PUSH 'EM! 
PROMOTE 'EM! 


POP SINGLES 


Listed numerically, position does not 
indicate sales performance. 


ORDER BLANK 
45 78 


10/4M9U BECAUSE YOU’RE MINE • THE SONG ANGELS. SING . . . . Mario Lanza 

20/47-4830 WISH YOU WERE HERE 9 THE HAND OF FATE ....... Eddie Fisher 

20/47-4926 BLUES IN ADVANCE • BELLA MUSICA. . . . Dinah Shore 

20/47-4953 LADY OF SPAIN f OUTSIDE OF HEAVEN . ........ .Eddie Fisher 

20/47-4959 TO KNOW YOU IS TO LOVE YOU * MY LADY LOVES TO DANCE Perry Como 

20/47-4,92 KEEF IT A' SECRET* Hi LILLi; HI L0 . Dinah shore 

20/47-4997 FANDANGO • BLUE VIOLINS . Hugo Winterhalter 

20/47-5008 SLEEPY TIME GAL * DANCE OF DESTINY . T«»y Martin 

»«» SHOULDER TO WEEP ON • WHY DON’T YOU DELIEVE ME. . June Vaiii 

20/47-5022 I’D DO IT AGAIN * I DON’T CARE . . . DamitaJo 

20/47-5038 CHRISTMAS DAY • THAT’S WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME Eddie Fisher 
20/47-5041 GREYHOUND * STAIRWAY TO THE STARS ... . . Budd, m»„»w 


COUNTRY 


WESTERN 


I WENT TO YOUR WEDDING * THE BOOGIE 

WOOGIE FLYING CLOUD . . Hank Snow 

OLDER AND BOLDER • I’D TRADE ALL OF MY TOMORROWS Eddy a™m 

20/47-5009 THE CRAZY WALTZ • TENNESSEE TANGO . . . . PeeWeeKing' 

20/47-5034 A FOOL SUCH AS I * THE GAL WHO INVENTED KISSIN’. . . Hants™. 

»'«■* DONT LET THE STARS GET IN YOUR EYES • THE 

ONLY ONE I EVER LOVED I LOST . , Johonie & Jack 

RHYTHM AND BLUES 

20/47-4835 I WENT TO YOUR WEDDING * WAIT . . . . Damita Jo 

20/47-5004 WE’RE GONNA ROCK THIS JOINT * I’M THE BIGGEST FOOL . Jackson Bros.’ Orch. 

»'«•»« YOU BELONG TO ME • WANNA GO HOME . . . . . . ... Benny Carter 


ALBUMS 

P-EPB-LPM-3058 (78-45-33 1/3) |’||| |f| THE MOOD FOR LOVE . . 
P‘EPB-LPM-3065 (78-45-33 1/3) CHRISTMAS WITH EDDIE FISHER 


cans 


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Eddie Fisher 
Eddie Fisher 




WRITE, WIRE OR 
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Your Nearest Distributor 




44 OECH£STIIA^Bnj$IC 

_ l _ t __ujc<r~xm — rr — — — -• ^ ■ — nr j,, ~ "i— mum 


Room for Another Gershwin 

r _ Continued from page 37 ~ — 


recalls, “a Victor man named John 
Kaiser brought in a Victor singer 
called John Meyer, and I wanted 
Mr. Harms to go into the record 
business. He said he knew noth- 
ing about that; music publishing is 
my business, he said, and of course 
we all now know the answer. 
Frankly, while music publishing 
still is all our business. I almost 
can’t fathom why anybody would 
want to buy sheet music today, the 
way it’s thrown at you, from all 
sides, in all forms, mechanically, 
electronically and, I must say 
painlessly. It’s cheaper to buy a 
phonograph than a piano and teach 
the kids piano lessons.” 

Must Sell Sheets 

But despite this resignation to 
modernity, Dr§yfus adds, “You 
could sell 1,000,000 records of any- 
thing, but I still don’t call it a hit 
unless it also sells sheet music. 
Still, the Warner Bros, group can 
continue in business indefinitely, 
collecting over $1,000,000 annually 
from ASCAP, its mechanicals and 
synchronizations, and make a hand- 
some profit.” 

Sitting in his Hotel Astor suite 
overlooking Times Square, Drey- 
fus likened the hostelry to the 
music business. He is probably its 
oldest permanent guest. His pres- 
ent suite was occupied by the late 
Charles Dillingham, and later by 
Billy Rose. After the 11 p.m. thea- 
tre break “this street is quieter 
than my farm in Brewster; you 
don’t even hear a dog bark, and 
it’s right here in the heart of 
Times Square.” 

“When Broadway was in its first 
growing pains,” Dreyfus continues, 
“the Astor established itself as the 
capital of the arts, Toscanini, Puc- 
cini,. the opera . singers and other 
greats were all here on the cuff. 
When that tradition of catering to 
the greats passed, they left the As- 
tor and never came back. The mu- 
sic game is like the Astor. It will 
never be the same, but like opera, 
Which is enjoying an increasing 
popular boom, there may be a 
renaissance. 

“We see signs of it periodically 
in the song revivals. That means 
that, despite the Johnnie Rays and 
the ‘new sounds’ and the Mitch 
Miller gimmicks in recording they 
(the public) still want some of that 
old quality back. But at the same 
time we must not overlook that 
there should be room for new per- 
sonalities. You hear them cussing 
at the Mitch Millers, but what does 
it mean? It means a healthy re- 
spect for the modern. Johnnie 
Ray has done some of our things, 
such as “Walking My Baby Back 
Home,” but the fact that he’s not 
my idea of a singer — I who have 
been weaned on John Charles 
Thomas and John McCormack — 
doesn’t make them wrong nor me 
right. 

Known for Quality 

“But if there is room for these 
ultra-modem manifestations, there 



is also room for quality. This I de- 
plore. That’s why I say the doors 
are wide-open and have been wide- 
open for another Gershwin, Kern, 
Youmans or Herbert, Nobody new 
has come along of any stature, ex- 
cepting a Frank Loesser. Where 
are the new Irving Berlins? Sure 
they’ve all had non-productive 
periods. Didn’t Oscar Hammerstein 
take that classic ad in Variety 
one Christmas, right after ‘Okla- 
homa!’ was such a hit, to state, T’ve 
done it before and I can do it 
again’, meaning he can be a flop 
again? But that now seems unlike- 
ly. Same with Berlin. In between 
his marriage to Ellin Mackay, and 
through the 1929 market crash, he 
just couldn’t seem to hit his, stride. 
But there • probably will never be 
another Berlin in our time or in 
the future. 

“Time and health have little to 
do with creation. Kern is a classic 
example of a man who got even 
better as his health was failing 
him, as witness ‘All the Things You 
Are’. Victor Herbert wrote his big- 
gest popular success, ‘A Kifes in the 
Dark,’ in the last six months of his 
life. Kern, Herbert, Berlin, Ham- 
merstein — they all had non-produc- 
tive years, and Oscar is particular- 
ly proud of it because it proved he 
toTild take it. Now many of the old- 
timers are trying harder once 
again. Whether they can achieve 
that renaissance is not for me to 
say. History proves they can. And 
then I point to my little joke about 
the Hotel Astor. 

“There may well be a renaissance 
after all this mediocrity — a sort of 
popular protest against echo cham- 
bers, and clap-hands, and wailing 
sounds. 

“One thing is certain, however. 
The Copyright Law will have to be 
rewritten to conform to the mod- 
ern standards. The best ’thing that 
could happen for the publisher and 
writer is to change the compulsory 
license so that the publishers can 
deal freely, according to the best 
terms, with the mechanicals. In ac- 
tuality the old ‘graphic law’ still 
obtains. That is that the printed 
arrangement — as ‘graphed’ — must 
be played and cannot be altered 
or adapted without permission. 
However, that is an archaic statute. 
It was born at the time when* the 
pioneering record business had to 
use stock arrangements.” 

Dreyfus had something to say 
about “the Laftlbs Club influence” 
on songwriters when given a pro- 
duction to do. “They get so high- 
minded and so inhibited, because 
it's a ‘production,’ that they write 
melodies as if for the Algonquin 
or Carnegie Hall set instead of just 
writing popular songs. That’s 
where Kern, Herbert and Gersh- 
win were smart — they wrote qual- 
ity but it had popular appeal and, 
being quality, it proved durable.” 

All Kinds of Music 

On the economics of the music 
business, Dreyfus says, “The coun- 
try has never before absorbed so 
much music — all kinds of music, 
popular, western, country, hillbilly, 
musical comedy, blues, rhythm, 
highbrow, middlebrow and low- 
brow. It used to be that 50, 60, „70 
or maybe up to 100 publishers were 
supplying the music. Now there are 
over 500 publishers in- the field, 
publishers with their office in some 
jphone . booth and publishers with 
a $10,000-a-week overhead. These 
are being hurt by the inroads of so 
many of the little guys, the new- 
comers and upstarts, and also new- 
comers who will be lasting.” 

Dreyfus, meantime, continues 
operating his Chappell interests in 
America, and his brother Louis 
Dreyfus heads Chappell in Eng- 




. Another BMI "Pin Up" 

WALKIN’ B' 
THE RIVEB 

Churchill Sen 

Jubilee; Win! Brown" M u Y M S C( "' n 
Voar—Vic.; KicWd W 

lur* ' 



- • v «uv,nai 

Broadcast Music, Inc. 

T m — i— r w 


SSO Fifth Avenue, N., 
Hiwrou . . H#urMM 


Wednesday, November 5, 1952 


msia 


RETAIL DISK BEST SELLERS 


t'SRTBTf 

Survey of retail disk best 
sellers based on reports ob-* 
tained from leading stores in 
12 cities and showing com- 
parative sales retting for this 
and last week. 


National 

Rating 

This Last 
wk. wk. 


Week Ending 
. Nov. 1 

Artist, Label, Title 


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PATTI PAGE (Mercury) 

“I Went to Your Wedding” , 


3 


MILLS BROS. (Decce) 
“Glow Worm” 


4 


4 


JO STAFFORD (Columbia) 
“You Belong to Me” 


8 


6 8 


2 


2 


JO STAFFORD (Columbia) 

4 “Jambalaya” 3 


6 4 2 3 6 3 


PEARL BAILEY (Coral) 
“Takes Two to Tango” . . . 


8 6 4 8 2 . . . 


9 


EDDIE FISHER (Victor) 
“Wish Ydti Were* Here”. . 


8 9 8 


5 


6 4 


JOHNNY STANDLEY (Capitol) 
“It’s in the Book” 


8 115 


9 


8 


HILL TOPPERS (Dot) 
“Trying” 


9 6 


9 1 


9A 12 


JONI JAMES (MGM) 

“Why Don’t You Believe Me”. 


10 1 


10 


LES PAUL (papitol) 
9B 8 “Meet Mr. Callaghan”. 


7 10 . . 8 


10 10 


EDDIE FISHER (Victor) 
“Lady of Spain” 


2 7 10 


11 


6 


FRANKIE LAINE (Columbia) 
“High Noon” 


10 


9 6 


6 


12 13 


ROSEMARY CLOONEY 
“Half As Much” 


(Col) 


10 >8 


MARIO LANZA (Victor) 
13A. “Because . Your Mine”. . , 


4 


EDDIE FISHER (Victor) 
13B 11 “Outside of Heaven” . . . 




. 10 


infim Tiir*r 


KAREN CHANDLER (Coral) 

14A 14 “Hold Ale Thrill Me Kiss Me”. . . 


VERA LYNN (London) 
14B 15 “Yours” .. 


DEAN MARTIN (Capitol) 
14C 15 “You Belong to Me” 


15 15 


PATTI PAGE (Mercury) 
“You Belong to Me” 


16 .15 


FOUR ACES (Decca) 
“Just Squeeze Me” . . . 


T 

O 

T 

A 

L 

P 

0 

1 

X 

T 

S 


_99 

72 


J 56 
_54 
_37 
32 
31 
29 
_20 
20 
18 
17 
16 
14 
14 


10 


10 


10 


8 


FIVE TOP 
ALBUMS 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

WISH YOU WERE 

LIBERACE 

NEW FACES. OF 

THE MERRY WIDOW 

BIO BAND BASH 

HERI 

Columbia 

1952 

Hollywood Cast 

Billy May 

Bway Cast 

CL-6217 

lv/ay Cast 
Victor 

M-G-M 

Capitol 

Victor 

B-308 

OC-1008 

M-G-M-I57 

KCF-329 

LOC-1007 

C-308 

WOC-1008 

K-157 

DCN-329 

OC-1007- 


LOC-1008 

E-157 

L-329 


land, on the Continent and iij affili- 
ated countries. They are musical 
comedy entrepreneurs as well as 
music publishers. 

Max Dreyfus was the one who 
engineered the $8,000,000 music 
group sale to Warner Bros., and 
later brought back his Chappell 
and T. B. Harms Co. (Kern’s pri- 
vate publishing firm*, leaving 
Harms, Inc., Remick, Witmark, 
Gershwin and kindred companies 
under the WB (Herman Starr) ban- 
ner. Dreyfus also fathered the sub- 
sidiary music publishing company 
pattern for name songsmiths who 
want to go into business for them- 
selves, as partners with Chappell, 
such as Williamson Music (Rodgers 
& Hammerstein; a firm name 
coined from the same first name 
of their fathers, William Rodgers 
and William Hammerstein, latter 
having operated the famed Ham- 
merstein’s Victoria); T. B. Harms 
(Jerome Kern), etc. Also Dreyfus 
has gone along with certain name 
songsmiths, such as Cole. Porter, 
whose copyrights are exclusively In 
his name, so that he may be free 
to deal with any subsidiary rights 
more advantageously as the future 
may dictate. 


NEW KAYE ORCH HITS 
15G WEEKLY GROSS 

Sammy Kaye, who currently is 
on the second leg of his annual 
two-month swing through the east 
and midwest, racked up an average 
weekly gross of $15,000 during the 
month of October. Orch, which was 
reorganized early in the fall after 
10 sidemen exited to form their 
own band, expects to wind the one- 
niter trek with a $250,000 gross. 

Orch moves in to Jamestown, 
N. Y., tonight CWedJ and follows 
with one-nite stands in the east and 
south. 


‘The Teddy Bear Picnic’ 
Another Campaign Song 
Used for Teddy Roosevelt 

Editor , 'Variety: 

Reference Jim Walsh’s article in 
last week’s Variety concerning 
Presidential elections songs, one 
important work originally inspired 
by an election episode and first 
published in connection with a 
famous presidential campaign was 
omitted. 

I refer to “The Teddy Bears’ 
Picnic” and here is the story. Dur- 
ing the campaign of 1904 the great 
Teddy Roosevelt finding himself 
in the Black Hills country of North 
Dakota took time out at the peak 
period in the campaign to go on a 
bear-hunting picnic in the hills. 
This event so typical of the man, 
created some -national amusement 
and was quickly commemorated 
w r ith an inspired idea by the late 
W. J. Bratton in a characteristic 
musical take-off which he called 
“The Teddy Bears’ Picnic” and 
which had an immediate popular 
success. 

Originally published without 
words it was not until 1930 that 1 1 
had the good fortune to be given 
the job, one of my very first as- I 


signments in music business, by the 
late Bert Feldman of London, of 
adding lyrics which, of course, had 
to be in the kiddie field and en- 
tirely without bearing on such a 
matter as presidential campaign. It 
is of interest to note that the opus 
which made its how as an election 
skit in 1904 has since the issue of 
its first vocal recording in 1932 
given two generations of children 
throughout the English speaking 
world, one oi their favorite stand- 
ards. The Henry Hall record on 
English Columbia is currently in 
its third million and Frank De 
Vol's Capitol Recording has been a 
standard seller in U. S. for several 
years. Tune is published by Wit- 
mark. 

Jimmy Kennedy 



And His Orchestra 


ST. ANTHONY HOTEL 

SAN ANTONIO 



America's Fastest 


^Selling "Records! 










Wednesday? November 5, 1952 


tSSfflT? 



(moiESTHA->n;sio 


Band Reviews 


FREDDY MARTIN ORCH (14) 

^Vith Stuart Wade, Murray Arnold 
Hotel St. Francis, S. F. 

No other band enjoys the popu- 
larity of Martin’s in Frisco and de- 
servedly. His satin music, .spark- 
ling instrumentalisms and hep ap- 
preciation of what the public wants 
Jre a triple-parlay that pays off 
over and over again. His current 
stand is bringing in the patronage 
vdth the same impact that his pre- 
vious seances enjoyed. 

One doesn’t have to be an ex- 
pert to savvy his tunes or an 
Arthur Murray grad. to keep pace 
with his tempos. While completely 
commercial, which means that he 
keeps the room well populated, 
Martin’s music is also technically 
way and beyond the average. He 
gets the hilt from his cohorts and 
his arrangements, shading, mixing 
of moods mark him the profes- 
sional purveyor. There are three 
violins, four sax (plus Martin), five 
brass, bass, piano and drums bub 
there are moments when the out- 
put is of almost symphonic volume. 
The outfit plays big, looks big and 
is big. 

The show phase of Martin’s 


r 


the shawl collar 
tuxedo that’s making 
style news! 


0 



the original. 

tony martin 

TUXEDO 

The slender Skinner satin 
lapels make you look 
Jailer, slimmer, trimmer. 
J.he 2-ply imported 
worsted in midmte.blue 
13 lightweight enough for 
year round wear! Look 
*? r the Tony Martin 
signature on the label. 

At Better 

dealers Everywhere 



chore, which runs a hefty 40 min- 
utes, is adequate but is not as good 
as the musical portion of his 
melange. Murray Arnold is def- 
initely an asset in his 88ing and 
supplementary hoke but there ap- 
pears to be too much of him and 
some unnecessary milking detracts 
from his effectiveness. 

In Stuart Wade, who has both 
voice and appearance, Martin has 
a click performer. Wade sings 
with conviction, variation and 
color. Material also is better than 
run of mine. 

i ^ . . . ted in the Martin 

troupe is the teamwork which 
brings out the bost of th.6 orch 
as a whole and still shows off the 
individuals and sections as superior 
craftsmen. Ted. 

LEO PEEPER ORCH (II) 

With Niki Stevens 

Hotel Muehlebach, Kansas City 

Terrace Grill of the Muehlebach 
is having its second session with 
Leo Peeper in the space of a year 
and a half. This time around 
Peeper is carrying a little bigger 
crew, a new songstress, and shows 
off to better advantage conse- 
quently. 

Orch is set up essentially for 
hotels and' ballrooms and is doing 
a satisfactory job here. Instru- 
mentation is led by Peeper’s own 
work on accordion and piano, also 
listing four reeds, two trumpets, 
trombone, piano, string bass, 
drums. From this line up Peeper 
draws a variety of musical styles, 
sticking pretty close to the full 
flavorings on ballads and sweeter 
tunes, veering nearer to the two- 
beat on novelties and rhythms. 
Choice ranges among standards, 
current pops, Latins and novelties 
throughout the evening. 

In this stand Peeper outfit also 
is putting on an evening show, 
showing off its new singer, Niki 
Stevens, giving Peeper a specialty 
on the accordion and bringing in 
the crew for vocal and instrumen- 
tal support. It’s a fillip. 

Miss Stevens, who has been 
with the crew but a month, meas- 
ures up well in musical stature. 
She gives a very personable pres- 
entation in the vein of current pop 
singers. Vocal work is rounded 
out by leader who takes a frequent 
turn at baritoning and works with 
Miss Stevens in duets. 

Following its stand here crew 
works some one-nighters and re- 
turns to Chi, its regular stomping 
area. Confusion over pronuncia- 
tion of his name recently led 
leader to go phonetic and make it 
officially Peeper, instead of Pieper. 

Quin. 


ERNIE HECKSCHER ORCH (11) 
Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco 

Ernie Heckscher’s combo makes 
most of its impact as a society 
band but there is little neglect of 
the more robust tempos with the 
result that the troupe has a ^vide 
appeal for most musical slants. The 
Venetian Room in this hotel is a 
smart supper room peopled by all 
manner oi ages and tastes. Hecks- 
cher manages to keep all happy 
and most of them active on the 
dance floor.. He also plays a major 
role In supplementing and backing 
the name talent that plays here and 
on occasion when such talent has 
not been booked has been able to 
carry on and draw in the trade by 
himself. 

Playing the piano, cpleste and 
electroharp himself, his troupe of 
three saxes, two pianos, two 
violins, two trumpets, drums and 
bass prospers on an even mixing 
of the pops and faves with much 
versatility in the choice of items. 
Outfit is . smart .in . appearance and 
is in much demand for special 
events, including society clam- 
bakes. Maestro works hard and 
effectively to hely turn out a fin- 
ished product, a difficult chore in 
this broader-than-long room with 
its special problem of presentation. 

Ted. 


TEDDY PHILLIPS ORCH (12) 
With Lynn Hoyt, Julio Maro . 
Hotel Muehlebach,, Kansas City 
Teddy Phillips outfit is a new- 
comer to .the downtown scene, hav- 
ing played one-nighters here and 
in the area, but never before a lo- 
cation date such as this three-week 
stand in the Terrace Grill of Hotel 
Muehlebach. A name in the Chi 
area and a standout sax man. Phil- 
lips has a well-rounded and pol- 
ished. outfit. Biz in the room is 
solid during this stand. 

Musical output essentially . is 
keyed by the sax section, with 
leader’s work highlighting. It’s a 


Sroup, however, with 
of lour reeds, two trumpets, 

S/nS°S e ’ pair of fi d dles » piano, 
string bass and drums. With this 

I 1 !!.. 11161113110 . 11 cre w can handle 
almost anything in current de- 

r and prett Y well covers the 

nninwr cu ^ rent Pops, a generous 
portfolio of novelty numbers, a 

n? C ii standards, and sprinkling 

and Latins. 

Phillips makes a forte of enter- 

as wel1 as furnishing dance 
lnythms, and can call on a pair of 
"vocalists in blonde Lynn 
Aioyt and Julio Maro. Both are par- 
ticularly adept, Miss Hoyt han- 
dling both novelty numbers and 
ballads of the day, with Maro show- 
ing a voice of fine calibre on ro- 
mantic ballads and established 
tavontes. 

Crew gives the customers a half- 


45 


hour nightly show, and comes off 
as ace exhibition of the band’s 
versatility. Phillips handles the 
m.c. work in a session of identify- 
! jng radio commercials which works 
j in a good deal of audience partici- 
pation. Novelty turn is taken in 
I “Story of Little Nell” with three 
! band members kidding the old 
I time mellerdrammers. Miss Hoyt 
1 is featured in “Mary Had a Little 
Lamb,” a musical tour touching 
countries around the world. She 

gets a great hand from “Gee, I 
Wish I Had a Daddy in the White 
House,” and “The Chicken Song.” 
Entire band goes glee club for a 
i topnotch vocal of “Home on the 
Range,” with Miss Hoyt and Maro 
featured. Well-knit-half hour, and 
ably done. Quin. 


Austrian Tooters Union ■ 
Ask Rise on Taped Fees 

Vienna, Oct. 28. 

American-sponsored Red-White- 
Red network turned down request 
of the Musicians Union to boost 
fees 15 c /o plus a percentage for 
each playback of taped musical 
programs and musical selections. 
All Austrian networks are threat- 
ening to drop live music shows 
and turn to records, since compli- 
ance • with the demands “would 
break them.” 

Red-White-Red 'has also intro- 
duced a commercial broadcast in 
“The Answer Man,” a copy of -the 
program offered by the Blue 
Danube network, which is operat- 
ed for American forces abroad. 


The Singing Star...The Song. ..The Interpretation 

NOW GETTING INDUSTRY-WIDE ACCLAIM! 



Words by MICKEY STONER Music by PAUL WESTON 




10 staffs 9 

wit H PAUL WESTON Orchestra 


SlUMBIA RECORD #39891 


Moderately 

Am7 


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An 7 


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D7 



• ONCE TO EV-’RY HEART there comes a love di 

Bm7 ‘ . E7+5 E7-9 Am 


vine; 


D7 


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Once for ev -’ry heart 
^ — 3 » Era 7 Am 


and now it’s come to 
B7 ?ra , Bm7 


You are the an - gel, 


Bra 


t 

dear, bring-ing this gift 
Em 6 A*8B7 E 52- J, • 


T* 

so rare; 

Am? Dm7 D7 




Heav-en let you ap -pear 
A»7 B»7 


IF 

af - ter it heard my pray'r. 
k &- 3 


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Once for ev - ’ry 
Bn7 

D7 I 


heart. 


wish - es and dreams come 
E7+9 * 



7 

ONCE TO EV-’RY HEART the won-der of “I love 

* Gma17 0 Dra7 

Su 3 ...•sr-sJEwT.. A9._A7._C* r ~ — 3 . » H . 3 


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One look at you dis - clos-es, a life-time of moon- light and 


you.” 

E7. . E7.+ E7-9 Am 





3 


Am 7 D7-9 


* 






ros-es; it hap -pens ONCE TO EV - 'RY HEART. „ 

Copyright 1952 by ESSEX MUSIC, INC*, 658 Fifth Ave.,New York, N.Y. 
International Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved Made in U.S.A. 


» 

ESSEX MUSIC , I It C • £66 Fifth Av*., New York 19, N. Y. 

LORING RUZZELL, General FroftuToital Mim«4«r LUCKY WILIER, W««t R«pr#*ftt«tW* 




44 


VAIHEmtK 




Wednesday, November 5, 1952 


Another VaudfilmerKayoed as Roxy 
: Goes Ice Show Poficy Plus First Runs 


Another vaudfilmer is biting 
the dust as far as the talent agen- 
cies are concerned. The Roxy, 
N. Y., is switching to an ice pol- 
icy, one of the reasons being the 
high cost of such talent that can 
lure its own cost to the boxoffice. 
The Roxy, which has been one of 
the oldest consistent users of 
vaude in New York, will shutter for 
about two weeks around Dec. 7 
and open on or about Dec. 12 with 
a complete ice show. Some ortho- 
dox acts may be used in certain 
shows, but house will seek rink 
topliners. * 

The Roxy avoidance of high- 
priced names has renewed the 
perennial argument whether the 
agencies and/or personal manag- 
ers are doing right by the acts to 
bring up salaries to such stratos- 
pheric heights that no theatre can 
afford them and they are priced 
right out . of the vaudeville busi- 
ness, Two weeks ago, the Para- 
mount's booker, Harry Levine, re- 
volted against the $25,000 asking 

E rice of Johnnie Ray and dropped 
is option for the Christmas show. 
The Capitol took up the vacant Ray 
period. 

Instead of the Roxy revolting 
against one or several performers, 
it swore off the entire industry, 
by going in for stageshows with a 

(Continued on page 62) 



AND Hl$ ORCHESTRA 

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Currently at Chicago's 

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A SMART SINGING ACT 


JON 


ANDRA 


CARLTON and KARROL 

Just Concluded 
The HOLIDAY THEATRE 

Broadway— New York 
Mgt. AL GROSSMAN, RKO Bldg., New York 


LiH St Cyr Asks 6G 
For SJF. Booking Switch 

San Francisco, Nov. 4. 

The American Guild of Variety 
Artists has been asked to arbitrate 
a local booking controversy be- 
tween Liii St. Cyr and Nate Blu- 
menfeld, Blumenfeld Theatres. 
Beef stems from an engagement 
originally set for the stripper at 
the Downtown Theatre, now being 
demolished. Pact was then shifted 
to the T&D Theatre, Oakland. At 
this point Miss St. Cyr obtained 
a delay in date in order to take a 
Les Vegas booking. 

Subsequently, it was decided not 
to put the peeler into Oakland, 
since it was on a straight film 
policy.. Blumenfeld then sold the 
contract to Eddie Skolak of the 
President Theatre here. She ob- 
jected to the switch and demanded 
that the T&D pact be carried out. 
Miss <St. Cyr is asking $6,000, face 
amount of the original contract. 


Heme in 5-Year 
Miami And. Pact 


Miami, Nov. 4. 

Five-year pact with Dinner Key 
Auditorium here was signed by 
Sonja Henie for her ice show, with 
first stagings beginning Dec. 7 and 
running through Jan. 4 for 23 per- 
formances. 

• 1 contract calls for scheduling the 
Henie troupe for 30 performances 
each succeeding year for both 
January- and February datings. 
Auditorium manager Walter 
Clewis estimates a $15,000 to 
$30,000 rental annually through 
the period, based on a percentage 
arrangement. Setup can accommo- 
date up to 10,000 persons and was 
used heretofore chiefly for con- 
ventions. Competition in the area 
will come from nearby Coral 
Gables Coliseum which has. fea- 
tured *ice shows during the season 
for several years. 



I 


Toledo Realtor Buys 
Gayety in U.S. Auction 

Toledo, Nov. 4. 

Abe Goodman, of the Goodman 
Realty Corp., purchased the land, 
building and fixtures of the Gay- 
ety Theatre- here at a public auc- 
tion yesterday (Mon.) to satisfy 
internal revenue bureau liens 
against the owner, Jack H. Ru- 
bens. Goodman's high bid was $4,- 
300, and he assumes the mortgage 
on the property. Earlier, Rubens’ 
auto was sold to a local used car 
dealer at an auction for $625. 

Rubens and his partners, Ed- 
ward, his son, and Mrs. Pearl 
Irons were named defendants in 
a lien filed Aug. 27 for allegedly 
oyving the Government $21,883 in 
admissions and other taxes (such 
a3 withholding and social secur- 
ity >/ interestand penalties for the 
period March, 1951, to June, 1952. 
In a separate lien, Rubens and his 
wife, Tillie, were charged with 
owing $1,772 in 1952 income tax, 
penalty and interest. 


Dicker Paul Whiteman 
For Frontier, Las Vegas 

Deal is now in the works for 
Paul Whiteman to play his first 
nitery date in many years. William 
Morris Agency is currently nego- 
tiating for the maestro to go into 
the Last Frontier, Las Vegas, some 
time in June. 

Whiteman would go in with a 
complete show and band. Lately, 
Whiteman has been on tele with 
“Teen Time" on ABC-TV Satur- 
day night. 

U.S. Grand Jury Indicts 
Atlantic City Nitery Op 
On Tax Evasion Charge 

Atlantic City, Nov. 4. 

LeRoy B. Williams, 58, Negro 
operator of Club Harlem, resorts 
top sepia nitery, and long identi- 
fied here with gambling activities, 
was indicted last Tuesday (28) on 
income tax evasion charges as 
members of the ' Treasury Dept. 
“Racket Squad" testified before a 
U. S. grand jury sitting in Camden. 

Williams, who owns the mid-city 
building housing the spot, was in- 
dicted on two counts. One charged 
that he reported $1,384 income 
for 1950 and on it he twice paid 
$113 in taxes, whereas his income 
for that year was $25,129, on which 
h^ should have paid $8,967. The 
other alleged that he reported a 
loss of $2,418 for 1951 and paid 
no income, but that his income 
was $10,018, on which there is 
due taxes of $2,492. 

This was a “repeat performance" 
for ^Williams, who was indicted on 
income tax evasion charges in 
1939 in a previous Federal investi- 
gation here. During his- trial he ad- 
mitted being a partner in two re- 
sort “numbers" banks. Acquitted, 
h^- .was Later- convicted on perjury 
charges as a result of the same in- 
vestigation and served time in the 
Federal penitentiary, at Lewis- 
burg, Pa. 

GENE AUTRY & CO. SET 
FOR 20 DAYS IN DIXIE 

Hollywood, Nov. 4. 

Genei Autry and his troupe will 
cover 20 cities in 20 days on their 
annual autuifin tour, starting Nov. 
15 on completion of four Flying A. 
telepix. Trek opens in Wichita 
Falls, Tex., and closesr in New Or- 
leans. 

Autry’s troupe consists of Smiley 
Burnette, Pat Buttram, Johnny 
Bond, Carl Cotner, the Cass Coun- 
ty Boys and several vaude acts. 


Miami Beach Food Chain Powwow 
Has Brand Names in 18G Star Pitch 


Miami Beach, Nov. 4. 

Convention of Food Chains Assn, 
here last ■‘week brought out the 
heaviest display of top acts in this 
area’s 'convention history. Week 
of show biz names was filled out 
with appearances Saturday (1) by 
Jose Ferrer, Veronica Lake and 
William Prince at Democratic cam- 
paign rallies. 

Lineup of shows ha<I Lever 
Bros, pitching a carnival-circus at 
the Monte Carlo, followed by Col- 
gate-Palmolive-Peet shindig at the 
Casablanca featuring local cafe 

M&LM200G 

In 10-Day Tour 

The Martin & Lewis one-nighter 
tour wound up successfully at New- 
ark Saturday (1) despite its slow, 
opening in Washington. It’s esti- 
mated that the duo grossed around 
$200,000 for the 10-day jaunt. The 
comics were booked in all situa- 
tions at $10,000 guarantee, against 
60% of the gross. They carried a 
show which required about 50 peo- 
ple on the payroll, three railroad 
cars, a diner and a baggage fcar. 

Lowest draws were the $15,730 
in Washington and $12,500 in New 
Haven, indicating losing dates for 
the promoters. Other scores in- 
cluded $21,500 in Providence, ditto 
in Montreal, $39,390 in Toronto 
and record $18,650 in Troy, N. Y. 
(see story below). 

Nightly average for the tour was 
$20,000. Cast included Kitty Kallen, 
Barr & Estes, Mayo Bros., Bob Wil- 
liams, . Mr. Ballantine, Senor 
Wences, De Marco Sisters (5), Ben 
Beri, and Dick Stabile orch. • 

Comics left New York Sunday 
(2) on the 20th Century Limited 
and flew the following day from 
Chicago to the Coast, where they 
start work on their indie pic, “The 
Cabby,” lo be released through 
Paramount. 



Ted Lewis Finally Set 
For Balias’" Mural Room 

Dallas, Nov. 4. 

Ted Lewis., bis orch, and revue 
are booked for the Mural Room 
of„ the Baker Hotel, Nov. 20-29. 
This is a repacting of a Lewis 
date which was cancelled due to 
his recent illness. 

Hal Pruden orch, current in the 
room, will use the nine days for 
transcribing a group of songs and 
will return to the bandstand Dec. 1. 


Zizi Vice Torch, N* Y* 

Chez Zizi, N. Y., will open to- 
morrow (Thurs.) on site formerly 
occupied by the Torch Club. Ini- 
tial show will include Bob Savage, 
Lucille & Eddie Roberts and Joan 
Kayne. 

Monte Gardner, who fronted the 
Torch orch, will continue with the 
new operation. 


Cleve. Nitery Doubling 
As Scribes’ Daytime HQ 

Cleveland, Nov. 4. 

Doing double duty, Herman 
Pirchner’s downtown Eldorado 
Club will retain its personality as 
a nitery although the Cleveland 
Press Club has leased it on a 
unique part-time basis as its new 
daytime headquarters. 

Under arrangement worked out 
by owner, the Eldorado will be 
exclusive to the Fourth Estaters 
for their private business meetings, 
luncheon and dinner sessions from 
11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. After that 
the room again assumes the role of 
a public cafe with Joe Baldi’s 
orch on stand, as usual. 

For the scribes' late evening 
sessions, Pirchner is redecorating 
another second-floor “Retreat” 
clubroom in liis adjoining Alpine 
Village Club, which will be avail- 
able fo them for Sunday dances or 
big parties. After being located at 
Hotel Olmsted five years, the 
newshawks and affiliated radio-TV 
members are moving Dec. 1 to 
new site, to ‘be used until group 
raises enough money to build its 
own clubhouse. 


Acquit Circus Owner 

Del Rio. Tex., Nov. 4. 

A Federal District Court jury 
here took just 10 minutes to ac- 
quit Benjamin C. Davenport, cir- 
cus owner and operator, of charges 
that he transported stolen treasury 
coupons across state lines. 

The chief witness against Daven- 
port was his partner, Harry Ham- 
mil, who had testified Chat $5,000 
worth of stolen treasury securities 
belonging to him was taken to 
I Quincy, 111., and cashed. 


Break House Record 

Troy, N. Y., Nov. 4. 

Martin & Lewis drew a record 
gross of $18,650 on a paid attend- 
ance of 6,970 at the. R.PX Field 
House Wednesday (29), with scale 
of $1.80 to $4.80. Previous R.P.L 
high had been $12,000, registered 
two years ago by the Boston Sym- 
phony Orchestra. f 

The comics attracted the largest 
indoor audience for paid entertain- 
ment in Capital District annals. 
They were surpassed at the Field 
House only by the cuffo turnouts 
for General Eisenhower and Gov. 
Adlai Stevenson. 

The Music Corp. of America 
package was guaranteed $10,000, 
and went into percentage to take 
nearly $12,000, according to Jack 
Keller, publicity director for the 
duo. 

Three-hour performance here 
was capped by a 102-minute stint 
by M&L, who ended with dancing 
on a platform. Audience, in which 
young, people (especially girls) pre- 
dominated, with children in a sepa- 
rate section, went into near-hys- 
terics over their antics. 


acts topped by Corinne Calvet (se* 
story in TV section). 

Most lavish affair was staged in 
pool and gardens area of the Sans 
Souci, with huge stage built pool- 
side to face audience of 1,400 
Co-sponsored show was produced 
by Harry Kilby and had Russ Mor- 
gan orch (Kellogg and Procter & 
Gamble) backing lineup which in- 
cluded Selma Marlowe, dancers 
(Sunshine Biscuits), Phil Baker 
emceeing (Pillsbury Mills), Doretta 
Morrow (Kraft Foods), Arthur 
Blake, Blair & Deane (Kraft' 
Foods), Don Tannen and Gordon 
MacRae (Coca-Cola). 

Affair was a well-staged one, 
although handicapped by winds 
and a cold night. Nevertheless 
the big crowd stayed all the way’ 
with Baker, Miss Morrow^- Blake 
and MacRae wrapping up. Sup- 
porting acts were well received 
with overall result a happy one. * 

f Saturday night politico rallies 
had Ferrer, Miss Lake and Prince 
pitching for Stevenson before a 
big house at the beach Auditorium 
and at a $53-per-plate dinner at 
the Sans Souci, as well as press- 
agenting at reception for the press 
at the Saxony. 

Favorable- reaction on the con- 
vention affairs may lead to more 
of same, with local agents going 
all-out to sell upcoming conven- 
tions on the “big show" idea. Costs 
may keep the type of topper used 
to a minimum, unless a co-spon- 
sored variety such as Food Chains 
presented can be managed. Their 
tab for talent ran $18,000 for the 
night. 



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M2 MONTHS TO COMIC 
FOR NITERY ‘INDECENCY’ 

Philadelphia, Nov. 4. 

■ Leonard (Len K.) Ross, Pnilly 
nitery entertainer, was sentencedi 
(28) <o serve from one to 12 l 
months in Bucks County Prison 
and fined $250 for giving an in- 
decent show at the Club Peacock, 
in suburban Andalusia. 

Judge Edwin P. Satterth waite 
also fined Francis J. Benzowicz, 
owner of the club, $250 and placed 
him on a year’s probation. Pea- 
cock was raided by Liquor Control 
Board agents last March. 


Mary Small to N. O. 

Songstress Mary Small, just 
contracted by Mercury Records, 
follows her current date at El 
Rancho, Las Vegas, with four 
weeks at the Hotel Roosevelt, New 
Orleans, starting Nov. 13. 

Miss Small opened at El Rancho 
last week. 


WHEN IN BOSTON 

It's th* 

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tt^InesJay? November S, 1952 



Thank You 


STAN 




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1 




AND 


OLIVER 

HARDY 


FOR 


36 WEEKS 

RECORD-BREAKING 
TOUR OF GT. BRITAIN 


WELCOME 


AWAITS YOU WHENEVER 

4 

WISH TO RETU RN • = 


Bernard Delfont 





VAUDEVILLE 


48 


Harlem’s Lafayette Now a Church 
But Old Vaude Memories Linger On 


At one time^a major vaude house 
in New York, the Lafayette The- 
atre was tom: down to make way 
for the Williams Institutional 
C.M.E. Church , which was dedi- 
cated Nov. 1. At the ceremonies, 
Lester A. Walton, form.er XJ. S. 
Minister to Liberia and chairman 
of the Coordinating Council for 
Negro Performers cited the his- 
tory of that house, of which ]ie. 
was once the manager. Passing of 
the Lafayette marks an end of an 
era in Harlem theatrical history. 
Walton’s speech follows: 

Standing here this afterr^pn 
evokes memories and mixed emo- 
tions. It is truly an historic occa- 
sion. putting me in a reminiscent 
mood. At the Lafayette Theatre, 
as lessee, manager and producer. 
I played a leading role in many of 
its biggest artistic hits and finan- 
cial successes, also some of its 
(failures. 

The Lafayette symbolizes the 
passing of time — yesteryear and 
today. In retrospection it brings 
to mind the spectacular transition 
of a Harlem community predomi- 
nantly white to a teeming colored 
residential section now known as 
the “Negro capital'’ because of 
density of population, its religious, 
cultural, political and business life. 

Moreover, the Lafayette will be 
recorded in the annals of show 
business as the bridge that did 
more than any other factor in 
carrying over the Negro perform- 
er from a period of depression, 
when employment and recognition 
were at a very low ebb, to bright- 
er and more prosperous times. 

I have been asked to give a 
brief history of. the. Lafayette The-, 
atre as I personally know it. When 
a young man in my 20s, then man- 
aging and dramatic editor of the 
New York Age, I was invited to 
confer with Meyer Jarmulowsky, a 

lower east sidp banker, who owned 

- - - — • — - --- — 


Not Your Pal Joey. 
buf Your 



BUDDY LEWIS 


NOW 6TH WEEK 

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500 CLUB 

Atlantic City, N. J. 

Personal Management 
Eddie Bernte 

SUEZ & ROTHBARD AGENCY 

500 Shub«rt Building 
Philadelphia 2, Penna. 
Kingsley 5-1665 


LEW 

BLACK 

and 

PAT 

DUNDEE 

(Beauty and 
/he least) 

A new note tn 
Glamor Comedy 

QERBER-WEIS8 

AGENCY 

1997 Sroadway.N.Y. 
Club Oates 
NAT DUNN 



this site, which was a vacant lot. 
Mr. Jarmulowsky planned to erect 
on it a bank building. After talks 
with me he decided to construct 
a theatre. The third party in the 
conversations was my friend, Paul 
G. Prayer, a young Negro who had 
started at the bank as a porter 
and had been promoted to paying 
teller. 

Prior to the construction of the 
Lafayette, Theatre, Johnson & 
Fluegelman, a Negro and a Jew, 
had operated the Crescent The- 
atre, located on 135th St., between 
Fifth and Lenox Aves. It was of 
small seating capacity, featuring 
vaudeville and motion pictures. 
They sold the house to Martinson 
& Nibur, proprietors of a liquor 
store at the southwest corner of 
Lenox Ave. and 135th St. 

Lambaste ‘Exclusion* 

Upofi completion of the theatre- 
building, Jarmulowsky leased it to 
Martinson & Nibur. I regret to 
relate that although they had pros- 
pered financially by selling liquor 
to Negroes, on opening night Mar- 
tinson & Nibur excluded Negroes 
from the first floor. At the time 
more white people resided In the 
immediate vicinity than colored 
people. I recall lambasting the 
management In the New York Age 
and subsequently face to face -for 
this discriminatory policy, which 
they immediately tabooed. 

After Several months of poor 
business under various producers, 
Martinson & Nibur gave up man- 
agement and the theatre was 
leased to me and ~C. W. Morgan- 
stern, a Broadway booking agent. 
I had unsuccessfully endeavored 
to* secure the lease for Paul G. 
Prayer and myself: -During the 
second leasehold I assumed sole 
management. 

In the presentation of vaude- 
ville, motion pictures and occa- 
sionally musical shows, success was 
achieved both on the stage and 
in the boxoffice. Madam Sissier- 
etta Jones, known as “Black Patti," 
was paid $350 for a week's en- 
gagement, which was considered 
big money for a small-time vaude- 
ville house in those days. As a fa- 
vor for me, Bill VBogangles" Rob- 
inson headlined a bill, his one and 
only appearance in Harlem other 
than the Alhambra Theatre. 

Musical shows . were always a 
strong drawing-card, and some 
broke records for attendance. They 
include J. Leubrie Hill’s “Dark- 
town Follies," “The Smarter Set," 
starring the Whitney Bros.; Frank 
Montgomery Co. with Ethel 
Waters, and the Billy King Co. 

In. the last year of my first ten- 
ues at the Lafayette I produced a 
musical show of 50-odd people 
headed by Miller & Lyles, and 
featuring Abbie Mitchell and Henry 
Troy. Will Marion Cook was musi- 
cal director. The show had been 
booked on the John Cort circuit 
over which no colored musical 
company had appeared since the 
days of Williams & Walker, Cole 
& Johnson and Ernest Hogan. 
After playing two weeks to ca- 
pacity business at the Howard The- 
atre, Washington, and then two 
weeks to standing room only at 
the Lafayette Theatre, the book- 
ing, which would have taken the 
company as far west as California, 
was cancelled when the top ,man 
of the circuit went into bank- 
ruptcy. 

This unexpected turn of affairs, 
coupled with too many empty 
seats at the Lafayette, brought on 
a financial crisis. There were pe- 
riods when a large falling off in 
patronage seemed to be inevitable. 

Shortly before the Lafayette 
closed under my management, ar- 
rangements' were made to bring 
Anita Bush & Co., playing stock at 
the Lincoln Theatre, located orf 
135th St., near Lenox Ave., to 
Seventh Ave., between 131st and 
132d Sts. Charles H. Gilpin was in 
the cast. When the company closed 
after a short run I made my exit 
as manager. 

Robert Levy’s Regime 

My successor was Robert Levy, 
under whose management the La- 
fayette Players gained distinction 
and popularity. He, too, met with 
ups and downs, and sold the Elite 
Amus. Corp., which leased the 
house, and the Quality Amus 
Corp., which owned the Lafayette 
Players, to a syndicate of Negro 
businessmen, headed by E. C. 
Brown, a Philadelphia banker. 

For a second time I returned to 
(Continued on page 62) 


PTL ikn&Fi 


Grade's Glasgow Date 

Glasgow, Oct. 28. 

Gracie Fields will top an other- 
wise all-r^ale bill when she sings 
in St. Andrew’s Hall here for the 
first time in four years on Nov, 12. 
One-nighter is under the banner 
of impresario Haroitl Fielding. 

She will have two major spots 
on the program. Others on bill are 
xylophonist Jack Simpson, Cana- 
dian harmonica player Tommy 
Reilly, tenor John McHugh, Danish 
violinist Wadt Tworek and organist 
Ron Millington. 


Ha. Cafe Ops Still 

s 

Shy on Top Acts; 
What’ll Copa Do? 

Talent agencies are still in a 
quandary over the present Florida 
situation. With the exception of 
General Artists Corp., which has 
set Johnnie Ray into the Clover 
club, the offices haven’t made a 
single major hooking anywhere 
else. The Clover has also signed 
Lena Horne for a February date 
in a direct deal. 

The percenteries are getting 
around the current stalemate in 
the Miami Beach niteries by con- 
centrating on lesser names in ho- 
tels. The Algiers, opening Dec. 9, 
has signed Doretta Morrow for the 
preem show with Joyce Bryant 
following. Latter was originally set 
for the preem but was postponed. 
Lenny Kent has been inked for 
the Sans Souci, Dec. 23. 

The agencies are submitting in- 
termediate names to the hotels,, 
but are shying away from present- 
ing the top layer until it’s known 
just what Copa City will do. The 
percenters have an idea that this 
spot will open and will buy up 
every available headliner at top 
prices. 

The scarcity of top bookings for 
Florida, at this point, leads op- 
erators to believe that they’ll all 
be bunched together. Pactings will 
be stimulated when Copa City and 
the Beachcomber decide whether 
they will open and with what 
policies Beachcomber will prob- 
ably use name talent if the Copa 
sits this season out. 

The .William Morris Agency is 
holdings back its ace names, includ- 
ing Sophie Tucker, Danny Thomas 
and Joe E. Lewis. Other agencies 
have not as yet sent their top 
reps down to Florida, although it’s 
expected that they’ll hit there be- 
fore December. 

The Latin Quarter is probably 
the only cafe that has most of its 
bookings completed. Lou Walters 
will open the spot either Dec. 23 
or 26. The production is set and 
he’ll use imported acts with possi- 
bly a moderate-priced topliner. 

Generally, by Nov. 1, the ma- 
jority of bookings are set. Not so 
this year. 


Saranac Lake 

By Happy Benway 
Saranac Lake, N. Y., Nov. 4. 

Thanks from “We the Patients" 
James Brennan, Walter Romanik, 
Mose LaFountain apd George Gal- 
dieri for their gifts and time out 
that helped to make our Halloween 
party possible. 

Jesus (Gracia) Dominguez, War- 
ners Cuba manager, shot into the 
general hospital for the thoraco- 
plasty operation and is back at the 
V, C. lodge resting comfortably. 

Delphin (RKO) Streder, who 
came here a very sick, boy two 
years ago, left here with an all- 
clear. Ditto for Henrietta Allan 
(Legendre circuit)* who now re- 
sides in our colony at Turtle Pond 
lodge. 

Surgery patients who are a 
special item with their progress 
are Joe Fennessy, Ray (IATSE) 
Van Buren. Jack (RKO) Wasser- 
man, Joe (UA) Phillips, Kenneth 
Derby, Helene Baugh, Audrey 
Lumpkin and C. Shirley Houff. 

Thanks to Rube Bernstein and 
the boys at the Lambs Club for 
sending in playing cards for our 
lounge room and the infirmary 
gang. 

John (IATSE) Streeper all 
elated over the sneak visit from 
the Arthur Wilsons who motored 
in from Atlantic City for a bed- 
side chat and found him tops. 

Mayor A. B. “Tony" Anderson 
took time out to spend an hour 
with this mugg and also paid a 
visit to many of the bedded gang. 

Write to those who are ill. 


"Wednesday, November 5 , 1952 


[Liquor Board Slaps 35-Day Padlock 


On A.C. Nitery for lewd’ Activity 


Vande, Cafe Dates 


New York 

Borrah Minevitch Harmonica 
Rascals to work the Latin Quarter, 
N. Y., starting Jan. 11 . . . Roberta 
Quinlan tapped for the Sheraton 
Plaza, Boston, Dec. 22, and the Mt. 
Royal, Montreal, Jan. 12 . . . 
Singer Valerie Noble back next 
week from a European tour . . . 
Kay Starr signed for the Riverside, 
Reno, Nov. 13 . . . Willis Shore go- 
ing into the Mapes Hotel, Reno, 
Nov. 20, and the Beverly Hills 
Country Club, Newport, Ky.,- Dec. 
19 . . . Sophie Tucker pacted for 
Cave Club, Vancouver, March 9 
. . . Jerry Brooks, boniface of La- 
rue’s, Miami Beach, into the Mt; 
Sinai Hospital there, for surgery. 
& Rudy Vallee set for the Desh- 
ler-Wallick, Columbus, Nov. 16 
. . . Ciro Rimac started at the Cha- 
teau Madrid Monday (3) . . . Gen- 
eral Artists Corp. percenter Mort 
Ruby left for his California home 
following a breakdown shortly 
after his transfer from New York 
to Chi office of that agency. 


Chicago 

Basil Rathbone and Robert Alda 
headline the Chicago’s stage show 
Dec. 5 . . . Jeri Southern and Pro- 
fessor Backwards added to Frankie 
Laine bill at the same house, Nov. 
7 . . . Riverside Theatre, Milwau- 
kee, has inked Alan Dean for the 
Patti Page show, Nov. 21 . . . 
Beachcombers star for two weeks 
at the Nicollet, Minneapolis, Nov. 
3 . . . Jimmy Hussen plays the 
Plantation, Nashville, Nov. 11 for 
two frames and them goes into the 
Henry Grady Hotel, Atlanta, Dec. 
5 . . . Penny Singleton into the 
Park Lane, Denver, Nov. 7, and 
then has two weeks at Nicollet, 
Minneapolis, beginning Nov. 17 . . . 
Noonan & Marshall contracted for 
the Chicago Theatre, Nov. 21. 

Gail Robbins comes into the ter- 
ritory with a stand at Fazio’s, Mil- 
waukee, Nov. 4 for two stanzas 
and then goes down to the Lake 
Club, Springfield, 111., for a week, 
Nov. 18 . . . Mills Bros, star at the 
Four Dukes, Detroit, Nov. 25 . . . 
Harry Mimmo and Buddy King 
added to the Sophie Tucker show 
at the Chez Paree, Nov. 14 . . . 
Marcus -Glaser has hooked “Ren- 
fro Valley Days" show into the 
Lyric, Indianapolis, Nov. 27. 


Chi Chez Paree Prowls 
Original 1932 Troupe 
To Hypo Its 20th Anni 

Chicago, Nov. 4. 

The Chez Paree will hold its 
20th anni celebration by bringing 
back all the performers available 
who worked in the original show 
which opened the bistro Nov. 29, 
1932. Paree spree, however, will 
be held Nov. 14 to coincide with 
the Sophie Tucker show. Star was 
also the headliner of the revue 
back in 1932. City officials will 
proclaim .a “Chez" day and radio 
and TV programs will* carry the 
proceedings. 

Officials of the club are comb- 
ing the files of American Guild of 
Variety Artists, booking offices, 
and newspapers to scout the origi- 
nal cast, including chorus girls, 
office and kitchen help, Ben Pol- 
lack, tvho now resides in Los An- 
geles, was the starting bandleader 
and he may come back to take 
over the orch. for opening night. 


Beneke Orch, 8-Act Bill’ 
For Dallas on Tex. Tour 

Dallas, Nov. 4. 

Tex Beneke’s orch, plus eight 
acts, will play a concert-vaude 
date at State Fair Auditorium 
Nov. 24, on a Texas tour opening 
in Fort Worth next Monday (10). 

Producer J. David Nichols has 
inked Fred Lowery & Catherine 
Toomay, Eddie Peabody, Raymond 
Chase and Howard & Wanda Bell, 
with four other acts to be added. 


Vallee’s Troy Cafe Bow 

Troy, N. Y., Nov. 4. 
The Pied Pipers open at the 
Crystal Lounge here Nov. 11. Rudy 
Vallee will follow them on Nov. 18. 

It will be Vallee’s first nitery ap- 
pearance in the Capital District. 


Atlantic City, Nov. 4 
. For permitting “lewdness" and 
“immorality" on its premises dur- 
ing the season, the Jockey Club 
mid-city hot spot operated by John 
Hyett, received a 35-day closing 
penalty as Hyett appeared before 
the State Alcoholic Beverage Con- 
trol Dept. Thursday (30). 

Spot will be shuttered from to- 
morrow (Wed.) until Dec. 11 
Charges against nitery came after 
ABC agents attended its shows on 
Aug. 20. Dominic A. Cavichia 
ABC director, said his agents had 
observed two strip acts, after 
which a male entertainer, booked 
as the star, appeared wearing a 
fur stole about his shoulders and 
mimicked a female dancer while 
carrying on patter “which in- 
cluded lewd and lascivious r.** 
marks" to various persons in the 
audience. 

Hyett’s “non vult” (no defense) 
plea centered on his claim, through 
his attorneys, that the acts were ob- 
tained through a booking agency 
and not seen until they appeared 
at the cafe, 

ABC director ruled that the op- 
erator holds his license privilege 
“too lightly" if he is willing to risk 
“blind bookings." 

Hyett was penalized in 1943 for 
permitting gambling on his ► 
licensed premises, but this was not 
taken into consideration in impos- 
ing this rap because more than 
five years, had elapsed. This time 
his license was lifted for 33 days 
on the first charge of permitting 
a lewd performance and 10 days 
on the charge of permitting ob- 
scene language. Five days were 
deducted from the 40-day penalty 
because of the non vult plea. 



THE CHORDS 


Instrumentalists without Instruments 


WEEK NOV. 6 TO NOV. 12 
Club Dates 

Oak Ridge, Term.; Louisville, Detroit 
Dir.: GENERAL ARTISTS CORP. 


Club Dale Bookings by 


HARRY GRUBEN 
203 N. Wabash Avs. 
Ciiieag*. HI. 


NAT DUNN 
* 1650 B’way 
New York 


? r DOLINOFFS 

and Raya Sisters 

“DANCING DOLL-USIONS" 

Currently 

RIVERSIDE HOTEL 

Reno, Nevada 

Personal Management a 
THE WILSON AGENCY / 
Phil GRAE — Phil COSCIA J 
1501 Broadway, N. Y. C. 

FOSTER AGENCY* LONDON, 

presents 



Currently 

TOURING ENGLAND 

American Rep. WM. MORRIS AGENCY 
TAVEL-MAROUAHl AGENCY. PARIS 


JAY MARSHALL 


i 


CURRENTLY 

RADIO CITY 
MUSIC HALL 

NEW YORK 
Showing Date 

Mgf.: 

MARK LEDDY 




7TH SMASH WEEK 

and HELD QVER until mid-December 

VER S A I L L E S 

NEW YORK 

Opening DECEMBER 2 3RD 

MOCAMBO 

HOLLYWOOD 


Persona! Manager 
in Europe 

LOUIS BARRIER 


Exclusive direction: 

LEW & LESLIE GRADE, LTD,, IRC. 

25 0 West 57th Street, New York 19 


Personal Manager 
in America 

EDDIE LEWIS 


50 


NIGHT CLUB IUE VIEWS 


tism&rf 


Wednesday, November 5, 1953 


Hotel Plaza, N. W 

Mindy Carson, with Sherman 
Edwards; Boris Gregory & Rod 
Strong; Dick LaSalle and Mark 
Monte Orchs; $2 and $2.50 cover. 


Give Mindy Carson a hit record | 
or two and she’s in as a cafe- at- j 
traction. That’s about the only ‘ 
differential right now between 
socko, which she is fundamentally 
as a performer, and being a genu- 
ine boxoffice draw. Not that Miss 
Carson is anybody’s chaser — in 
fact she’s a welcome new person- 
ality to the class hotel circuits, on 
which she has been concentrating 
of late. The ex-RCA Victor, now 
Columbia, disker has come a long j 
wav since she was first “noticed” 
in Variety in the winter of ’48 at 
the Club Charles, Baltimore; and 
when she made her first full im- 
pact at the Copacabana, New York, 
three years ago she got immediate 
attention on the waxworks and the 
air. 

Right now a good solid platter 
seller would make Miss Carson the 
household word she rates, along 
with the Rosemary Clooneys, Tony 
Bennetts, Frankie Laines, et al. 
who have found that a volume ac- 
ceptance with the jukes and jocks 
is the quickest post-midcentury 
success story to potent marquee 
values. 

At the Hotel Plaza’s Persian 
Room. Miss Carson projects like 
a headliner. Her charm and her 
personal good looks — the resem- 
blance to Ingrid Bergman has long 
since been discussed — are backed 
up by a song stylization and show- 
manship savvy that are beyond her 
years. She mixes the currents 
with a harkback to a yesteryear 
Bert Williams excerpt, “Nobody,” 
that in its modern application (di- 
lapidated topper, exaggerated bow- 
tie, grotesque white gloves and 
all) exceeds in values even what 
the original perhaps might have 
achieved. 

She does a femme version of 
’’Wish You Were Here” which sug- 
gests that Columbia ought to plat- 
ter that and not lie back, as has 
been the case with this and other 
tunes, which is a common denomi- 
nator among many of the diskeries. 
If they feel that somebody else 
has gotten the jump on the mar- 
ket (in this case Eddie Fisher’s 
version for RCA Victor) they don’t, 
bother to “cover” the tune, elect- 
ing to get the jump, in turn, with 
something of their own. However, 
in this instance, her version has 
distinction and since Harold Rome 
tune now bids fair to become a 
standard, this should make it 
worthwhile for another reason. 
(Song plug over!) 

Miss Carson knows how to han- 
dle “September Song” in Jber own 
manner as well, and that goes for 
her unique- interpretations of 
“Getting to' Know You,” “Got a 
Crush On You,” “Gal Without a 
Guy,” an audience number (waltz), 
the opener, “Good Evening,” and 
the rest. She is a capital diseuse, 
an expert interpreter of the mod- 
em song scene and no mere pop 
song singer. She is a definite styl- 
ist who has made the bigtime, and 
this has nought to do with the 
plush precincts of the Persian 
Room although there is no disput- 
ing the plus values of that setting. 
On performance alone Miss Car- 
son would ring the bell in any- 
body's auditorium. 

Entr’acte are a pleasant musico- 
terp male pair, Boris Gregory & 
Rod Strong. They work singly 
and in team. Gregory is the con- 
certina virtuoso, in formal attire 
throughout, and his younger part- 
ner. Strong, does the taps and 
terps in orthodox and, later, char- 
acteristic getup. He’s a suave 
stepper in the better of the mod- 
em idioms, altering his tapology 
with Latin and classic ballet varia- 
tions. They are ideal for the class 
environs of a hostelry such as the 
Plaza, but have the broad appeal 
to please on podium, cafe floor 
and iconoscope as well. 

Per usual, Dick LaSalle's main 
orchestra works the show and the 
dansapation, and Mark Monte’s 
Continentals are equally expert 
on the alternate terp tunes. Sher- 
man Edwards, Miss Carson’s spe- 
cial pianist, works with the La- 
Salle orch during her 40-minute 
stint. Abel. 


dates to make the trek here from 
Chicago worthwhile. 

Since the Palladium is neither 
theatre nor nitery. a personal ap- 
pearance there . becomes an ex- 
tremely difficult task foj: a single. 
Mitchell fills the bill adequately, 
if not excellently, and the lessons 
learned should help him build a 
more potent stint for cafe and 
stage work around the country. 
Vocally, of course, there’s nulling 
wrong with the turn. It does need, 
however, better pacing and pre- 
sentation and a more judicious use 
of Mitchell’s disclicks to pepper 
the layout. 

For the most part, Mitchell does 
a straight, standup job of singing. 
Occasionally, he slides into a more 
folksy presentation with guitar 
self-accomp. Rated individually, 
each is good. It’s as a package that 
it loseS some wallop. More atten- 
tion to such details as proper light- 
ing and sound, more judicious se- 
lection fif numbers and their se- 
quence. and a trifle mere patter 
are indicated. Right now. it’s the 
sort of stint that draws rapt at- 
tention with each number, but 
when it’s over there’s no clamorous 
demand for continuance. 

Dick Peirce band does, a good 
job on backing . and keeps the 
terpers busy from a large though 
fairly standard library. Mitchell’s* 
half-hour stint twice-nfgbtly is the 
only break from the dance beat, 
for which Peggy Holms sunolies 
okay vocalizing. ' Kap. 


Copaeabaua, N* Y* 

Billy Daniels ( with Benny 
Payne), Jackie Kannon, DeMarlos 
(2), Paul Sydell & Dogs, Ray 
Steele, Carol Lee, Frank Marti and 
Mike Durso Orchs; $3.50-5 mini- 
mums. 


Giro’s, London 

London, Oct. 28. 
Jerry Bergen, Prudence Hyman 
& Terence Theobald, Anthony 
Hayes, Mile. Vt dlotta, Eric Lucas, 
Lisa Lee, Sidney Simone Orch; $5 
minimum. 


The normal one-act cabaret at 
this chic Leicester Square nitery 
was extended as a gala special on 
the night of the Royal Command 
film performance. But it added. up 
t,o. an. overdose of mediocre enter- 
tainment far below the normal 
standard and salvaged cmly by the 
personal efforts and talent of Jerry 
Bergen, who is playing a regular 
date here. 

Cabaret didn’t begin until near 
2 a.m. and ran for a full hour, 
more than taxing the patience and 
good spirits. of the customers par- 
ticipating in this special revel. 
Show was indifferently paced with 
indifferent material, and deficient 
in humor, spectacle and production 
qualities. 

Lisa Lee as femcee reveals a 
generous personality and versatil- 
ity in her solo spot, but her intros 
are often too boisterous and de- 
void of subtlety. Eric Lucas makes 
a negative impression with his 
couple of tunes. on a guitar; Mile. 
Violetta, with a couple of French 
songs, does little better. 

Prudence Hyman & Terence 
Theobald, who have played West 
End cabaret with distinction be- 
fore, make the best guest impres- 
sion. They are of stylish terpers 
whose swift rhythmic movement 
gamers sturdy audience reaction. 
Anthony Hayes does a monolog at 
the piano which falls easily into 
the mediocre class. 

Way above the rest is diminu- 
tive Jerry Bergen, whose comedies 
on the violin rouses the customers 
and brings new life to a limping 
show. He’s a natural comic sfad 
his entire act bears the stamp of 
impeccable timing and immaculate 
showmanship. Show would have 
been far more attractive had he 
been allowed to hold the fort alone. 

Myro. 


Palladium* Hollywood 

- Hollywood, Oct. 28. 
Guy Mitchell, Dick Peirce Orch 
(14) with Peggy Holms. $1.10 ad- 
mission weekdays, $1.40 Sat. 


Hotel Hadosson* Mpls» 

(FLAME ROOM) 

Minneapolis. Nov. 1. 
Marjorie Garretson (2), Don 
McGrane Orch (8); $2.50 mini- 
mum. 


On the 12th anniversary of its 
debut as a name band stronghold, 
the Palladium has come up with 
an offbeat booking by installing 
Guy Mitchell as the headliner, 
with a local orch to handle the 
interin) dance stuff. There’s no 
question of a policy .switch in- 
volved; the terpery simply had free 
time because the Ralph Marlene 
*rch couldn’t get enough other 


An always welcome nitery event 
here is the annual visit of home- 
towner Marjorie Gai'refson, whose 
local following is botli’ large and 
enthusiastic: This time finds her in 
the smart Hotel Radisson • lAame 
Room, instead of the equally 
swanky Hotel Nicollet Minnesota 
Terrace, where she played last sea- 
son. As usual she delivers a large 
bundle of pleasant entertainment 
that culminates in a succession of 
begoffs. 

With the able assistance of her 
own pianist,' Alex Studer, Miss 
Garretson puts on display her in- 
fectious good humor, sparkle and 
exuberance as she dishes out amus- 
ingly clever song satires.' - 
, Miss Garretson also essays fa- 
! vorite torch and other songs and 
her medley of old hits awakens 
nostalgia as she recalls vaudeville.’s 
stars, taking a whirl at the piano 
to accompany herself. This prov- 
ides more dividends for ring- 
! siders. 

Clever material is well suited to 
her buoyant, tongue-in-cheek style 
and her sly, eye-twinkling approach. 

Rees. 


It’s just about three years ago 
that Billy Daniels was practically 
begging for dates, and with no 
takers. The male Lena Horne, he 
was called, and they couldn’t have 
been further from the truth. But 
that was three years ago. Today 
Billy Daniels hasn’t the time to fill 
the dates he’s being offered on two 
continents. And he has more 
copyists than Lena Horne ever had. 

Back at the Copa for a repeat 
date, the Negro singer has no more 
polish and ability to project a tune 
than he had a little more than 
three years ago, when at times he 
played to empty rooms at the Park 
Avenue, a 60-seat upstairs hide- 
away on New York’s east side. He 
had it then— as he did years ago, 
too, at Dickie Wells’ in Harlem — 
but such is the way of cafe ops. 

With Benny Payne as his piano 
accomplice. Daniels goes through 
his whole bag of tricks, from 
rhythms to ballads, and not the 
least of it all are his showmanship 
and styling. The payoff is his 
singing of the standards like 
“You’re Driving Me • Crazy,” 
“Somebody Loves Me,” “Chasing 
Rainbows,” “It Had to Be You,” 
“Bye Bye Blackbird,” ‘Melancholy 
Baby,” “This Thing Called Love” 
and, of course, the inevitable 
“Black Magic.” Not a novelty or 
a new song in the bag — but he 
doesn’t need ’em. He makes them 
all sound new all over again. Only 
one thing: he should cut out the 
Yiddish lyric in "Yiddishe 
Momma”; it’s better all in English. 

Joe E. Lewis did two months of 
sock biz and boff entertainment 
here just prior to Daniels’ open- 
ing, and it’s a tough spot to fol- 
low. But of the few cafe enter- 
tainers who can fill this spot, 
Daniels is one of them. 

The bill’s new comic is Jackie 
Kannon, whose only other New 
York appearance was at the Latin 
Quarter last spring. Kannon is a 
hard - working performer who 
doesn’t discourage easily when th^ 
audience fails to respond to his 
material which is, mostly, in need 
of bolstering. A major asset is 
the s.a. given to the act by the un- 
billed blonde, who comes out late 
in the act for an exchange with 
Kannon. The blonde is for the 
droolers, with a very revealing 
bathing suit aiid cute looks, and 
Kannon is a dead duck after her 
appearance. She is Kannon’s best 
special material, and she alone 
needs no bolstering. 

The DeMarlos are a ballroom 
team who go through the standard 
items effectively, though their 
opener could be pepped up. The 
dancing itself in the initialer is 
okay, but the canned-music accomp 
gives the starter a coldness that 
they have to fight until the house 
orch takes over the music. 

Paul Sydell, with his dogs, re- 
mains a good standard for the 
varieties, though animal acts are 
still a question mark for the cafes, 
especially for the dinner shows. 

The show’s backgrounding is 
pretty, with singer Ray Steele a 
promising young baritone in han- 
dling the production numbers. 
Carol Lee does the production 
specialty dancing, and Mike Durso, 
as always, plays a strong accomp 
for show and dancing in batoning 
the house orch. Frank Marti’s 
Latin band is also a nifty for the 
patron, terps. Kahn. 


lMversido* Reno 

Reno. Oct. 30. 

Johnnie Ray,, Gary Morton, Do- 
linoffs & The Raya Sisters (4), 
Riverside Starlets, Bill Clifford 
Orch; no cover. $2 minimum ( this 
bill only). 


ranged songs for good relief. Each 
impact is followed by a lighter 
thing. Third up is “Please Don’t 
Talk About Me When I’m Gone,” 
displaying his fine rhythm as op- 
posed to pyrotechnics. Leaving 
piano at intervals; he takes hand 
mike to forestage to end up in 
humble kneeling position. 

Second heart-render is “Broken- 
Hearted” which really gets him 
worked up. Now at the point of no 
rethm as far as light stuff, he 
drives on with “Give Me Time,” 
but on his feet as at first entry. 
In a shuddering windup, he ap- 
pears for a moment like he might 
be too worked up to go on. These 
two emoters are nothing compared 
to his “Cry,” for which reception 
is thunderous. Encore with “Whis- 
key and Gin” still finds him at his 
peak with less-prolonged emoting. 
What Ray displays now in his 
songalog is perfectly enjoyable 
and spaced well. 

Gary Morton is also making his 
first offensive into this locale. He 
has a battery of first-rate mate- 
rial, some of which has been 
checked out here before, but most 
of it is fresh and highly yock- 
worthy. Comic strays from good 
taste at moments, but recovers 
quickly. As a “torch singer,” Mor- 
ton does best clowning. A serious 
bit with trumpet gets top kudos. 
He plays “Star Dust” and wraps up 
in a short jam session with orch. 

Dolinoffs and the Raya Sisters 
prelim with a wooden soldier and 
dolls opening more for> kids mat- 
inee. But they get their usual 
good response with black backdrop 
which is an illusion gimmick. Do- 
linoff tosses femmes around for 
their “floating” stint. Mark. 

Foy’s Supper Club* L. (I. 

Sherman Oaks, Cal • Oct. 28. 

Joe Frisco, Dick Buckley ' Shir- 
ley Mills, Charlie Foy, Sammy 
Wolff , Margaret Padula, Abby 
Brown Orch (3); $2.50 minimum. 

If the horses would run for Joe 
Frisco like the trade in this valley 
bistro goes for his droll Titxmbr, he 
would be even with the world and 
lolling in the luxury of his nearby 
Encino pals. The veteran enter- 
tainer of the hossy set (the. bettors) 
is right back where he has played 
more times than Charlie Foy can 
remember and just as popular, 
even though his material has been 
around. 

It’s the same old Frisco with 
pocketsful of scratch sheets and 
fumbling with sport pages and the 
stub of a cigar. He just keeps talk- 
ing at a rapid clip, stopping only 
long enough to punctuate a gag. 
This time he’s getting paid but. he 
said, what Foy gave him the other 
[ xiight was carried away by an ant 
with double hernia. With cane and 
straw, he joined Foy in a few steps 
and then went back to a table to * 
join the handicappers. 

Another reprise is that of Dick 
Buckley, whose Amos ’n’ Andy rou- 
tine never fails to fracture the 
patrons. He uses four volunteers 
to move their lips in mock dialog 
while he supplies all the voices, j 
His impression of Loijis Armstrong 
is pleasant spoofing. ’Shirley Mills* 
introduced as a star of “Okla- 
homa,” doesn’t come off to well 
despite a good personality and 
plenty of drive. The low ceiling 
plays tricks with her voice. 

Sammy Wolff, a frantic comic, 
scores with a stencil of Johnnie 
Ray singing- “Cry” (as who isn’t?) 
while water spurted from his ducts 
or there abouts. Margaret Padula 
still drips with nostalgia at the 
piano during waits but is well liked 
by this crowd. Abby Brown’s trio ; 
makes with the music for both j 
backstopping and legshaking. 

Helm. 


Ambassador Hotel* I a 

((COCOANUT GROVE) * 

Los Angeles, Oct. 29 
Andrews Sisters, Eddie Bern 
man Orch (16); $2 cover , 

Back for a reprise after five 
months, the Andrews iPattv 
Maxene and LaVerne) should do 
as well as or better than their 
initial stand judging by the open- 
ing night turnout and the enthusi- 

f istic reception. They’ve added a 
ew new numbers and aside from 
that they’re still* the tops in girl 
combos at both music and come'dv. 

The merry maids have mastered 
about every type of song in the 
book and one is just as good as the 
other. Whether it’s the tricky, trig- 
ger-tongued “Sa-bre Dance," a bal- 
lad or “South Rampart St, 
Parade,” it all comes off with con- 
summate artistry. On a note of 
nostalgia, they toy with “Rum and 
Coca-Cola” and make it sound just 
as though it just made the hit 
parade. For novelty, they intro 
their newest number, “The Poodle 
Cut,” which is a spoof on their 
own hairdo, and encored their 
finale, “Girls of the Golden West” 
a satire on cowboy stars with the 
gals galloping around on stuffed 
nags that light up. 

Comedy consumes a good half 
of their hour display, and while 
most of it is well received there’s 
a need for sharper material. Patty 
is more in this element although 
the others take a few licks at the 
laugh lines. It’s a good balance, 
however, between song and humor 
and the end result is wild acclaim 
at the finish. For tills plush grotto 
the applause is generally polite, 
but the Andrews are repaid in 
kind — rock ’em and sock ’em. 

Eddie Bergman’s backstopping 
makes a musical treat of a difficult 
task. Helm. 


The one-week booking of John~ 
nie Ray shapes as the event of the 
year in Reno cafes. An unprece- 
dented $2 minimum was clapped 
on the show to keep out camping 
bobbysoxers and the mildly curi- 
ous. However, the crush at the 
ropes indicates that there would 
be en 9 ugh devotees of the prince 
of wails around to fill two show’s 
a night for a long, long time. 

This is Ray’s first shot at Ne- 
vada and worth a paycheck about 
twice his Ciro’s envelope of $4,500. 
He showed nervousness in first 
few numbers of opening show, but 
reception was great enough to as- 
sure him he was on plenty friend- 
ly ground. 

A bright kickoff with “Walkin’ 
My Baby Back Home" gives only 
a hint of the emotion scheduled. 
Established, he then sets out with 
his vivid “Little White Cloud” and 
the- show is on. Swept up with 
him in his first all-out number, the 
Rlversidellners cheer like a grid 
crowd. 

Pacing himself well, Ray has ar- 


Moiint Royal* Mont'I 

Montreal. Oct. 24. 

Jan August, Max Chamitov Orch 
(8) with Norma Hutton, Bill 
Moody Trio ; $1-$1.50 cover. 

The deft pianoisms and hep ar- 
rangements of Jan August make 
him a natural for the . Sheraton 
Mount Royal’s Normandie Room 
clientele. August is sole performer 
in this show and working more 
than 25 minutes twice nightly he 
manages to cover all tastes. 

Setting the pace with a fancy 
arrangement of Hungarian Rhap- 
sody No, 2, August collects plau- 
dits steadily for sqch numbers as 
“Be My Love.” “Piano Roll Blues” 
and a Papanini theme in rhumba 
tempo. Encoring with “San Anton- 
io Rose,” he works in a neat gim- 
mick by alternating the chorus 
with bandleader Max Chamitov. 
Both musicians are familiar with 
each other’s style as they plaved 
together in Long Island .stubes 
years ago. The twist makes, a neat 
break from the usual piano pat- 
terns, A reprise of his initial plat- 
ter smash, “Miserlou,” is clicko 
And then August goes into a med- 
ley of faves and with house lights 
dimmed, invite* the payees up to 
dance. * Newt . 


Edgewatcr Beach* Chi 

(MARINE ROOM) 

Chicago, Oct. 31. 

- Russell Nype, Piero Bros. <2), 
Dina Lure, Griff Williams Orch 
(14), Betty Gray, $1.55 cover. 

Dorothy Hild has made a wise 
selection in tapping Russell Nype 
for hie Chicago debut. Local lad 
will undoubtedly draw heavily, es- 
pecially from the north side socielv. 
crowd. For this revue, Miss Hild 
has dropped her line — perhaps a 
mistake as the show needs produc- 
tion values. 

It is easy to see why Nype has 
proved clicko in New York’s smart 
and intimate supper clubs. With 
his over-casual style and his almost 
monotone of rapid singing, it can't 
be argued that he isn’t something 
new; that may explain the lure he 
has been in the east. Here in the 
large Marine Room,- spotted in the 
middle of the floor, he seems lost 
and somewhat ill at ease. Lanky, 
bespectacled figure rushes into 
“It’s A Lovely Day,” and like a 
horse who has broken from the 
post, hardly draws a breath until 
more than midway in his routine. 

It’s unfortunate that, while sev- 
eral of Nype’s tunes are excellent, 
they are all delivered much alike. 
The w r armth needed for such songs 
as “We Kissed in the Shadows” 
and “When I’m Not Near the Girl 
I Love,” isn’t evident, and it’s 
only when he gets to “Over the 
Rainbow,” that some shading is 
apparent. He has a medley of 
songs from “Call Me Madam.” in 
which he was featured, all deliv- 
ered at a hurried pace. He projects 
somewhat better when he takes a 
hand mike and tours the tables 
with “Surrey With the Fringe on 
Top,” and also has a clever ending 
with “Ain’t We Got Fun,” with 
band members chiming in for the 
background. For the larger hotel 
rooms, singer needs a great deal 
of reshaping, 

Piero Bros., on the other hand, 
seem to get even better results in 
the hotel than in theatres. Class 
work of the jugglers is appreciated 
by the diners, and the chatter and 
songs of the South American pair, 
don’t take the edge off finely ex- 
ecuted numbers. Duo start off with 
light wands and switch to Indian 
clubs, during which they also throw 
hats back and forth, catching them 
with their noggins. Sock topper is 
the pass-through of clubs, hats and 
cigarets in rapid order. One rat- 
tles off a bit on the concertina 
which gets a neat hand and the 
other starts grasping light wood 
blocks, adding to the pile until 12 
are caught side by side. Trick gets 
fine reception and brothers wind 
up the turn with a rapid twirling 
of large felt hats on thin w’ands. 

Diana Lure starts a little slowly 
but gets attention with her rapid 
tap whirls and her impression of 
Bill Robinson. Blonde then docs 
a series of handless running carl- 
W'heels for a brisk mitt. Griff Wil- 
liams does an admirable job as 
emcee besides, providing the show 
score. He also brings the custom- 
ers front their tables to the danc# 
floor in droves. Zabc. 


Wednesday, November 5, 1952 


PQrijett 


NIGHT CLUB REVIEWS 


51 


C larirtge H., Memjiliis . 

(BALINESE ROOM) 

Memphis, Oct. 30. 
Hildeoarde, Robert Norris Orch 
( 9 ), $2.40 week-days, $3 Sat . 

From the moment she steps out 
nn the floor of the Claritfge Hotel’s 
2J,nk Balinese Room, Hildegarde 
rwns her audience. She wows ’em 
through the entire 46 minutes of 
her stanza, which is one of the few 
times a Memphis hotel has fea- 
tured a name other than the usu- 
ally skedded top orchs. 

La Hildegarde is terrif in selling 
her songs and playing the 88. She 
captivated the preeiri show (29), 
which was a turnaway. She’s in for 
10 days doing two-a-night. 

Singer dazzles with a bewitching 
white satin strapless gown that al- 
most put the jampacked room on 
a table-to-table “whistle stop” rou- 
tine. From this moment on, the 
night belonged to her. 

She opens with “You Can’t Have 
Everything” and the warm audi- 
ence doesn’t waste much time re- 
sponding. Her cues to orch leader 
Robert Norris, who travels with 
the star, are right on the schnoz 
as she segues into “Babes In the 
Woods.” This brace of songs just 
about puts the cincheroo on her 
act at the very start. 

Hildegarde moves over to the 
ivory section of the band*and con- 
tinues to score with a sizzling style 
of singing-playing “I Love the Pi- 
ano.” With her winsome personality 
she rocks ’em via her w.k: interpre- 
tation of “The Last Time I Saw 
Paris” and her theme, “Darling, 
Je Vous Aime Beaucoup.” This set 
put her fans in a spell-binding 
mood. And speaking of moods, 
she’s a champion in putting her 
fans right in “ze mood,” with her 
own lighting effects that give the 
spacious room the right “spots” m 
the right places at all times. This 
gal is showmanship beaucoup and 
knows her biz nnd audience. 

The chanteuse moves into an- 
other mood to pour favorites of the 
’20s which include “Lady Be 
Good.” “I Don’t Know Why,” “Do 
I Want You” and “All the Things 
You Are.” She scores heavily with 
this foursome and then draws an- 
other salvo with “I’ll Be Seeing 
You,” which she had to answer 
with an encore chorus. 

The sparkling singer displays 
her talents in several foreign 
tongues as she wraps her 46 min- 
utes with "Love You In Any Lan- 
guage.” She stopped them time 
after time when she sang this in 
Greek. Italian, Spanish, French, 
Chinese, Polish and Portugese. 

Matt. 

Embers* N. Y. 

(FOLLOWUP) 

The Embers, which has been rid- 
ing high the past couple of years 
as the east side’s top musical 
stronghold, is making a bid for 
the early diners with the- slotting 
of Bunty Pendleton at the key- 
board during the 6 to 9 period, 
ohe has developed a big following 
in New York via her longrun 88- 
ing at the Panda Restaurant and 
seems destined to do same at 
*™iph Watkins’ thriving tavern. 

Miss Pendleton is an early 
crowd-pleaser. Her tender tech- 
nique and carefully selected song- 
a log serve as an excellent setting 
lor the cocktail or chow mob. It 

L : (iitrude on the gab and yet 
holds the ear because of her subtle 
stjling of familiar melodies. 

* ier °° ok is sta cked with stand- 
aids, but she seems partial to 

«r«< s ^- VIn anc * R°d£ers. Her inter- 
Fmo atl0 i n - the oldies is'fresh and 
imaginative, yet never strays from 
the original melodic pattern. Best 

WntM r r ;P ert ° lre are "Someone To 
K 9 T v ‘er Me,” “This Can’t Be 
L °inse” and “Tenderly.” 
]WicF°u a ssomes a hectic air when 
and ff er ! d J et 8 n packs up for home 

IhiihiH 6 a A e ‘ hour regulars, the Joe 

% 9 uart , et and the Ahmad 
Jamal Trio, take over. Gros. 

Liirmont IIo*<»I* SL F* 

(VENETIAN ROOM) 

„ Sai ? Francisco, Nov. 4. 
n,..,/ Mos.Un Trio with Sammy 
Ernie Heckscher Orch 
' J i'. $2 cover. 


and effective. It’s obvious, how- 
ever, that if the troupe plans to 
ride both mediums some material 
will have to be held on the shelf 
for exclusive use on the saloon cir- 
cuit. Otherwise repeats will be- 
come a headache, with the ring- 
siders resisting the warmed-over 
text. 


lire’s, Hollywood 

Hollywood, Oct. 31. 
Dolores Hawkins, 4 Step Bros., 
Joe Stabile Orch (10), Bobby 
Ramos Or ch (5); $2 cover. 


In on a two-week topline ticket 
Dolores Hawkins should manage 
This booking, however, proves l alr re «ults. Almost wholly un- 
that the act has the copy <>ood : kn<nv - n hereabouts > chirp, off her 
taste and natural appeal’ which ^ P . e il- ing, o. earns numerous plus- 
should find a wide acceptance ' ?? ks L, She - s a looker - bas ™ n " 
along the fancy bistro belt. This ■ e P? lse and a confident de- 

j includes the down-the-pose salons 1 nl l d Q i ls ^ ell u^ oom !? m plI \ k 
1 that have hewed to the polite if ■ S! ft J Ba ^ cally sh « 8 * Wiies-and- 

dull policy of offering specialties ! veh clcs ST 

fVlof n 1VIAHA /VMmam 11 '-UU.lVO t)ll“ 


‘ ^cTslTVeX cut°for Xh 
renaming, with pawning custom- : Records nnri “Vmi Mv t nvp 

vious nd resuT CaSh regiStm tHe ob ' I which she Snee ICuted^in a Co- 

The Will Mastin Trio is basically 
Sammy Davis, Jr., with the young 
man’s father and uncle acting 
straight for his varied talents. 

These include a fast-moving assort- 
ment of tunes, terping, chatter, 
clowning and miming with the lat- 
ter the big dish that draws rafter 
kudos. His impressions of Cagney, 


; lumbia short) are highwater levels 
of her performance. 

For her 17-minute act and con- 
sidering this engagement, she has 
to mix ’em up and in doing so 
fares not too strongly on ballads. 
Both “I’ll Walk Alone” and "You 
Made Me Love You” are handled 
loo melodramatically and, at times, 
stridently. Unfortunately, that 


bench, encouraging their batter 
and riding the opposition ptcher, 

A little more English in the vo- 
cals would make this combo even 
better for many American audi- 
ences. For example, one of their 
numbers is topical to the extent 
that U.S. audiences don’t get the 
significance. An English-language 
chorus is indicated here. 

Charlie Fisk’s orch and Ted 
Alexander’s combo* provide the 
swept music for dansapation. 

Lowe. 


Mupes Skyroom, lleno 

Reno, Oct. 29. 

Carmen Cavallaro, Charlie Aar- 
on, Les Dassie (2), Mapes Sky- 
lettes (7), Eddie Fitzpatrick Orch ; 
no cover or minimum. 


04 -i. T7» J r-fc w * f | UU1U1 CUlldLCIV, t 11 Cl l 

Robinson a ,nd j type of material goes best with 

Sinatra all Click, hilt a Franhp *_-i. . v. l 


Sinatra all click, but a Frankie 
Laine bit ("Jezebel”) rocks the 
house. His Jerry Lewis encore is 
even better. BOwoff is a flash com- 
bo of songfesting paced by “My 
Daddy, My Uncle and Me,” with 
Junior at the helm and terping by 
the trio as a whole. It’s bigtime 
stuff and the ermine contingent, 
of all age brackets, chews it right 
up to its lorgnets. Ted. 

Nautilus* Miami Beach 

Miami Beach, Oct. 28. 

Sammy Walsh, Syd Stanley 
Orch; $2 minimum weekends. 


Ciro’s clientele and rhany smart 
purveyors of such stuffvhave been 
seen in this spot. 

The four Step Bros., with a large 
and flashy repertoire of tapping, 
[’open bill. This vet act scoi'es; as 
it has been doing for many years, 
most handily. They open ’with a 
strawhat-and-cane strut and then 
pour on an assortment of challenge, 
unison and aero hoofing nicely 
sprinkled with humor. They prance 
to all rhythms from Dixie to 
mambo. 

Joe Stabile orch backs the show 
on cue and with a surcharge of 
color, and alternates with Bobby 
Ramos’ Latin-beat combo on cus- 
tomer dancing. Bert. 


Hotel President* K* C. 

(DRUM ROOM) 

Kansas City, Oct. 31. 
Chan & Margo, Don Roth Trio ; 
SI. 50 minimum. 


Driftwood Room of this big hotel 
is picking up tempo after lull 
weeks, with Sammy Walsh han- 
dling the entertaining chores in 
affable and capable - fashion to 
keep the patrons happy. 

Walsh essays his ideas in com- 
edy in easy style, mixing his 

yarns and special material se - 1 

quences to good laugh effect. This Plush dinner room of the Presi- 
is not an easy room for a comic, | dent has gone to one of its.in- 
with layout including huge col- ; frequent policies of playing an act 
umn that blocks off barside spec- ‘ 
tators. Withal, gets them for the 
30 minutes or so he’s on. 

Syd Stanley and his orch han- 
dle the show in capable manner. 

Lary. 


plus usual musical combo for the 
! next few weeks. In the Don Roth 
Trio and the magic-mentalist turn 
' of Chan & Margo the room has 
I a lineup of proved winners, and 
j this time around results are again 


Carmen Cavallaro saves a pretty 
dull show immediately by stirring 
up a climactic arrangement of 
"Jealousy” for his first tune. He 
follows two chorus routines, an 
aero cyclone, and a song and dance 
bit — almost too late. 

Settling down at once to the 
jfive-minute elaboration of "Jeal- 
ousy,” Cavallaro stops any early 
departures in their tracks. This big 
initialer is followed by a light, La- 
tin rhythm for "Wish You Were 
Here.” He is warm and friendly in 
brief introductions. 

Only novelty in the Cavallaro 
list is “Chopsticks,” all the way 
from two fingers to the classic 
pounding of all 88 keys, After a 
treatment in every possible vein, 
he winds up number with two fin- 
gers again. . His own conductor 
lends great color to Cavallaro’s in- 
tricate variations, never ’over- 
shading the real piano picture. He 
concludes regular stint with “Sor- 
rento” and Voodoo Moon,” a very 
hot Latin dish. 

For encore, pianist makes up 
medley of suggestions from aud — 
chosing those he does best. The 
trio includes a nice variation, with 
“Maleguena,” “September Song” 
and “Warsaw Concerto.” 

Les Dassie, two mad sailor- 
garbed acros, heave, knock, slap, 
kick and throw each other. Best 
shots are a sequence of kicking 
which never phases the recipient 
but exhausts "the attacker, and a 
series of tricks on a table. 

Charlie Aaron is back here for 
about the third time with precisely 
the same action — a strawhat, a tap 
to “Peggy O’Neill” and some Irish 


Xew GofifScn* Bono 

Reno, Oct. 29. 

Don Cornell, Ben Wrigley, Clark 
Bros. (2). Terry True Dancers, 
Sterling Young Orch; no cover or 
mininfftm. 


Pl Do? n Roth hat a smooth, trio, led i ?^ In ^ 


J*!*! lkS ,.* he first hotel engage- 
S 2 { lop the Will Mastin Trio with 

night Jr -’ - and °P enin S 


Another current record fave, 
Don Cornell cashes in on recent 
hits for a tour of niteries. Easy 
personality — with almost cocky 
suavity — captures crowd. 

Launching with “Walkin’ My 
Baby Back Home,” he steps right 
into biggest disclick, "I’ll Walk 
Alone.” This is appreciably recog- 
nized, and sold from the toes. He 
then hits the other end of the spec- 
trum with an Italian novelty in 
which he explains the words be- 
tween lyrics. "Beginning of the 


by him on accordion, vibes and 
piano, with Bill McPherson on 
Hammond and celeste and Jimmy 
Markey on guitar. They play for 
dancing as well as for the Chan & 
Margo and are established faves, 
this being their second long stand 
here in little over a year. In addi- 
tion to their fine instrumental 
work, three go in for group vocals 
and Markey does a good deal of 
solo piping. Their work is em- 
bellished by apt phrasing and 
coordination from long experience 
together. 

Chan & Margo likewise are old 
hands in the Drum Room, return- 
ing this time after a lapse of about 
two years. Turn begins with some 
standard magico by Chan as he 
fools with ropes, cards and coins. 
Then brings on Margo for their 
mentalist session, holding close 


End” gets the full-steam treat 

ment, and a modified Billy Daniels o 

waving of arms. Although in the • attention for a half hour? Chan 
current trend of shouting, big ! roves the room picking out items 
voicqs. this is really Reno’s first and persons for identification by 
exposure and ringsiders seem to Margo, who stands blindfolded at 
appreciate the drift from the ; the mike. Teamwork is polished 


in this turn, one of the best of its 
kind. Quin. 


IXutiol Stfailor* H. r. 

(EMBASSY ROOM) 

Washington, Oct. 28. 
Los Chavales de Espana (ID. 
with Trivi Reyes; Charlie Fisk 
Orch (9). with Lee Channel, Ted 
Alexander (4); $2-$2.50 covers. 


civa- ration set it down as a 
•wko ln this room, which has of- 

t'llfm t so . me ,. of tbe nation’s top 
Audience was expecting 
.olid event,— primed by TV sho„ : 
th” (lf troupe on Eddie Cantor! 
u ,' x \. ar l^ final huzzahs proved it 
i; ".* ‘^appointed. Begoff ap- 
PJOMinated an ovation with young 
delivering all phases of his 
dVn ,novin ? compote of song, 
miming and hokc with 
sn Vr h effect, 
rorniat 

riiiK parallel to the group’s rou- 
on the Cantor melange, but 
1} ' kpi te patrons’ familiarity with 
wares, the act comes off fresh, 

J t i !• 1 


crooner. 

"It’s a Lie” is another novelty 
with some shady lyrics which orch 
pitches in on. Tune gives him a 
chance to exploit wit. 

Lest he’s offended someone. 

Cornell gets back on the track 
\yith "My Mother’s Pearls.” Con- 
cluding with his forte, another 
blasting, this time "I’m Yours,” 
assures him of a quick return. He 

encores with ‘ For You” and “Sep- J Los Chavales de Espana, making 
ternber Song,” both drifting be- 1 their D.C. debut, prove a highly 
tween an almost inaudible murmur j polished, high-powered click. They 
to the shattering shout. Neither ; sport a technique of keeping things 
has the power of his skedded ! moving ihat many an American 
tunes. 1 band could certainly follow to ad- 

Cornell may be a little too as- vantage, 
sured for some tastes. Once lean- ; This unusual 11-man unit is al- 
in« over the ringside to do the old ways in a state of fluid activity and 
routine of explaining the joke to motion which dovetails with the 
an individual, reception was rather calibre of the playing and vocaliz- 
c00 ] ing to keep things interesting and 

Ben Wrigley is a clown who to avoid letdowns. It’s a good unit 
counts heavily on ridiculous walks ; without any outside help, but"the 
and poses. The slapstick comedy i .assist it gets from dancer Trim 
moves fast in a doctor’s office bur- Keyes is all on the plus side. This 


join in on. Act lacks any original- 
ity and is forgotten almost at once. 

Mark. 


L’Amlral, Paris 

Paris, Oct. 29. # 

“ Belle Mentalite,” revue in 
sketches by J. M , Thibault and 
Roper Pierre, with Jean Richard? 
Thibault, Pierre, Jean Berretini, 
J. C. Deret, Annie Aubin, Antoin- 
ette Moya, Francois Chauvet, Jac- 
ques Verrieres ; $2.50 minimum . 

This ship-shape boite, off the 
Champs Elysees, shaped like the 
inside of a vessel, is getting the 
French theatregoing and show biz 
crowd on the strength of word-of- 
mouth and crix reception of its 
new sketch revue. Show is zany 
and spirited, and though of un- 
even quality, it makes for a lot of 
yocks for the Gallic clientele. It 
won’t appeal to tourists straying ih 
who are not hep to the lingo. 

Show starts with a takeoff on 
radio commercials, which do not 
exist here but are piped in from 
Belgium and Monaco. Francois 
Chauvet delivers his puns both 
puny and funny in a leering, blase 
manner that makes for some loosen- 
ing of the crowd risibilities. Next 
up is Jacques Verrieres, a St.-Ger- 
main-DesPres type of chanter who 
gives with songs on the lowlife 
with dramatic mime and move- 
ment. He is adequate but seems 
out of Diace here. 

Revue proper starts with sketch- 
es of varying intensity from fran- 
tically funny items to vulgar and 
tasteless charades. Sketches arcs 
hypped mainly by Jean Richard, 
who is very droll in his fey, lacka- 
daisical takeoffs on Indian chief, 
African explorer, and a hoodlum 
picked up in a joy-house and 
dragged to jail in a barrel. 

Also on the talent are young au- 
thors J. M. Thibault and Roger 
Pierre. Latter does a fine takeoff, 
with a napkin as prop, on the vari- 
ous things it suggest, from a bull- 
fighter to a Martinique mama. 
Sketches with Thibault and Pierre 
are best in a satire of Italo pix 
with French spoken in an Italian 
dialect manner, and one in which 
a cop. who is hep to social tactics, 
tries to convince a small-time lug 
about the benefits of prison, to" 
which they finally march off amid 
stirring music Gals in the show 
are lookers and piano background 
serves both for show and customer 
on the small floor. Mosk. 


Hotel ♦fefforson* St • L. 

(BOULEVARD ROOM) 

St. Louis, Oct. 29. 
Kyi? MacDonnell, Robert Max- 
well, Les Elgart Orch (7); Line 
(6), $1-$1.50 cover. 


Return of line of talented look- 
ers with shapely gams to this No. 1 
spot in the downtown sector ‘ is 
proving an additional and welcome 
hypo to a first-rate bill topped by 
Kyle MacDonnell, a newie in this 
town. Gals were omitted at teeoff 
of new season, but their presence 
makes them the only nitery line 
in this burg and will draw trade 
heavily. 

The blue-eyed MacDonnell gal, 
attractively attired in a cerise 
bouffant gown, chocolate mousse 
jacket and wearing a' pearl neck- 
lace and wrist-length white gloves 
that set off her bangs, has plenty 
of competish for top honors fuom 
Robert Maxwell, a talented harpist 
and also a newcomer here. A con- 
trast in music, with Miss MacDon- 
nell thrushing, Maxwell plucking 
the wires and the line doing sev- 
eral swqll routines, presents, a, neat 
variety. 

Teeing off with “Most Unusual 
Day,” ’Miss MacDonnell whips 
through a medley of “All Of A 
Sudden, My Heart Sings” and 
"Why Was I Born,” then into "It’s 
Nice To Have A Man Around The 
House,” for click reaction. Her 
sock interp of a tyro and a pro 
trying for a place in the "Pal 
Joey” cast by warbling “If I Loved 
You.” cops another merited mitt. 

Although she added “You Made 
Me Love You” (with a few dance 
steps tossed in), "Hello Young 
Lovers” and “When Day Is Done,” 
the customers demanded more and 
she obliged with "Tenderly” to 
wind up her stint. 

Maxwell fingers the strings with 


BI ins trull's* Boston 

Danny Davis, The Rivirras (2),. 
Pitchmen (2), Teddy & Deanne 
Peters, Belle Carroll, Ted Cole, 
Michael Gaylord Orch (7), Louis 
Weir, $1.50 minimum weekdays, 
$2.50 Sat. 


Current layout at this vast spot 
stacks favorably with previous 
b«]is, >t c main distinction being the 
initial local nitery appearance of a 
native son, Danny Davis, ex- trum- 
pet sideman now launched on 
vocaling career. Guy, a tenor, 
scores neatly with a melange of 
songs which include the fast open- 
er, "Almost Like Being in Love,” 
the slow ballad, “Somewhere Along 
the Way,” shamrock-tinted, “Dear 
Old Donegal” and his MGM dis- 
click. “Crying Heart.” A neat-ap- 
pearing youth with okay showman- 
ship savvy, he handles diversified 
types of songs, winding nicely with 
a slick "Jealousy.” Included in stint 
is bit of trumpeting a la Harry 
James, with overall results solid 
down the line. 

Surrounding lineup is typical 
Blinstrub fare, i.e., accent on sight 
acts teeing off with ballerina Belle 
Carroll in fast sesh of twirls and 
ballet taps. Teddy & Deanne Peters 
score with slick ballroomology 
which includes a comic version of 
Oriental terping. The Pitchmen, 
currently a duo instead of trio, 
grab share of yocks with same rou- 
tines they’ve been doing for years. 
Bill winds with Rivieras, reverse 
Apache duo (.the gal tossing male 
partner around), who continue to 
score handily whenever, playing 
this room. 

Emcee .chores are handled by 
spot’s popular baritone, Ted Cole, 
who solos "Lady of Spain” and "Be 
Anything.” Michael Gaylord batons 
backgrounds in okay fashion and 
provides dansapation for custom- 
ers. Organist Louis Weir fills the 
lulls. Elie. 


Adler’s London Dates 

London, Nov. 4. 

.... Larry Adler left for Paris Oct. 

dexterity as he presents a variety I 25 to do a .broadcast with Wal- 


esoue in which he c la es he ■ snappy eye-filler adds punch and a : nftunes ranSn/ fr S „m rf ? n - et . y ! n l ° ^ l-'® P 2S ac - pSt WIU \. ” al " 
rfurs^and cavorts onthe operating ! change of pace to Los Chavales ! J 1 * _ 65 :?* ce , “L ra ‘ 


s top nurse ana cavorts on ine opeutuwK , ™ ^ : "Knapsody In B ue” to “SDachetti Hp then e 

ling S table. A bit in which he dresses and makes her flamenco numbers;, Rag / his lowdown ve?sion of nesdav (2- 

show- up a straight man and sings Loch ( grp 1 a eenum^attrnc “ st Louis Blues” and "Malaguena” pkming to 

Cantor ! Lomond” get^ nowhere. He rolls : The kids are a genuine attiac sandwiched in. He has a colored o 

" ' sr'dually intS t a , S P oo'i nd ^ ’ ‘omMe Sing to support fo? solo throws" ° f 

gradually into a scot. , sinaers , thpn switch to feature halt ^ A™ 1 ‘£"> ws * he bean ! s 


into his face when the room is 


He then gave a recital last Wed- 
129) at the Salle-Gaveau, 
New York the next day 
.. I to open at the Monteleone Hotel, 

the bottom of j j; ew Orleans, Nov. 4, for two 

weeks. 

Adler is due to return to Lon- 


blacked out. When Maxwell pro- \ j e • i 4 , 

duces an Irish harp for the windup t ? on j 01 ' ® s P e ? al concert with the 
portion, the customers expected ! London Symphony Orchestra Dec. 

j f <r* r. _ _ I 1 C ii • Vi An Via ntill r\l o tr far f Via uof 


for this plushy boite! some 

which draw good 


Clark Bros, open the show with ( .. .. . , . . 

exciting precision tapography. The a dozen violnis, and a^am chnnge 
two stick to sharp dancing sans , to mcrent a bullfight song. 

ETimmirkc; and meaningless tricks. Those not active in any parlieu- 

They do, however, trade oft foliar number become a kind of root- j some gltties from the*Emerald7rie 1 16, when he will play, for the first- 
sensational sets — all of: (ng section to- whoop up and call > ^ t instead got the nostalgic “Alex I time, the Romance for Harmonica 
raw good mitts. They click ; attention to he *ve™\tv of the | CdT-Rmty and Orchestra, especially written 

tl n. l l men hack o- the j Bab y” an * “For Me and My Q^”|fprjiim by Ralph . Vaughan Wil- 
I bandstand sound like the Dodgers’ I . * Satin. 

i * , 1 1 -t 1 1 . 1 » t. JD i »• *- - *• 


in all* three numbers and e’*e tops moment. When Trini Reyes 
in flawless shadow lioofin; 


Mark. 

. • t 


] Hams. 


i ».i • j tv iwr 



52 


Wednesday, November 5, 1952 


PStUmFr 


VARIETY BILLS 

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 5 

Numerals In connection with hills oelow indicate opening day of shew 

Whether full or split week 

Letter in parentheses indicates circuit. <FMJ Fanehon Marco; <l> Independent; 
(L> Loew; (M) Moss; <P) Paramount; iR; RKO; <S) Stoll; <3*> Tivoli; <W> Warner; 

•WRt Walter Reade 


NEW YORK CITY 
Music Hall (1) 6 
Rameriz Peralta 
Renald & Rudy 
Robert Marshall 
Jav Marshall 
Roekettes 
Corps de Ballet 
Sym Ore 

Palace (R) 7 
Woodie & Lorraine 
Monica Lind 
Dancers 
DeSantos 3 
Jackie Bright 
Ken Whitmer 
Trampolooneys 
Beau Jenkins 
Paramount (P) S 
4 Aces 

Charlie Barnett Ore 
Sunny Gale 
Jay Lawrence 
Lane Bros 

Roxy (0 4 
Frances Langt >rd 
Harm >ni'*a Rascals 
Blackburn Twins & 


i M Colby 
j Maurice Rocco 
Arnold Shoda 

CHICAGO 
Chicago (P) 7 
Frankie JLaine 
Gilbert & Russell 
Jeri Southern 
Prof Backwards 
Par (P) 7 only 
Asylum of Horrors 
JOLIET . 

Rialto (P) 8 only 
Asylum of Horrors 

ROCKFORD 
Palace (I) 7-9 
4 Wades 
Bobby Sherman 
2 Rudenko Bros 
Ginny Scott 
Joey Carter 

WASHINGTON 
Capitol (L) 7 
Patti Page 
Frank Fontaine 
Camevales 
Dick Brown 


AUSTRALIA 


BRISBANE 
HIs Majesty's (T) 3 

Arm nd Perren 
3 Fayes 
Pat Gregory 
Gerd Bjornstad 
Chribi 

Marika Saary 
Phillip Tappin 
Wim De Jong 
Jacques C rtaux 
Jipinv Elder 
Joe Whi'ehouse 
Cissy Trcnholra 
Terry S 'anion' 

Babs Mackinnon 
Betty Sullo^k 
Joy S'cwart 
Guus Brox fit 
Myrna 

MELBOURNE 
Tivoli (T) 3 
Tommv Trinder 
Botonds 

Halama & Konarski 


Professor Olgo 
Carl Ames 
R MacGreggor 
Harry Moreny 
Toni Lamond 
Peter 

4 Singing Girls 
2 Show Girls 
4 Dancing Boys 
12 Adorablcs 

SYDNEY . 
Tivoli <T) Tl 
Mara & Maurice 
Daresco 3 
Lowe and Ladd 
Guy Nelson 
Renita Kramer 
Bouna 

Rey Overbury fit 
Suzette 

Sonya Corbeau 
12 Show Girls 
10 Nudes 
Boy Dancers « 
Singers 
Ballet 


Ken Roberts 
Locky & Henry 
A V Farrell 
Doreen Sc Victor 
Gray fie Austin 
Royalc fie Revere 
NORWICH 
Hippodrome (I) 3 
Carroll Levis Co 
Violet Pretty 
NOTTINGHAM 
Empire <M>,3 
Geraldine & Joy 
Deep River Boys 
Nordics 
Nitwits 
S fie P Kaye 
Beryl Orde 

PORTSMOUTH 
Royal (M) 3 
Harry Lester Co 
Hayseeds 
Goofus 
Carol McCoy 
Carolyn Cousins 
Village Slickers 
Farthers Daughters 
SCUNTHORPE 
Savoy (I) 3 
Sandy Powell Co 
Dudley Dale Co • 
SHEPHERDS BUSH 
Empire (S> 3 
Ted Heath. Ore 
Peter Sellers 
Mundy Sc Earle 
Moxham Bros 
Richard Sis 
2 Kellys 
Norman Caley 
SUNDERLAND 
Empire (M) 3 
Betty Driver 
Tommy Cooper 


BRITAIN 


BIRMINGHAM 
Mlpoodrome <M) 3 I 
M-" - Miller 
Mflp Sc Marie 
M *• H Nesbitt 
F Dowie Sc C Kane 
R >v S'evens 
KtIoITs 

M-rlin Crosbie & 
'Hipima 

D >11 Moreno 4c Kiki 
Re<*a S*< 

BLACKPOOL 
Palace (I) 3 
4 Graham Bros 
Joan Keen 
Irene Dickson 
Glen Arthur 
Syd Jeffrey 

BOSCOMBE 
Hippodrome (I) 3 
Horry Lup<no 
Renee Reel 
James Keith 
Suzanna YalMa 
Glsell* Vaughn 
BRISTOL 
Emnire (I) 3 
Sandv Lane 
Merrv Martins 
Valentine Naoler 
Benedere Bros 
A1 Brandon 
8 Girls 

Patricia Joyce 
?>hnV Lane 
Hippodrome (S) 3 
Vie Oliver 
Bill Ker" 

Victor Seaforth 
Svlvia Campbell 
Maureen Power 
Les Rayncr fit Betty 
Eileen Rae 
Andy McKarlane 
Barrie Goanev 
Llewellyn John 
Seaton Sc (VDell 
Ernip Brooks 
BRIXTON 
Emoress <S> 3 
Tommv Fields 
P Nicholls & B 
• Merrin 
4 Aces 
Gladys Hay 
Han*y Locke 
Eddie Gordon fie* 
Ngncy 

Allen & Lee 
J &• J Mason 
Me Andrews Sr Mills 
CARDIFF • 
New (SI 3 
Freddie Frinton 
Ronnie Collins 
Irvin" S' Oirdwood 
Ron Parry 
Ni*a V>l.?rie 
W»i-m Clothier 
W 'tipp Delyse Sc 
*•' mvette 

De noneers 

CHELSEA 
p->lace (I) 3 
Is«v B.'T'.nn 
Seniprini 
Joe Black 
K-*i Barnes Sc 
•^p r ' r, n A 

2 Mirhelcs 
Anstral 

Ni'' , 'l Sc Kemble 
Bobbie Dennis 
Jill Sr Odette 
/ 'H , SWICK 
Empire (S) 3 


EAST HAM 
Granada (I) 3 


George Martin 
Kenny Baker 
Petersen Bros 
Reg Radcliffe 
Bobbie Kimber 
Godfrey Sc Kerby 
Floyd & B'Nay 
SWANSEA 
Empire CM) 3 
G H Elliott 
Leslie Welsh 
Jack Tripp 
Manley Sc Austin 
Helga Barry 
Sereno & 'Joy 
Arthur Scott 
12 Sherman Fisher 
Girls 

VICTORIA 
Palace (M) 3 
Nervo St Knox 
Bud Flanagan 
Naughton Sc Gold 
WOLVERHAMPTON 
Hippodrome (I) 3 
Eddie Reindeer 
Pop White Sc 
Stagger 
A1 Podester 3 
Greytyna Sc 
Kotchinsky 
Gardner fie Baxter 
Paulla D’Orsay 
F Whitely Girls 
; WOOD GREEN 
Empire (S) 3 
Peter Brough 
Ronald Chesney 
Alma Gogan 
Ossie Noble 
Vogelbeins Bears 
Candy Twins 
Ravic Sc Babs 
Edward Victor 


Jackie King 
Sans Souct Hotel 
Charlie Farrell 
Shine 4c Stone 
t Eddie Snyder 
) Sacasas Ore 
: Ann Herman Dcr* 
i Saxony Hotel 
: Bobby Escoto 
Val Olman Ore 
. I'ano 4c Dee 
■ Saxonettes 

Shore Club 
; Rosalie & Steve 
• Caney Ore 

Shoremede 
; Preacher Rollo 5 
Harbor Club 
Joe Mooney 
Charlie Page 
paddock Club 
Frankie Donia 
H. S. Gump 


Mist Memphis 
Connie Del Monte 
Ernie Bell Ore 
Flo Parker 
Darlene Keller 
Mac Fadden 
Deuvllle 
Vocations 3 
Buddy Lewis Trio 
Sorrento 
Jack Kerr 

El Mambo 
Freddy Calo Rev 
Chavez. 

The Zarras 
Elena 

Tito Ledouk Dcrs 
5 O'clock Club 
Martha Raye 
Nuts Bros 
Ted Wills 4 
Len Dawson Ore 
Versailles Hotel 
Nino Rinaldi 3 


New Acts 


CHICAGO 


Cabaret Bills 


Chez Pare# 
Dannv Thomas 
Estelle Sloan 
Wini Shaw 
Johnny Martin 
Chez Adorables to) 
Brian Famon Ore 
Conrad Hilton HotM 
Adele Inge 
Eric Waite 
Diana Grafton 
Charles & Lucille 
Cavanaugh 
Dennis fii Darlene 
Lillian Byers 
Yvonne Broder 
t’hilip Fraser 
Terry Taylor 
Donald Tobin 
George Zak 
Boulevar-dears (6) 
Frankie Masters O 


Edgewater Beach 

Russell Nype 
Piero Bros (2) 

Griff Williams Ore 
D Hild Dcrs (10) 
Palmer House 
Joe E. Howard 
Leo de Lyon 
Lulu Bates 
Bambi Linn St Rod 

Alexander 
Susanne Sc 
McCaffrey 
Boh de Voye & 
Betty Lorraine 
Earl Barton 
Tom Horgan & 
Patricia Manning 
Abbott Dcrs (6) 
Trio Bass! 

N Brandvynne Ore 


iOS ANGELES 


Ambassador Hotel 
Andrews Sis 
Eld die Bergman Ore 
Bar of Music 
Noble St King 
Hdlen Bolce 
Felix Decola 
Benno Rubinyi 
Eddie Bradford Ore 
B Gray's Bandbox 
, Buddy Hackett 
j Pat Morissey 
j Coleens 
Chari’ e Bagby 
BH 1 Howe 

Blltmorc Hotel 
Noonan fie Marshall 


NEW YORK CITY 


4 Rcthys 
Joan H? rdio 
Charles Hague 
Johnny Laycock 
Paige & Metro 
2 Storrs 
Metropolitan (I) 
Turner Layton 
Albert Whelan 
Georgie Wood 
Hetty King 
Dick Henderson 
Marie Lloyd 
Keefe Bros fit 
Annette 
Shane Sis 

Palace (I) 3 
Jack Jackson 
T Fayne fit D 
Evans 

Karin C-reer 
timmy Wheeler 
T fit G Durant 
Peter . Raynor 
-Tackley fit Jee 
R fit M L^mir 
GLASGOW 
Empire (M) 4 
Max Wall 
Beryl Reid 
Hedley Ward 3 
1 Moreton fit D 
Kaye 

5 Speed macs 
P fit P Page 
Jean Paul 
Sherman Fisher 
Girls 

GRIMSBY 
Palace (I) 3 
Billy Whittaker 
Mimi Law 

HACKNEY 
Empire (S) 3 
Gerry Brereton 
Karen Greer 
-Tack Watson 
& -C Wlaat 
Tommy Godfrey fit 
Dee 

Original Peter 
Chris Sands ' 

Mary Meredith 
Rooftop Lovlies 
LEEDS 

Empire (M) 3 ' 
Arthur English 
Eddie Gray 
Peggy Powell M 
Viking 3 fit 
Charmaine j,/ 

2 Playboys 
Cycling Astons " 
Maureen Rose 
Donovan fit Hayes 
Brian Kent 
Eileen Rogan Girls 
LEICESTER 
Palate (S) 3 
Evelyn Layo 
Dick Denny Co • 
Vincent Ryan 
Billy Dainty 
Perclvals Dogs 
Kay fit Karina 
MANCHESTER 
Hippodrome (S) 3 
Charlie Chester 
Radio Revellers 
Lizbclh Webb 
Stephine Grappelly 
Yorke De Souza 
Reg Varney 
Virginians 
Herbie Narks 


Blrdlsn* 

Slim Gaiilard 
Dave Brubeck Ore 
Red- Rodney (4» 

Blue Angel 
Dwight Fiske 
Alice Ghostley 
Charlotte Sae 
Annette 'Warren 
Ellis Larkin 3 
Bart Howard 
Bon Soir 
Jimmie Daniels 
Fletcher fit Sheidy 
Tony fit Eddie 
Norene Tate 
Garland Wilson 
Mae Barnes 
Cafe Society Dntwn 
Virginia O'Brien 
Gy Coleman 
Erskine Butterfield 
Celebrity Club 
Alan Gale 
Freddie Stewart 
Haydocks 

Copacabana 
Billy Daniels . 
Jackie Kannon 
Paul Sydell 
De Marios 
M Durst- <>rc 
Ray Steele 
Milt Page 

Chateau Madrid 
Giro Rim-.c Ore 
Frdddy' Alonso 
Sarita Herera 
Chez Zlzl 
LfitE Roberts 
Bob Savage 
Joan Kayne 
Embers 
Joe Bushkin 
.Bunty Pendleton 
French CasiiVo 
Sugar Ray -Robinson 
Gtnette Wander"' 
Jane Lastc 
Laura Tunis! 
Dominique 
Rudy Cardenas* 
Vincent Travers 


Bill Finch 
Rudeils 

Hal Derwin Ore 
Cafe Gala 
Jimmy Ames 
Jean Arnold 
Freddie Slack 
Don Sheffey 
Ciro’s 
Willie Shore 
Four Lads 
Dick Stabile Oro 
Bobby Ramos Ore 
Mocambo 
Joanne Gilbert 
Eddie Oliver Ore 
Felix Martinique O 


LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 


Hotel Ambassador 
Jules Lande Ore 
Hotel Astor 
Blue Barron Ore 
Hotel Biltmore 
Michael Kent Ore 
Hotel .Edison 
Henry Jerome Ore 
Hotel New-Yorker 
Berhie Oumnitns O 
Royanayne ■ Sc Brent 
Slitnar 

Jack Raffldcr 
JCan ■ Walden 
Adrian » Km i ml iTIo 
. ^Hotei JPterrA 
Margaret Phelan 
Stanley Melba Oro 
Chico Relli Ore 
Hotel Plaza 
Mindy Carson 
Dick La Salle Oro 
Continentals 

Hotel Roosevelt 
Guy Lombardo Ore 


Hotel St. Regis 
Celia Lipton 
Milt Shaw Ore 
Horace Diaz Ore 
Hotel Warwick 
3 Suns 

Village Barn 
Zeb Carver 
Ted Huston Ore 
Waldorf- Astoi la 
Compagnons de La 
Chanson 

Alpx Alstone Ore 
Misrha Borr Ore 
Hotel Raleigh 
Harold Sandler Ore 
Hotel Taft 
Vincent Lopez Ore 
Latin Quarter 
Sophie Tucker 
Sid Krdfft 
Collette Fleuriot 
Audrey Sperling 
Ralph Young 
Darvas Sc Julia 
Art Waner Ore 
La Vie en Rose 

Amalia 
Red Caps 
Damita Jo 
Van Smith 3 
El Chico 
Rosita Bros 
DeLeon fit Graciella 
C fit G Galvan 
Alyardo de la Cruz 
Carlos Canqacho 
Leon .St Eddie's 
Eddie Davis 
Art Warier Ore 
Oliver Dcrs 
No. 1 Fifth Ave 
Nancy Andrews 
Bud McCreery 
Bob Downey 
Harold Fonville 
Hazel Webster 
Old Roumanian 
Sadie .Banks 
Sonny Sands 
Carolyn Carpenter 
Larry Marvin 
Job LaPorte Ore 
D'Aquila Ore 
Park Sheraton 
Irving Fields 
Town & Country 
Ernestine Merger 
Johnny Morris Ore 
La Plaza G 

Two Guitars 
Sigi Ahem 
Eli Spivak 
Misha, Usdanoff 
Kostya Poliansky 

Versatile: 1 

Edith Piaf . 

Emile Petti j Qro„ 
Panchito Ore 
Village Vanguard' 
Robert Clary 
Sylvia Syms 
Phil Leeds 
Clarence William 
Wivel 
Sal Noble 
Bob Lee 


Flamingo 
"San Souci Revue’* 
Miguelito Valdez O 
Last Frontier • 
Dorothy Shay 
Dave Barry 
Devlyn Girls 
Garwood Van Ore 
Don Baker 

Desert Inn 
"Minsky 
University” 

Maxie Rosenbloom 
Sherry Britton 
Bobby Sargeht 
Freddie Lane 
Erv Foster 
T. Parris Trio 
Raul & Eva Reyes 
Minsky Girls 
C Hayes Ore 
Thunderbird 
Ray Anthony. Ore 
Larry Storch 
John Arcesi 
Marvels 

Johnny O’Brien 
IC Duffy Dansatlons 
Normandie Boys ; 

El Rancho Vegas 
Jerry Lester 
Mary Small 


-) El Rancho Girls 
Ted Fio Rito Ore 
Sahara 
"Ken Murray 
Revue” 

Laurie Anders 
Anita Gordon 
Schaller Bros. 

Ray Berwick 
Park fit Clifford 
Murray Musical 
Minors 

Glamour Lovelies 
Reviewers 
Sa-Harem Dancers 
Cee Davidson Ore 
El Cortez 
Peter James 
Don Cummings 
Ruth Foster 
Cully Richards 
Doris Lee 
Dave Rodgers Ore 
Silver Slipper 
Hank Henry 
Woo Woo Stephens 
Beau Jesters 
Benson Bros. 

Jo Ann Malone 
Genii Young 
Jimmy Cavanaugh 
Cover Girls 
George Redman Ore 


JOANNE GILBERT 

Songs 

15 Mins. 

Mocambo, Hollywood 

The aura of potential stardom 
surrounds Joanne Gilbert, daugh- 
ter of vet songwriter Ray Gilbert, 
whose professional bow at the 
Mocambo created an immediate 
and unusual excitement. Careful 
development within the next few 
months to polish the rough edges 
will determine the future, but the 
elements are there. 

In many respects. Miss Gilbert 
looms as the longsought ofay Lena 
Horne. Not that the voice has the 
same quality; it . hasnT. But it 
ranges from the pleasing to the 
good, it’s tinged with a slight 
huskiness that adds extra appeal, 
and it’s backed by a sense of 
rhythm and salesmanship that 
combine to give her an exciting 
turn that earns constant palm- 
pounding. 

The act has been carefully 
staged by Gilbert, who also has 
written eight-bar intros to several 
standard tunes 'and provided some 
mild lyric revision. As a result, 
such tunes as “Singin in. the Rain” 
and “She. Shall Have Musip” gain 
new emphasis and indicate , that 
Miss Gilbert has latent acting abil- 
ity, .which could also be developed 
to provide her with a film or pos- 
sibly legit career. The immediate 
goal, however, should be in the 
bistros, where her particular style 
(revised slightly, to eliminate an 
occasional too-close resemblance to 
Miss Horne) should pay hefty div- 
idends. 

As a bistro bet, Miss Gilbert has 
all the ndCessary qualifications; a 
gamin face, fine figure, infectious 
personality and talent. She’s one 
of the most vibrant song person- 
alities to come along in years. 
Properly handled, this Mocambow 
should be the start of a big career, 

Kap. 


WELCOME SINGERS 
With Teresa Waters 
Songs 
15 Mins. 

Pavilion, Glasgow 

Vocal quintet of four males and 
one femme is lusty-voiced, males 
being colorfully dressed in scarlet 
. coats and tartan trews, while gal, 
a real looker, is exquisitely set oil 
in sparkling evening dress. Act is 
from Wales and makes gimmick 
of the Welsh r song, “We’ll Keep A 
Welcome in the Hillside, We U 
Keep A Welcome in the Glen." 

At show caught, the quartet of 
voices gave out individually in 
tunes from “Oklahoma!” Act is 
strong and masculine, with the 
lusn tnrush adding welcome con- 
trast of beauty and femininity. 
Males sing expressively, one mem- 
ber m particular using twink- 
ling enthusiastic eyes to good ad- 
vantage. They register to warm 
mitting. Cord. 


HAVANA 


Tropicana 
Zoraida Marrero 
Miguel Angel Ortiz 
Simone Sc Boyer 
Agudiez 
Ana ' Gloria Sc 
Rolando 

Montmartre 
Facundo ‘ Rivero 
Quartette 
Dilmer 


I Serenata Espanola 
Ray Carson 

Sans Souci 
Skippy 
Celia Cruz 
Rocio Sc Antonio 
Mercedita Valdes 
Olga Chaviano 
Xiomara Alfaro 
Olga & Jesus Reyes - 
Tondelayo 
F Valencia . 


PORTLAND, OREGON 


MARGO HENDERSON & SAM 

KEMP 
Musical 
15 Mins. 

Pavilion, Glasgow 

Young musical act is fresh, vis- 
ually pleasant and garbed most at- 
tractively, particularly the gal, 
whose wardrobe is distinctive. Act 
is husband-and-wife team. Gal 
sings pop numbers attractively 
while seated at ivories, and male 
plays a variety of instruments, 
climaxing with the bagpipes. For- 
mer’s strong personality shines 
through. «* 

At show caught. Miss Hender- 
son did a clever takeoff of various 
show people singing “Ay-Round 
the Corner,” including Phil Har- 
ris. George Sanders, Grade Fields 
and Scot tenor Robert Wilso'n. She 
is solid click here. Act, rated one 
of the best in the Auld Lang Syne 
country, is w.k. on native vaude 
Circuit and moves south to Eng- 
land next year. 

It has much potential for TV 
and would have reasonably good 
chance of success in vaude and 
video in the States. Femme’s U.S. 
slant in travesties and male’s bag- 
pipe gimmick are both useful fac- 
tors. Gord. 


PEPE COSTA 
Songs 
15 Mins. 

Spivy’s East Side, Paris. 

Mexican singer has been doing 
the boites here for a year now. He 
has a good lilt and delivery for 
Mex and Spanish songs, imbuing 
them with authority. However, 
when he strays into Gallic and 
English songs his voice does not 
have the stature to put over the 
material. 

If he stays with the carioca 
chants, he can well make a good 
original niche for himself in the 
Latin crooner ranks. Pepe Costa 
is personable and .makes a good 
appearance. He gets the audience 
into the act ‘ with a participation 
number that is good for general 
pleasing effect. Mosk. 

3 BROWNIES 
Roller Skating 
8 Mins. 

Apollo, N. Y. 

The 3 Brownies, a boy and two 
girls, are a Negro roller skating 
act. They have essentially a good 
idea. They attempt to use skates 
as a dance medium before going 
into the surefire items of turns and 
swivels. 

Trio are handicapped during 
most of the act by sparse working 
space. Their routines still need 
considerable polishing. On the 
plus side, they show some origi- 
nality, a dance flair and a know- 
ledge of tricks. Costuming is also 
okay. But they need more experi- 
ence before they can hit the flossy 
time. Jose. 


Amato's 

Day, Dawn, & Dusk 
Ed Ford & Whitey 
Margaret Brown 


. LLOYD PRICE & BAND (7) 

Wyn Walker Ore (5) • Songs, instrumental 
Clover Club \ u Mins> 


The Merry Macs (5> 
H Jobelmann O (5) 


Ml AMI-MI AM! BEACH 


Ge-i ’‘llfchcU Choir ; Amazing Gl’ssons 

I Les Reale 3 
I Palace (M) 3 
j Betty Hutton 
> El C.ranadas Sc 
1 Peter Saveen 
, Laurie Watson 
! Skylarks 


Jirnniv Clitheroc 
K irina 

Amus Watson - 
Arthur White 
V & Hertz 
S.Minv Burke 
Joh'in.i Laycock 


Jon Jo,vc« Dancers I Louise Pets 


I 


COVENTRY 
Hippodrome (I) 3 
Norm in Evans . 

Pit Kirkwood 
Unix Secomhe 
*A Sc I. Ward 
Fr aers Harmonica 
Co 

Maple Leaf 4 

Betty Jumel 

V fie J. Crastontan 

Y.Volaii's 

Bil & Bil 

Johfir Tiller Girls . 


Jackie 

NEWCASTLE 
j Empire (M> 3 
Ilarry Ro.v Bd 
! Cooper Twins 
I George Doonarl « 
Anne 

Bob Andrews 
Gaston Palmer 
Kosinas 

NEW CROSS 
■ Empire (I) 3 
[ Tc.s ,ie O’Shea 
Ifton 'Carver . ^ 


Allison Hotel 
Beachcombers (4) 
Julio fi: Mae 
Casablanca Hotel 
Hal Winter 
Candy Stevens 
Milt Roberts Oro 
Clover Club 
Nov-Elites (3) 

Peggy Greer 
Peggy Palmer 
S Marlowe Line 
Tony Lopez Ore 
Cork Club 
Jo Thompson 
Delmonico 
Allan French 
Crayton Sc Lopez 
Carlos & Melisa Ore 
frolic Club 
Kathie McCoy 
Don Charles Oro 
Harem Club 
Jimmy Day 
Rusty Marsh 
Flash Lane 
Camile Stevens 
Ann Mitchell 
Ginger Marsh 
. Lombardy 
Don Baker Otc 
Henry Taylor 
Julio Sc Mae 
Martinique Hoff I 
Mnnolo Sc Ethel 
Danny Yates Oro 


Rose fit Paul 
Vincents 
Monte Carlo 
Day fit Alva 

Music Box 
Belle Barth 
Music Box Trio 
Malayan Lounge 
Elaine Brent 
Nautilus Hotel 
Jordan 

Barbara Drake 
Sid Stanley Ore 
Rendezvous 
Townsmen Sc Lady 
Patigo Ore 
San Marino Hotel 
Alac Pepper 
Arne Barnett (3) 
Gaiety Club 
Aquarena 
Dolly Alillcr 
Blue Drake 
Marie Stowe 
Gaiety Girls 
Bob Morris Ore 
Johntna Hotel 
Michel Allard 
Jack Murphy 
Tony Matas 
Itandum* 

' Leon St Eddie's 
Babe Baker Revue 
Patti Lane • 

Bill Gray 
Kitty O’Kelly! 


‘Mother’ Donna Atwood 
To Rejoin ‘Capades’ 

Pittsburgh, Nov. 4. 

! With the birth of a daughter last 
week to Donna Atwood, erstwhile 
star of “Ice Capades,” and John H., 
Harris, icer’s producer and theatre 
owner here. Miss Atwood is begin- 
ning preparations to rejoin the 
show in Boston at Christmas. She’ll 
take ever the leading femme role 
of Fiona in the “Brigadoon” pro- 
duction number and will also do a 
double with Bobby Specht late in 
the revue. > 

Skater plans to resume practice 
here at The Gardens in a couple 
of w'eeks and around Dec. 8, when 
“Capades” lays off until Christmas, 
will meet Specht *in Hollywood to 
rehearse their routines. Sonya 
Kaye (Klopfer), whose place Miss 
Atwood will take in “Brigadoon,” 
remains in the show, and has her 
own specialty in another number. 
She w’as originally engaged for the 
featured spot only until the return 
of Miss Atwood. 


Ted Mack’s Hoosier Stop 
Fort Wayne, Nov. 4. 

Ted Mack’s “Amateurs on Tour” 
will be presented at the Coliseum 
here Nov. 17 


Apollo,’ N. Y. 

Lloyd Price, whose disking of j 
“Lawdy Miss Clawdy” op the 
Specialty label has brought him a 
measure of prominance in race 
circles, is an uninhibited enter- 
tainer backed by an instrumental 
group. Price gives out with some 
frantic blues which are powerfully 
delivered. There’s a maximum of 
motion in his presentation. 

Price does a standup bit at the 
piano before relinquishing that 
instrument to a standby. He delves 
into several blues numbers, all of 
which receive similar treatment. 
However, it’s his hit disk that 
wraps up the house, 

Price has the basis, but in order 
to hit the midtown houses he would 
have to tone down his act, since > 
it’s now designed to appeal to the 1 
blues aficonados and those who 
want more action instead of music. 

Hi$ surrounding combination 
also works frantically. The gui- 
tarist acts gone. The other instru- 
mentalists' jazz up the stage, but 
it’s Price and the guitarist who 
make the physical impact. Jose. 

THE DYERETTES <5) 

Dance 

10 Mins.; Full u 
Palace, N.Y. 

The Dyerettes are a goodlooking 
troupe of five Negro gal hoofers in : 
need of a routine. Their current 
format is slipshod and crammed ; 
too full of mediocre terping mate- • 
rial. A hoofing duo opens the turn : 
in fair style, with the other three 1 
gals coming- in later for specialty ■ 
dancing bits. These ‘ are Strictly 


PHYLLIS BRANCH 
loners 

9 Mins. 

Apollo, N. Y. 

Phyllis Bfanch is apparently no 
stranger to stages. Negro lass is 
an expert singer who utilizes a 
trick voice in a manner that gives 
her color and styling. She spe- 
cializes in a Spanish idiom, giving 
these items • elaborate arrange- 
ments, which calls for everything 
from ' use of a higli soprano to a 
baritone. 

Miss Branch needs some polish- 
ing of stage mores and a sense of 
restraint. Right now she fills the 
needs of disking, being what the 
trade calls a “new sound.” With 
greater experience, she'll achieve 
a unique niche.- Jose. 

PIERCE KNOX 
Xylophonist 

10 Mins.; Full 
Palace, N.Y. 

Pierce Knox, blind xylophonist 
from the midwest, registers okay 
as a technical virtuoso with the 
mallets. It’s a good turn for spe- 
cialty instrumental spots. 

Knox bangs through a couple of 
standard numbers for nice results, 
but clicks best with his closing 
number, in which only his lumi- 
nous mallets are visible on the 
darkened stage. Interesting visual 
effects . combine . . .with . the .. ihtric a t e 
musical patterns for a solid wind- 
up. Hctuu 


~ ~ - • — • • > uaiuui^ uiia. i uuoc me binuiriy 

Johnny Apt is in charge of . conventional and too repetitive. ■ 
promotion. . I Henn. I 


AGRAMONTE 
Tightrope 
10 Mins.; Full 
Palace, N.Y. 

Agramonte, South American im- 
port, . registers with an usual bal- 
ancing routine on a wire string 
about 10 fdet above the. Palace 
stage. It’s a good item for opening 
or closing vaude slots. 

He has a wide variety of stunts, 
including one number in which he 
does a drunk .act while traversing 
the wire. For a .closer, be slackens 
the wire for a swinging routine 
throughout, . Herm. 

ELISA JANE 
Dance-Impressions 
10 Mins.: Full 
p a ] ace N«Y 

•’ A solo* dance turn is a tough as- 
signment, and Elisa Jane carries u 
off with fair impact. Her acro- 
(Continued on page 53) 



Wednesday* November 5, 1952 


Vbsmff 


HOUSE REVIEWS 


53 


Music H*U, N. Y. 

‘•Revue Romantique,” produced 
h,i Russell Markert; sets , James 
cfpirart Morcom; costumes, Frank 
<: veneer; lighting, Eugene Braun; 
Raymond Paige Symphony Orch, 
rnrvsde Ballet (with Enc Hyrst), 
choral Ensemble, Renald & Rudy, 
jau Marshall, Rockettes; ‘The 
Happy Time" <Col>. revxewcd xn 
Variety Aug. 20, 52. 

The Music Hall is currently 
.Dreading one of its typically gay 
anil colorful stagers that feast the 
pve and ear. It’s a picturesque 
sort of layout rigged to the revue 
fnrmat by producer Russell Mar- 
ker" and set off by the dazzling 
Secor of James Stewart Marcom 
and the costumes of Frank 
Socncer. >Vith the highly divert- 
ing "The Happy Time” op screen, 
the Hall is in a meringue mood. 

Ravmond Paige gives the teeoff 
an immediafe high-point as he 
batons the symphony orch through 
a medlev of Tschaikowsky pieces 
that strike a familiar note. This 
nnkklv segues into the schmaltzy, 
full-stage terpistry of the ballet 
corps in flimsy, clinging gowns 
favored by changing light cues. To 
the overall choreography of Mar- 
garet Sande, Eric Hyrst accents 
the stanza in a sock solo that de- 
velops continual mitting for his 
educated feet. 

Muscularity from another shelf 
is supplied by Renald & Rudy, 
slow-beat acros whose complicated 
hand-to-hand repertoire racks a 
powerful score. Attired only in 
white briefs, the duo smashes over 
an equilibristic display that winds 
in a one-hand lift from prone for 
a winning effort. 

Production motif midway is an 
'Italian Medley” spree. Trans- 
parent curtain in the form of a 
huge violin parts on the middle 
string to display a Venetian scene 
with gondolas and trimmings. 
Robert Marshall punctuates the 
whole as soloist in the ‘‘Sorrento” 
feature, backed by the choral en- 
semble and a sty lish - workout an 
tambourines by the femmes. It’s 
an altogether spirited inning just 
bursting with Italo tints. 

Jay Marshall establishes an im- 
portant point in his comedy stint 
preceding the finale. Ordinarily 
a talking act is murder in the huge 
Hall. Marshall takes care of that 
via his crisp, self-effacing mockery 
and the tones, w'inged by great 
timing, reach out to the farthest 
points. For the visual end, he’s on 
with his trademarked “designs in 
paper,” accompanied by an engag- 
ing patter that’s intended for 
titters rather than yocks. In the 
followup chore with his w.k. hand 
puppet, Lefty, the result is better 
than fair, although this particular 
stint cries out for more intimacy. 
Nevertheless, Marshall is way 
ahead in total points. 

Markert’s “Del Caribe” finish 
bringing on the Rockettes and the 
choristers is the top piece. The 
kickers wallop over a long and 
audacious conga that is of show- 
stop proportions. The percussion 
support for the terrific terp is sup- 
plied by Ramirez Peralta with 
dick effect. Raymond Paige paces 
the big orch with authority 
throughout the' show. Trau. 

Palace, K. Y. 

The Dyerettes (5), Pierce Knox, 
Elisa Jane, The Marcellos »3), 
Chris Cross, Bernadette Phelan 
Dancers < 3 ) , Lee Davis, Agra - 
monte, Jo Lombardi House Orch; 
‘‘ Battle Zone” (Allied), reviewed 
in Variety Oct. 15, ’52. 

Current Palace layout adds up 
to run-of-the-mine show which 
plays at a lackadaisical pace. Two 
heaviest punches in the bill are 
back-to-back fourth and fifth, the 
Marvellos and Chris Cross, but the 
surrounding turns are routine. 

The initial three acts, the Dyer- 
ettes, Pierce Knox and Elisa Jane, 
are reviewed under New Acts along 
'vith the closing Agramonte turn. 
In the No. 4 spot, the Marvellos, 
)V ho have played this stage several 
times, click with their medley of 
niusic and magic stuff. Their rou- 
tine is unchanged but, despite the 
familiarity, hits via the clever 
sleight-of-hand with the musical 
- instruments and the disappearing 
*nd reappearing stooges. 

Chris Cross, another standard 
hem, also scores with his ventro 
inaterial. Cross uses a variety of 
dummies, from a usual-sized cow- 
d°y character through a miniature 
puppet to a life-sized femme doll, 
.'yth all, he shows an expert vocal- 
ising talent in a ‘variety of tonal 
disguises. The gag pattern fbr the 
dummies is tailored from the con* 
ventional smart-aleck pattern, ; 

In the sixth slot, the Bernadette 
^helan Dancers, comprising one 
icnnne and two males, glide 
through a moderately interesting 
Jdagio routine. For their current 
stand, the trio is using a “vanity’* 


ballet number in which the danc- 
ers throw around a big circular 
mirror while the gal is tossed be- 
tween the two men. Miss Phelan’s 
troupe exhibits several good bodv 

A. - A. 1 j . « W *■ 


Chicago? Chi 

Chicago, Oct. 31. 
v t ctor Borge, Richard Hayes. 
Andy Mayo & Co. <3), Bobby 


throwing stunts, but the act needs ■ Whaling & Yvette, Louis Basil 
speeding up for maximum results ! S rc .. "Everything I Have Is 

a— _ i ♦ _ w v * 4 *“ 0 


Next-to— closing, Lee Davis comes 
on with a fair comedy routine. 
Davis has a timely political blarney 
speech • ■ ■ 
most 
use by 


appealing. Besides the sentimental 
factor, however, the family are 
surefooted and have a dance rou- 
tine of unusual variety and inter- 
est. Perform in various relation- 
ship combos and finally all to- 
j gether. Customers give the Evans, 
i Sr. and Jr„ their usual hep recep- 

In for the one week and battling ! tion. 

have a novel 

pace show. They 


Yours” i.M-G). 


h which gets some laughs but 1 usua ^ election doldrums, this | The Workmans 

of gags are stale from over- ! doesn’t offer too much help for ; musical act to pac 

y other comics ■ the boxoffiee. The name value of ' play on ordinary water glasses, on j pearanee since his sock tour of 

" • . r» , , . , , and finally on a rub- ’ Great Britain, and reversing field 


Earle? Fhllly 

Philadelphia, Nov. 1. 
Frankie Laine, Ruth Brown # 
Don Rice, The Ca rnevales <2) p 
Frank Julc House Orch <16); 
“Bonzo Goes to College ” i U). 


Heavy ad and publicity buildup 
preceded arrival of Frankie Laine 
at Warners’ vaudfilmer here. 
Laine is making first U. S. ap- 


Jo Lombardi batons the house ; Victor Borge. who has been doing J Swiss bells, and finally on a rub- ; Great Britain, ai 
orch in usual competent stvle. :a S reat deal of TV lately, may ber tube contraption, a la Spike j at Earle which 

Herm ■ < * raw some patrons, as will, per- Jones. It isn’t best in music, i virtually all-sepi 

> hans R nn/mwl *jv_ I knf ir tAA»*nc ttrifh tkft PmwH I ri t * a - 


: haps, Richard Hayes, record ar- 
tist. However, both negate their 
appeal with inept performances. 
! It’s the two standard supporting 


Pavilion., Glasgow 

A\y Wilson, Hende?Zn°&Kemp acts that are the crowd-pleasers 
Welcome Singers < with Teresa Borge, the headliner, is at this 
Waters), Lucille & Frank Preston stan d more the burlesque clown 
Ivy Troy, Irene Sharp, Johnnie than tlle fine art ist. He does little 
Mack, Cox Twins, Miles Twins i a * the P iano except to play it with 

Tom Katz Six, May Moxon Superb his ba ckside and use it as a prop 

Dancers, Harry Broad Pavilion to fi’om. His humor is not 

Orch. suited for family trade for its 

. ! heavily laden with double-meaning 

Though overloaded on the musi- : i° kes ’ an d some not even that 
cal side, this vaude stanza has I obl JQ ue - He rails at the audience 
bright entertainment value and i and oddly enough gets off some 


sends the customers out happy 
after warm mitting. It’s latest ver- 
sion of the record-breaking straw- 
hat vaude from the Gaiety Thea- 
tre, Air, w. k. Clyde coast vaudery 
famed for high standard of shows. 

Comedy end is well led by Aly 
Wilson, funster with a fine style 
for characterization and a flair for 
tumbling face downward. He is 
assisted in sketches by tall, good- 
looking Johnnie Mack and femme 
stooge Ivy Troy. They score 
strongly in a humor episode titled 
“Watch the Birdie,” in which Wil- 
son portrays a pansified photog- 
rapher. Several sketches lead off 
neatly but fail away through luke- 
warm tag-lines. 

Scenics are a standout, thanks 
to good lighting and slick produc- 
tion by megger Jack Barton! Best 
is a cameo of the Central Station, 
Glasgow, familiar meeting-place 
for thousands and with various 
artists .portraying, alj (Uetypes who. 
pass through, from an American 
soldier (Frank Preston) to football 
fans, policewomen, a Glasgow 
mother, a ticket collector and a 
tram conductress. 

Opener is set in “Happiness 
Hotel,” with the principals being 
welcomed to Scotland and intro- 
duced to stubholders. This follows 
overture of Scottish marches by 
Harry Broad and resident house 
orch. 

The line, best of native Scot 
chorines from the May Moxon 
stable, is attractive and well- 
drilled, being an especially high- 
quality feature of the show. They 
shine particularly in a “Greatest 
Show on Earth” sequence; playing 
the role of Liberty horses prancing 
in most attractive dance to whip 
direction by boarded producer 
Jack Barton. Lighting effects help 
here. 

The Cox Twins, two agile j T oung 
men in the zaniest of acrobatics, 
are a standout turn, providing live- 
ly antics with the maximum in 
verve and energy. Tom Katz Six 
entertain in saxophone ensemble, 
though their act is overlong. Theyf 
play to colorful background of six 
tomcats painted on scenery. 

Native Scot musical act, Margo 
Henderson Sc Sam Kemp, offer a 
bright, easy-on-the-ear turn which 
gains much approval (See New 
Acts). Lucille Sc Frank- Preston 
dance with grace, while there^ is 
strong singing team in the Wel- 
come Singers with brunet chirper 
Teresa Waters (New Acts). 

Closer is a “Salute to Scotland” 

■ finale, being tribute to various 
craftsmen, with Aly Wilson walk- 
; ing down garbed as Johnnie 


terrific quips in these sessions. 
When he finally settles down to 
the keyboard to play “Warsaw Con- 
certo” he gets his biggest mitt, 
but also takes the edge off that by 
coming back for some more so-so 
banter. Playing more straight piano 
and editing much of the hurley 
stuff would rate a better response. 

Hayes, who first came to atten- 
tion in N. Y. tele, has become 
heavily stylized in his projection 
to the point that the audience is 
more attracted by his posturings 
than* by his singing. Young man 
also leans more to the slow, dra- 
matic numbers and some bouncy 
selections interspersed would be 
a welcome change of pace. Hand- 
some crooner has a good voice, but 
overdramatic treatment does not 
help his cause. 

Andy Mayo with “Pansy the 
Horse” is still solid fare; perhaps 
even more so now that the equine 
seems to have taken on more life, 
Moveabte e* 3 'es, leers ami 'Grcmcho 
Marx eyebrows all add to the hil- 
arity. Trainer of the nag is a tall, 
well-shaped brunet and, of course, 
most by the byplay gets a little 
hectic. Trio gets a big reward for 
its efforts. 

Bobby Whaling starts his act by 
cycling around. The bike falls 
apart and he does some tricks with 
the wheel that remains. There are 
l some comedy quickies with whistle- 
; bait Yvette, and then he takes over 
a 12-foot unicycle for some near- 
mishaps. Team gets a good re- 
ception when femme shoulder 
mounts and the pair wheels around 
the stage. 

Louis Basil plays a very difficult 
show in bang up fashion. 

Zabe. 


but is scores \vith the crowd. 

Lowe. 


lately has played 
sepia fare. 

Perhaps for that reason, house 
booked Ruth Brown for the fea- 
tured slot in the three supporting 
acts. Otherwise there would be 
little excuse for having two sing- 
! ers compete with only a breather 


Empire* Glasgow 

• Glasgow. Nov. 1. 

Harry Roy Band, with Judy Al - j 0 f come( jy between. Styles of vo- 
" Rnr-rn Wont HTr.nnro Stern- calists are in such marked con- 


len, Barry Kent, Maurice Stern 
dale;. Billy West & Harmony Group, 
with Enid Margaret; Cooper Twins, 

2 Rosinas, Ike Freedman, Dolores 
& Leonardo Ferroni, Harry Bailey, 

Bobby Dowds Orch. 

This is very average vaude fare, 
with layout heavily loaded on side 
of music, and no standout names 
or talent. Bill follows in on Betty 
Hutton’s vaude week here, sug- 
gesting that it isn’t financially pos- 
sible to maintain star talent regu- 
larly. 

Cooper Twins, two males, open ■ 

• if-h nin-iHlo /lanr'irttr w'hllfi CPmnrf I "I - 1 _ • 


Capitol, Wash* 

* Washington, Nov. 2. 

Don Richards, Henny Young- 
man, 4 Evans. The Workmans (2); 
“Lure of Wilderness” < M-G ). 

There’s a pleasant pace to this 
layout, giving impression of a 
leisurely good time for patrons. It’s 
a wholesome lineup and results 
are solid. General effect is best in 
weeks. 

Headliner Don Richards (“Fini- 
an’s Rainbow”) has to start from 
scratch with this house, but he 
builds to a sock finish by dint of 
a fine set of pipes, an attractive 
footlight personality, and appeal- 
ing showtunes. Warms up with 
“You,” then continues in romantic 
vein with “So In Love.” Solid re- 
ception begins with a medley of 
“Finian’s Rainbow” tuner. Goes on 
to an admixture of current hits 


with nimble dancing, while second 
spot goes to a mixed team, Two 
Rosinas, who thrill with deft aerial 
act. Highspot is when Gal, using 
handgrips skillfully, is whisked 
away from partner and retained by 
strap. 

Ike Freedman, Dilled as a Scot- 
tish-Hebrew comedian, introduces 
n.s.g. patter with mild corny jokes 
that gain no titters and. at show 
caught, exited to- very mild mit- 
ting. He is balding funster who 
wears bright yellow kilt and tells 
stories in mixture of Yiddish and 
Auld Lang Syne accent. Favorite 
catch-phrase is “You like that — I 
tell you another”. 

Best act is the Continental jug- 
gling turn of . Dolores & Leonardo 
'Femml, • brlghtiy-garbed ' doe in- 
which male juggles ably with 
plates, sticks and balls. It has 
background of a Spanish-atmos- 
phered backcloth. 

Harry Bailey is an Irish comic 
who wears a bright green jacket 
and carries bags of confidence. 
Breezy smiling manner helps him 
partly to overcome indifferent ma- 
terial. Billy West & Harmony 
Group are a lively bunch of vocal- 
ists who range from pop numbers 
to sacred music, and feature a tall, 
plumping gal, Enid Margaret, who 
has considerable s.a. 

Comedy is strong point of • the 
Harry Roy band show, with violin- 
ist Maurice Sterndale funstering 
onstage and the fast-striding band- 
leader, w.k. maestro Roy, using his 
cynically-smiling eyes to good ef- 
fect. Members of audience are in- 
vited to participate by going on- 
stage* and leading the orch. At 
show caught, stubholders showed 
reluctance to join in qnd bands- 
men had to pull ’em up ‘from audi- 
tbrium. Contest is being staged, 
with heat winners going forward 
to Friday night finals. Gord. 


trast, however, it causes little 
harm. Bulk of crowd is waiting 
for Laine, and although Miss 
Brown is well received and whams 
across four numbers in her dra- 
matic style, she has the disad- 
vantage of being one of the events 
leading up to the main bout. 

Chanteuse has distinctive style, 
diction belter than par for this 
genre of vocals and her numbers 
seem preoccupied with the subject 
of a straying male, which rates 
j her billing as the “Tear Drop 
Her race recordings are 


. ... ,, ...such as “Along the Avenue,” and 

Walker, the Scot whisky firm s , “jambalaya,” then wraps it up with 

J. . n lAMifthr *nn I ... * . . . *■ 


mascot. Final lineup is lengthy and 
colorful. Gord. 


New Acts 

Continued from page 52 


w.k. here and numbers like 
“Daddy, Daddy, Daddy,” “Three 
Letters,” “Have a Good Time” and 
“Fifteen Hours” all win prompt 
recognition. 

Laine grows in showmanship 
with each visit. He handles an 
audience, particularly the crowd 
that occupies the front pews at 
the Earle, with ease and pleas- 
antries. When necessary, he 
doesn’t hesitate to tell them “be 
quiet.” Laine comes on without 
palaver and goes right into the 
belter, “Rock of Gibraltar,” a nar- 
rative song of the type in which he 
excels. He dispenses with his trip 
to Europe in a few sentences, the 
tenor of which is that he’s glad 
ts- be back home and "Baby, This 
Is” It!” 

For his second selection, Laine 
sings “That’s My Desire” (“the 
number I love most because it put 
me in the loot”). Vocally, he 
doesn’t love it as much as he 
claims. It’s done in boisterous 
bravura, almost with a burlesque 
of the sexiness which was its 
original selling point. More seri- 
ously given and highly effective 
are Laine’s familiar vocalization of 
“Jezebel” and those two stunt-lit- 
tered, slightly contemporary folk 
tunes, “High Noon” and “Cry of 
the Wild Goose.” 

Laine closes with “Jealousy,” a 
number, he avers, that is popular 
everywhere and which he delivers 
with tangortime writhings and to 
terrific audience response. Ar- 
ranger-accompanist Carl Fischer is 
called up by singer for bow. 

Don Rice, a comedian who 
doesn’t seem to try, Intros the acts 
pleasantly enough, but his take- 
offs ( President Truman, Senator 
Kefauver, General MacArthur, 
John L, Lewis) are weak. Open- 
ii. j act is Ralph & Mary Carnevale, 
a pair of ofay hoofers who can 
easily dispense with their comedy 
efforts. Gagh. 


Apollo, N. Y. 

tarl Bostic Orch (11), Bert & 
Cynthia, Phyllis Branch, Dewey 
u Pigmeat” Markham & Co. (3.) 3 
Broumies, Janice Day, Llo?/d Price 
Orch (7); “ Undercover Girl” (U). 

Frank Schiffman’s Apollo re- 
I mains the most active of the Negro 

. i r xxruu 


batic terping is okay but her at- 
tempt to project a comedy vocal, 

“The Acrobat’s Lament,” trips over 
the limp lyric and exaggerated de- 
livery. 

Her best bit is a takeoff on Bette 
Davis, but this carbon has already 
been worked to death and can-’t 
even be saved by Miss Jane s aero- . showcases for new talent. With so 


Denny Gets Orch Post 


Soliloquy” from “Carousel. 
Singer sticks to his trade, leav- 
ing the gags to «.he comedy portion 
| of bill, except for one bit of horse- 
I play with his bald-pated accom- 
panist. His phrasing and style are 


At Palumbo’s, PhillyitT/ and his abilily t0 add emo ' 


Philadelphia, Nov. 4. 

Earl Denny, maestro for the 
last seven years in the Benjamin 
Franklin Hotel’s Garden Terrace 
Room, where his orch backed up 
the ice shows, has switched to 
Palumbo’s Cabaret Restaurant. . 

Abandonment of the rink re- 
vues at the Garden Terrace this 
year stemmed from the price hike 
assessed by Local 77, Musicians 
Union. Hotel management refused 
to go along with $10 weekly raise 
for tooters and room now features 
pianist, leaving Denny at liberty. 

By x coincidence, Local 77 was 
responsible for Denny’s new loca- 
tion. Howard Reynolds, leader at 
Palumbo’s for the last 13 years, 
got info a contract hassle with the 
union, was fined $1,300 an d re- 
moved from spot. Denny was hired 
by Palumbo’s as substitute after 
Reynolds’ removal appeared per- 
manent* 


to his warbling makes him 
top-drawer singing act. 

Henny Youngman brightens the 
big stage after a four-year absence. 
Despite a steady flow of gags, 
with hardly time out to breathe, 
there’s nothing of the machine 
gun quality about his routine. 
It’s easygoing, and has an in- 
timate, folksy quality about it 
that makes ’em listen without In- 
terruption, and then they break 
out into big mitt action. 

Youngman has wisely sharpened 
his line and added topical stuff. 
Humor is good-natured and funny, 
sans sharp barbs or bluish tinges. 
Still uses his fiddle as a prop, with 
a bit of* action on it near the end. 
Despite the years he’s been 
around,' thferc’s a freshness to 
comic’s routine that garners him 
a fine sendoff. 

The Four Evans continue to be 
one of most colorful and skillful 
terp teams around; the lead of a 
two-generation combo is in itself; 


batic addition in which she does 
f be -Davis routine standing oil 'her 
head, Herm. 


BERT A CtNTHIA 
Dance 
7 Mins. 

Apollo, N. Y. 

Bert & Cynthia, Negro hoofiqg 
pair, have far to ‘go ‘before "achiev- 
ing professional standards. They 
show a good basic knowledge of 
dance, but haven’t the routines to 
excite attention. 

The duo have unison and chal- 
lenge routines. The male is at a 
higher point, of development than 
his partner, but it’s still an act 
that needs considerable time in the 
lesser spots before hazarding a 
metropolitan view. Jose. 


JANICE DAY 
Dance 
7 Mins. 

Apollo, N. Y. 

Janice Day has obviously been 
around, but is undocumented in 
Variety New Acts file. .This ofay 
turn on an otherwise all-Negro bill 
is a skilled control and aero dancer. 
She shoAvs good tricks and presents 
them in showmanly fashion* . . 

Miss Day works rapidly ^ and 
smoothly and could lit the majority 
of sight situations* Jose, 


many outlets drying up for both 
Negro and ofay acts, the Apollo 
continues to perform a show biz 
service with its bringing to atten- 
tion of fledglings. Of course, it's 
normal that a good percentage do 
not warrant important attention, 
but he has been instrumental in 
bringing to the fore many who 
have subsequently made* good. 

There’s a load of New Acts on 
this bill. There is a pair that 
should excite some noise. Phyllis 
Branch looms a? a stylist who 
awaits only maturity before being 
a click. Other major talent here is 
Lloyd Price and a small combo. 
Price scored with his disking of 
“Lawdy Miss Clawdy’ on the Spe- 
cialty label. He’s the type of per- 
former who will probably thrive as 
long as his platters keep riding. 
He and Miss Branch are under New 
Acts, as are Bert Sc Cynthia, Three 
Brownies, and Janice Day. 

The band on* tap is Earl Bostic, 
who provides a neat show in all 
departments. He’s a good maestro, 
emcees like he wants the. acts to 
make good and blows a virtuoso 
alto sax. His. tunes are raw and 
wild and he does okay with the 
mob here. Dewey “Blgmefc!” Mark- 
ham, assisted by. Crack £ht>t and 
Edna ‘Harris, gets . his . quota -of 
laughs in two spots. » Jpsf. . 



54 


ILEdTIMAT* 


D.C. Arena Drama Critics’ ‘Baby ; 
Devotees Include Town Notables 


By NED ARMSTRONG 

Washington, Nov. 4. 

When you talk to the drama 
critics in Washington they constant- 
ly refer to “our third theatre.” This 
turns out to be the Arena at New 
York Ave. and Ninth St. 

The other two are the National 
and the newly-refurbished Sam S. 
Shubert, but the Arena, currently 
showing a revival of Eugene 
O'Neill’s “Desire Under the Elms,” 
has won the affection of legit-goers. 
During its three seasons here some 
150,000 persons have attended and 
spent $100,000 at a $2 top in the 
247-seat house. Madame Pandit was 
one of the Arena's devotees, and 
Lord Franks, British Ambassador, 
many nights managed to fold his 
legs back of the narrow, . steeply- 
banked seats. Other Washington 
notables attend, for the Arena 
offers a fare far differently styled 
than the National and Shubert. 

Edward Mangum and Zelda 
Fichlander beaded a small coterie 
of investors to reopen the old 
Hippodrome Theatre on New York 
Ave. in 1950. They launched Arena 
as a non-Equity house, but' now 
have a resident company which, 
they say, is “Equity-endorsed” on 
a 70-30 basis — 70% Equity and 
30% non-Equity. 

From the moment one enters the 
Arena Theatre, the playgoer is 
aware of great attention to artistic 
detail, a fact which no doubt has 
contributed to the success of the 
tiny playhouse near the nation’s 
Capitol. The stage is ‘four-square, 
surrounded by four rising banks 
of seats, making the stage itself 
like a depressed miniature prize- 
ring. Impressionistic, the set for 
“Desire” included a -branch: of. an. 
elm, a suspended wagon-wheel, 
door-frames marking the kitchen, 
parlor and bedroom. However, 
each room within this ample lilli- 
putian set was completely fur- 
nished, even to the coal stove in* 
the kitchen and the low fourposter 
in the bedroom. Leo Gallenstein is 
credited with the' lighting and set. 
Alan Schneider directed. 

Each new production of Arena 
Stage in Washington draws the 
regular first-string critics from the 
four big dailies here. Arena’s pro- 
ductions are afforded serious dis- 
cussions, and ample publicity is 
given to their .plans. This theatre- 
in-the-round, half pro arid" half 
•amateur, can gross $3,000 on the 
week and requires $2,000 to break 
even. They are bound by no rigid 
schedule of a new bill each week, 
or repertory. One play ran 16 
weeks and the current bill. “De- 
sire,” is set for a lengthy tenure, 
being one of the most popular of- 
ferings Arena has presented. 

The rapid growth of Arena Stage 
in Washington, the similar popular- 
ity of the Pittsburgh Playhouse, 
and Fred McConnell's three thea-* 
tres in Cleveland, all indicate a 
substantial theatregoing, public ex- 
ists for artistically produced re- 
vivals of fine plays. One observ- 
able feature at these semi-pro 
theatres in various cities around 
the country is the marked youth 
of the audiences. 

Met Sued for 85G by Paris 
on Opera 

Suit for $85,000 against the- 
Metropolitan Opera Assn, was 
brought in N.Y. Federal Court last 
Friday (311 by Editions Chaudens 
of Paris. French music publishing 
house, owned by Andre Chevrier 
and Andre Leroir, claims that it’s 
been servicing the Met since 1 90S- 
with certain opera scores, on which 
the Met paid rental till 1939. 

Suit asks for $10,000 for rentals 
since '39; $25,000 for failure to re- 
turn certain material; $25,000 for 
“wrongful conversion” of material, 
and $25,000 for breach of agree- 
ment in matter of recording Certain 
material, etc. Paris house is repped 
by Zissu & Marcus, the Met by 
Lauterstein & Lauterstein. Met of- 
ficials and attorneys refused com- 
ment. 


Markova’s Added Guester 

Alicia Markova, who guested 
with Ballet Theatre in N. Y. and 
in Chicago, has extended her stay 
with the troupe. 

Ballerina is appearing three 
times with the company in Toronto 
this week, and will make three 
more appearances each in Montreal 
and Boston, last week in November 
and first week in December. 

* * mi 1 1 ,oi y . i » r i , 


+ 

Kay Ashton-Stevens 
Aired by Playwrights 

Chicago, Nov. 4. 

Playwrights Co. is ‘doing an un- 
usual thing, at least for Chicago, 
in sponsoring Kay Ashton-Stevens, 
widow of the former Chicago 
Herald-American drama critic, in 
a chitchat session, mainly devoted 
to the theatre, over WBBM, Chi- 
cago. Nightly 10-minute segments 
will carry no commercial plug for 
the Playwrights or its current at- 
traction here, “Fourposter.” 

Gilbert Miller is also picking up 
part of the tab under the same 
conditions. His show, “Gigi,” 
opens at the Harris, tomorrow 
(Wed.). 

N.Y. Symph to Preem 

■ Special Milhaud Opera, 
'Columbus'; Costs Up 12G 

The N. Y. Philharmonic-Sym- 
phony will present one of the most 
ambitious, as well as expensive, 
productions in its history this 
week, with the American bow of 
[Milhaud’s opera, “Christopher Co- 
lumbus," done in concert form. 
Work will get four performances, 
instead of the usual two or three, 
being given at Carnegie Hall, N.Y., 
tomorrow (Thurs.), Friday, Satur- 
day and Sunday. 

Opera is a monumental work, 
involving a somewhat augmented 

■ orchestra,- -six soloists, .and. -a. spe-. 
cial chorus of 60. Chorus is a 
unionized one, for another Phil- 
harmonic “first.” Project is cost- 
ing the Philharmonic an extra $12,- 

000 (above normal costs) to put 
on. 

Work is in line with musical di- 
rector Dimitri Mitropoulos’ aim to 
present new, little-known or unu- 
sual operas in concert form, that 
are unlikely to be seen in N. Y. 
(or American) opera houses, due 
to costs of presentation, etc. Solo- 
ists will include Dorothy Dow, 
Mack Harrell, Norman Scott, John 
Brownlee, Adolph Anderson and 
David Lloyd, with Hugh Ross di- 
recting the chorus. Opera, to be 
sung in English, is based on a 
Paul Claudel drama. 

Minnesota Offbeat Spots 
Get Legit— -And Like It 

Minneapolis, Nov. 4. 

Two Minnesota towns, Duluth 
and Bemidji, located in the north- 
ern- part of the state, are getting 
touring legitimate attractions this 
month, although no theatre is 
available for them. They go into 
high school auditoriums. • 

“Oklahoma” on Sunday (2) play- 
ed two performances, matinee and 
night, in Duluth, population 104,- 
066, and repeated the following 
afternoon and evening in Bemidji, 
population 15,000. All perform- 
ances were- sold out in advance. 
•Both towns get “Mister Roberts” 
later in the month. 

It’s the first such show in Duluth 

1 in more than . 25 years. BemidjLre- 
portedly ‘ lias never had a 'legiti- 
mate toqring attraction before. 

“Oklahoma” two years ago play- 
ed another small Minnesota town, 
Rochester, but with this exception 
never before has visited any of the 
state's other- cities,- aside from 
Minneapolis and St. Paul. 

Pitt AI Fresco Arena 
Makes Way for Market 

Pittsburgh, Nov. 4. 

Bill Green’s Arena Theatre, 
summer operation next to his 
nitery out on the highway, will 
wind up in the record books a one- 
season affair. Managed by Sam 
Handelsman in 1951, it wasn’t ac- 
tive this year because Green would 
not give any prospective producer 
more than a short-term lease. 

Reason became obvious last week 
when workmen started tearing 
down the outdoor site, which had 
been covered by a tent. Green is 
putting up a super-market on the 
premises. It won’t interfere, how- 
ever, with his regular cafe, which 
is celebrating its 22nd anniversary 
this week. Owner started it in 1930 

as a barbecue stand. 

' J ' 1 1 ■ i i i i c i i ' i . „ >i 

1 ! i ’ 1 '■ ■ • • .* •. / lil •» * < i 




VA mETf 

4 Pianists to Sub for 111 
Player in Gotham Series 

Musicians’ Guild has skedded 
four programs this season at Town 
Hall, N. Y., with the Kroll Quar- 
tet plus Joseph Fuchs, Lillian 
Fuchs and Leonard Rose as partici- 
pants. 

Frank Sheridan, pianist member 
of the Guild, is ill and taking a 
year’s leave of absence. His place 
will be filled by Eugene Istomin 
for the Dec. 1 concert; by Leonid 
Hambro, Jan. 12; by Arthur Bal- 
sam, Feb. 16, and by William 
Kapell, for the series’ final con- 
cert, March 9. 


‘John Brown’s Body’ Seen 
Novel Theatre Stunt For 
Special Stops, Audiences 

Hollywood, Nov. 4. 

An imaginative, dramatic trans- 
lation has been given Stephen Vin- 
cent Benet’s epic poem. Second- 
Paul Gregory bare-stage presen- 
tation, one-nighting at the Civic 
Auditorium here after a Santa 
Barbara breakin, piece comprises 
115 minutes of poetry ‘and music 
for seekers of unusual^ novel the- 
atre.* It has names, plus repu- 
tation of “Don Juan In Hell,” 
initial Gregory offering, to make 
10-week cross-country tour, mostly 
smaller keys and towns, * payoff 
big. 

How it would stand up on long 
runs in single cities is question- 
able, even though the bare-stage 
show is becoming fashionable the- 
atre for intellectuals. It’s doubtful, 
after curiosity and intellectual 


“John Brown's Body," Paul Gregory 
presentation of a dramatic translation of 
Stephen Vincent Benct*s epic poem, 
adapLed and directed by Charles Laugh- 
ton. Stars Tyrone Power, Judith An- 
derson, Raymond Massey, with music, 
e.ffecU .by ..Walter Srhumann .Choh\ At 
Civic Auditorium. Pusadcna, Nov. & 32. 


patronage are covered, whether 
grosses can be sustained by legit- 
goers liking theatrics spelled out 
with full props and characteriza- 
tions. 

Benet poem is a heavy, dramatic 
subject, compelling by the reading 
of Tyrone Power, Judith Ander- 
son and Raymond Massey, colored 
by the rich music and vocal sounds 
of the Schumann Choral group of 
20, including, fiv*e femmes. Broken 
into two parts, first 52 minutes set 
the scene for the latter 63 minutes, 
when the full dramatic wallop is 
delivered. Charles Laughton 
adapted and directed. 

Following the hop-skip poem 
narrative makes it. at first hard to 
piece into a story. Skill of per- 
formers, however, gradually gives 
the main characters form as the 
poem unfolds, and climax has real 
punch as the individuals narrate 
the highspots of a country divided 
by war and humans caught up in it. 

Massey’s description of Gen. 
Robert E. Lee makes the figure 
alive, as does his Lincoln prayer, 
and darky characters. Power is 
fine as he reads the lines of five 
principal characters, strongly 
etching a Yankee soldier in battle, 
romancing a girl, and other facets 
of the poem. Anderson socks skill- 
fully as seven individual femme 
characters in the poem. It’s note- 
worthy that every word and nuance 
comes across the footlights clear 
as a bell under eloquence of the 
players. 

Three stars work before mikes 
left of center, alternately reclin- 
ing on short-length railing, or 
chairs. Chorus of 20 is grouped 
right of center, furnishing vocal 
sounds and music, to give full im- 
pact to the spoken words. Folk 
songs, etc., of the War between 
the States period are vividly used. 
Featured from the choral group 
are Betty Benson, in a splendid 
song of the girl romanced by 
Power; Donna McDaniel and Alex- 
ander Serbaroli as dancers, and 
Stephen Considine singing. Chorus, 
directed by Richard White onstage, 
is a beautifully executed example 
of unity and precision. 

There’s a reputed $500,000 ad- 
vance already for the 10-week 
tour. Tonight's Civic Aud stand 
was unadvertised in the local press, 
but the 2,700-seat house was vir- 
tually full, Brog. 

Cranston, R.I., Stock Co. 
To Preem With ‘Whistle’ 


'Wednesday, November 5, 1952 




During his recent visit *to Richmond, as conductor of the orch with 
Cornelia Qtis Skinner’s “Paris ’90” production, maestro Nat Shilkret re- 
called how he took part in “The Second Battle of Richmond” 40-odd 
years ago. 

Shilkret, then about 19, was a member of a “boys’ orchestra” mak- 
ing a concert tour including Richmond. To kill time, he went for a 
walk near the State Capitol and was riotously greeted by a bunch of 
tough young southerners about his own age who resented his compulsorv 
Little Lord Fauntleroy attire. They yelled, “Oh, look at the Yankee 
Liftle Lord Fauntleroy!” and went into action. A piece of rotten 
melon hit Shilkret in the chest and ruined the only presentable white 
shirt he had for that evening’s engagement. 

Qutmanned by the Chivalry of the Southland, Shilkret set up the 
symphonic equivalent of “Hey, Rube!” and the 50 or 60 other mem- 
bers of the troupe, who were near by, rushed to his assistance. Bricks, 
rocks and anything else handy were used as weapons. After an hour’s* 
engagement, the badly outnumbered Children of the Confederacy were 
driven into the James River, just as police and reporters arrived. 

Next day, Shilkret says, the newspapers carried big headlines to the 
effect that “Yankee Troops Take Richmond All Over Again.” While 
in the Confederate capital on his second visit, the condUfctor went to 
the Times-Dlspatch and News-Leader offices, hoping to find the story, 
but couldn’t locate it in the time he could spare. Thinking over the* 
long-gbne battle, Shilkret remarked: “That was the first time I ever 
suspected they were still fighting the Civil War down South!” 


Baekers of “Two’s Company,” the new James Russo-Mike Ellis re- 
vue starring Bette Davis, include musical conductor Milton Rosenstock, 
representing undisclosed individuals, $21,000; theatre ownOr-tobacco 
merchant Howard S. Cullman, $8,700; theatre owner-producer Anthony 
Brady Farrell, $7,000; Actors Fund president Walter Vincent, $3,500; 
producer Elaine Perry, $3,500; Mrs. Marshall Field, $3,500; Anna 
Deere Wiman, producer-daughter of the late producer, Dwight Deere 
Wiman, $3,500; John Myers, publicity rep of Howard Hughes, $3,500; 
orchestra conductor Meyer Davis, $1,167; the Kewanee Theatre Guild, 
c/o Hevisiv of Mamaroneck, N. Y., $1,000; summer theatre manager 
and radio-TV announcer-commentator Kenneth Banghart, $1,000; talent 
agent Frances Hidden, $1,000; Samuel J. Friedman, the show’s press- 
agent, $L000; radio announcer Kenneth Roberts, $1,000; orchestra con- 
ductor Harry Salter, $500; radio-TV actor Jackson Beck, $500; Gabriel 
G. Rubin, manager of the Nixon Theatre, Pittsburgh, $500; Mrs. Dave 
Pardoll, wife of the stage manager, $500; actress Paula Houston, room- 
mate of actress Neva Patterson, co-producer Ellis’ fiancee, $500; Mrs. 
Jerry Adler, wife of the stage manager currently in the Army and 
daughter-in-law of general maanger Phil Adler, $500; BBD&O account 
executive Robert Foreman, $500, and actor Maurice Brenner, $500. 
The venture is capitalized at $175,000, with provision for 20% overcall. 


“The Millionairess,” Theatre Guild production of the Shaw play star- 
ring Katharine Hepburn, has been done at least twice previously in 
the U. 5. "First" was at the' Westport (Corin.7 Country PlayTibtise in the 
summer of 1938, with Jessie Royce Landis in the title part. Not so 
widely known was the production by William Miles at his Berkshire 
Playhouse, Stockbridge, Mass., two years later, with a cast including 
Ruth Gordon in the name role, Alan Hewitt as the husband. King 
Calder as the attorney, Lewis Martin as the Turkish doctor, Whit Bis- 
sell as the suitor who gets beaten up, John D. Seymour as the man- 
ager, Adrienne Marden as Miss Seedystockings, Brinley Rees as the 
sweatshop owner and Ellen Hall as his wife. 


Prevalence of rumors about the incoming revue, “Two’s Company.” 
starring Bette Davis, occasioned an off-the-record memo this week 
from Samuel J. Friedman, the show’s pressagent, to drama editors, 
columnists, etc., setting the facts straight and asking that future re- 
ports be checked with "him or producers James Russo and Mike Ellis 
before publication. The piece cited and refuted several erroneous 
items and noted that although some revisions are being made in the 
musical, there Is nothing* disquieting on such a situation, as that is 
the purpose of a tryout tour. It quoted Herman Bernstein, general 
manager of the Alvin, N. Y., as predicting “Company” will have an 
$800,000 advance when it opens at the house Dec. 4. Release con- 
cludes with a list of the out-of-town hotels where the producers can 
be reached during the tour and remarks that they will even pay toll 
charges on calls regarding rumors about the production. 


Tallulah Bankhead, guest speaker last week at the N. Y. Herald 
Tribune Book Sc Author lunbheon at Hotel Astor, N. Y., said she wrote 
her autobiog to “placate” Bert McCord, Trib drama reporter. Re- 
sponsible for his missing a news item about herself, she gave him an 
exclusive announcement that she was beginning to write her autobiog- 
raphy. 

When McCord reported this, she found herself obliged to do the 
project. She called her audience “darlings” and described her diffi- 
culties in writing the book, which she accomplished finally “by talking 
into one of those machines.” She said she also “took down notes on 
wine cards” but on the mornings after “couldn’t read a thing.” 


Katharine Cornell, a native of Buffalo, was the subject of a four- 
P.a.£e spread in the Sunday Courier-Express roto section Oct. 26, in 
connection with her split-week stand Monday (3) through tonight (Wed.) 
at the Erlanger there. However, the actress’ name was spelled Kath- 
erine throughout. Similar boner occurs on the jacket of the Fireside 
Theatre edition of “Constant Wife,” recently published by Random 
House. Jacket refers to it as the Katherine Cornell edition. Actress' 
name is spelled correctly on the regular book cover, however. 


David Lloyd, tenor with the N. Y. City^-Opera Co., will appear this 
month in N, Y. with three symphony orchs. He’ll be one -of soloists 
with the N. Y. Philharmonic in Milhaud's “Christopher Columbus” 
this week (S-7-8-9); with the Philadelphia Orchestra in its Carnegie 
Hall performance of Honegger’s “Jeanne d’Arc au Boucher,” Nov. 18, 
and individual 5 °I? ist .’wlLh the Boyd Neel Orchestra of England at 
Carnegie, Nov. 23. Lloyd will make two appearances with the N. Y. 
Philharmonic this season, singing again in the Beethoven Ninth 
Symphony March 2. 


Backers of “The Gambler,” the Thomas Hammond-Wayne Harriss 
production of the Alfred Drake-Edward Eager adaptation of Ugo Betti’s 
Italian drama, include Hammond, representing cotton broker Richard 
T. Harriss, $27,900; the latter’s son, the co-producer, $3, GOG; scene de- 
signer Joe Mielziner, $2,000; Olivia de Havilland, star of Hafnmond's 
revival of “Candida” last season, $500; Marvin Arthur Hammond, the 
co-producer's brother and production associate, $400; producer John 
R.^Shepherd, Jr., $800; actress Dorothy Patten, $400; producer Elaine 
Perry, $400, and Mrs. Joseph Moon, wife of the producer, $400. The 
production, financed at $40,000, closed Saturday night (I) at the Ly- 
ceum, N. Y., after a three-week run. 


Providence, Nov. 4. 

Robert and Ruth (Mrs.) Ten- 
nant, who have been active irf tele- 
vision for the last five years, are 
managing directors of the nearby 
Cranston, R. I., Playhouse, which 
opens as a little theatre stock 
company Nov. 20 with a production 
of “Silver Whistle.” 

They contemplate operation on 
a year-around basis. 

i j .i » j . j i > i i. ) > • i j j 

. ) .1 ’ > : : f t I- M ) !• I { 


Backers of “Seven Year Itch,” the Courtney Burr-Elliott Norton pro- 
duction of the George Axelrod comedy starring Tom Ewell, include 
chain store heir Huntington partford, $9,600; Actors Fund president 
.Walter Vincent, $3,600; Metro executive J. J. Cohn, $2,400; theatre 
owner-tobacco merchant Howard S. Cullman, $2,400; former N. Y. Post 
film critic Thornton Delehanty, $J„2Q0; Mrs. J. Gluchevitch, daughter 
of co-producer Nugent, $1,200; theatre executive Louis A. Lotito, 
$1,200; Elizabeth Allen Montgomery, U. S. partner in the London-N. Y. 
scenery and costume design firm of Motley, $1,200; talent manager 

, . . , , , , , < Continued, o» page B9) 


’ . "JV »’> ( i i v 


>. j ;■ 


r a ) *rf 1 1 



56 


LEGimiATK 


Pfi&IEff 


Wednesday, November 5, 1952 


Plays on Broadway 


Blal for Murder 

James P. Sherwood production of melo- 
drama in three acts (six scenes) hy Fred- 
erick Knott. Stars Maurice EvanS; fea- 
tures Gusti Huber. Richard Derr, John 
Williams, Anthony Dawson. Staged by 
Reginald Denham; setting, Peter Larkin; 
costumes, Noel Taylor. At Plymouth. 

N y!l OctV 29, '52 (S4.80 top) (*7.20 
opening). 

Margot Wendice 

Max Halliday 

Tony Wendice Maurice Evans 

Capt. Losgate Anthony Dawson 

Inspector Hubbard •••••• 

Thompson Porter Van Zandt 

This London import underlines 
a couple of Broadway’s favorite 
truisms: that there’s nothing wrong 
with the theatre that a. good script 
won’t cure and that there’s always 
an audience for a good thriller. 
Since it meets those specifications, 
“Dial ‘M’ for Murder’’ is an un- 
mistakable hit and due to be a 
more or less permanent feature 
on these constantly changing en- 
virons. 

The Frederick Knott play is a 
taut, plausible and generally fas- 
cinating cat-and-mouse yarn about 
a cool ex-tennis star who plots his 
heiress-wife’s murder, giving him- 
self an airtight alibi. When the 
scheme goes awry and the victim 
succeeds in saving her own life 
by killing the hired assassin, the 
husband ingeniously pins the guilt 
on his wife by planting an incrimi- 
nating letter in the dead man’s 
wallet 

The play is not a mystery, as 
the audience sees the plan mapped 
out and the unscheduled killing 
take place, and watches the hus- 
band’s diabolic and almost success 
ful efforts to send his wife to the 
gallows. After a characteristically 
leisurely British opening the meller 
grips interest and holds interest 
throughout, with an especially in- 
triguing third act as the villain 
twists and squirms to divert sus- 
pieto-n ■ and -av-sM 1 'Cxpasrape-, > but- is 
gradually cornered and trapped by 
the deceptively bland police inspec- 
tor. 

It is an admirably clean, profes- 
sional writing job, and is artfully, 
tastefully presented. Maurice 
Evans, as star, gives an expertly 
tense and at the same time in- 
gratiating performance as the 
suave husband. Gusti Huber is 
believable and attractive' as the 
wife, though it seems curious that 
a line hasn’t been written into the 
script to explain her Viennese ac- 
cent. Richard Derr is convincing 
as the wife’s former lover, a visit- 
ing" American television writer with 
a practical Imaginationr-John-Wil- 
liams mops up as the mild-man- 
nered but implacable, ..sleuth, and 
Anthony Dawson is credible as the 
bungling hired slayer who gets 
bumped off. 

Reginald Denham has staged the 
play skillfully and Peter Larkin 
has designed a handsome and prop- 
erly sinister living room setting, 
the doors of which have a slightly 
unnerving habit of refusing to 
latch. It all adds up to excellent 
entertainment and, considering the 
single setting and small cast, prac- 
tically a minuscule Fort Knox as 
a commercial venture. 

Incidentally, the play’s history, 
reported in Variety some weeks 
ago, is worth repeating briefly. 
After having the script turned 
down by all London managements, 
Knott allowed BBC to do a 90- 
minute condensation on television. 
The telecast was seen by Alexan- 
der Korda, who bought' the screen 
rights for a pittance, and James 
P. Sherwood, vdio immediately pro- 
duced it on the London stage. On 
the_ strength of its success there, 
Maurice Evans arranged with Kor- 
da to delay the U. S. release of 
the film version until after the 
legit run here and then acquired 
the script for Broadway. Among 
the backers of this $50,000 produc- 
tion are Lee Shubert ($15,000), 
. Gilbert Miller ($10,000), Evans $1,- 
500), Mrs, Boris Karloff . ($1,000), 
Louis R. Lurie ($3,500), Mrs. Law- 
rence Langner ($1,000) and John 
Patrick ($500). They have a strike 
with this ohe. Hobe. 


Winter Stock Season 
Prepped for Lakewood 

Season of winter stock is planned 
by Ada Fenno and Gianni Pitale at 
the Palace, former film and vaude 
house at Lakewood, N; J. Pair have 
leased the 500-seater and are con- 
verting it for legit. An Equity com- 
pany will be engaged, and it’s 
planned to offer a 20-week season 
opening Nov. 25 with Thornloii 
Wilder’s “Skin of Our Teeth.” 


II.MoS. Pinafore 

S. M. Charlock presentation of musical 
In thro acts, libretto by W. S.( Gilbert, 
music by Arthur Sullivan. Features Mar* 
tyn Green, Robert Rounseville, Ella Hal- 
man, Joseph Macaulay, Staged by Char- 
tock. Musical director, Lehman Engel; 
sets, Ralph Alswang; costumes, Peggy 
Morrison; production consultant. Green. 
At Mark Hellingcr, N. Y., Nov. 3, ’52. 

Tommy Tucker Bonnie Grevatt 

Bill Bobstay ..Robert F^es 

Bob Beckett Radley Flynn 

Little Buttercup Ella Halman 

Dick Deadcye ....Joseph Macaulay 

Ralph liackstraw . . . .Robert Rounseville 

Capt. Corcoran Frank Rogler 

Josephine Lillian Murphy 

Hon. Sir Joseph Porter. .. .Martyn Green 
Hebe Mary Roche 

First Lord's sisters, his cousins, his 
aunts; Mary Louise Beetle, Dolores De 
Puglia, Helen Dodge, Grace Long. Sheila 
Mathews, Eileen Moran, Shirley Pringle, 
Rita Schoen, Catherine Currie, Glynn 
Hill, Jan Newby, Athena Pappas, Gloria 
Sacks, Jeanne Schlegel, Helen Whitfield. 

Sailors: Don -Kaplan, Don LaMon, Ray 
Morrissey, Feodore Tedick, Vincent Henry, 
Anthony Cerami, Michael Rich, Ken 
Smith, John Dorrln. Herbert Estrow, 
Roger Franklin, Irl Mowery, Bill Nuss, 
Stanley Propper, Chase Willard. 

' Marines: Edward Marshall, William 
Briggs, James Maroney, Lynn Allen. 


Trial by Jury 

Jury Foreman Robert Eckles 

Associate Roger Franklin 

Usher Radley Flynn 

Defendant • Earl William 

Learned Judge Martyn Green 

Plaintiff Counsel Frank Rogier 

The Plaintiff Audrey Dearden* 

Bridesmaids: Mary Louise Bcatle, Helen 
Dodge, Bonnie Grevatt, Glynn Hill, Grace 
Lang, Sheila Mathews, Eileen Moran, 
Shirley Pringle. 

Spectators: Catherine Currie, Dolores de 
Puglia, Jan Newby, Athena Pappas, 
Gloria Sacks, Jeanne Schlegel, Rita 
Schoen. Helen Whitfield, Stanley Propper, 
Michael Rich, Anthony Cerami. 

Jurymen: Don Kaplan. Don LaMon. Ray 
Morrissey, Feodore Tedick, Vincent Henry, 
Ken Smith, John Dorrin, Herbert Estrow, 
Roger Franklin, Irl Mowery, Bill Nuss, 
Chase Willard. 


falls he gives up the femme again 
for his “first love.” . 

The play abounds with flavor- 
some characters who bring a re- 
freshing air to the piece. There 
are five waiters, specialists in such 
varied fields as literature, sports, 
economics and politics, who garner 
yocks with some wry patter. And 
there are two spinsters, who want 
to buy the spot, to add to the.over- 
all madcapery. They all have a 
Saroyanesque quality, but the pat- 
ter never seems to flow smoothly 
and at times is a *bit vague, even 
for the pervading philosphical at- 
mosphere. 

Director Thomas J. Clancy keeps 
his cast in line but is hampered 
by the confines of the Province- 
town Playhouse stage. There’s 
plenty of confusion when script 
calls for them to be on at the 
same time and Clancy, the players 
and Caulfield come out on the 
minus side. 

John Reeds is pleasing as the 
philosophical proprietor and Mau- 
reen Counihan and Gertrude Tonc- 
ich are standout as the spinsters. 
Bert Burak, Richard McConnell, 
Max Gulack, Pete Gumeny and Lee 
Murray get the necessary laughs 
from their character portrayals. 
Clancy scores in a brief drunken 
bit. Gros. 


Legit Bits 



Continuing its pleasant excursion 
into Gilbert & Sullivaniana, the 
S. M. Charlock crew- of Savoyards 
brought a “Pinafore” into Mark 
Hellinger (N. Y.) harbor Monday 
.1, night (3) .that .was. not . only tune-, 
ful, but trim and ship-shape. This 
is one of the choicer G&S ex- 
cerpts, and a well-chosen group 
does it justice. Under conductor 
Lehman Engel’s watchful eye and 
practiced baton, group sings (and 
enunciates) well, and the charm- 
ing melodies and simple story 
come across neatly. 

Robert Rounseville is above-av- 
erage vocally and a fine seaman 
physically as Ralph Rackstraw, 
and Joseph Macaulay is a strong 
opposite as a baleful Dick Dead- 
eye. Frank Rogier makes an im- 
posing sea captain musically as 
well as sartorially. 

Ella ... Halman is an appealing, 
buxom Little Buttercup and Rob- 
ert Eckles a blustery bos’n’s mate. 
Lillian Murphy sings beautifully 
and looks lovely as the captain’s 
daughter, and Mary Roche is eye- 
catching as usual as Sir Joseph 
Porter’s first cousin. As for Sir 
Porter himself, Martyn Green in- 
vests him with proper authority 
and awe, for an amusing carica- 
ture. 

This week’s is the first double- 
bill in the G&S cavalcade, with 
“Trial By Jury” for curtain-raiser. 
Burlesqued a little too much, but 
amusing nevertheless, it has a 
choice judge in Green, a manly 
rakish defendant in Earl William, 
a lovely plaintiff in Audrey Dear- 
den, an imposing counsel in Rogier 
and a properly pompous usher in 
Radley Flynn. It’s good fun. 

Bron. 





First To vo 

The Journeymen presentation of com- 
edy in two acts (four scenes) by Edward 
Caulfield. Directed by Thomas J. Clancy. 
Set, Dusty Reeds. At Provlncetown Play 
house, N. Y., Oct. 30, J 52; $1.80 top. 

Stella “Jan Henry 

Bob Pete Gumeny 

Anton Bert Burak 

Henry Richard McConnell 

Toby '. . . . ................... John Reeds 

Jerry William Jordan 

Herman Max Gulack 

Cyril Lee Murray 

Nick Marty Landau 

Conchita Anita Wren 

Emmy Maureen Cdunihan 

Margaret Gertrude Toncich 

Old Timer Thomas J. Clancy 

Reveler Joe Polser 

Young Toby Mark Barkan 

Although there are some pleasan 
whimsical moments in ' Edward 
Caulfield's new comedy, it's a poor 
prospect for uptown showcasing 
and lacks the necessary dimension 
.for screen fare. The Journeymen 
do as best they can within the 
limits of their thesping talents, bu 
the best that can be ^said of the 
production is that it’s an amiable 
effort which will make some 
friend§ and no enemies. 

It’s a lighthearted vignette of a 
former spealc-owner turned reput 


A Cry of Players 

Minneapolis, Oct. 28. 

U. of Minnesota Theatre production of 
comedy drama in three acts (11 scenes) 
by WilUam Gibson. Staged by - Richard 
Spahn and Frank M. Whiting. Incidental 
music by James W. McKonkle. At U. of 
Minnesota Theatre Oct. 17, ‘52. 


The premiere performance at 
the U. of Minnesota Theatre’s 
hands of William Gibson’s first full- 
ength play, “A Cry of Players,” 
reveals promise for the poet in the 
playwriting field, but raises doubt 
as to his initial brain child’s com- 
mercial theatre Value. ' •• 


'S 


With its blank verse and costume 


Aldrich & Myers will be part- 
nered with the Theatre Guild in 
the production of “Love of Four 
Colonels” . . , Robert Stolz is due 
in New York around February to 
compose the score for the Theatre 
Guild’s projected musical version 
of Robert E. Sherwood's “Reunion 
in Vienna” , . . George Beliak, 
whose “The Troublemakers” is a 
current hit in London, will report 
bn the production tonight (Wed.) 
to his fellow-members of the New 
Dramatists Committee . . • Al- 
though “Harvey” was produced on 
Broadway' eight years ago, there’s 
still plenty of vigor left in the 
script, Walla Walla (Wash.) Little 
Theatre production of the Mary 
Chase comedy broke all records for 
the group, playing 11 nights in- 
stead of the usual six and pulling 
about 2,100 admissions out of a 
23,000 local population. 

Ned Armstrong, advance man for 
“The Shrike,” has completed re- 
visions of his “The Years Be- 
tween,” and Claire Leonard is now 
agenting the script . . . Richard 
Aldrich leaves this week for the 
Coast, where he’ll spend about a 
fortnight as house guest of Otto 
Preminger while they try to cast 
leads for a new touring company 
of “Moon Is Blue.” On his return 
east he may go to Paris to join 
his friend and production associate 
Julius Fleischmann for a vacation 
and play-catching spree . . . Charles 
R. Meeker, Jr., managing director 
of the State Fair Auditorium, Dal- 
las, returned home last night 
(Tues.) after a 10-day visit to New 
York on Business and to catch the 
new shows . . . Betty Holland, re- 
cently in “Top Banana,” is ‘ sing- 
ing the title part (for which Helen 
Gallagher is set for the show it- 
self) for backer auditions of “Hazel 
Flagg.” 

Novelist John Steinbeck, .whose 
plays ..have included .“Mice . and 
Men,” “Moon Is Down” and “Burn- 


Robert Wylie is general manager ! ? ble restaurant operator whose 


for the producers, who last summer 
operated the Quarterdeck Tna're. 
Atlantic City, and V '2 Miq play- 
house, Picasiint Miiis, N. J. 


ove for his hospice overshadows 
his love for a woman. After 25 
years he decides, however, to give 
up the tavern for the woman he’s 
loved, but before the final ■ curtain 


period, the play deals with an un- 
happy portion of the early married 
life of young Will Shakespeare, 
before his genius had asserted it- 
self. However, in a program note 
the playwright states it is not a 
“historical” play, but the portrait 
of any creative individual in' op- 
position to established social au- 
thority. 

While several brief, intense love 
scenes, some amusingly witty lines 
and occasional noisy action mark 
the drama’s progress, the consider- 
able number of speeches in blank 
verse to which the young Shake- 
speare gives' expression are in 
themselves calculated to limit audi- 
ence appeal. Moreover, the thin- 
ness of the story line knd plot also 
mitigates against suspense and 
commercial b.o. success. With the 
action time and again centering 
about the bickering between hus- 
band and wife, and between Will 
and his brother, the play, too, be- 
comes repetitively monotonous 
upon occasion. 

In “A Cry of Players” we find 
young Shakespeare a much mis- 
understood, unhappily married 
ne’er-do-well, a square peg in a 
round hole. He neglects his older 
wife, whom he doesn’t love; idles 
his time away instead of helping 
his brother perform the farm 
duties, poaches on a lord’s estate 
and engages in an affair with an 
attractive barmaid. The justifica- 
tion for such misconduct is, of 
course, the premise that genius — 
in this case in the budding stage — 
seethes with revolt against conven- 
tion and environment — everything 
that’s commonplace. 

Much of the dialog is highly lit- 
erate. Gibson also seems endowed 
with a talent for character projec- 
tion, for depicting psychological 
urges, for building up to forceful 
scenes and for penning clever 
lines. 

As far as production and acting 
are concerned, the University 
Theatre does itself proud with a 
professional job. For the most part, 
too, the direction of Richard 
Spahn and Frank N. Whiting, the 
latter regularly in charge of uni- 
versity theatre staging, impressed 
as top-drawer, A revolving stage 
was used to hasten the many scene 
changes. Sets and costuming were 
notable and James Schroeder in 
the long and difficult lead role and 
other members of the large cast 
acquitted themselves well. Rees. 

‘Widow’ on Her Toes 

Chicago, Nov. 4. 

Ruth Page, Chicago choreogra- 
pher, has been commissioned by 
Anton Dolin, artistic director of 
the Festival Ballet, to stage a bal- 
let version 'of 'Franz^L-ehar’s oper- 
etta, “The Merry Widow,” for the 
British terp troupe. 

Miss Page is due in Lqndon late 
t’ is month for the assignment. 


ing Bright,” is writing the libretto 
or a musical to be titled “The 
Bear Flag Cafe,” which Cy Feuer 
and Ernest H. Martin may produce, 
with Henry Fonda as star. The 
composer and lyricist haven’t been 
selected . . . Clemence Dane is 
dramatizing her novel, “Broome 
Stages,” and Walter Chrysler, Jr., 
and Michael Powell, in association 
with Leonard Sillman, plan to pro- 
duce the play in London and then 
on Broadway. They’re also con- 
sidering a Broadway edition of the 
current London production, “The 
Hanging Judge,” Raymond Mas- 
sey’s adaptation of the Bruce Ham< 
ilton novel. 

Frank Maxwell will make his 
musical debut in “Maggie,” the 
song and dance version of “What 
Every Woman Knows” . . . “Frank- 
ie and Johnny,” which opened last 
week at the Theatre de Lys, plushy 
bandbox iij Greenwich Village, 
N. Y., closed after two perform- 
ances. The spot’s second produc- 
tion, the Howard Richardson-Wil- 
liam Berney drama. “Sodom Ten- 
nessee,” which had been sched- 
uled to open Nov. 24, has been 
postponed and the whole theatre 
project is to be refinanced 

Thomas Hammond, whose pro- 1 
duction of “The Gambler” folded 
last Saturday night (1), leaves this 
week for a Bermuda vacation. In- 
cidentally, Anne Baxter is no long 
er a prospect for the star role in 
Hammond’s forthcoming produc- 
tion of “Portrait of a Lady,” Wil- 
liam Archibald’s dramatization of 
the Henry James novel . . . “The 
Suspects,” Agatha Christie thriller 
previously done in London as “The 
Hollow,” is closing for announced 
revisions after its Boston tryout. 

Betty Blanchard, founder and 
for three years director of the 
Courtyard Players, Shreveport, La. 
is now in Dallas, planning to es- 
tablish a non-professional commu- 
nity theatre there. 

Led by Stephen Manton, four 
members of the Intimate Opera 
Society arrived in N. Y. from Brit- 
ain on the Mauretania Monday 
(3). Small unit will tour the U. S. 


the job as drama columnist of the 
N. Y. World-Telegram & Sun after 
being re-hospitalized for blood 
transfusions for his ulcer ailment 
. . . Jack Ragofey, newly elected 
assistant secretary of the Stock 
Managers Assn,, operates the Barn 
Theatre, Augusta, Mich. ... At- 
lantic Productions, a partnership 
comprising the Theatre Guild, John 
C. Wilson and the London manage- 
ment of H. M. Tennent, Ltd., an- 
nounces plans for a Broadway pro- 
duction this season of “The River 
Line,” Charles Morgan's current 
London drama. 

“The Bat,” the scheduled revival 
by James Withers Elliott of the 
Mary Roberts Rinehart's 1920-21 
thriller for which ZJaSu Pitts, 
Lucile Watson, William Harrington 
and Harry Bannister are set, is 
budgeted at $70,000, including 
$15,000 in bonds and $15,000 re- 
serve, with no provision for over- 
toil , . . Max Gordon is waiting for 
Moss Hart to write the book and 
Harold Arlen to compose the score 
for his projected musical version 
of “The Women” . . . Ella Logan 
is mentioned as possibility for the 
title part in “Maggie,” the musical 
edition of Barrie’s “What Every 
Woman Knows,” to be produced 
by Franklin Gilbert and John 
Fearnley . . . Eddie Foy, Jr., may 
be the male lead in “Ankles 
Aweigh.” 

Emmett Rogers is associate pro- 
ducer of “Dial *M’ for Murder,” 
with Robert Rapport general man- 
ager, Richard Maney pressagent, 
Frank Goodman associate, Billy 
Matthews production stage mana- 
ger and Porter Van Zandt assist- 
ant. . .As scon as he’s through with 
the staging of Robert Fryer’s mu- 
sical edition of “My Sister Eileen,” 
George Abbott will direct the new, 
still-untitled Rodgers-Hammerstein 
show. . Lyn’ Austin plans produc- 
tions of Louis Peterson's “Take a 
Giant Step'* arid Nathaniel 'Bench- 
ley’s “The Frogs of Spring,” a 
dramatization of his own novel, 
“Side Street” ... Yiddish comedian 
Leo Fuchs will make his English 
language stage debut in “Fasten 
Your Belts,” a revue to ' be pro- 
duced by Samuel Rose, in associa- 
tion with Jack Amidor. ... Jerry 
Mann has rejoined the touring 
Oklahoma” troupe to play the Aly 
Hakim role, which he* did for four 
consecutive seasons previously, re- 
placing Harold Gary, who returned 
to New York to resume TV work. 


Backers Balk 


Continued from page 55 


is unjustified, considering that the 
large majority of our producers are 
highly intelligent men. The trouble 
is not that there aren’t any good 
plays, or if there are any, that pro- 
ducers do not want to produce 
them. The real trouble is that there 
are only three or four producers 
left in New York today who can 
afford to back their judgment with 
their own financial resources. 

The large majority of producers 
will have to obtain outside backing 
and that is where the root of the 
trouble lies. We are no longer in 
any position to decide what plays 
to produce. The people who are 
really making that decision for us 
are our investors who, to a large 
extent, have become “experts" on 
what is a good play and what is not, 
and what is commercial and what 
is not. 

Plays such as “Medea,” “The 
Cocktail Party,” “The Innocents” 
and “Member of the Wedding” 
would never have seen the light 
of an opening night had it not 
been for the fact that their pro- 
ducers were able, to a large extent, 
to back their own judgment. These 
plays were certainly" considered 
“Uncommercial” by the average in- 
vestor in the theatre. 

Even Jule Styne had, as we all 
know', a great deal of trouble con- 
vincing investors that a revival of 
“Pal Joey” was a good idea, and 
had to stake his financial future on 
his judgment. Most of us can’t _ do 
that. I have no intention of im- 
pugning the intelligence of our in- 
vestors, but I do want to point 
out that we do not tell the man- 
agement of, let’s say, a company in 
which we buy stock, how to run 
their business. In the theatre every- 
one is an “expert.” 

As long as plays such as Sean 
O’Casey’s “Purple Dust,” to name 
just one, remain unproduced, let 
us not say that there are no good 
in LPlay s around. Rather let us say 

‘ h * as ‘° wbat c S. 

or should not be produced is graau 
ally being taken away from us 
through sheer ^economic pressure. 

itarpXd '-Bron iley> 


for the third time in a repertoire 
written especially for it. Also in 
on the Mauretania were London 
producer-agent Alfred Black and 
Mrs. Somerset Maugham . , . Jean 
Dalrymple elected to board of di- 
rectors of the N. Y. City Center 
of Music & Drama. Marian Gra- 
ham, formerly associated with Miss 
Dalrymple, has opened her own 
publicity office. 

Whatever happened to the Com- 
mittee of Theatrical Producers? 

. . . Having completed the staging 
of “John Brown’s Body,” Charles 
Laughton will appear for about a 
week’s shooting in Metro’s “Young 
Bess” an<j then rejoin the touring 
“Don Juan u ~ * * — 

weeks hence 
Price is subbing in the latter offer- 
ing w r ith Charles Boyer, Cedric 
Hardwicke and Agnes .Moorehead 
. . . Ward Moorohouse is back on 


Wednesday, November 5, 1952 


P$MET? 


LEGITIMATE 


57 


Chi Boxoffice Keeps to Merry Pace; 

DoDs’ $39,300, Tourposter $25. 



Chicago, Nov. 4. - 

Ballet Theatre, plus the closing 
of “I Am a Camera” at the Harris 
Saturday (1) and next week's shut- 
tering of “Guys and Dolls” at the 
Shubert, were the Impetus that 
overcame the usual poor week be- 
fore election. Ballet Theatre closed 
a sensational stay *at the Opera 
House Nov. 2. “Fourposter” con- 
tinues socle at the Blackstone and 
"Stalag 17“ shows signs of staying 
past the first of the year. 

' ,, Gigi ,, opens at the Harris Wed- 
nesday (5) with okay advance, and 
“Tree Grows in Brooklyn” will 
open at the Shubert Nov. 10. “Top 
Banana” is set for the Great North- 
ern Nov. 24 and “Country Girl” 
at the Selwyn Dec. 1. New York 
City Opera Co. is pacted for the 
Opera House Nov. 12-30. “Jane,” 
"Constant Wife,” and maybe one 
more are on the December calen- 
dar, but the dates and theatres 
are not definite. 

Estimates for Last Week 

Ballet Theatre, Opera House (1st 
\vk) ($4; 3,600). Wound up Nov. 2. 
For 10-day, 14-performance run, 
troupe rang up a terrif $95,000, 
its biggest take in 12 seasons here. 

“Fourposter," Blackstone (6th 
wk) ($4.20; 1,534). Can’t even find 
an empty seat for this one with 
sock $25,800. 

“Guys and Dolls,** Shubert (37th 
wk) ($6; 2,100). Rolling out of here 
Nov. 8, with this week good $39,- 
300. 

“I Am a Camera,** Harris (7th 
wk) ($4.40; 1,000). Closed Saturday 
(1) with $13,700. 

“Stalag 17,** Erlanger (10th wk) 
($4.40; 1,334). Keeping up strong 
with $14,200. 

‘SEA’ RECORD $33,200; 
‘TREE* FAIR 23G, D.C. 

Washington-, Nov. 4. 

The draw of Margaret Sullavan 
broke the National- Theatre house 
record for a straight play last 
week, with a smash $33,200 for 
eight performances of “Deep Blue 
Sea.” The play’s one-week stand 
was a virtual sellout from start to 
finish. House was scaled to $4.20 
top. “Top Banana” moved in last 
night (Mon.) for a fortnight. 

At the Shubert-Gayety, first 
week of “Tree Grows in Brook- 
lyn,” starring Joan Blondell, did a 
fair $23,000. House was scaled to 
$4.80 top, and bolstered the The- 
atre Guild subscription lists. 
“Tree” Was generally panned by 
the D. C. critics. 


Cornell-W $23,300 
In Cleveland Stand 

Cleveland, Nov. 4. 

Katharine Cornell’s “Constant 
Wife” garnered one of the star’s 
top takes in Cleveland during her 
Hanna stand, which pulled over 
$23,300 in eight performances last 
week under sponsorship of ATS- 
Theatre Guild. 

Miss Cornell and Fredric Mc- 
Connell, director of Cleveland 
Play House, received citations 
from 400 local members of the 
Council of Living Theatre-ATS- 
T.G. committee at a luncheon kick- 
ing off their subscription campaign 
for the Hanna. 

Actress was eulogized as a 

great artist” and the “great lady 
trouper of the Aonerican theatre” 
by Harriet Eels, one of the com- 
mittee executives, while Warren 
Caro of the Council of Living The- 
atre presented McConnell with a 
plaque honoring him for his “out- 
standing contributions to the com- 
munity and stage.” 

“Paint Your Wagon,” with Burl 
Jves, checked into Hanna Monday 
(3) for a week’s visit. 

‘Girl’ $12,600, Seattle 

Seattle, Nov. 4. 

* . Country Girl,” scaled from 
$4.50 at the 1,500-seater Metropoli- 
tan was perceptibly slowed by 
election excitement. 

Show grossed a slow $12,600 last 
week. 


‘Affairs’ So-So $13,450; 
‘Farfel’ $20,000, L. A. 

Los Angeles, Nov. 4. 
“Web and the Rock” shutters at 
the Las Palmas today (Tues.) after 
a dismal two-week ' run, and will 
be replaced Nov. 10 by the Col- 
umn Theatre Group’s version of 
John Steinbeck's “Burning Bright.” 

Estimates for Last Week 
“Affairs of State,” Carthay Cir- 
cle (5th wk) (1,518; $2.40). Dipped 
to $13,450 for stanza, below pre- 
vious week which hit $14,400. 

“Farfel Follies,” Biltmore (2d 
wk) (1,636; $3.60). Yiddish-Ameri- 
can vaude revue holding its own 
at $20,000 in second week, after 
ditto opening week, about $6,000 
over operating nut* 

“Web. and the Rock,” Las Palmas 
(2d wk) (400; $2.40). This one folds 
today (Tues.) after n.s.g. $800 for 
week. Playing to about 20% of 
capacity. 

‘NINA’ SLOWISH $9,000; 
GRECO $15,000, FRISCO 

San Francisco, Nov. 4. 
Following Jose Greco’s run at 
the Curran, to end Nov. 23, house 
will go dark until Dec. 15, when “.I 
Am A Camera” opens there. Geary 
will remain dark until Dec. 21, 
when “Oklahoma” relights the 
house. 

Randolph Hale, Alcazar Theatre 
head, returned last week from New 
York, still with no show set to fol- 
low “Nina,” already moving into 
its fifth frame at that house. Small 
operating costs” allows play to show 
profit, in spite of sluggish biz. 

Estimates for Last Week 
“Nina,” Aloasar ■ (4£fc • wk) (O- 
$3.60; 1,157) (Edward Everett Hor- 
ton, Martha Linden, Christopher 
Plummer). A thin $9,000. 

Jose Greco Dance Co., Curran 
(1st *wk) (R-$4.2Q; 1,758). • A fair 
$15,000. 


Itch’ $9,100 in 4, Hartf’d 

Hartford, Nov. 4. 

The Seven Year Itch” grossed 
an excellent $9,100 at the New 
parsons here last Thursday through 
Saturday (30-1) In four perform- 
ances. Good notices plus strong 

ro^uth aided. Played at 
$4.20 top. 

In for a three-day (four perform- 
552® i Preem this Thursday-Satur- 
difrMs the new N. Richard Nash 
legiter, “See the Jaguar.** Top- 
hned is Arthur Kennedy. 


‘BANANA’ HOT $38,500 
IN PITTSBURGH WEEK 

Pittsburgh, Nov. 4. 

Phil Silvers and “Top Banana” 
grabbed off a set of embraceable 
notices at the Nixon and the show 
did; a very hot $38,500 on the week. 
The matinees were a little off, and 
a big football game Saturday (1) 
kept that afternoon performance 
down, the only thing that stopped 
the musical from going over * the 
40 G mark. 

Top for “Banana” was $5.20 
($4.50 plus 30% in Federal and 
city taxes) except Friday-Saturday 
nights, when ft went to $5.85, 
Nixon is currently dark, due to 
cancellation of first of two weeks 
of Bette Davis* “Two’s Company” 
so that show can remain in Detroit 
an extra stanza. It’ll come in Mon- 
day (10) and after that house is 
hooked solid through first of the 
year; 

Tacific’ Sock $59,600 
For Spokane Record 

Spokane, Nov. 4. 

At the Fox Theatre here, “South 
Pacific” was a smash record- 
breaker, landing a tremendous 
$59,600 in a seven-day engage- 
ment. House, seating 2,200, was 
scaled from $4.50. 

A solid week of legit in Spokane 
Is another record, and the gross in 
a small-seater in a city of 170,000 
population ditto. 

‘Okla’ $22,900, Mpls. 

Minneapolis, Nov. 4. 

Playing its ninth local engage- 
ment, “Oklahoma,” at a reduced 
$3.60 top scale for Minneapolis at 
the 1,859-seat Lyceum, racked up 
a good $22,900 for six nights and 
two matinees. Attraction passed up 
St. Paul upon this occasion. 

“The Country Girl” is due week 
of Nov. 10. It, too, will be an ex- 
clusive Twin Cities engagement, 
aftd the third of the Theatre Guild 
subscription offerings here. 

‘Madam’ $37,400, Col’bus 

Columbus, 0„ Nov. 4. 

“Call Me Madam” scored $37, 
400 in eight performances last 
week at the Hartman here, almost 
sellout at $5.50 top. 

Cornelia Otis Skinner is playing 
four performances throu g n 
Wednesday in "Paris *90,” and the 
Ballet Russe will show here Nov. 
11 - 12 . 


‘Roberts’ Rough $11,600 
In Third Gincy Visit 

Cincinnati, Nov. 4. 

“Mister Roberts” had rough 
$11,600 sailing last week at $3.69 
top in the 1,300-seat Cox Theatre 
on its third Cincy visit. It was the 
second disappointing grosser of the 
local season, trailing the opening 
play, “Gigi.” 

Cox has “I Am a Camera” cur- 
rently. Road shows shift to the 
2,500-seat Taft next week for suc- 
cession of three musicals. “Paint 
Your Wagon” and “Top Banana,” 
each for eight performances, and 
“Guys and Dolls,” for five nights 
and two matinees, starting Nov. 25, 
all at $4.92 top, jumped to $5.54 
for Saturday nights. 

‘Blondes’ $25,949, 
‘Eden’ 10G, Philly 

Philadelphia, Nov. 4. 

“Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” 
back for a third trip, clocked up a 
fair we^k at the Shubert, but 
show’s management closed it Sat- 
urday night (1), ending the road 
tour. Local Shubert office would 
have liked to have held the musi- 
cal a second stanza to keep house 
lighted and thought the first week’s 
returns warranted a holdover. 
"Blondes” management contended 
it needed in neighborhood of $28,- 
000 to break, and show’s receipts 
were under that figure. 

Moss Hart’s “The Climate of 
Eden” left Saturday night (1) with 
no appreciable pickup in boxoffice 
for the second week’s stand. John 
Keiiley production of “Maid in the 
Ozarks” relighted the Erlanger last 
night (3), to play two weeks at pop 
prices ($2.90 top). Next legit at- 
traction is “Time' Out for Ginger,” 
Melvyn Douglas starrer, due for a 
week at the Locust, Monday (10). 

Estimates for Last Week 

“Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,’* 
Shubert (1st wk) ($4.55;* 1,870). 
Despite trimmed physical appear- 
ance and absence of name draw 
(with Carol Channlng and other 
Broadway principals absent), hit 
musical still managed to build to 
nice $25,900. 

“The Climate of Eden,” Forrest 
(2d wk) ($4.55; 1,760). Favorable 
Sunday spreads were expected to 
bolster comedy into bigger take, 
but show fared only slightly better 
than previous week. Thin $10,400. 

'‘COMPANY’ OK $37,750, 
W $18,900, DETROIT 

Detroit, Nov. 4. 

“Two’s Company,” starring Bette 
Davis, grossed a very good $37,750 
at the 2,050-seat Shubert last week. 
Hefty gross is significant because 
show is fighting wariness on part 
of theatregoers, who put off buy- 
ing tickets until the last minute in 
fear Miss Davis wouldn’t appear. 
Ads all last week carried line that 
“Miss Davis will appear at all per- 
formances,” and star’s regaining of 
health has given show a big boost. 

“Gigi” grossed $18,900 at the 
Cass, figure including two extra 
shows Sunday, matinee and eve- 
ning. Production was scheduled to 
pull out Saturday night, but stayed 
for an extra day when it appeared 
as if it would be profitable. Cur- 
rent presentation is “Mister Rob- 
erts,” in for a week. 

‘Jane’ Light $11,200 In 
Three Stops Last Week 

New Haven, Nov. 4. 

Despite good critical reception 
and favorable word-of-mouth, 
three-day stand of “Jane” at 
Shubert last week (30-1) pulled a 
light figure. Four performances at 
$3.60 top drew only a fair $6,300. 
Show also played the Community, 
Hershey, Pa., and Clark, Worcester, 
for week’s take of $11,200. 

Shubert has three preems set 
for this month, first being current 
“Rise By Sin” (6-8), followed by 
next week’s “I’ve Got Sixpence” 
(12-15). Drama Quartet’s “Don 
Juan in Hell” does a last half for 
Nov. 20-22, then comes month’s 
third breakin, “Gray-Eyed People” 
(27-29). 

‘Wagon’ $27,150, Toronto 

Toronto, Nov. . 4. 

“Paint Your Wagon,” with , Burl 
Ives, chalked up a -satisfactory $27,- 
150 at the Royal Alexandra here, 
with the 1,525-seater scaled at $4.50 
top with tax. Piece got rave 
reviews, plus word-of-mouth, and 
built up rapidly, with sellouts Fri- 
day and Saturday nights* for big- 
gest return of tour. 

Deal is on for return engage- 
ment,. with capacity expected. 


Pre-Election Hubbub Crimps B’ way 




But ‘Aida’ Gets $45,700 First Week, 
Dial’ Smash $24,304 (7); 3 Sellouts 


With the hot Presidential elec- 
tion holding public interest last 
week, accentuated by the new ele- 
ment of television coverage, attend- 
ance on Broadway generally nose- 
dived. Virtually all shows were 
hurt, some grosses dropping as 
much as $9,000. Only the arrival 
of two new high grossers, “Dial 
‘M’ for Murder” and “My Darlin’ 
Aida,” tended to offset the down- 
beat by holding up the gross total. 

The sellout list felt the business 
slackening, the number of shows 
that went clean at all performances 
dropping from the previous week’s 
eight to three, “Evening with Bea- 
trice Lillie," “Guys and Dolls” and 
“Millionairess,” although several 
other hits had only scattered empty 
seats at a few performances. 

Of the recent entries, “Dial ‘M’ 
for Murder” drew unanimous fa- 
vorable reviews, near - sellout 
attendance its first five perform- 
ances and is an indicated click, 
while “My Darlin* Aida” pulled a 
mixed press, but got big attend- 
ance with help of theatre parties. 

Estimates for Last Week 

Keys: C (Comedy), D (Drama), 
CD (Comedy-Drama) , R (Revue), 
MC (Musical Comedy), MD (Musi- 
cal Drama), O (Operetta). 

Other parenthetic designations 
refer, respectively, to top prices; 
number of seats, capacity gross and 
stars. Price includes 20% amuse- 
ment tax, but grosses are net: i.e., 
exclusive of tax. 

“Bernardine,” Playhouse (3d wk) 
(C-$4.80; 999; $21,500). Nearly 

$16,100 (previous- week, $17,100). 

“Dial 4 M* for Murder,” Plymouth 
(1st wk) (D-$4.80; 1,063; $30,000). 
(Maurice EvansL Opened last 
Wednesday (29) to unanimously 
enthusiastic notices; Grossed $24,- 
300 for the first five performances 
and two previews. 

“Evening With Beatrice Lillie,” 
Booth (5th wk) (R-$6; 900; $24,500) 
(Beatrice Lillie, Reginald Gardner). 
About $24,500 again. 

“Fourposter,** Barrymore (54th 
wk) (C-$4.80; 1,060; $24,996) (Betty 
Field, Burgess Meredith). Over 
$13,700 (previous week, $19,600). 

“Gilbert & Sullivan,” Hellinger 
(2d wk) (C-$4.8Q; 1,507.; $40,113). 
Second bill, “Pirates of Penzance,” 
drew over $16,000 (previous week’s 
opener, “The Mikado,” got $24,- 
000); current is a double-bill of 
“H. M. S. Pinafore” and “Trial by 
Jury,” and the engagement ends 
next week with “Iolanthe,” after 
which the troupe goes on tour. 

“Guys and Dolls,” 46th Street 
(102nd wk) (MC-$6.60; 1,319; $43,'- 
904). Had a clean statement again; 
$44,000. 

“Gambler,” Lyceum (3d wk) 
(D-$4.80; 995; $22,845) (Alfred 

Drake). About $3,000 (previous 
week, $5,300;) closed Saturday 
night (1) after 24 performances. 

“In Any Language,” Cort (4th 
wk) (C-$4.80; 1,056; $27,700) (Uta 
Hagen). Almost $9,600 (previous 
week, $16,400). 

“King and I,” St. James (84th 
wk) (MD-$7.20; 1,571; $51,717) (Yul 
Brynner). Nearly $51,000 (previ- 
ous week, $51,700). 

“Male Animal,” Music Box (27th 
wk) (C-$4.80; 1,012; $25,903) (Elliot 
Nugent, Martha Scott, Robert 
Preston). About $14,400 (previous 
week, $20,900). 

“Millionairess,”- Shubert (3d wk) 
(C-$6-$4.80; 1,361; $39,000) (Kath- 
arine Hepburn). Had Capacity at- 
tendance, but Guild subscription 
limited the gross to $38,800 (pre- 
vious week, $38,000). 

“Moon Is Blue,” Miller (87th 
wk) (C-$4.80; 920; $21,586) (Donald 
Cook, Barry Nelson, Janet Riley). 
Approached $11,000 (previous 
week, $15,200). 

“Mr. Pickwick,*’ Golden (7th 
wk) (CD-$4.80; 769; $19,195). Mere 
$4,600 (previous week, $10,200 at 
the Plymouth); closing Saturday 
night (8). 

“Mrs. McThing,” Morosco (30th 
wk) (C-$4.80; 912; $24,100) (Helen 
Hayes). Nearly $21,200 (previous 
week, $24,200). 

“My Darlin* Aida,” Winter Gar- 
den (1st wk) (O-$7.2Q-$6.60); 1,519; 
$51,881). Opened Monday (27) to 
four favorable reviews (Chapman, 
News; Hawkins, World-Telegram 
& Sun; Pollack, Compass; Watts, 
Post), three pans (Atkinson, Times; 
Coleman, Mirror; McClain, Jour- 
nal- American) and one yes-and-no 
(Kerr, Herald Tribune); first week, 
almost $45,700, with theatre parties 
a factor. 

“New Faces,” Royale (25th wk) 
(R-$6; 1,035; $30,600). Over $27,- 
200 (previous week, $31,190). 

“Pal Joey,” Broadhurst (44th 
Wk) (MC-$6.60; 1,160; $39,602) 


(Vivienne Segal, Harold Lang). 
Nearly $36,000 (previous week, 
$40,000). 

“Point of No Return,” Alvin 
(42d wk) (D-$4.80-$6; 1,331; $37,- 
924) (Henry Fonda). Almost $20,- 
200 (previous week, $26,700); clos- 
ing Nov. 22, to tour. 

“South Pacific,” Majestic 185th 
wk) (MC-$6; 1,659; $50,186) (Mar- 
tha Wright, George Britton). Over 
$40,100 (previous week, $49,000). 

“Time of the Cuckoo,” Empire 
(3d wk) (D-$6-$4.80; 1,082; $25,056) 
(Shirley Booth). Nearly $24,400 
(previous week, $24,600). 

“Wish You Were Here,” Imperial 
(19th Wk) (MC-$7,20; 1,400; $52,- 
080). Nearly $52,000 (previous 
week, $52,300). 


OPENING THIS WEEK 
“Climate of Eden,” Beck (D-$6- 
$4.80; 1,214; $31,000). Joseph M. 
Hyman and Bernard Hart produc- 
tion of Moss Hart’s dramatization 
of Edgar. Mittelholzer’s novel, 
“Shadows Move Among Them”; 
opens tomorrow night (Thurs.). 

“Deep Blue Sea,” Morosco (D- 
$6-$4.80; 912; $26,000) (Margaret 
Sulla van)- Alfred deLiagre, Jr., 
and John C. Wilson production of 
Terence Rattigan’s London suc- 
cess; opens tonight (Wed.). 


‘Shrike’ $24,600, 
‘Suspects’ 10G, Hub 

Boston, Nov. 4 . ' 

Legit season * has slowed to a 
walk this frame with but two the- 
atres alight. “Seven Year’s Itch" 
bowed In for a two-week pre- 
Broadway tuneup at the Wilbur 
last night (Mon.) with “Good Nite 
Ladies” moving into a third frame 
at the Majestic. Slated to bow 
into the Brattle, Cambridge, Nov, 
11, is the new James McGee com- 
edy, “The Temptation of Maggie 
Haggerty.” 

Estimates for Last Week 

“Good Nite Ladies,” Majestic 
(2nd wk) ($3.60; $1,100). Held to a 
nice $15,000 for second week. 

“The Suspects,” Plymouth ($3.60; 
1,200). Pulled near $10,000 for lone 
week’s engagement. 

“The Shrike,’* Colonial (2d wk) 
($3.60; 1,500). Second week built 
to a staunch $24,600. Previous corn- 
commitments prevented holdover, 
to a staunch $24,600. Previous 
ahead. 

N.Y; OPERA $250,200 
FOR SEVEN-WEEK RUN 

The N. Y. City Opera Co. wound 
up a seven-week fall season at City 
Center, N. Y„ Sunday (2), with a 
take of $250,200 on 44 perform- 
ances at a ,$3.60 top. Biz was up 
from last autumn, when In a seven- 
week run of 49 shows, troupe 
garnered $233,000. 

Highlights of the just-closed 
season included expansion of the 
Italian wing;, reapperance of vet 
conductor Tullio Serafin on the 
N, Y. operatic scene; appearance 
of the Fujiwara Opera Co. of Tokyo 
as guests in two “Butterfly" 
performance; entrance of “The 
Consul” into an opera company's 
repertoire for the first time; re- 
staging of “Wozzek ,** and presenta- 
tion of two new works as double 
bill, “L’Heure Espagnole” and 
“Bluebeard’s Castle.” 

Company will resume at City 
Center in February, for its 10th 
anni season. 

‘Paris’ Okay $12,700 
In Five-Stand Week 

Indianapolis, Nov. 4. 

Cornelia Otis, Skinner, starring 
in her one-woman musical show, 
“Paris *90,” put together a profit- 
able $12,700 gross last week in five 
stands. Actress drew $2,400 on a 
one-nighter Monday (27) at Mar- 
shall College, Huntington, W. Va.; 
$1,100 for another Tuesday (28) at 
the Weller, Zanesville, O.; $1,000 
for a single performance Wednes- 
day (29) at the Ohio, Newark, O.; 
$2,200 for another one-nighter 
Thursday (30) at Indiana U., 
Bloomington, and $6,000 for two 
evenings and a matinee here Fri- 
day-Saturday (31-1). 

The show is splitting this week 
between Columbus, O. 4 , Louisville 
and Memphis, 


58 


uMarrnutE 


p%sa&rt 


Wednesday, November 5, 1952 


Plays Abroad 


La Dame de Trelle 
(Queen of Clubs) 

Paris, Oct. 15. 

Mary Morgan production qf drama in 
three acts by Gabriel Aroul. Features 
Madeleine Robinson. Michel Vitold, So- 
lange Certain. Lucienne Bogaert. Directed 
by Vitold. Sets by Paul Ackerman: paint- 
ings by Laverdet; costumes by Balmain. 
At Saint-GCorges Theatre, Paris. 

Ada Isabelle Madeleine Robinson 

Roland Michel Vltolu 

. Madame ........ .... . .. Lucienne Bogaert| 

Maid Solange Certain 

“Queen" is a Paris smash, with 
two U.S. producers already scram- 
bling for legit rights, and another 
flying here for a gander. Pix rights 
could be sold immediately to a 
French company, as play’*; leading 
actress, .Madeleine Robinson, is a 
film name here and could easily 
repeat the role before the cameras. 
But author may hold out -for a 
Hollywood bid. “Queen" got 100% 
critical raves and show has a sock 
advance sale. 

Show is author Gariel ‘Arout’s 
first hit. Play has literary flavor 
(as had his others), but subject is 
daring enough to win wide popular 
favor. Dialog is tops in sophisti- 
cated talk and motive and conclu- 
sion of play show Pirandello in- 
fluence. \ 

Roland, a big-game hunter and 
expert horseman, falls in love with 
Isabelle, a married society lady. A 
man of strong passions, he is in- 
sistent in his courtship, but she 
will have none of him. 

At a brothel, “The Queen of 
Clubs," he finds a girl who re- 
sembelles Isabelle to such a de- 
gree that he is certain, it is she. 
But this prostitute, Ada, is the con- 
tradiction of Isabelle emotionally. 
He sets various traps to reveal 
Ada's identity. . All fail, and Isa- 
belle laughs at his growing mono- 
mania. Isabelle and her husband 
leave for an Italian holiday, and 
he loses Ada, too. Isabelle has ob- 
viously been Ada, but Roland, hav- 
ing lost bcrtir of 'them, ' wrli irevei be 
certain. 

Arout handles his tricky theme 
with professional skill. Miss Robin- 
son, as both Isabelle and Ada, has 
the part of an actress’ lifetime, 
and creates both the haughty so- 
ciety woman and the groveling 
parlor girl. Michel Vitold, who has 
also directed the play and is a 
good actor, is less successful as 
Roland, lacking the necessary mag- 
netism the role demands. Lucienne 
Bogaert registers as the comic 
brothel madame. Play has only 
four speaking parts, fourth being 
a minor bit by Solange Certain as 
a maid, but several lookers, un 
credited, appear in .scene at the 
brothel. 

Sets by Paul Ackerman are out- 
standing, as are lighting effects in 
the brothel scene, where life-size 
Botticcelli and Cranach nudes 
painted on the walls turn into live 
girls. Paintings are by Laverdet. 

Curt. 


baggy pants and silly hat routine. ; 
•Furthermore, he is not so stylized : 
that he isn’t able to put on a mus- ! 
tache, wigror eyebrows, as the case j 
demands, and play straight in a ' 
skit. 

One of the best supports in the 
show is Paul Stefan, American 
modern-style ballet dancer. Stefan 
is also credited with the choreogra- 
phy. for.. the entire production. He 
does several beautifully executed 
ballet scenes with his partners, a 
man and woman. Not only are they 
good, but they are something com- 
pletely new to Italian audiences. 

Another American in the show 
is Linda White, who was in some 
Broadway, .shows, and who sings, 
dances and appears in several 
skits. Her good figure and Ameri- 
can mannerisms marks her as a 
standout 

Other cast standouts include: 
Galeazzo Benzi, Gladys Popescue, 
Nyta Dover; Giacomo Rondinella, 
singer of Roman songs; Florence 
& Frederic, French dance team; 
Isa Bellini and Strelsa Brown (ex- 
Billy Rose Diamond Horseshoe). 

Feminine pulchritude is in 
abundance. The Italo lovelies, 
whether in lavls sequined satins, 
or. In many scenes, almost In the 
nude, are lookers. Orchestra un- 
der the direction of Pasquale Frus- 
taci is excellent, the lighting good. 
In spite of the rapid pacing, the 
show runs very long; but the Ital- 
ians like long shows. Even with a 
$5 top, high for here, prospects for 
a long run of “La Piazza" are 
healthy, because enthusiasm runs 
high. Tubb. 


Equity Fund 

Continued from page 55 


La Piazza 

(TOWN SQUARE) 

Rome, Nov. 1. 

Michele Galdieri production of musical 
revue in two parts (34 scenes), written by 
Galdieri. Stars Carlo Dapporto; features 
Linda White, Nyta Dover, Paul Stefan & 

S ancers, Gladys Popescu, Isa Bellini, 
aleazzl Benzi, Strelsa Brown. Musical 
drector, Pasquale Frustacl; stage director, 
Emilio Brunetta. At Palazzo Slsllne 
Rome, Oct. 17, '52; 3,000 Lire’ ($5) top. 

The, season opened up with s 
bang in Rome with “La Piazza, 
Italian musical revue headed by 
Italy’s Bob Hope, Carlo Dapporto 
with a full cast of pretty girls, 
competent dancers, singers, straight 
men and novelty acts. 

“La Piazza" is modern, expen 
sive and well-paced. There is no 
story line; but the opening scene 
is laid in a colorful set depicting 
a small Italian piazza or village 
square, complete with hotel, hair- 
dresser, coffee" bar, bread shop and 
winery. Other sets come and go, 
according to the number on dis- 
play, but every once in a while, 
show reverts back to the piazza, 
keeping the theme in mind. 

Producer Michele Galdieri has 
spared no expense on his produc- 
tion, which should have a run here. 
(After the Rome run, show will hit 
Milan, Naples, Palermo, Torino 
and other large cities). 

Dapporto is a well-dressed, good- 
looking, smooth type of comic, and 
a novelty from the several local 
comedians with the funny face, 


Maurice Chevalier 

London, Oct. 29. 

Jack Hylton presentation (in associa- 
tion with Val Parnell) of Maurice Cheva- 
lier one-man revue, accompanied by Fred 
Freed. At Hippodrome, London, Oct. 28, 
'52; $2 top. 

Four years ago Maurice Che- 
■vaflfer* had* aiv •otttstemdtag' st-arson- 
with his one-man performance at 
this theatre. He has returned for 
a limited three-week engagement, 
and his opening proved unmistak- 
ably that neither his personality 
nor popularity have diminished. 
This is a surefire sellout. 

Supported only by his accom- 
panist, Fred Freed, and with a few 
drapes as ' only decoration, the 
French artist in a few moments re- 
duces this large theatre to the pro- 
portions of an intimate nitery. He 
corner on bearing his familiar 
trade-marks— the straw hat, the 
cane, the protruding lip and in- 
gratiating smile. It takes him pre- 
cisely five seconds to conauer the 
audience and he has them in the 
palm of his band.. throughout the 
show. 

Parisian vet makes his one-man 
effort into a full production. He’s 
not content just to pour out one 
song after another, and each num- 
ber is prefaced by his own in- 
terpretation of the lyric, told with 
a Gallic charm which proves more 
entertaining than the song itself. 
In these he excels, using bits of 
pantomime and typical gestures to 
make his point. . These are minor 
triumphs of artistry. 

In the printed repertoire, from 
which the program is selected, 
more than a couple of dozen num- 
bers are listed, but Chevalier 
naturally only goes through half 
the card. He could have gone 
through the list without taxing his 
audience. His routine is socko, 
including standard faves like 
“Louise," “Valentina" .and “Ma 
Pomme." Freed is impeccable at 
the keyboard and occasionally 
-turns to other* instruments. 

Myro. 

• Pron^slsches Marclicn 

(Prussian Fairy Tale) 

Berlin, Oqt., 15. 

Festival presentation of opera, with 
music by Boris Blacher, lyrics by Heinz 
von Cramer. Directed by Dr. Ludwig Ber- 
ger. Settings and costumes, Ita Maxi- 
raowaw ...choreography, Gustav Blank:. 
musical direction, Arthur Rotlier. Stars 
Hans Heinz Nisscn, Leopold Clam, Emmt 
Hagemann, Irma Beilkc, Alice Zinuner- 
mann, Herold Kraus. Erich Zlmmcrmann. 
Suse Prelsser, Rainer Kochermann. At 
Stacdtische Opera House, Berlin; $3 top. 

Boris Blacher’s “Prussian Fairy 
Tale" is a very witty, amusing 
opera. For its gay, charming plot, 
it offers high entertainment values 
and will, therefore, also appeal to 
(Continued on page 59) 


the producer-theatre owmer organi- 
zation, the Equity fund was to re- 
ceive the profits from special bene- 
fit performances of Broadway 
shows. The setup called for a com- 
mittee of Equity and League 
representatives to administer the 
fund, with the union first deciding 
on a general policy of allocation. 

•An Equity welfare fund com- 
mittee was set up, with John Ef- 
frat as chairman, to study the prob- 
lem and recommend a method of 
welfare benefit distribution. Vari- 
ous systems of pension plans, 
health benefits, unemployment and 
accident insurance, etc., were sug- 
gested, and the committee finally 
conducted a mail poll of the union 
membership to sound out senti- 
ment on the question. But if a 
tabulation was made, it was never 
announced to the membership and 
no decision has been made by the 
council. 

Uncertainties 

There appears to be a question 
whether, if the union decides soon 
how the money is to be used, the 
Treasury will push its tax clairii. 
It’s also uncertain how the tax 
claim would apply, whether re- 
troactively to the entire fund or 
to only a portion of it. Another 
uncertain factor is the effect of 
League Administration of the fund. 

Whole welfare fund plan has 
been an issue ever since it was 
first proposed by Equity. Although 
it was hfitly opposed by the League 
at first, it was finally accepted as 
a method of giving the actors some 
sort of welfare coverage without 
opening the way to a similar de- 
mand from the stagehands, musi- 
cians arid other craft unions (since 
the latter could hardly give bene- 
fit shows but’ were known' at the 
time to be watching the Equity- 
League dispute with the intention 
of trying to get the same conces- 
sions the thespers might win). 

When the welfare demand was 
finally accepted by the League, cer- 
tain Equity officials, notably Louis, 
M. Simon, at that time executive 
secretary, warned against collect- 
ing any funds until a benefit setup 
could be worked out and a ruling 
obtained from the Government. 
But other union representatives 
pushed through the immediate 
start of benefit performances gpd 
the collection of funjls. 

Last summer, prior to the straw- 
hat season, Equity sought to ex* 
tend its welfare fund setup to the 
barn circuit, but the attempt was 
defeated. — ■■■ ■ 


English Plays 

Continued from pace 55 



CAB CALLOWAY 

Sportin' Life 

"PORGY AND BESS" 

Now— STOLL THEATRE. LONPON 

"Tht ••Horn 'Sportin' Llfo* madt doubly odious by 
Mr, Cob Calloway's skill." —London Tlmos 

Mgf.: BILL MITTLtR, HI* Broadway. Now York 


good sense to give first priority to 
the development of our own the- 
atre as England and other nations 
have consistently given preference 
to theirs? 

Opportunity Lack 

In July, 1952, British Actors 
Equity reported in its newsletter 
that three times as many British 
actors had worked in England’s 
theatre as had U. *S. actors in the 
American theatre. We should be- 
gin to think about what we cap do 
to match or surpass that record. 

This is not to imply that people 
like Sir Laurence Olivier should 
not always be made welcome. But 
it is also imperative that Ameri- 
can actors, playwrights, directors, 
designers, etc'., be allowed the priv- 
ilege of working in support of 
such guests. Such opportunity is 
afforded English talent at home. 
American talent should enjoy it at 
least in their own country. 

Furthermore, it is highly imprac- 
tical, economically and artistically, 
that we should allow inferior or 
mediocre imported theatre produc- 
tions to consume American funds 
and audience interest by doing 
jobs that American talent could do 
as well or better. We must take 
prompt actiofr to prevent this. 

In short, the American theatre 
cannot afford to go on indefinitely 
changing its birthright for a mess 
of porridge. It is time to speak 
up 'in defense ‘of American talent 
and to persuade Actors Equity, 
American National Theatre St Acad- 
emy, and if necessary even our 
government, to take any and all 
necessary steps to exercise the 
right of the American theatre to 
come of age. 

Stella Reynolds. 


‘Dear Ruth’ Good $18,000 
In St. Louis Stanza 

St. Louis, Nov. 4. 
Hypoed by plaudits from critics 
and no opposition from the other 

legit house, “Dear Ruth,” with 
June Lockhart and John Dali the 
visiting leads, wound up a swell 
one-week stand at the Ansel! Bros, 
midtown Empress Sunday (2). With 
house scaled to $2.50, eight per- 
formances grossed an estimated 
$18,000. 

“Jenny Kissed Me," with Leo G. 
Carroll, Ruth Saville, Brennan 
Moore and Anne Pearson, of the 
original cast in top roles, tees off 
a week’s frame at the Empress to- 
night (Tues.). 

Current Road Shows 

(Nov. 3-15) 

American Savoyards — Court 
Square,” Springfield, Mass. (10-11); 
Alumnae Hall, Wellesley, Mass. 
(12); McCarter, Princeton (13); 
Mary Washington College, Fred- 
ericksburg, Va. (14). 

“Anonymous Lover” (Larry Parks, 
Betty Garrett) — Aud., Rochester 
(13-15). 

“Bell, Book and Candle" (Joan 
Bennett, Zachary Scott) — Aud., 
San Antonio (3).; Paramount, Aus- 
tin (4); Texas, Houston (5-6); Civic, 
New Orleans (8-15). 

“Call Me Madam" — Victory, 
Dayton (3-8); Shubert, Detroit 
(10-15). 

“Constant Wife" (Katharine Cor- 
nell, Robert Flemyng; John Em- 
ery) — Erlanger, Buffalo (3-6); Aud., 
Rochester (7-8); Her Majesty’s, 
^Montreal (10-15). 

“Country Girl" (Robert Young, 
Dane Clark, Nancy Kelly) — Omaha, 
Omaha (6-7); KRNT Theatre, Des 
Moines (8); Lyceum, Minneapolis 
(10-15). 

“Don Juan in Hell" (Charles 
Boyer, Vincent Price, Cedric 
Hardwicke, Agnes Moorehead) — 

Music Halt, Detroit- (3->j Lyric ; 

Baltimore (10); Mosque, Richmond 
(11); Academy of Music, Philadel- 
phia (12-14); Rockne Hall, Allen- 
town, Pa. (15). 

“Fourposter" (Jessica .Tandy, 
Hume Cronyn) — Blackstone, Chi 
(3-15). 0 

“Gigi" (Audrey Hepburn) — Sel- 
wyn, Chi (3-15). 

“Guys and Dolls" — Shubert, Chi 
(3-8); Wisconsin, Milwaukee (10-15). 

“I Am a Camera" (Julie Harris) 
-—Cox, Cincy (3-8); American, St. 
Louis (10-15). 

“I’ve GofBixpense" — Shubert, 
N. H. (13-15). 

“Jane” (Edna Best, John Loder, 
Howard St. John) — His Majesty’s, 
Montreal (3-8); Royal Alexandra, 
Toronto (10-15). 

. “Maid in the Ozarks" (Bert 
Wheeler)— Erlanger, Phila. (3-15). 

“Mister Roberts" (Tod Andrews) 
— Cass, Detroit (3-8); Palace, Rock- 
ford, 111. (10-11); Rialto, Joliet (12); 
Davidson, Milwaukee (13-16). 

“Nina" (Edward Everett Horton) 
— United National, Frisco (10-15). 

“Oklahoma" — H.S. Aud., Hib- 
bing, Minn. (3); Lyceum, Minne- 
apolis (5-8); Capitol, Regina GO- 
12); Capitol, Saskatoon (13-15). 

“Paint Your Wagon” (Burl Ives) 
— Hanna. Cleve. (3-8); Taft Aud., 
Cincy (10-15). 

“Paris ’90" (Cornelia Otis Skin- 
ner) — Hartman, Columbus (3-5); 
Aud., Louisville (6); Aud., Mem- 
phis (7-8); Ryman Aud., Nashville 
GO); Tower, Atlanta (11-13); 
Lanier Aud., Montgomery (14); 
Murphy H.S. Aud., Mobile (15). 

“Rise By Sin" — Shubert, New 
Haven (6-8); Shubert, Wash. GO- 
15). 

“See the Jaguar" (Arthur Ken- 
nedy) — Parsons, Hartford (13-15) 

“Seven Year Itch" (Tommy 
Ewell, Vanessa Brown) — Wilbur, 
Bost. (3-15). 

“Shrike" (Van Heflin) — Ford’s, 
Balto (3 r 8); Community, Hershey, 
Pa. (10-11); Playhouse, Wilmington 
(12-15). 

“South Pacific" (Janet Blair, 
Webb Tilton) — Aud., Denver (5- 
10); Orpheum, Kansas City (12-15). 

“Stalag 17" — Erlanger, Chi 
(3-15). 

“Suspects" — Plymouth, Bost. 
(3-8). 

“Time Out for Ginger" (Melvyn 
Douglas) — Playhouse, Wilmington 
(6-8); Locust, Phila. (10-15). 

“Top Banana" (Phil Silvers) — 
National, Wash. (3-15). 

“Tree Grows in Brooklyn" (Joan 
Blondeil, Robert Shackleton) — 
Shubert, Wash. (3-8); Shubert, Chi 
(11-15). 

“Two’s Company" (Bette Davis) 
—Shubert, Detroit (3-8); Nixon, 
Pitts. (10-15). 



The Seven Year Iic| ( 

Hartford, Ocl. 31 . 

Courtney Burr & ElUotf Nugent 
sentation of comedy in three acts uiY* 
scenes) by George Axelrod. Stars Toni 
Ewell, Vanessa Brown; features Robc 'i 
Emhardt, Neva Patterson, George Kean* 
Directed by John Gerstad. Designed ami 
lighted by Frederick Fdx; costumes bv 
Clare Potter: production supervised b‘v 
Nugent. At New Parsons, Hartford, Oct 
30, '52; S4.20 top. ucl * 

Richard Sherman \ Tom Ewell 

Helen Sherman Neva Patterson 

Ricky Johnny Klein 

Miss Morris . , Marilyn Clark 

Elaine ........ Joan Donovan 

Mary- Irene Moore 

The Girl Vanessa Brown 

Dr. Brubaker Robert Emhardt 

Tom Mackenzie George Keane 

Mr. Bidwell Harold Gran 

It’s smooth sailing ahead for 
“The Seven Year Itch." Debut of 
the Courtney Burr and Elliott 
Nugent vehicle at the New Parsons 
(30) revealed the romantic comedy 
to be almost shipshape and ready 
for the Broadway seas. 

' “Itch" is an excellent showcase 
for the varied talents of Tom 
Ewell. Actor wows 'em with his 
varied stuff, ranging from pathos 
to panto. He’s on the boards 
throughout and carries the bulk of 
the acting. 

Plot is simple, dealing with a 
publishing house exec (Ewell) who 
takes his first fling after seven 
years of uninterrupted marital 
bliss. When his wife is off on a 
summer vacation, he takes up with 
the chick in the apartment over- 
head. A lightweight plot, it’s how- 
ever full of witty dialog. Show con- 
sists mainly of a series of sketches 
and monologs tied together looselv, 
but firm enough to hold the inter- 
est of the patrons. 

Entire play js. taken up with 
Ewell’s fight with himself whether 
to stay on the straight and narrow 
or go straying. In a series of clev- 
erly-executed blackouts, he imag- 
ines the consequences of various 
situations; a me • of which turns out 
the way he conjures them. 

Play is loaded with yocks and 
moves at a nice pace, due to direc- 
tion of John Gerstad, who blends 
the good quality of scripting with a 
neat cast to excellent results. Play 
is first one for George Axelrod, a 
television scripter, who a few years 
back authored the revue, “Small 
Wonder," which featured Ewell. 

Vanessa Brown, as the warm 
blooded, naive actress from up- 
stairs, plays her role to the hilt. 
Neva Patterson, as the wife who 
appears only in the dreams of 
Ewell, does justice to her part. 
Robert Emhardt is fine as the psy- 
chiatrist authoring a book on sex. 
His efforts aid in bolstering the 
already topheavy comic- depart- 
ment. George Keane is okay as the 
successful writer, the imagined 
suitor of Ewell’s wife. 

The terrace garden apartment 
designed by Frederick Fox is sub- 
stantial. He deserves special com- 
| mendation for the split-second 
lighting in- the numerous flash- 
back scenes. 

Play as seen opening night was 
overlong, especially in the first 
act. Minor revisions and tightening 
will take care of that department. 
As film fare, “Itch" shows doubt- 
ful possibilities because of its story 
content. Eck. 


Equity Show 

(Nov. 3-15) 

“Hotel Universe," Lenox Hill 
I Playhouse, N. Y. (5-9), 


British Equity Council 
Splits on Ferrer Ban 

London, Nov. 4. 

Equity Council ballot to decide 
whether Jose Ferrer could play 
at the Old Vic resulted in a dead 
heat, with 17 for and against. Spe- 
cific case is unlikely to be pursued 
further as ft’s doubtful whether 
the Old Vic management could re- 
arrange its schedule to accommo- 
date Ferrer. 


New Play Bows Dallas 

Theatre -’52 Season 

Dallas, Nov. 4. 

Margo Jones opened her seventh 
season Sunday night (2), with a 
new play bowing her Theatre '52 
in. Play was Vivian Connell's 
“Goodbye, Your Majesty." 

Rex Everhart, a newcomer, 
played the lead. Ramsey Burch 
staged the work for Miss Jones 
theatre-in-round setup. 

Newity** Pari* ‘Tosca* 

Patricia Neway, of the N. Y. City 
Opera Co., will sing the title role 
in “Tosca" for the first time, when 
she appears'as guest star with the 
Paris Opera Jan. 22. 

Singer, who starred on Broadway 
for a full season two years ago 
“The Consul," repeated that woiK 
in Paris last season with the U. »• 
troupe. But this will be her nisi 
guester with the French troupe. 


59 


Wednesday, November 5 , 1952 




Plays Abroad 


Continued from page 5fi 


Prpussiselies llarelion 

ihose who generally don’t go for 
oneVas. "Fairy Tale’" has a number 
©f nice ballet sequences. Opera 
turns out to be one of the best in 
years, according to press and audi- 
ence reaction. 

Theme is a fine piece of satire. 
It maxes fun of the power of uni- 
form, Prussian militarism , narrow- 
minded bourgeoisie, Babbitts — 
parts of Berlin’s historical past. 
Hero is an office clerk who gets 
fired for some reason and later 
tries to revenge himself by arrest- 
ing the mayor who had fired him. 
As he shows up in a borrowed uni- 
form. he almost succeeds in doing 
so. There is also a romantic plot 
between and a message at the end. 

Music isn’t very strong as opera 
scores go. But there is, nonethe- 
less. much life in it; melodies are 
catchy, though the singing parts 
arc rather limited. 

Director 1 Dr. Ludwig Berger 
skillfully handled the cast, espe- 
cially the crowd Scenes. Ita Maxi- 
mowna furnished imaginative set- 
tings and costumes which perfectly 
suit the mood of the opera, and 
Gustav Blank set some brilliant 
choreography. His ballet sequences 
give a big lift to the opera. 

Ensemble gives a great perform- 
ance. Hans Heinz Nissen as ersatz 
captain; Irma Beilke, and Herold 
Kraus get special mention. It's a 
highly entertaining opera with a 
nice satiric touch. Hans. 


Darkness at Xoout 

Dublin,' Oct. 10. 

Hilton Edwards-Micheat MacLiammolr 
production- of Sidney Kingley's adapta- 
tion of Arthur Koestler'a novel. Produc- 
tion by Hilton Edwards; setting, Michael 
O’Herlihy. Gaiety Theatre, Dublin. 

Hubnshov .Hilton Edwards 

Tsarist Officer (402). . .Christopher Casson 
KteffoV..<a03),.^ ( PaWric pedford 

Peasant (202) : . Robert Bernal 

Luba Loshenko ..Sally Travers 

Xyanoff Micheal MacLiammolr 

61ctkin ..George Roberts 


Opening on first night was de- 
layed by applause for Michael 
O’Herlihy’s set. This artist hit a 
new high with his “Death of a 
Salesman” and “Tolka Row” sets 
last season, but is still better with 
his single-set concentration, in this 
current production, centering on 
Hilton Edward’s cell. Coupled with 
Edwards' lighting, this set estab- 
lished -the tone of the show, a 
sombre affair which made a big 
impression on full house. 

Edwards, haw mainta in e d his 
dominance of the Irish stage as 
both a producer and a player, 
playing with control throughout. 
He was matched by other mem- 
bers of. the cast, particularly Mi- 
cheal MacLiammoir ks Ivanoff, 
Sally Travers with the bourgois 
mirid of Luba Lushenko, and 
Christopher Casson as the Tsarist 
cavalry officer who had become as 
the living dead in the tomb of the 
prison. 

George Roberts’ Gletkin did not 
strike forcibly as the sinister bru- 
tal figure the plot indicated, but 
the weight imparted through the 
measured pace of the production 
was almost sufficient in itself to 
give the necessary sinister shadow 
to (he man. 

Play was well received as best 
American import in a long time. 

Mac. 


Sehnock 

M A n >*. 1 , Paris, Nov. 1. 

coniiwiv P re sentation of musical 

r?.h «LV? two *<*6 (10 scenes) by Marc- 
Lifa^ d T 4 ® an . Rl ? a ux, with music by Guy 
Ri^ux ££ eC K ed t> b ^ Fred Pastil- Stars 
K 6 *i y ? elle gry and Chevreux; 
by , L } l6ka » Coquatrix, Lebrun; 
Enrnn« l conductor, Georges Durban. At 
Sw Theatre, Paris, Oct. 19, '52. 

Dr Fw£ n ? Ck Jean Ri * a t>X 

wr. Florllcge Orbal 

Benoit Mourri€r Robert Piquet 

Counter 1 1 * rr : * * * ’ • • • tSctelSenc 

efflaini Ginette Baudln 

CfS',; ■ • ■ Nadine Tallier 

Loufpt *^ erdia2 Claudette Donald 

Kudette Denise La ™ bert 

F„ 4 ,5? latin ” former tenant of the 
fni i p no e c n ’ ran for three years, giv- 
J 025 Performances and making 
tavy coin. “Scimock” may be in 
; 01 a similar run. Europeen is a 
i.W’ popular house. Star of 
Schnock” is its co-author, Jean 
^aux, who doubles at Lune 
se « ^Harvest Moon) as top 
him 1C * ^ ow is a ?ood vehicle for 

4 ‘Schnock” yields nothing 
r * e ^Port* being a routine musical- 
e , x . c “ s ® f o r song, dance and 
v Iu Sh-jinks. Schnock is a 
2itu k who returns from the U. S. 
ctiV? a . .^ti^ous nerve cure and in- 
ti*!;** himself a? a doctor, with ob- 
vious complications. 

is a droll comic and keeps 
the show on ita toes, but as much 


Of his fooling depends on his fast, 
slangy talk, his humor is language- 
bound and local. Orbal as a doctor 
is good foil, and Lucie Dolone as 
the doctor’s daughter and Nadine 
Tallier as daughter of a spiritual- 
istic countess lend nice support 
with their singing. Both are lookers. 

Robert Piquet has a pleasant 
voice and stage presence as leading 
man and Jacques Dynam is all 
right as an innocent chef. Frede- 
rique — a French Charlotte Green- 
wood — is funny as the table-tap- 
ping countess. Score by Guy La- 
farge serves show’s purposes well 
both in comic and sentimental de- 
partments. 

"Schnock” is staged without 
elaborate sets or costumes and pro- 
duction cost and salaries are low. 
It should clean up. Curt. 


Das Weili «Iesaliel 

(The Woman Jezebel) 

• , Vienna, Oct. 14. 

Kleines Theatre in Konzerfhaus presen- 
tation of drama Jn three acts by Jean 
Anouilh, translated by Jean Sajvar. Di- 
rected by Harry Glueok. Set by Glueck. 
At Kleines Theatre, Vienna,. 

. Erwin Strahl 

Mother .. . Margrit Weiler 

Father ; Peter Gerhard 

Jacqueline Edith Prager 

Georgette Franziska Kalmar 

Brother Carl Merz 

Sister Erika Juster 

Girl Elli Vruhl 

Kleines Theatre, .one of the best 
of Vienna’s growing number of 
little avant garde houses (it has 
under 100 seats), kicked off its new 
season with a strong entry in this 
selection from Jean Anouilh’s 
“plays of darkness.” And the pro- 
duction has hit the local jackpot 
for solid critical returns, especial- 
ly and deservedly for Margrit Weil- 
er in a terrifyingly strong role of 
a slimy mother, who, torn between 
incest, lust and murder, finally de- 
stroys her family. 

For ■ all iris bitterness, for ■ ail the 
repugnant characteristics of Ano- 
uilh’s people, this is a gripping 
play, worthy of production any- 
where that a mature actress can 
be found to paint the mother. It is 
almost a one-character play as 
staged here. But a more vital actor 
than Erwin Strahl, who seems awk- 
ward and tense. in his role of the 
son, might have done much to 
carry attention away from the hys- 
terical, often disgusting mother. 

Anouilh draws back the shabby 
curtain on a French bourgeois 
home in which the ne’er-do-well 
father and embittered son both 
dally with a strumpet housemaid, 
while the mother- plans her assig- 
nations and plots to retain the il- 
lusion of an already faded youth. 

Subsidiary roles are adequate, 
as ar^Glueck’s set and staging. 


Los Coiupagnons de la 
Marjolaine 

(COMRADES OF MARJOLAINE) 

Paris, Oct. 15. 

Simone Berriau production of drama in 
three acts by Marcel Achard. Stars Ar- 
letty, Bernard Blier; features Melina Mer- 
couri, Jean-Marie Amato, Margot Brun. 
Monique Manuel, Riandreys, Genevieve 
Page, Jacques Torrens. Guy Pierauld. 
Directed by Yves Robert. Sets and cos- 
tumes by Wakhevltch. Dresses by Pierre 
Balmain. At Antoine Theatre, Paris, Oct. 
10. '52; $3 top. 

Brigadier Lecoq Bernard Blier 

Cartahut Guy Pierauld 

Tabarot Riandreys 

Cora Arletty 

Daphne Melina Mercouri 

Sebasticn Jacques Torrens 

Ribeyrolles Jean-Marie Amato 

Justine Genevieve Page 

Genevieve de Malegarde. .Monique Manuel 
Suzanne Ribeyrolles Margot Brun 

Marcel Achard’s new one is 

sound stuff and is doing brisk biz, 
though critical reception was luke- 
warm. “Comrades” is a star ve- 
hicle for Arletty and Bernard 
Blier, both Gallic stage and screen 
favorites, and offers an acceptable, 
if not unique, plot, juicy lead roles, 
humor and picturesque, costume 
background. Export to New York 
and London would depend on 
adaptation, and a neat one — some- 
thing on order of Anita Loos’ 
“Gigi” — Is needed. French pic 
with Arletty and Blier seems like- 
ly, but American pic version is re- 
mote unless “Comrades’* reaches 
Hollywood via Broadway. 

Story has mystery element, but 
leans mostly on humorous dialog 
and characterization. Cora (Arlet- 
ty) is wife of a gendarme brigade- 
commander (Blier) in a provincial 
French town, circa 1890. Life in 
police barracks Is humdrum until a 
roue count who lives in the dis- 
trict is murdered and there are 
many suspects, including the 
countess, who has already reported 
to police that her husband Intends 
to kill her. It develops that Cora 
has murdered the count to keep 
him from revealing her past to her 
husband. Cora, it seems, has been 
a prostitute before her marriage. 
Her husband's illusions about her 
are shattered and there are some 
sad moments, but in the end it 


(urns out that Cora is innocent of 
the murder and her husband for- 
gives and forgets her early, sordid 
life. 

Atmosphere of. the police station 
with its dull routine, and the po- 
liceman’s growing suspicions about 
his wife after she serves him a bad 
onion soup, are effectively man- 
aged. and Achard has knack of 
keeping his play jumping. Arletty 
is fine as Cora, giving her shrewd 
humor and just a touch of pathos. 
Blier has a good assignment as the 
blustering and self-important po- 
liceman who is so docile under his 
wife’s influence. 

Melina Mercouri, blonde looker, 
registers as the countess, and Guy 
Pierauld and Rinadreys are comi- 
cal as the two assistant policemen. 
Jacques Torrens, a good actor, has 
little to do as the countess’ lover, 
and Jean-Marie Amato gets in a 
memorable characterization as a 
game-keeper guilty of murder. Di- 
rection by Yves ' Robert operates in 
Ihp play’s favor arc! sets and cos- 
tumes by Wakhevitch plus dresses 
by Balmain are top-drawer. Title 
is name of a w.k. soldier song. 

Curt. 


Dio Liefie der Vlop 
. Oliersfoii 

(Love of Four Colonels) 

Zurich, Oct. 12. 

Sohanspielhaus production of comedy 
in three acts by Peter Ustjnov. German 
adaptation. Peter Sandberg and Albert 
Bessler. Directed by Erwin Pisoator. Sets, 
Ambrosius Hummr incidental music, Wal- 
ter Baumgartner; technical direction, 
Ferdinand Lange; lighting, Walter Gross. 
At Schauspielhaus, Zurich. 


Swiss preem .of Peter. Ustinov’s 
London hit, prepped for Broadway 
production this season, marks re- 
turn of Erwin Piscator, German 
vet direetor-prb’ducer, known for 
his pre-war productions of experi- 
mental plays and his U. S. activity 
as manager of N. Y.’s Dramatic 
Workshop. This latest effort, 
though, is not as unusual and off- 
the-beaten-track, production-wise, 
as it could have been. It could 
very vvp.U stand jmore .speed 

and imagination. On the other 
hand, Piscator’s pasting and direc- 
tion of the actors are firstrate. 

German adaptation is excellent 
and proves that this play is hit po- 
tential in any language. It is 
clever and witty, and has . an 
abundance of humor and gags, 
ranging from sly, tongue-in-cheek 
satire to roaring laughter. Al- 
though poking fun at the U. S., 
Britain. France and the Soviets 
alike, it never gets tasteless or 
rude. It’s good-natured humor, 
with an understanding for human 
weaknesses, as much of individuals 
as of entire nations. 

But most important of all, 
’’Colonels” offers a number of top- 
notch roles, every one of which is 
a starring part in itself. The 
Schauspielhaus performance takes 
full advantage of this occasion. 
Each' and every role seems per- 
fectly cast. 

Credit is especialy due Ernst 
Ginsberg as the French colonel; 
Erwin Parker, whose British colo- 
nel is as British as can be 
imagined; Willem Holsboer, as the 
Yank, and Walter Richter, who is 
hilarious as the Soviet. Anneliese 
Roemer gives an excellent account 
in the four incarnations of the 
Princess, and Lilian Westphal is 
charming as the Good Fairy. In 
the part of the Wicked Fairy, 
which Ustinov himself played in 
the London performance, Kurt 
Horwitz is standout. 

Ambrosius Humm’s sets, ‘al- 
though well serving their purpose, 
could have been more imaginative. 
But despite these flaws, it is still 
one of the most enjoyable per- 
formances seen here in many a 
month. Mezo. 


N-Ecoutez Pas, 
Mesdames 
(DON’T LISTEN, LADIES) 
Paris, Oct. 15, 

Sacha Guitry revival of comedy in three 
acts, written and directed by Guitry, who 
stars. Features Lana Marconi, Renee Pas- 
seur, Noel Roquevert, Jeamie Fuslei’-ttir, 
Jose Noguero, Leon Walther. Directed by 
Guitry. Set by G. Bouvier. At Varieties 
Theatre, Paris, Oct. 10* '52; S3 top. 

Daniel Bachelet Sacha Guitry 

Henriette Hnleydont . . . Solange Varenne 

Madeleine Bachelet Lana Marconi 

Baron de Charancy Leon Walther 

M. Blandinet Bever 

M. Le Canut Gobet 

Julie Bille-cn-Bois .... Jeanne Fusicr-Gir 

Commissionaire Noel Roquevert 

Valentine Clin P ’nee Passeur 

Michel .Aubrions ose Noguero 

Chief of Police Paul Demange 

“Ladies” was performed in New 
York three years ago with a Brit- 
ish company and flopped quickly. 
Both translation and staging' were 
at fault and play needs its author 
of star of corresponding personal- 
ity in the lead. Both plays are 
rich in asides to the audience and 
depend on the suave appeal of a 
star actor in the main, all-import- 
ant role. 

Sacha Guitry wrote this one 
about 10 years ago and it was an 
immediate Paris smash, one of his 
biggest. Revival is selling out and 
will remain at tht Yarietes until 


LEGITIMATE 

11 - - - - ■ -- — - 


Inside Stuff-Legit 

■ continued from page 54 - 

Mike Nidorf, $1,200; co-producer Nugent, $1,200; Nancy Elliott Nugent, 
the latter’s actress-daughter, $1,200; the co-producer’s wife, $1,200; 
Metro eastern story rep Sidney Phillips, $1,200; Thomas G. Rockwell, 
president of General Amusement Corp., $1,200; actor-director Robert 
Ross, $1,200; Mrs. Nate Spingold, wife of the Columbia Pictures pub-ad 
vice-prez, $1,200; George Schaefer, production manager of the N. Y. 
City Theatre Co., $900; scene designer Frederick Fox, $600; TV pro- 
ducer Robert Heller, $600; talent ‘agent. Dan Hollywood, $600; Ella 
! Mielziner, mother of scene designer Jo Mielziner and film producer - 
| Kenneth McKenna, $600; film and radio writer Therese Lewis, $600; 
Mrs. James Thurber, wife of the author-artist. $600, and actor-director 
John Gerstad, eo-producer Nugent’s son-in-law, who is staging the 
show, $300. The venture is capitalized at $60,000, with provision for 
25 d? over call. • 


Music Circus o£ America Management Co., firm under which St. 
John Terrell produced and is presenting his mobile edition of “Show 
Boat,” is capitalized at $100,000, with the producer as sole general 
partner. Backers include Broadway producer Rita Allen, $10,000; 
Philadelphia theatrical and copyright attorney Raymond A. Speiser, 
$1,000; Terrell himself, $6,500, and Broadway producer Archie Thomp- 
son, $5,000. "Show Boat” recently closed an unsuccessful engagement 
at the Texas State Fair, Dallas, and Is due to be presented this winter' 1 
in Florida. 


Backers of “Deep Blue Sea,” the Alfred de, Liagre, Jr.-John C. Wil- 
son production qf Terenee-Rattigan’s London drama .success costarring 
Margaret Sullavan and Alan ‘Webb, include actor Donald Cook, $600; 
producers Marjorie, and. Sherman Ewing, $600 each; Theresa Helburn, 
Theatre Guild co-director, $600; Jesse Moss, attorney for the New York 
ticket brokers’ association, $600;, orchestra leader Meyer Davis, $1,200; 
prQducer Max Gordon, $1,200; Alfred de Liagre, Sr., $1,200; theatre 
executive Louis. A. Lotito, $1,200; pressagent Benjamin Sonnenberg, 
$1-’,2_Q0; actress Peggy Wood, $1,200; television . program agent Jacob 
Wilk, $1,200; producer Mary K. Frank, $2,400; actress-singer Holly Har- 
ris, $2,400; producer-realtor Roger L. Stevens, $3,000; financier and 
formef producer Joseph Vemer Reed, $4,800; theatre owner and to- 
bacco merchant Howard S. Cullman, $6,000, and co-producers de Liagre 
and Wilson, $6,000 each. The venture is capitalized at $60,000. 


Backers of “Mr. Pickwick,” Playwrights Co. production of Stanley 
Young’s dramatization of the Dickens stories, include novelist Nancy 
Wilson Ross, wife of the playwright Young, $600; veterans’ organiza- 
tion official and author Charles G. Bolte, $800.; Malcolm Wells, Play- 
1 wrights Co. business manager, representing the firm, $800; producer 
Mary K. Frank, $1,200; lyricist Howard Dietz, ad-publicity, vice-presi- 
ident, $1,600; attorney Arnold M. Grant, board chairman of RKO, $1,600; 
and realtor-Playwrights. Co. member Roger L. Stevens, $46,100. 
j’Stevfciisv ' general rrimmg^r Victor Smnrock- -asstd ••pressagent- •Williaca 
Fields are nominal general partners of the venture, which is capitalized 
at $80,000. 


February, when the house is 
booked for a new occupant. 
“Ladies” will probably tour and 
may go to London with the pres- 
ent company. 

Comedy is a typical French 
affair and even more a typical 
Guitry affair, being a witty dis- 
course on the infidelity of wives 
and a lesson on how they should 
react. An antique dealer, a refined 
and worldly man (Guitry, of 
course) believes his second wife, 
a woman his junior by a genera- 
tion, has been unfaithful to him. 
His first wife — to whom he has- 
written a letter saying that if this 
second marriage ever fails he Will 
return to her — shows up, much to 
his dismay. Finally, he discovers 
that it is this first, divorced wife 
who has been having a love-affair 
and he takes back his second 
bride. 

Play moves light-footedly, and 
there is much amusing conversa- 
tion to aid the evening, which 
gives “Ladies” the air of being 
improvised as it goes along. 
Guitry, looking fit after a serious 
illness, is master of all the situa- 
tions and is almost never offstage. 
Lana Marconi, Mme. Guitry, is a 
bit -stiff as Madeleine, the second 
wife, but rest of the company has 
been cast to perfection. 

Renee Passeur’s portrayal of the 
first wrfe, an * annoying highbrow 
who talks to her former husband 
in Latin and French classical 
verse, is a big laugh-getter. Jeanne 
Fusier-Gir, as a student-day sweet- 
heart . who comes tq the antique 
shop to sell a portrait Toulouse- 
Lautrec has painted of her, adds a 
relieving note of pathos. Other 
okay performances are rendered 
by Noel Roquevert as a busy bag- 
gage-man; by Leon Walther as a 
hesitant, aristocratic customer, 
atid by Bever as the antique-deal- 
er’s assistant. 

Set, an elaborate one, is in con- 
trast to that used at the Booth, 
N. Y.,' for the American produc- 
tion of the play. Bouvier has de- 
signed it, and there are paintings 
by Bertin and furniture by Maison 
Ramsay. Wit and originality of 
“Ladies” have lasted. Curt 


president, and James F. Reilly, ex- 
ecutive director, the two police of- 
ficials made an inspection tour of 

the theatre district last Wednesday 
night (29), concentrating on West 
45th St., between Times Square 
and Eighth Ave. Partly because of 
that night’s early-curtain premiere 
of “Dial ‘M’ for Murder,” at the 
Plymouth, conditions were not as 
bad as usual. Even so, the police 
officials decided then to Assign 15 
additional men to the area just 
before curtain time. 

Meanwhile, the League and po- 
lice officials will continue the sur- 
. vey, not only, of traffic conditions 
in 45th St., but the other west- 
bound streets between Fifth and 
Eighth avenues, and the eastbound 
streets east of Eighth Ave:, as well 
as in Sixth and Eighth avenues 
themselves. It’s figured that one of 
the main moves in the traffic-eas- 
ing campaign will be to enforce 
parking restrictions, especially in 
the westbound streets between 
Fifth and Seventh avenues. 


ABC-Winchell 

Continued from page 1 


grams. Mitchell wired a reply 
which the web included on every 
one of its AM and TV newscasts 
on Monday night (3), including 
the local newscasts of its owned- 
and-operated stations. 

Mitchell called ABC’s actionf “a 
flagrant denial of fair play to the 
Democratic Party.” He said that 
he had found no evidence of bias 
on ABC’s part prior to the Win- 
ehell aircasts but added that car- 
rying his statement does not con- 
stitute “equal time* or an equal 
audience.” Herald that he would 
protest to the FCC_and that this 
case might raise the question of 
whether Congress should consider 
new legislation on broadcasting’s 
responsibilities for fair treatment 
of all parties. 


More Cops 

Continued from page 1 


complaints 'from legit patrons be- 
cause of delays in getting to shows 
due to traffic snarls, particularly in 
Westbound cross streets. The 
League s.nt a wire to the police, 
who assigned an inspector and cap- 
tain to confer with officials of the 
showmen’s organization. 

Accompanied by composer-pro- 
ducer Arthur Schwartz, League 


San Diego’s Protest 

San Diego, Nov. 4. 

KFMB-TV maf&ger Howard 
Cheriioff sent a strongly worded 
letter to ABC prez Robert Kintner 
protesting “bias and prejudice” of 
Walter Winchell in supporting 
Gen. Eisenhower. “We would have 
yanked him fast if we had standby 
film, but didn’t expect anything 
like what we had to take Sunday 
night I don’t think ABC should 
have allowed him -to he so politi- 
cally slanted under the guise of 
news commentary,” said Chemoff. 



60 


UTTKMATI 


pfignsfr 


Wednesday, NovemBer 5, 1952 


Literati 



Esquire, Inc., Changes 

Executive changes at Esquire, 
Inc., following the death of foun- 
der-publisher David A. Smart, will 
not involve any policy shifts, since 
no new personnel have been 
brought in to the operating setup. 

... John ..Smart* brother of David, 
who had been veepee-treasurer, 
was named president. Lester Pet- 
chaft, formerly secretary, was 
upped to treasurer with A. D. El- 
den, ex-assistant secretary secre- 
tary, becoming secretary. Edgar 
G. Richards, who had been 'in the 
circulation and calendar division, 
headquartering in L. A., becomes 
v.p. in charge of Coast operations. 

Arnold Gingrich, assistant pub- 
lisher, who had been with Esquire 
from 1928-45 (leaving to live 
abroad as the mag's European rep 
and rejoining in N. Y. last August), 
is publisher of Esquire, with Gor- 
don Carroll upped from editor of 
Coronet to publisher. Fred Birm- 
ingham, Esky managing ed, is n&v\s[ 
editor and Fritz Bamberger, edi- 
torial director, is now Coronet edi- 
tor. Tom Duff, former head of ac- 
counting is controller.. 

Keeping present key posts are 
A. L. Blinder, exec v.p.; Gus 
Berkes, production v.p.; Jack Abra- 
ham, film v.p.; Dan E. Provost, 
Esky ad manager; Paul P. Jones, 
Coronet ad manager, and Joseph 
Arnstein, circulation manager. 


Dix when Catherine Cole quit the 
New Orleans Picayune for the 
Times-Democrat. All sobbers had 
alliterative billings in those days. 
She started at $6 a week and 
worked her take-home pay up to 
$100,000 a year before she quit. 
She lived to be 90. 

Arthur Brisbane thought she 
was the best reporter of murder- 
mysteries in his string, and he 
lost her because he made her dou- 
ble in brass till she became ex- 
hausted. Then she went over to 
Jack Wheeler and the sweet juices 
of syndication. 

Kane wrote the book from notes 
of *Ella Bentley Arthur, but Miss 
Dix shines through on every page 
with the simple prose that made 
her the most widely-read woman 
of her time. Book is a must for 
students of journalism. Scul. 


i| swered Miss Bowen's alleged plea 
[I by reasserting its support fqr Gen- 
* eral Eisenhower. Paper printed 
\ the authoress’ denial of writing the 
advertising appeal, in a column ad- 
jacent to its editorial. Ad, accord- 
ing to Bulletin, was placed by the 
Thomas J. LaBrum Agency, adver- 
tising firm handling the Demo- 
cratic campaign here. 


Bible Sales Hypo 


♦ MM ♦ ■♦ f ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ f MM MMM M -f ♦♦♦♦»♦♦♦♦ MMIMm »+ ++ 

t SCULLY’S SCRAPBOOK 


■ M ■ ♦"♦ - fr ♦ ♦ t 


By Frank Scully ++>+♦♦♦< n 

Hollywood. 

One of the enigmas of life is that the published perfidities of a previ- 
ous generation never seem to occur to latter-day readers as likely to 
be operating in their own time as well. That any playwright today 
would be exercising the technique of a literary bagslinger to lure a 
! femme star to play in his piece is hard to believe because there is so 


Booksellers across the country, ■ . - - j x, ^ r .. . * 

are reporting that sales are being! little written evidence around. Part of this scarcity is, of course, due 

- , , 1 .. - ...... - . - _ r 1 !• 



out by Thomas Nelson & Son. 

New Bible, which modernized 
the language 


and corrected 


* those on the hunt for deductible income tax items. 

To suppose that one way or another modern playwrights are not 


N. Y. Compass Foldo 
The Compass, most “left” N. Y. 
daily (except for the Daily Work- 
eri, published by Ted O. Thackrey, 
folded suddenly Monday (3). It's 
understood that the paper needed 
$100,000, of which $30,000 was re- 
quired immediately. Paper had 
been in existence 3 years -and 
was the ideological successor to 
the Star, which had been put out 

.fey. -attorney • Bartley Crma. Star 

had been the successor to Ralph 
Ingersoll’s PM, which started pub- 
lication in June. 1940, and which 
lasted until shortly after the war, 
with miiiiohaire Marshall Field 3d 
providing most of the financing 
after the liberal-progressive tab 
ran into coin troubles. 

Compass, which cost 10c per 
copy, for a few months upped its 
price to 15c, but then reverted to 
a dime. In the fold, no money re- 
portedly was available immediate- 
ly for severance pay. The News- 
paper Guild is negotiating for the 
terminal pay. 

About 80 staffers are affected. 
Plant and equipment were auc- 
tioned off Monday, as result of 
foreclosure of mortgage owned by 
Corliss Lamont. £ 


Winchell vs. Lyons Repeat 
Footnote to the Winchell-N. Y. 
k Post feud is the added sniping by 
Leonard Lyons in his Post column 
against Walter Winchell for “non- 
voting.” This is the second “feud” 
between the two, having once be- 
fore made up following a mis- 
understanding over WinchelPs 
summer replacement for his then 
radio sponsor, Jergens. Lyons also 
was formerly vicepresident of 
WinchelTs pet charity, the Damon 
Runyon Cancer Fund, a post now 
filled by Arthur Godfrey. 

Post columnist Earl Wilson has 
been meticulous in his WW items, 
being generally middle-of-the-road 
and, during Winchell's con- 
valescense, trailering the latter’s 
physical progress, when scheduled 
to resume his column, etc. 



000,000 copies has been sold out 
and the order has been increased 
to 1,500,000, with the additional 
500,000 capies currently on the 
presses. Buckram edition sells for 
$6. The hypo to general book 
sales resulted from the fact that 
readers lured into the stores to 
pick up the Bible are also pur- 
chasing other tomes. 


The 


New Lalt-Mortimer Suit 

Anthony B. Cassius, owner of a 
Minneapolis Negro night club, has 
filed suit in New York Federal 
Court for $500,000 against Jack 
Lait and Lee Mortimer," authors of 
“U.S.A. Confidential,” alleging 
libel. Also named as defendants 
are Crown Publishers, Inc., and 
American Stratford Co., printers. 
The book contains alleged uncom 
plimentary references to Cassius 
and his establishment. 

A similar suit, asking $300,000 
damages, has been filed against 
two Minneapolis department stores 
for selling the book. 


Victorian Show Biz 

excitement, anxiety, and 
of show business under 
canvas and on the roads in 19th- 
century England, when Queen Vic- 
toria reigned in triumph over her 
empire, and Charles Dickens ex- 
posed the evils of society, is 
packed into “Seventy Years a 
Showman,” ‘memoirs of Lord 
George Sanger (J. M. Dent & Sons, 
London, 84c). Apart from tales 
of the smoking oyster, perform- 
ing fish and savage cannibal pig- 
mies, there are grim stories of 
body-snatching, rioters and mob 
violence, and inoculations against 
smallpox with a darning needle. 
Book, first published in 1910, has 
now come out in a new edition. 

Lord Sanger met Abriham Lin- 
coln, was visited by 10 reigning 
monarchs and received gifts from 
Queen Victoria. He tells his story 
from the time he trudged with a 
peepshow on his back to his re- 
tirement in 1905-— six years before 
he was murdered**— with tolerance 
and vivid clarity. Myro . 


Hutchens’ Nostalgia 
The growing mood of nostalgia 
has hypoed interest in the '20s. In 
the case of “The American Twen- 
ties: A Literary Panorama” edited 
by John K. Hutchens (Lippincott, 
$5) it’s not only the “memory 
book” aspects that stir the imagi- 
nation. but the quality of writing. 
Literally, the decade was an im- 
portant era with many names of 
lasting value: Dos Passos, Wolfe, 
Lardner, Hemingway, Dreiser, An- 
derson, Broun, Lewis, Mencken, 
Benchley, O'Neill, et al. 

- Hutchens, quondam film critic, 
drama editor, radio editor and 
book critic on such publications as 
the N. Y. Post, N. Y. Times and 
Theatre Arts mag (and- now book 
news columnist and reviewer for 
the N. Y. Herald Tribune), has gar- 
nered some top selections from 48 
writers in various forms (novel, 
short story, drama, verse and es- 
say) in a 480-page tome for reading 
and reference. He also contrib- 
uted a sharp evaluation of the era. 

Bril. 


Inside On Dorothy Dix 
Facts and fictions concerning the 
lives and loves of sobbers are sub- 
jected to the sympathetic surgery 
of Hartnett T. Kane in “Dear Dor- 
othy Dix, The Story of a Compas- 
sionate Woman” (Double day, 
$3.50). That she had a home prob- 
lem that even Miss Dix could not 
solve in no wise detracted from her 
peculiar skill at easing the heart- 
aches of others. 

As Lizzie Gilmer (she hated the 
name Lizzie) she became Dorothy 


British Buffalo Bill O.O. 

a 

Life story of a flamboyant per- 
sonality is told in “Buffalo Bill,” 
by Rupert Croft-Cooke and W. S. 
Meadmore (Sidgwick & Jackson, 
London, $2.50). Story of William 
Cody reads like one of the count- 
less novels based upon it. As a 
boy he was a pony express rider, 
later drove stage coaches through 
bandit-infested country, killed. In- 
dians, and finally put on his fa- 
mous show, which was patronized 
by European royalty. 

He was truly “the last romantic 
hero of a romantic and heroic age.” 

Myro. 


Eddie Davis’ Book 
Eddie Davis, gagman and. libret- 
tist, has placed his book, “Laugh 
Yourself Well,” • with Frederick 
Fell. It's dedicated to Eddie Can- 
tor, who gave the ex-N. Y. cabman 
his first break as a radio gagwriter. 

Davis, himself an asthma con- 
valescent — for a time it forced him 
into residence in Arizona — humor- 
ously treats with each ailment from 
A to Z, starting off with A “Flat On 
Your Asthma,” B for bronchitis, 
C for colds, etc. 


CHATTER 

Cameron Shipp hospitalized with 
heart attack. 

Paul Denis now an “outside staff 
contributor” to Coronet. 

Novelist Michael Arlen in from 
Britain Monday (3) on the Britan- 
nic. 

Allen Churchill writing “I’m An 
Unhappy Bachelor” for Cosmopoli- 
tan. 

Arthur Jeffrey signed as public 
relations director* for Goodman 
Publications. 

Gower Champion wrote an arti- 
cle on choreography for the next 
issue of Theatre Arts Monthly. 

Charles Coburn writing his auto- 
biography, covering 62 years in 
show. biz,. tilled. “Tbe Green Door. 

Inez Wallace in Hollywood for a 
month to round up interviews and 
rotogravure layouts for the Cleve- 
land Plain Dealer. 

Bonifaces Herbert Jacoby and 
Max Gordon, of the Blue Angel, 
N. Y., subjects of a spread in the 
new issue of Look. 

“Come As You Are,” cartoon 
book about people at parties, by 
Abner Dean, to be published by 
Simon & Schuster Nov. 17. 

Chi ABC commentator Paul Har- 
vey’s first literary effort,. “Re- 
member These Days,” series of es- 
says taken from his his broadcasts, 
rolls off the Heritage Foundation 
presses this week. 

Alfred Bester, radio-tele.scripter, 
lectures Sunday (9» at the Science 
Fiction Fan Club, Newark, N. J. 
in Connection with his tome, “The 
Demolished Man,” which is due 
next month via Shaspa. 

Ludwig Bemelman’s ‘ intro for 
“Luchow’s German Cookbook” 
(Doubleday, $3), on the 14th St., 
N. Y., gourmet eatery, was re- 
printed by House- & Garden mag. 
Bemelmens also illustrated the 
recipe tome. 

John van Druten, author of the 
incoming “I’ve Got Sixpence” and 
the touring “I Am a Camera” and 
Bell, Book and Candle," has auth- 
ored “Playwright at Work,” an ex 
planation of how he works, to be 
published Jan. 7 by Harpers. 

Society of Illustrators tossing 
reception for Kenneth Bird, edi- 
tor of Punch, and other artists 
from the top British humor mag. 
tomorrow (Thurs.). Exhibit of 
Punch drawings opens Nov. 11 in 
the Time-Life Building, N. Y. 
through Dec. 6. Events are part 
of bally for recently published col- 
lection of best cartoons from the 
Charivari weekly. 


Controversial Bowen Letter 

Seven-column advertisement in 
the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin 
(30) asking paper in letter form to 
switch its support from General 
Eisenhower to Governor Steven 
son, bore signature of Catherine 
Drinker Bowen, Philadelphia au- 
thor arid biographer. 

The writer, in private life Mrs 
T. McKean Downs, of suburban 
Bryn Mawr, denied the following 
day that she had written the letter 
in the ad, although she subscribed 
to its sentiments and was strongly 
supporting Governor Stevenson. 
Miss Bowen said she had merely 
given her consent to use her name 
in what she believed was to be i 
long list of signatures. 

Bulletin, in an editorial; an- 


Mel’s 59G Preem 


Continued from page 1 


increased costs of production and 
operation, from 10c to 50c, depend- 
ing on location. Front orch seats 
and parterre boxes went up from 

$7.50 to $8; rear orch seats to 
$6.50; dress circle, $4.75, and fam- 
ily circle, $2.35. ^ 

Monday’s special opener was 
likewise hiked. Boxes remained 
the same as last year at $450 and 
$300. Orch and front orch circle 
rose from $25 to $30; orch circle 
rear from $18 to $22; grand tier 
from $21 to $25; dress circle, $12 
to $12.50; balcony. $5.40 to $7. with 
family circle staying at $3.50 and 
$2.25. 

Special performance opener isn’t 
part of any regular subscription 
series. It’s a new production of 
the Verdi opus, also marking the 
, first time this opera has been 
| chosen as a season’s preemer. It 


o- 

lutionary formula of the day. I can detect nc evidence, even among 
the memos of Wire Tappers Local No. 7, of such a subversive trend. 
Whatever their skill on stage, it has been obvious for years that the 
love-letters of playwrights and stars have been eclipsed by non-pros. 
Any advice-to-the-lovelom column will bear this out. 

The amateurs have been pushing the pros to the wall a long time. 

I recall in this connection Frank Harris’ meeting une fille de joie on 
the Promenade des Anglais, the main drag of Nice, “You know,” he 
said to her, “you belong to the oldest profession and I to the second 
oldest, and they’re both being ruined by these unscrupulous amateurs.” 

What is even more depressing, it seems to me, is that people, even 
editors, can swoon at the acquisition of such amateurish hogwash as 
these so-called “wicked, wicked letters” of Stella and Pal Joey. I can 
well understand whv Shaw would not permit their publication during 
his lifetime and that Mrs. Pat Campbell’s daughter didn’t want them 
published during her lifetime, but not for the reasons advanced by 
either party. 

They are wicked because they reveal that woo* was being pitched 
for reasons ulterior to love. They indicate a prostitution of the mind, 
which involves a higher morality than the body. Most of the letters 
have been seen and read by many people, and some have been pub- 
lished despite their supposed secrecy to date. 

Long before her death in 1940 Mrs. Campbell was showing them 
around in the hope of enlisting a publisher. While there is no doubt 
that Shaw could have stopped their publication in England, where 
the laws are rigged to protect the rich in these matters, he. couldn’t 
have stopped their publication in this country. 

Pal Joey’s Old Switcheroo 

What was most disgraceful about tne correspondence is that the 
guy who poured honey over his Stella to woo her into playing Liza 
in his "Pygmalion” could write such heartless stuff- when he had no 
further use for her talents. 

Joey,” she pleaded, “I have had a letter from a publisher that I 
would very much like to have your opinion upon . . . Please be a little 
kind to me. I have withstood your unkindness and your grumbling 
so bravely.” 

His answer? “This new stunt about your bearing my unkindness 
bravely takes my breath away. I am the greatest playwright in the 
world; and I have been treated by an actress as no dog was ever treated 
by the most brutal trainer; and she complains about my unkindness . . .” 

She asked him to cut out of their correspondence things that would 
“hurt Charlotte” (Mrs. Shaw) or give her husband, in Shaw’s opinion, 
reasons for divorcing her. He replied: “Remember, you start from 
the position that the publication of intimate letters that were never 
intended for publication is not permissable among persons of honour, 
(sic.) ... If they are letters from a married man to a woman who is 
not his wife and who is engaged at the time to another man, the dif- 
ficulty becomes a wild impossibility: if the man publishes them, he is a 
blackguard; if the woman publishes them, she is a rotter and courtesan.” 

The catch here is “persons of honour,” and the double standard of 
morality, depending on who was publishing the letters. There is also 
the dodge that a writer ever writes anything not eventually intended 
for publication. It may have been that the letters of HeloisC and 
Abelard, to which Shaw had the crust to compare his branmasli, were 
never intended for publication, but neither of them was a pro. 

About a year before Mrs. Campbell died, my shopworn bride and 
I were at a Beverly Hills dinner party with her. After dinner she 
asked us to go with her into a small ante-room. There she pulled out 
of her . purse the latest proofs of this meller in seduction, betrayal and 
rejection on a letter-writing level. Shaw was amazed at these proofs 
of the unscrupulousness with which he practiced his professional tricks 
on her. “I never said he was in love with me, for the good reason I 
never believed he was,” confessed Mrs. Campbell. “In love with mak- 
ing a fool of me, yes. and these letters show he still delights in such 
diabolical skill.” 

She stopped talking, looked longingly at Mme. Scully and said, 
“Please pet me.” 

Beware of Jolly Beggars 

To be an old and unwanted actress, starving for the sort of affec- 
tion people pour on dogs, is to be the victim of life’s bitterest mo- 
ments. And to have to beg for it from almost strangers in a town 
where words of endearment circulate like centimes among the poor, 
because you can no longer get it from an old philanderer by airmail. 
Well, the philanderer wrote that he had warned her never to give 
money to a beggar who begged well, and he had begged like a prince 
of panhandlers and had given her the old heave-ho as soon as her tal- 
ents had enriched him enough to desert her like the heavy in. an old 
meller. 

That his own last years had a measure of loneliness, too, w r as small 
j5roof perhaps that bread cast upon the waters has_a way of coming 
back to the casting director. It was Stella Campbell’s contention that 
a man who revokes and then uses a . poker on the other . man is no 
gentleman. Just an Irishman. 

An Italian actress married to a Scot might easily be forgiven such 
an error, because how was she to know that Shaw was no more Irish 
than any other avaricious byproduct of the Cronvwellian invasion of 
Ireland. He was the worst sort of Puritan. He could be righteous in 
public and a cad in private as much of his correspondence %hows. The 
people who were unconditionally fetched by him had roots no deeper 
than his, and his were as deep as grass. 

That his school of opportunists is perpetuating his mode of success 
today and using beautiful but dumb dames to accomplish that success, 
I haven't the slightest doubt. But whatever they write, however long 

th r hits run th<»v will DDrnr mi ro a atm 1 c* a P +V» i r* iuavI rl VwipailSP bV 


their hits run, they will never cure the evils of this world because by 
their calculating technique in the prostitution of human sentiments 
they are contributing to the perpetuation of such evils. 


hasn’t been heard at the Met since 
1944. 

Singing principal roles will be 
Zinka Milanov as Leonora: Mildred 
Miller, Preziosilla; Richard Tucker, 
Don Alvaro; Leonard Warren. Don 
Carlo, and Cesare Siepi, Padre 
Guardiano. Laura Castellano will 
make her Met debut as Cura. Fritz 
Stiedry will conduct, with Her 


Eugene Berman doing sets and 
costumes. 

Opening night won’t be tele- 
vised, and neither was last years. 
Cost, it's estimated, would run over 
$80,000 for a prospective sponsor. 
The '50, '49, '48 openings were 
teeveed, however. . Texaco will 
again put the Saturday afternoon 


bert Graf as stage director and performance on radio, 


Wednesday, November 5, 1952 . 


Broadway 


P^nsff 


CHATTER 


61 


Jose Ferr'er sailing for -Paris to- 
day (Wed.) on the Libert*. 

G Actress Marilyn Erskine, Metro 
contractee, here for a week’s vaca- 

tl0 n ; ving Pichel, film producer- 
director, in from a European 

^Variety radio-TV ed George 
Rosen and wife celebrating 21st 
wedding anni this weekend. 

Man’ McCarty back after a cou- 
ple weeks at the Hotel Nicollet, 
Minneapolis, and into- the -Sham- 
rock Houston, Nov. 25. 

Joe Schoenfeld, editor of Daily 
Variety, in from the Coast and 
stooping at the Warwick. 

Mitchell J. Hamilburg, Holly- 
wood agent, planed in from a six- 
week European trip Monday (3) 
and heads for the Coast shortly. 

Bob Considine'S 45th birthday 
party drew out the town Monday 
night; his Millie invited over 350 
and seemingly batted 1,000 on ac- 
ceptances. 

Manning (Tim) Clagett, public 
information director for the Mo- 
tion Picture Assn, of America 
here, left at the weekend with his 
family for a two-week vacation on 
the Coast. 

Katina Paxinou flew m yester- 
day (Tues.) direct from Athens to 
prep for N. Y. bow of Greek Na- 
tional Theatre at the Mark Hel- 
linger Nov. 19. Balance of troupe 
is due later. 

Murray Gruhn, TV and Lionel 
train distrib, and Dr, .Irving So- 
mach, prolific legit angel, among 
the backers of the Kipnis-uohen 
comedy, “Be Your Age,” slated for 
Xmas eve preem in Philly. 

P. a. Mike O’Shea back from 10- 
day L. A.-S. F. vacation. In S. F. be 
visited San Quentin and Alcatraz 
gathering material for series of 
prison features for .Ed Miller’s 
Gotham Guide, local weekly. 


Radisson Flame Room with Evelyn 
Knight and Russell Nype set to 
follow, in that order, . 

Bill Devroe Trio in second week 
at Colony Club which has spotted 
the Harmonicats week of Nov. 3- 
Jan August, Nov. 10, and Bill Law- 
rence, Dec. 1. 

Alvin (burlesque) to close pre- 
Christmas period as usual, but in 
late November, several weeks 
earlier than usual. It will reopen 
just prior to New Year’s. 

Lyceum underlines are “The 
Country Girl,” week of Nov. 10; 
“Guys and Dolls,” for 41 perform- 
ances starting Nov. 17 (second time 
here); “Mister Roberts” Nov., 24-28 
(fourth time) and “John Brown’s 
Body,” Nov. 29-30. 


Chicago 


Bob Landry in town for a day 
after visting relatives tifearby. 

Gray Gordon, personal manager 
for Les Paul & Mary Fbrd, lining 
up dates. 

Eddie Foy, Jr., bedded at the 
Passavant Hospital with ulcers 
acting up. 

John Payne flew in for preem 
of “Kansas City, Confidential” at 
the Woods. 

Dore Schary with wife and 
daughter making the rounds of the 
various museums. 

Jose Ferrer in to play a little 
tennis and to look over “Stalag 17” 
and “Fourposter.” 

Allied Artists threw a parade 
for the midwest preem of “Battle 
Zone” at the Grand. 

Joe Flynn due in for advance 
work on “Country Girl” which has 
a Dec. 1 opening at the Selwyn. 

Harry Davies settling down for 
a- while with “Top__Banana” coming 
into the Great Northern Nov. 24. 

Howard Christensen, General 
Artists Con), radio and TV veepee, 
in for huddles with local GAC 
brass. 

Gilbert Miller flew in for some 
{3u.i°. and video appearances for 
Gigi” which starts run at the 
Harris Nov. 5. 


By R. F. Hawkins 
. The Quiet Man” playing -here 
in original English versions. 

Louis Armstrong and his combo 
played four shows at Nuovo Thea- 
tre. 

Director Victor DeSabata resum- 
ing Scale concert series which was 
interrupted by strike. 

Italian preem of “The Four- 
foster” set locally at the Odeon. 
(enzo Ricci and Eva Magni are 
starred. 

Gino Lollobrigida being sued for 
* .,r e to appear for opening shots 
ot Le Signora Senza Camelie” 
(Forges - Davanzati). Michelangelo 
Antonioni is directing the pic. 


S 


Minneapolis 


By Les Rees 

. Harry Schapiro back with “Okla- 
homa at Lyceum. 

Heinie’s has Chinese exotic 
cancer Lee Wong. 

Comedian Shecky Greene at 
House of Hastings. 

i | B £2. c h c °mbers into Hotel Nicol- 
‘'Imnesota Terrace. 

■d,. arr ^ Ja ^es orch played from 
■From Ballroom two-nighter. 

4i( ? Ilnnea P°lis Flame offering 
kouth American Revel” revue. 
Gertrude Bromberg and Joe 
^ ere ahead of “Guys and 
Dolls and “The Country Girl,” re- 
spectively. 

"King” Cole-Stan Kenton- 
^auih Vaughan “Biggest Show of 

. un 't into Auditorium for one- 
mphter, Nov. 9. 

h . ,P a Pit°l’s girl revue topped 
n«,i e t lc dancers Bonnie Monroe 
pm Lai ?, r a Kin S snd comedian- 
emcee Billy Mason. 

Marjorie Garretson at Hotel 


Pittsburgh 


By Hal Cohen 

Jimmy Nelson headlining 22d 
ar\ni show at Bill Green’s. 

John Yorke in town beating the 
drums for “Paint Your Wagon.” 

Starke Drischell appointed as- 
sistant to Dave Grantz, Playhouse 
pressagent. 

Vocal coach Carrie Mayer has 
joined the staff of Don Hall’s Steel 
City Studios; 

Earl Wrightson booked for first 
nitery date here at the 'Carousel 
week of Dec. 8. 

Johnny Harris and Donna At- 
wood have named the new arrival 
Donna Jeanette. 

Local actor Tony Kraber signed 
for role with Arthur Kennedy in 
“See the Jaguar.” 

Ventriloquist Stanley Burns on 
the bill with Napoleon Reed at 
Carousel this week. 

Dick Hoovers tossed a reception 
at Playhouse for newlyweds. At 
Checcos (Jean Bradley). 

Cort Steen, Tech drama grad 
and TV director, has switched from 
ABC to CBS in New York. 

Joseph Cotten in town for two 
days in connection with preem at 
Harris of his new film, “The Steel 
Trap.” 

Fay DeWitt headed for Holly- 
wood and Bill Jordan *5 Bar of 
Music following her Monte Carlo 
stand. 

USSteel, where Olive Moorfield’s 
father works, sent him and singer’s 
mother to N. Y. for their daugh- 
ter’s Broadway debut in “My 
Darlin’ Aida.” 


London 


Vienna 


By Emil W. Maass ; 

Leopold Rudolf, actor, badly in- 
jured in auto accident. 

South Californian John Walsh 
gave a concert in Brahm Saal. 

Paula Wessely Film Productions 
prepping Fritz Rotter’s script, “I 
and My V/ifq” for its next produc- 
tion. 

First original Cuban music heard 
here was when Iris Burgued of 
Havana gave concert in Brahm 
Saal. 

Swoboda quartet preemed Amer- 
ican composer’s Norm&n Lockwood 
works in USFA Cosmos Theatre 
here. 

Patria Film in Gratz, Styria, 
working on the comedy film 
“Lions.” It is being directed by 
Ludwig Koerner, who also scripted. 

Volkstheatre rehearsing F. Kan- 
in’s “Goodbye My Fancy” (German 
language title, “Leb wohl, mein 
Traum”), translated and directed 
by Joe Glen. 

Portland, Ore. 

By Ray Feves 

Walter Hoffman, Paramount 
field man, in town for a quickie. 

Johnnie Ray and his show inked 
into the Auditorium for one-niter 
next Saturday (8). 

Cooper Sisters in at Clover 
Club for two weeks with Anita 
O’Day set to follow. 

Jazz at the Philharmonic featur- 
ing Ella Fitzgerald, Flip Phillips, 
Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa Trio 
played . Auditorium last Saturday 
( 1 ). 

The Danny Kaye show with Rex 
Ramer, June Roselle, Calgary 
Bros., Stan Kramer & Co., and 
the Dunhills played four days at 
the Paramount Theatre (1-4) and 
then inked into Seattle and Van- 
couver, B. C. 


Cecil G Bernstein off to Rome to 
scout shows for his Granada Cir- 
cuit. 

Burl Ives’ autobiog, “The Way- 
faring Stranger,” published in 
London last week. 

Anton Dolin’s Festival Ballet 
booked for a Christmas season at 
Royal Festival Hall. 

Nancy Donovan planed in from 
N. Y. last week and opened at the 
Bagatelle, Monday (3). 

Gordon Humphries.. . ... replaces. 

Maxwell Coker in Will Parker role 
of road company “Oklahoma!” 

Gregory Peck and William Wyler 
on a short stopover here after film- 
ing “Roman Holiday” in Italy. 

Duchess of Gloucester to attend 
preem of a new Italian pic, “Mira- 
cle of Milan,” at the New Gallery 
Nov. 20. 

Derek Roy to star in the Gra- 
nada circuit’s Christmas panto, 
“Robinson Crusoe,” with Joan 
Dowling taking femme lead. 

Max Newton, Variety mugg in 
Montreal, came over for the Lon- 
don Press Club anni celebrations 
as chairman of the Montreal Press 
Club. 

Jeanne Sakol returning home on 
the United States tomorrow after 
a protracted stay in London where 
she has been supplying features 
for American fan mags. 

Sir. Alexander Korda bought 
film rights of Grahame Green’s 
“The Heart of the Matter,” and 
has inked Trevor Howard and 
Elizabeth Allan to play the leads. 

Suzanne Warner, the American 
half of the publicity team of Mul- 
lally & Warner, planed to the U. S. 
over the weekend. She goes to the 
Coast after a short stay in New 
York. 

Lou Jacobi, the Canadian nitery 
comedian, inked for a role in “Re- 
mains to Be Seen” which opens 
out-of-town next Monday (10) and 
comes to .the West End a fortnight 
later. 


■"T " 

gagement. Keaton goes to Sahara 
Hotel, Las Vegas. 

Paul Kohner purchased screen 
rights to best-seller, “Matador,” 
which he may film in Spain next 
spring with John Huston directing. 

Lido show, “Gala, the Cham- 
pagne Revue,” to Marrakech, Afri- 
ca, for five days opening Nov. 25. 
Yves Montand inked to sing at 
nitery during show’s absence, 
George K. Arthur selling Con- 
tinental rights to the English short 
he produced, “Stranger Left No 
Card,” before planing to the U.S. 


■John ^iltrd"dver from Xdhdbn To Lrom Munich. 


confer with Erich von Stroheim 
on the film form of Carl Zuck- 
mayer play, “The Devil’s General” 
which Sutro is producing. Peter 
Ustinov is writing the screenplay. 

Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin 
to visit Switzerland with Thornton 
Wilder for a month. Wilder is re- 
working his play, “Merchant of 
Yonkers,” produced by the Guild 
in N. Y. back in 1938, for London 
production n*»xt January with Miss 
Gordon in lead. 


San Francisco 


Hollywood 


John Payne to Chi for a per- 
sonal. 

Nancy Valentine recovering from 
surgery. 

John Barrymore, Jr., home from 
hospital. 

Myrna Dell divorcing Jack 
Bucbtel. 

David Butler to San Francisco 
on vacation. 

Cameron Mitchell planed 


m 


Cleveland 

By Glenn C. Pullen 

Bill Lawrence appearing at 
Main Street Club and Dick Lee at 
Sky-Way. 

Kay Thompson & Williams Bros, 
keeping Hollenden Vogue Room 
jampacked. 

Ray Elias, Play House press- 
agent, directing a new drama 
group in classic plays. 

Ricchi Bros. & Greta, TV mu- 
sical team, doubling between 
Cabin Club and WEWS. 

Rita Gam, new film actress of 
“The Thief,” due here Nov. 11 or 
12._for personals at Hip_p_.. r . 

Guthrie McCiintic blew in to see 
actress-wife, Katharine Cornell,, 
between her “Constant Wife” per- 
formances at Hanna. 

Nat Wolf, former Warner Bros, 
theatre chief here, back from 
Houston where he has been re- 
modeling his drive-in. 

Jerry Lann, former publicist for 
Imperial and United Artists, made 
field promotion director for Mer- 
cury Records in this area. 

Billy Eckstine with George 
Shearing and Count Basie doing 
jazz concert tonight (Wed.) at 
3,000-seat Public Music Hall. 

Frederic McConnell’s Play House 
now has three shows humming in 
its three auditoriums, “Caesar and 
Cleopatra, “Happy Time” and 
“Antigone.” 

Molly Picon slated to star at lo- 
cal State of Israel Bond dinner 
show Nov. 10, honoring Rabbi Irv- 
ing Miller, prez of Zionist Organ- 
ization of America. 


Seattle 


By Don Reed 

Norman Granz’s Jazz at the Phil- 
harmonic into Civic Auditorium for 
one-nighter. 

Johnnie Ray set for gig here, 
Nov. 7 at the Trianon, with the 
Jackie Souders orch backing. 

“Country Girl,” with Robert 
Young, Dane Clark and Nancy 
Kelly,' into Metropolitan for a 
week. 

Vern Mallory band into Olympic 
Hotel Georgian Room, playing for 
dinner and supper dancing Thurs- 
day, Friday and Saturday, with 
Bosccaci Trio for dinner music in 
the room Sunday, Tuesday and 
Wednesday. 


Paris 

Mahalia Jackson here for a series 
of concerts. 

Jean Marais will do two new 
Jean Cocteau sketches on TV. 

George Foley here on his way 
to Italy for a series of vidpix. 

Erich von Stroheim inked for 
new pic, “The Janitor Is Not In.” 

Charlie Chaplin to stay one week 
in Paris and then to Riviera and 
Italy. 

Charles Trenet winding up two 
smash weeks at Moulin Rouge 
Nov. 8. 

Bobby Short, closing at Mars 
Club, to London for Palladium ap- 
pearance. 

Empire Theatre being considered 
for French production of “Pal 
Joey” next March. 

Vic and Adio into Lido show, 
Dec. 1. Frank Libuse leaves show 
for U.S. dates on Dec. 15. 

Sidney Chaplin and Betsy Blair 
to be dialog directors on new Ana- 
tole Litvak film to be made here. 

Victor Stoloff over from London 
with his pic, “Tales of Cairo,” to 
finish the cutting and editing here. 

Pierre Descaves to take over di- 
rectorship of the Comedie-Fran- 
caise when Pierre Touchard exits 
in April. » 

Buster Keaton back to U.S. after 
three-week Cirque Medrano en- 


By Ted Friend 

Charles Fredericks set for Cable 
Car Village. 

“Tipica Revue” into Marine Me- 
morial Theatre. 

James Moody following Eddie \ flVanHc 
Heywood into Blackhawk. 

Will Mastin Trio with Sammy 
Davis, Jr., into Venetian Room of 
Fairmont. 

Danny Thomas and Peggy Lee 
penciled in for Opera House bene- 
fit, Nov. 28. 

Sam Rosey books Sally Rand 
into House of Blue Lights in In- 
ternational Settlement. 

Jeanne Crain and Paul Brink- 
man doing the seven hills follow- 
ing Nixon rally appearances. 

Ben Light and AlCxender Bros, 
set for one week at Mark Hopkins, 
with Carmen Miranda opening 
Nov. 11. 

Robert Rothafel, Fox West Coast 
’.strict . manager. recuperating 

om operation in Peralta Hospital, 
Oakland. 

Jack Benny and Interior Secre- 
tary Oscar Chapman headlining 
Israel Bond pitch at Fairmont Ho- 
tel Nov. 16. 11 

“Murder in the Cathedral,” first 
seasonal production by Stanford 
Players, set for Stanford Little 
Theatre under direction of Ted 
Marcuse. 


Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra 
off to Nairobi. 

Hal Roach in town after three 
months in N. Y. 

Frederick Santley hospitalized 
for major surgery. 

Eugene O’Brien in the hospital 
with a heart ailment. 

Bert Friedlob to Pittsburgh to' 
plug “The Steel Trap.” 

Francis A. Batemans celebrated 
their 29th wedding anni. 

Warners hosted Ichizo Kobaya- 
shi. Japanese theatre tycoon. 

Groucho Marx booked for a lec- 
ture at the Univ. of Oi’egon. 

Dore Schary back at his Metro 
desk after five weeks in the east. 

Henry Hathaway checked in at 
20th-Fox after four weeks in Eu- 
rope. 

Archie Savage returned after 10 
weeks on location in the Fiji 


Philadelphia 


By Jerry Gaghan 

Jeanette Crisconi is filing in at 
helm of BBS Records for the ail- 
ing Bill Borrelli. 

D’Andree Sisters, A1 Segal pro- 
tegees, opened song-and-dance act 
at Embassy Club (29). 

Art Tatum, current at Blue Note, 
is making his first trip east since 
breaking his leg last summer. 

John Kenley, producer of “Maid 
in the Ozarks,” is dickering for 
a legit house here to stage reper- 
tory. 

Cook & Brown, dance team of 
“Kiss Me, Kate,” featured in re- 
vue at New Town Tavern, Delair, 
N. J. 

Joni James opened to smash b.o. 
at Rendezvous (29), with Betty 


Ethel Merman w r ill sing at the 
Screen Producers Guild blowout 
Nov. 19. 

Charles Farrell resigned after 
seven years as mayor of Palm 
Springs. 

Rosita Duncan singing again, 
completely recovered from throat 
operation. 

John P. Wildberg in town to 
round up names for “The Bad 
Samaritan.” 

Alan Ladd awarded a plaque of 
honor by the British Kinematog- 
raphers Assn. 

Spencer Bennett is directing his 
100th serial, “Planet Men,” for 
Sam Katzman. 

John C. Flinn to San Diego to 
handle the “Flat Top” preem for 
Allied Artists. 

Peggy Lee was the guest of 8.- 
000 marines at the Rams-Texans 
football game. 

Chips Rafferty in from Australia 
to report for work in “The Desert 
Rats” at 20th-Fox. 

Jack Cummings to Mexico City 
to screen Metro’s “Sombrero” for 
President Aleman. 

Pete Smith cited by the L.A. 
Police Dept, for his short subject, 
“Pedestrian Safety.” 

• Ethel Merman back to work in 
“Call Me Madam” after several 
days out with virus. 


billing 

Earle T. Crooker, actor and 
songwriter, has joined Drexel In- 
stitute of Technology faculty, as 
instructor in dramatics. 

Local cafemen who operate in 
Wildwood, N. J., during summer, 
worried over reports that resort 
plans to raise liquor license fee 
from $500 to $1,000. 

Ed Sullivan attended rehearsals 
of Mask & Wig's “Here’s How,” U f/ 
of P. group’s forthcoming produc-' 
tion, and selected several tunes for 
preview on his Nov. 16 TV show. 

Joe E. Lewis, Latin Casino head- 
liner, received an award at Garden 
State Track for his support of the 
Sports of Kings. Lewis also pre- 
sented trophy to winner of $20,000 
Princeton Handicap (1). 


Reno 


By Mark Curtis 

Les Baxter's chorus fills out the 
week after Johnnie Ray in River- 
side. 

Arthur Lee Simpldns foilows 
Carmen Cavallaro into Mapes Sky- 
room. 

Johnnie Ray’s one-week stand at 
Riverside brings on first minimum 
in Reno — $2. 

Peggy Lee headlines New Gold- 
en, Nov. 5, her one-weeker to be 
followed by Gale Storm. 


McLaurin, another chirper, sharing I for^ nlanhlp^fn 1 cSrl fnS* the I? 1 * 
hilling & planing in stars and press for 

Reno world preem of “Blazing 
Forest,” with entire proceeds to 
Reno Community Chest. 

Club Cal Neva, the Httle brother 
of Lake Tahoe’s Cal Neva, begin- 
ning to book small combos and 
singles. Current are Bruce Davis 
Quartet and Music Masters. 


Omaha 


Washington 

By Florence S. Lowe 

National Production Authority 
film boss Nathan Golden moved 
both office and home within a 
fortnight. 

Dick Sykes back on home 
ground after his foray into Broad- 
way (“Touch and Go”) starring in 
revival of Ben Jonson’s “The Al- 
chemist” at Catholic U. 

Arena Theatre, town’s theatre- 
in-the-round, preeming its new at- 
traction, “Tonight at 8:30,” today 
(Wed.) Instead of the customary 
Tuesday, because of Election Day. 

Sonja Henie, accompanied by 
husband Winthrop Gardiner and 
her mother, Mrs. Selma Henie, 
feted by the Norwegian ambassa- 
dor before capital preem of her 
ice show* 


By- Glenn Trump 

Rose Mirphy in at Angelo’s for 
a week. 

Freddie Masters Quintet holding 
forth at Seven Seas. 

Ray Steiner of Paramount’s Chi- 
cago office a visitor. 

Nat Towles Quintet held over at 
Lincoln’s Italian Village. 

The Silhouettes, featuring busty 
Kay Martin, a hit at the Frolics. 

Tristates Bill Miskell again 
served as cardinal at Ak-Sar-Ben 
Coronation. 

Skippy Anderson orch alternat- 
ing between Peony Park and down- 
town Music Box. 

Ernest Tubbs show played City 
Auditorium here (29) and U. of 
Nebraska Coliseum in Lincoln (30). 

Mills Bros. - Woody Herman- 
Dinah Washington show made 
lone Nebraska appearance at York 
Auditorium (30). 

Flacks Mary Ward of “Bell, Book 
and Candle” and Helen Richards 
of “John Brown’s Body” both hit 
town the same day (30). 

Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben tossing 
a supper party for Arthur Wirtz 
and his “Hollywood Ice Revue” 
cast at the Blackstone Ballroom 
following opening tonight (Wed.). 


Wednesday, November 5, 1952 


WmSTr 



Lafayette Theatre 


Continued from page 48 


production and syndication opera- boycott the products of sponsors' if' 
tion visualizing a profitable future its protests were not heeded. Mar- 
in that sohere But the network is ion added, “We wish'tp call your 
undertaking a sweeping survey of attention to the KWG position 
the whole TV film situation, pro- against this practice, which we 
iecting its potential into 1955, be- consider blacklisting. The practice 
, „ . , . . * ,, f Arp starts plunking down the implied by the news story (in the 

the Lafayette in a managerial ca- time theatrical entertainment held ^ ^ Required for facilities, N. Y. Times) is such that every 
paclty, opening on Uabor Day with full sway, there will J .. equipment, manpower and the one who has any part in the broad- 

Abbie Mitchell in “Eyes of Youth memories of the p as t , h opes of ^ t h other i nves tments required to casting industry will be most anx- 
to full houses. “The Thirteenth present and strivings of the future, k r ma j or powerhouse in the ious, we know, to eradicate the 
Chair” was the next week's at- a powerful drama, a cast of talent- ^^ x ll s “ hem J e . P condition which seems to exist.” 

traction. At the Sunday concerts ed i ac ors, a p aywr g While the trend of the past sea- The Times said an anti-Commie 

_ ia-tke. eyenin&_standing_rqqm .only ability. t - 0 Tr con “inward- tihn -has— been-^ne- - g roup - ig - up s U te-JjUY^ha& hegn 

LafayTt^ n was CU lSe W No. 1 ^ ^ economics, in g £ M 

playhouse of the circuit, which m- church thatmany °f^ fame j view of the residual payoffs and channels/ The group has threat- 
^/l/uderphr'HoS^WaTh- thefr S 'startf 6 where the“ £ the abi.ity to break th* bottleneck “TtV boycott' ’theVoducts of 

fri A HSSwfe*Sd*Swi rn«thTc 0 ht S “hed fin them a [o a carry 

tres in Flttspurgn ana i r . , f 


News. The directors of the^dra- on and reach the pinnacle of sue 
matic shows were white and the cess, 
directors of the musical shows 


were colored. Alex Rogers wrote Rededicate ‘Tree of Hope, 

the book and lyrics f or musical TjohfT a BoianrfeS Link level of presentation, the film 

nrndnptions and Lucky Roberts ^ . j.1; boys, it’s recognized, will have 

plenty to worry about. 


on time slots in the face of the sponsors if its protests were not 
NBC-CBS nighttime SRO, the fact heeded.” 
remains that sponsors plunking 
down heavy coin in video want 
qualitative values. If they can 
bring ’em in for the same money 
as a live show but on a superior 


Roebeck 

Continued from page 21 


productions 

the music. - , . 

I can say without fear of sue- eating the Williams Institutional 

cessful contradiction that more C.M.E,. Churcii, N. Y., the Tree 
money was expended in salaries, of Hope” was rededicated by 
for scenery, transportation and. Mayor Vincent Impellitteri. Negro 
publicity thart in any other am- Actors Guild had been custodian 
bitious project designed to en- of the landmark long associated 


As part of the ceremonies dedi- WlU hSVe in their territories but have an ad- 


Radio ‘Mag Format’ 


Continued from page 25 


vertising and media background. 

“Through such a sales organiza- 
tion,” Roebeck said, “our field men 
are not only aware of the difficul- 
ties facing station managers but 
also are attuned to the problems 
confronting the advertiser. In ad- 


IvIVlyUO v vv — n -- — — — — i — — t » 

courage and advance the interests | with the >te ? Bm I shoW s and limited hookups for sev- 1 dition.they contact potential spon- 


of the Negro In the theatre. 


the church will no 

frno 


eral other daytimers). 


sors direct. For with a merchant 



ever, it is my belief th ^ ®^ nt ^ survivfng C member S W of the^oup^ be? of* stations bought. Web has al- changing* technique^appear to 
SegroTfe “variou?Th a ses ways had a bonanza in one-shots be paying off is seen in some 49 

o - ... « i 1.1 J PAmm tppiAn An 


are to be written by members the President’s Commission on 
of the race. There should be less Civil Rights; Frank Schiffman op 
talk about stereotypes. Moreover, era tor of the Apollo Theatre, Dep 
there should be a general awaken- lity Police Commissioner Billy 
ing to the fact that it is not ab- Rowe and disk jockey Willie Bry- 

® « - 1 A .. J tfnn.NAMnAnl 1170 o T n ^ 


(such as various conventions and orders Consolidated set during the 
sports events), in five-minute shows, month of October. This business, 
and split hookups. During the sum- he said, was close to the year’s 
mer, for - instance, it ran two net- peak. Among the new sales were 
works, one taking the “Game of “Front Page Detective” to WTOP 
the Day” in non-major league ter- TV, Washington, D. C., and WTTV, 


ills AW me All j' Vnndprnool was the tiie uay m non-major league xer- tv, wasnington, u. u., ana wttv, 

solutely qecessair for Broadway ant. A \£reyVi ildteation Pastor ritory, and the other covering the Bloomington, Ind., for Falls City 
first to put its stamp of approval soloist rest of the country. MBS has a Brewing Co. along with “All 

on colored shows. When this aware- ciccia NAG oresident em- number of sustainers available to American Game of the Week” to 

ness comes to Pass, Harlem and o » . ith t ucv Monroe advertisers wanting to come in for WENR-TV, Chicago, for the Otto 

other communities throughout the ce d h ^ „ T _;. , A a quick saturation ride or just for Paint Co., and to KPTV, Portland, 


-country- -will • be* the- seen© -of- mem- 1 singing; the National Anthem, 
orable opening-night perform- 
ances, made possible by the vision, 
initiative, financial and moral sup- 
port of Negroes. If a smash hit, 
it will not be a difficult matter to 
negotiate for a house in the down- 
town district. 


Yankee Dollar 

Continued from page 2 


a couple of participations. — * Ore., for the Ralph Hoyt Co. 

Webs believe their new flexible Other new business included 
sales patterns are a part of the “Public Prosecutor” to WDAF-TV, 
new era in radio, same as the re- Kansas City, Mo., for the Katz 
duction in nighttime rates and the Drug Co., and “Hollywood Half 
correspondent hike, at NBC and Hour” to WOC-TV, Davenport, for 
CBS at least, in daytime rates. Tri-City Radio Supply Co. 

With salesmen finding the field 


Vaudfilmer Kayoed 


Continued from page 46 


the North Atlantic air lines, and 

The point I am endeavoring to the relative calm on the European - ... . ... 

make is that there are projects in cold war front. Also this last sum- e advertisers as flexible 

the field of entertainment which mer saw return of the German and !“}*? ST /can set in national 
must originate from the grassroots Austrian tourists, who contributed » marines ot to newsnaners The 
—from Negroes, themselves. in a big way, particularly at the 0 1 d th Sir OT 02 ram- 

vias beco^ntag'Tshowcase^for^pro- "‘one'of the Reasons for loss of ming departments to go along with | competitive market, his evidences 


FTC Head 

Continued from page 7 


W dp UCUUUIU15 a duu vy vuc vi — — +V10 nlan 

ducers, writers and actors. Had it profit in Riviera hotels is that the P 
not been compelled to close, more clientele has changed considerably 
of its objectives would have been over the last 25 -years. Gone are 
realized. the days when kings, grand dukes 

“Shuffle Along,” starring Sissle and playboys hired a complete 
& Blake, Miller & Lyles, had its floor for themselves and their 


Dem-GOP Coin 


Continued from page I 


of price dissimilarities would land 
him in the gaol for, illegal price 
discrimination.” 

Mason likened plaintiffs in pri- 
vate suits to the privateers of the 


dress rehearsal in the Lafayette guests. Nowadays even the rich , . American Revolutionarv era who 

Theatre. ' are content with a room, as long as limit on the amount of radio-TV American revolutionary era 

When the Lafayette and its La.- it contains good bathing and sani- time allocated to each of the rendered a patriotic service and 

fayette Players were disposed of tary arrangements, and for those parties. a lso lined they: pockets with prize 

by E. C. Brown, I became associat- liking a little extra comfort, the (3). Set in motion a Congres- . mone y- Alter passing! aws against 
ed with Harry Pace as part-owner possibility of an adjoining sitting sional-inspired plan to eliminate an “ conspiracy^ m re- 

and manager of the Black Swan room. Hoteliers realize this, and the present policy of paid cam-* str aint 01 trade, Congress supple- 

Troubadours, featuring Ethel Wa- are preparing to cater for the pass- paign advertising (now in force enforcement by 

ters and Fletcher Henderson’s ing trade instead of the oldtime between the July conventions and offer of treble damages to any 
band. . customers who stayed for a couple the November election) which who C0l i 1( ~ 1 P rov f injury at the 

would provide free radio-TV time hands of the antitrust law viola- 
to candidates on an equal basis. tors, besides which there was an 

Whatever alternative is reached, 

it’s an established fact that, come if*® i ^ 

January, the politico radio-TV is- 5* £ 


minimum of acts represented by 
the orthodox talent offices. 

In announcing the ice policy 
the Roxy realizes that it will have 
tremendous difficulties in lining 
up rink toppers, especially during 
the season, when the major ice 
shows are on the road. However, 
they hope that 4he- prospect of 
staying several weeks in one spot 
will lure a great many of those 
now with the big shows. The house 
toppers anticipate no difficulty in 
rounding up a chorus. 

Toppers Remain 

Formal announcement of the 
switch to the frosters was made by 
Charles Skouras, National Theatres 
prexy, new owners of the Roxy, 
HO declared that Dave Katz will 
remain head of the house and Ar- 
thur Knorr, who designed the cur- 
rent Roxy rink, will continue as 
production head. Choreographer 
hasn’t been selected as yet. 

If the policy is successful in New 
York, similar fladers will be in- 
stalled in NT houses in Detroit, St. 
Louis, Denver, San Francisco, St. 
Louis and elsewhere. There will be 
stock companies in each city. Tour- 
ing of one icer to each town is not 
likely at first. 

It will cost $85,000 to alter the 
Roxy stage. The tank will be en- 
larged to cover the entire stage 
space up to the side columns. Cost 
of refurbishing the other houses 
will run to about $150,000. Should 
the other theatres get a frozen 
frolic, then National Theatres will 
be the largest employer of ice 
talent on year-round basis. It’s 
anticipated that the Roxy will have 
up to 90 people backstage. 

Henie Refuses Date 

Indicative of the type of talent 
the Roxy had been attempting to 
get is its quest of Sonja Henie for 
the preem show. Miss Henie, who 
is battling Arthur M. Wirtz, with 
whom she was associated for 16 
years until their split last year, had 
been approached to come into the 
house before Wirtz would open at 
Madison Square Garden, Jan. 15. 
As much as Miss Henie would like 
to kick Wirtz in New York, she 
turned down the bid, according to 
Roxy toppers, because of the fact 
that she would have to shell out 
heavy coin to keep the company 
intact during the layoff, while she 
cavorted on the Roxy rink. Miss 
Henie, thus far, has no New Yolk 
date, although she at one time 
reserved the Christmas period at 
a Manhattan armory. . 

Just what effect the Roxy icers 
will have on Madison Square Gar- 
den blades shows and vjee versa 
cannot be determined as yet. 

Skouras stated that the ice policy 
is not an experiment at the Roxy. 
This is it. 


TV’s ‘Live’ Yen 

Continued from page 1 


My last business dealings with | of months, 
the Lafayette were when it was 
under the management of Frank 
Schiffman. I was a feature writer 
on the staff of the old New York 
World and had produced “Meek 
Mose” at the Princess Theatre. 

After four weeks on Broadway the as k ance at the TV move-in by the 
show was booked to be seen at the Columbia Pictures’ Screen Gems 
Lafayette after the regular evening su bsid, which is turning out the 
performance. The week’s engage- new “Ford Theatre” film series on 
ment marked the closing of “Meek NBC-TV. But on the basis of five 
Mose” and also my career as a pro- episodes, the “live” proponents 
ducer and manager, which I re- hav? allayed their fears. Typical of 
garded as a coincidence. That was today’s comment: “If that’s the 
in 1928. best the film industry can offer to 

For more than a decade the La- t.V,« live < programming is pretty 
fayette remained untenanted, doors secure.” 

locked and in a growing state of Ford had sponsored the live “Mr. 
disrepair. It was with a heavy heart peepers” show last summer, drop- 
that this distressing scene met my ping it for the previously-nego- 
gaze. Today the building is no long- tiated Screen Gems series. The 
er a spectre of what used to be, automotive moguls, it’s repof-ted, 
but a living embodiment of hope, now have considerable misgivings, 
faith, charity and goodwill. It pul- They’d like to have “Peepers” 
sates with vitality and inspiration, back. 

Tribute Red Skelton, who was “live” last 

As chairman of the Coordinating year, switched to film this season. 
Council for Negro Performers, I But the storm warnings have al 
wish to congratulate the Williams 
Institutional C. M. E. Church and 
its pastor, the Rev. L. S. Smith, 


sue will be one of the hottest 
items on the Congressional agenda. 




for this tribute which has been paid 
to the" memory of the Lafayette 
Theatre and the theatrical profes- 
sion. I am sure performers will 
express appreciation for such a lib- 
eral gesture in more than lip-serv- 
ice. I wish the Williams Institution- 
al C. M. E. Church much success 
in its spiritual and temporal ac- 
tivities. 

In acting, singing, dancing and 
other fine arts the Negro is des- 
tined to make valuable contribu- 
tions to American culture. As a 
race we are artistically inclined. It 
Is quite possible that in this Harlem 
environment, where once upon a 


ready been posted. Skelton, sub- 
ject to criticism because the film 
show has slipped qualitatively, 
lacking much of the instantaneity 
and spontaneity of last season’s 
live version, has already been hud- 
dling with NBC-TV execs in a 
“let’s-do-something-about-it” bid. 
Some say it’ll go back to live. 

Freeman Keyes’ “Doc Corkle” 
film series literally died a’bornin’, 
costing him $250,000, with the Rey 
nolds Metals sponsor dropping the 
film series like a hot potato after 
three shows and latching on to the 
live “Peepers.” 

All these incidents have caused 
no little apprehension in some top 
circles. NBC, for example, has a 
considerable investment in its film 


too.” Eventually, Mason stated, all 
“moral justification” was lost in 
the institution of private actions. 

Without specifically identifying 
films, ..Mason commented that in 
1952 one industry was plagued 
with 181 pending cases seeking 
damages of $365,000,000. That was 
a clear reference to exhib suits 
against the distribs. 


Congress Group 


Continued from page 5 
the revenue agent sent 


GBS-Sloane 

Continued from page 25 

ed, he had protested to the net and 
the Friday meeting was arranged. 

CBS will not accept any further 
scripts, he said he has been told, 
pending further notice. 

One of Sloane’s scripts was aired 
Sunday (2) and another is skedded 
this Sunday. Web has, another 
Sloane teleplay “in the bank” and Ash > the revenue agent sent to 
Sloane said he is working on two D. A. to investigate the claim. Corn- 
assignments for “Lamp” he had m *ttee said further that Universal 
previously been given. Program P aid airplane fare to bring Ash’s 
has aired “about two dozen” of his wife to Hollywood for Christmas 
scripts since his citation in “Chan- and als0 footed the hotel bill there, 
nels.” Sloane, whose attorney is Ash subsequently submitted a re- 
Arthur Garfield Hays, is suing P° rt in which he recommended the 
“Channels” for libel and defama- entire $20,000,000 refund, 
tion of character, seeking $200,- After the House Committee 
000 damages, and said the CBS charges, Ash was suspended from 
acUon, coming in the course of his the Bureau and resigned from the 
litigation, is “prejudicial.” Government in September. 

O Shea told newspapers the web Following the initial irate com- 
is not^ making any judgment in mittee statement last week, one of 
Sloane s case except to “take a look its members, Rep. John W. Byrnes 
at the situation.” He indicated the (R., Wise.) accused Secretary of the 
web is reviewing several persons’ Treasury John W. Snyder of “highly 
acceptability” ,by some segments suspicious r.ctivities” in connection 
° f Uni versal Pictures case. He 

RWG letter to CBS, signed by said it was Snyder who prevented 
eastern v.p. Ira Marion, referred Dunlap from releasing the Oliphant 
to reports that “certain writers in transcripts on the case, all of which 
AM as well as TV may be denied Snyder has denied. Snyder sent an 
work, because they are ‘unaccept- angry wire to Rep. King, who said 
able to the network because of the he did not share Byrnes’ senti- 
group which ‘has threatened to ments. 


Cronkite 

Continued from page 25 


making their final presidential 
choices, pointing to the likelihood 
that a lot of them were still seek- 
ing information about the respec- 
tive candidates right up to todays 
(Tues.) balloting. If that’s a proper 
analysis, Cronkite feels that tee- 
vee, radio and all other communi- 
cation devices have a responsibility 
to provide the fullest possible cov- 
erage — even if the overall effect 
adds up to boredom for some. 

With political sensitivities sharp? 
ened as they were this year, he 
figures he’s done a good job steer- 
ing the weekly Westinghouse show 
down the middle road, if in tne 
final tally the pro letters balance 
the con missies. Having gained at- 
tention as the moderator who real- 
ly moderates, he recalls the “Win- 
ner” session in which he wa® 
clocked for 23 minutes without in- 
terjecting a syllable into the dis- 
cussion. A few days after the si- 
lent role,” he received a letter 
charging him with favoring Harold 
Stassen, the Republican rep on the 
show. 

Cronkite spent a lot of time, he 
says, the past several weeKS bon- 
ing up on previous election re- 
turns in preparation for his ’ slot 
assignment on the web’s election 
night coverage. He also gave a lot 
of thought in an attempt to 
out in advance possible bias 
traps to be avoided during the bal- 
loting roundup. But he’s resigned 
to the fact that that’s one show 
bound to disappoint a lot of people 
110 matter what happens. 


63 


Wednesday, November 5, 1952 




DIXIE LEE CROSBY 
Dixie Lee Crosby, 40, wife of 
Binfi Crosby and former screeii 
Stress, died Nov. 1 at the family 
home in Holmby Hills, Cal., from 
cancer. She had been in .a coma 
for several days and never re- 
gained consciousness. 

Born Wilma "Wyatr in Karri 7 
man Tenn., she won an amateur 
singing contest in Chicago while 
still in her ,’teens and adopted the 
name of Dixie Lee. In 1928, she 
made her stage debut in “Good 
flews” on Broadway, and was 
signed to a three-year film con- 


with the Marx Bros, in “Cocoa- 
Huts” in 1925 was her last on 
Broadway. She played oh the, road 
in. the musicomedy, “Bye Bye 
Bonnie.” 

In addition to her husband, a 
son survives. 

— HEimY-EmYARDS 

1 Henry Edwards, 69, British legit 
and pic actor, died. Nov. 2 in Chob- 
ham, England. He was a star in 
British silent pix and made his 
first film, “The Man Who Stayed 
At Home,” in 1915. He directed 
pix occasionally and in 1936 was 


REMEMBERING 

<§us Cbtoari# 

November 7,. 1945 

LILLIAN 


tract by the late Winfield Sheehan, 
then chief of Fox Studio. 

Miss Lee’s first appearance in 
films was in “Movietone Follies” 
in 1928, followed by important 
roles in several Fox pictures. She 
continued her film career for sev- 
eral years .after her marriage to 
Crosby in 1930. Her last two pic- 
tures were “Love in Bloom”, and 
“Redheads on Parade,” made in 
1935, after which she retired to 
devote her time to her growing 
family. She was the mother of four 
sons, Gary, 19 J Philip and Dennis, 
18-year-old twins, and Lindsay, 14. 


honored at the Venice Festival for 
“Scrooge,” cited as the best film 
of the year. 

Among the plays in which he 
appeared on Broadway were 
“Tamte,” with Ethel Barrymore, in 
1913, and in the Maurice Evans 
uncut version of “Hamlet” in 1938. 

Edwards was chairman and man- 
aging director of the Teddington 
Film Studios and a director of 
Paramount British Productions. 


ANTHONY J. XYDIAS 
Anthony J. Xydias, 72, pioneer 
film exhibitor and producer, died 


#eo. 0L Cofjan 


(1871-1*42) 


JERRY VOGEL 


In addition to her husband and 
four sons, her father survives. 


LOUIS VERNEUIL 
Louis Verneuil, 59, French play- 
wright, was found dead Nov. 3 in 
his Paris apartment. Police re- 
ported circumstances pointed to 
suicide. 

Verneuil, who wrote more than 
60 plays, scored his biggest success 
on Broadway with “Affairs of 
State,” starring Celeste Holm. It 
opened Sept. 25, 1950, and ran 
for 610 performances. His most re- 
cent play, “Love and Let Love,” 


Oct. 26 at his home in Los Angeles. 
As an exhib, he opened a theatre 
in Dallas in 1906 and later de- 
veloped a chain of film houses in 
Texas. Disposing of his theatre in- 
terests after World War I, he or- 
ganized two distribution companies 
in N. Y., the Rialto Distributing 
Corp. and Excel Pictures, Inc. 

Shifting to production in 1921, 
Xydias became prexy of Sunset 
Productions, later known as the 
Perfect Talking Picture Co. Ill 
health caused him to retire in 
1931, but he returned as a pro- 
ducer and made pictures sporadi- 


DAVID BERNSTEIN 

NOVEMBER 10. 1945 


starling Ginger Rogers, closed on 
Broadway after a month’s run last 
season. He was best known in the 
L. S. before “State” for his two- 
character drama, “Jealousy.” 
verneuil came to the U. S. in 1940 

and went to Hollywood to write 
films. 


Verneuil also authored a b: 
raphy, "The Fabulous Life 
Sarah Bernhardt.” His first u 
incidentally, was Lysiane B< 
iiaidt. granddaughter of • Sa 
Bernhardt. 


„ f MABLE WITHEE 
liable Withee (Mrs. Larry Puck), 


cally until 1937. His last film was 
“Heroes of the Alamo.” 


MIKE PINGITORE 

Mike Pingitore, 64, banjo player 
with the Paul Whiteman band since 
its formation 30 years ago and 
until his retirement from the orch 
in 1949, died Oct. 30 at his home 
in North Hollywood. Pingitore 
was the only one of the original 
sidemen to stick through the years. 
His banjo styling (fast windup on 
tunes) became one of Whiteman’s 
trademarks. For many years he 
also served as the librarian. 

Pingitore had been teaching 


^tgmunb Eomberg 

(November 9, 1951) 

- HARRY D. S9UIRES 


?o l in 1C0me< * y an< * vaU( * e star of th 
l? f 20s » (li ed Nov. 3 in Bayside, L. 3 
f tor a long illness. She retire 
Jom the stage in 1928 after he 
nainage to Puck, who is gener; 
manager for Arthur Godfrey. 

-miss Withee appeared on Broa< 
‘ * v . * n , 1918 with A1 Jolson in th 
Hisieal “Sinbad.” Four yeai 
au>r she played in the operett 
Hose of Stamboul,” with Jam< 
arton, and subsequently appeare 
1" , the musical, “Dew Drop Inn 
t V , of the “Artists an 
models revues. Her appearanc 


banjo, appearing at military camps 
and on tele shows on the Coast 
until he retired about four months 
ago. 

His wife and a son, Carl, a film 
editor, survive. 


MAURICE MARKS 
Maurice Marks, playwright and 
ad agency exec, died Nov. 3 in 
New York. He was the husband 
of Rita Weiman, author-playwright. 

Marks, who was veepee of 
Klores & Carter, Inc., was co-au- 
thor (with James Gleason) of the 


Pfi&lETT 



musicomedy, “Rain or Shine,” in 
1928. With his wife he wrote “The 
King’s Breakfast,” presented in 
London in 1938. In collaboration 
with Fred Thompson, he wrote 
“Imported From Paris,” which 
played Chicago and the road in 
the early 1930s. 

In addition to his wife, a sister- 
survives. 


* DICK LONG 

Dick Long, 60, who had his own' 
orch in Minneapolis for 40 years, 

heart attack. 

Long last May celebrated his 
30th anni of playing luncheon 
music at Dayton’s, leading loop de- 
partment store, and on the same 
day he completed 25 years of din- 
ner and dance music in the Curtis. 
Hotel dining room. 

1 Long had also conducted the 
orch at the Lyceum, legit, house, 
and maestroed at the Nankin Cafe 
and Strand. Shubert and Orpheum’ 
Theatres. Wife and four sons sur- 
vive. 


MAIRE O’NEILL 

Maire O’Neill, 65, Irish actress 
who was one of the original' mem- 
bers of the Abbey Theatre com- 
pany, died Nov. 2 in London a 
j few hours after she had undergone 
1 an operation following serious 
bums. 

Miss O’Neill appeared in such 
Abbey productions as “Playboy of 
the Western World” and “Juno and 
=The Pay-cock.” She played’ in New 
York in “General John 'Regan,” 
“The White-Headed Boy,”- “The 
Plough and the Stars” and “Mr. 
Gilhooley.” 

ALLEN LEWIS 

Allen Lewis, 50, manager of the 
Park Theatre, Philadelphia, died 
Oct. 25 in that city. He was thea- 
tre manager for the old Stanley 
Co. of America in Philly in 1930 
and subsequently piloted houses 
on the Warner circuit. He was dis- 
trict manager for the A. M. Ellis 
Theatres before coming to the 
Park in 1945. 

He is survived by his wife, three 
daughters; a brother, Milton, man- 
ager of the Carman Theatre, Phil- 
ly, and two sisters. 


JOHN D. OPPE 

John D. Oppe, 76, organizer with 
Guglielmo Marconi of the Marconi 
Wireless Telegraph Co., died Nov. 
,2 in Montreal. Oppe assisted Mar- 
coni in building his historic radio 
station at Glace Bay, N. S. 

Oppe was director of Marconi 
Wireless Telegraph when it was 
sold to U. S. interests. The com- 
pany was later developed into the 
Radio Corp. of America. 

His wife and two sons survive. 


HUGH MARTIN 

Hugh Martin, 41, district mana- 
ger of Indiana and Ohio divisions 
of the Balaban & Katz Great States 
circuit, died in an auto crash near 
Marion, Ind., Oct. 30. He had been 
with B&K for 23 years, starting 
as an usher in Chicago, and then 
writing ads for the Chicago 
Theatre. 

Survived by wife and. three chil- 
dren. 


JACK MILTON 

Jack Milton, 67, retired legit ac- 
tor, died Oct. 31 in Elizabeth, N. J. 
Born James M. Tuthill, he had ap- 
peared with stock companies in 
the U. S. and Canada. Before re- 
tiring 27 years ago, he formed the 
Jack Milton Players which toured- 
the country. 

Surviving are a daughter, a sis- 
ter and a brother. 


RICHARD OWEN 

Richard Owen, 57, exploitation 
and publicity man, died of a heart 
attack Nov. 1 in Hollywood. He 
was former publicity man for Billy 
Rose and the Interstate circuit in 
Texas. At one time he was a 
Variety staffer. 

A brother, Jackie, outdoor show- 
man, and five sisters survive. 


JEAN AQUISTAPACE 

Jean Aquistapace, 70, actor and 
operatic baritone, died in Nice Oct. 
20. First baritone at the Paris 
Opera before the last war, he also 
appeared at Covent Garden, Lon- 
don, and was featured in a number 
of French films. In recent years he 
had held direction of the Nice 
Opera House. 

Survived by wife and son. 


PERCY D. BREWSTER 
Percy Douglas Brewster, 86, 
pioneer motion pic engineer who 
worked in color processes, died 
Oct. 7, in East Orange, N. J. 
Brewster, who retired 12 years, 
ago, had been prez of the Brewster 


Films Corp., Newark, and of the 
Revelation Film Corp. of London. 
His wife survives. 


OLLIE WOOD 

Ollie Wood, 52, vaude dancer, 
died recently in Grand Rapids, 
Mich. She was billed as . .the 
“Buster Brown Girl.” After her 
retirement from vaude, she taught 
dancing in Grand Rapids. 

Surviving are two sons, a daugh- 
ter, dancer Gloria Balkema, and 
two brothers. 


BARRY C. KEITH 
Barry C. Keith, 47, veteran 
ticket broker, died Nov. 1 in New 
York. Keith had been in the ticket 
biz for 37 years. His brother Joey 
Keith, vet ticket broker, died sev- 
eral years ago 

Surviving are his wife, a son and 
two sisters. 


MRS. EMILY C. HUNT 
Mrs. Emily Callaway Hunt, 
former legit actress, died Nov. 3 
Jn New York. She had appeared 
in “Every Woman," “Lord Dun- 
dreary,” “Seven Keys To Baldpate” 
and “Roads of Destiny.” 

Two sisters survive. 


JOHNNIE LE FEVRE 

Johnnie LeFevre, .79, retired 
legit actor and vaude performer, 
died recently in New York. 

' He appeared in vaude in an act 
billed as LeFevre & (Frankie) St. 
John and, played in legit in John 
Golden’s production of “Light- 
nin’.” 


HARR\ GAMSON 

Hariy Gamson, '52, ad agency 
exec, died of a heart attack Oct. 31 
in Las Vegas. He recently left the 
Milton Weinberg ad agency to set 
up his own firm. - 

Wife and -a son survive. 


FRANK HEATH 

Frank Heath, 60, assistant film 
director, died Oct. 31 in Hollywood 
following a stroke. Formerly cast- 
ing director for Warners’ Vita- 
graph and Famous Players-Lasky, 
he had been a member of the 
Screen Directors Guild since 1937. 

His wife survives. 


JOE H. PALMER „ 

Joe H. Palmer, 48, racing editor 
of the New York Herald Tribune 
who had broadcast turf events for 
CBS, died of coronary thrombosis 
Oct. 31 in MalVerne, L.I. Palmer 
joined the Trib in -1946. He also 
wrote several books on racing. 

Wife and two sons survive. 


WILLIAM H. MALONE 

William H. Malone, 79, legit 
actor for more than 50 years, died 
Oct. 18 in Englewood, N.J. 

Surviving are his wife, a brother 
and a sister. 


Bob Smith, 62, booking agent 
for a county cinema group, died 
in Newcastle, England, Oct. 19. 
Formerly a newsreel cameraman, 
he was on the job in 1913 when 
the British suffragette, Emily Davi- 
son, tried to stop the King’s Derby 
horse, Ammer, and was knocked 
down and killed. 


William F. (Bill) McKinnon, 57, 
news and sports announcer for 
WBNS, Columbus, and former 
-sports editor of the Columbus Dis- 
patch, died Oct. 31 in Columbus. 
He also did telefasting for WBNS- 
TV. His wife, a son, his mother, 
two sisters and a brother survive. 


William Franklin Myers, 67, 
known as Lamar, the Magician, 
died in Cambridge, O., recently. 
He was assisted by his wife, Ivar, 
who survives. Also surviving is a 
daughter. 


Enrico Eduardo Fabrizio, 60, for 
34 years first cellist with Boston 
Symphony Orchestra, died in Bos- 
ton Oct. 26. Survived by his wife, 
Laura (Baldelli), former concert 
Singer, and five sisters. 


Son, 7, of David Wolf, owner of 
the DaWo Corp., Toledo, manu- 
facturers of equipment for drive- 
ins, died in Toledo Oct. 31, of 
cancer. 


Father, 67, of screen producer 
William Marshall and Jack Mar- 
shall of the Metro music depart- 
ment, died of a heart attack Oct. 
25 in Los Angeles. 


George Neckermann, 68, former 
district manager for II. Schoen- 
stadt & Sops Theatres, Chicago, 
died Oct. 2a in that city. He had 


served 38 years with the circuit,, 
Wife survives. 

— ■ i 

Carl Watts, 58, commercial 
photographer on the motion pic* 
ture lots for 10 years, died of a 
heart attack Oct. 28 in Hollywood, 

' * 

Alfred B. McDonough, 72, re- 
tired financial manager of Chi- 
cago’s Powers and Erlanger Thea* 
tres, died in suburban Oak- Park, 
Oct. 29. Three children survive. 


Husband of Nancy Craig (Mrs. 
George Junkin), commentator on 
WJZ-TV, N. Y., died Nov. 1 in 
Bayside, L. I. 


Mother, 77, of Donald Stein- 
first, music critic of the Pittsburgh- 
Post-Gazette, died in Pittsburgh 
Nov. 1. 


Pierce Paris, 62, charter member 
of the Motion Picture Projection- 
ists Union, which was founded in 
1913, died Oct. 26 at his home in 
Los Angeles. 


C. J. Spencer, who owned the 
Ritz, formerly the Empire, in Lut- 
terworth, Rugby, died in Leicester, 
England, Oct. 16. 


Mother of Mrs. Jules (Doris) 
Stein, wife of the chairman of the 
board of Music Corp. of America, 
died Nov. 1 in Hollywood. 


Mother, 72, of Yale Rassim, film 
projectionist, died Oct. 23 in Holly- 
wood. ‘ 


Qctavio Palazzolo, 59, Buenos 
Aires drama critic, died there Oct. 
20 . 


Madame Query, 80, mentalist 
once known as Madame Ali, died- 
in Grimsby, England, Oct. 17. 


Charles Baker, 58, retired thea- 
tre operator, died in Brady, Tex., 
recently. 


Father, 60, of Miles Bohm Auer, 
personal manager, died Oct. 29 in 
Hollywood. 

Harry David Haring, 70, film 
technician, died Oct. 29 in Holly- 
wood. 


MARRIAGES 

Virginia Rix to Robert Markle, 
Pittsburgh, Nov. 1. Groom is as- 
sistant to Ray Rogers, chief en- 
gineer at WDTV, where bride was 
Rogers’ secretary. 

June Wallace Thomson to Jack 
Albertson, Pittsburgh, Oct. 31. 
Bride is with Joseph Katz agency 
in N.Y.; groom is in “Top Banana.” 

Jessie Willsey to George K. Alli- 
son, North Hollywood, Oct. 25. 
Bride 'is a secretary and groom is 
media director for Young & Rubl- 
cam ad agency there. 

Maria Felix to Jorge Negrete, 
Mexico City, Oct. 18. Both are 
Mex film thesps. 

Pauline Marion Voss to Ernest 
David Varley, Leicester, England, 
Oct. 25. She’s radio actress play- 
ing Mrs. Perkins in BBC serial, 
“The Archers.” 

Jane Wyman to Freddie Karger, 
Los Angeles, Nov. I. She’s film 
star; he’s an orch leader. 

Eleanor Corrigan to Keith 
Brown, Oct. 31, New York. Bride 
is with Benton & Bowles agency; 
groom is TV producer, formerly 
with William Morris Agency on 
the Coast. 


BIRTHS 

Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Ross, son, 
Hollywood, Oct. 28. Mother is 
former actress Ann Melton; father 
is a musician at Columbia. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Cardillo, 
son, Pittsburgh, Oct. 29. Father 
has— the band at the Monte C^rlo 
in Pitt. ^ 

Mr. and Mrs. Roy Philson, son, 
Pittsburgh, Oct. 30. Father is a 
salesman at KQV. 

Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Day, daugh- 
ter, Hollywood, Oct. 28. Father is 
singer-comic. 

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Perreau, 
daughter, Los Angeles,. Oct. 30. 
Child is a sister of Gigi and Janine 
Perreau and Peter Miles, film 
moppets. 

Mr. and Mrs. T. M.° Watson, 
daughter, Glasgow, Oct. 25. Father 
is Scot playwright and author of 
the click comedy, “Bachelors Are 
Bol$.” 

Mr. and Mrs. William Schock, 
daughter, San Antonio, recently. 
Father is technical director for 
KEYL-TV there. 

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Fallon, son, 
Sart Antonio, Oct. 26. Father is 
on announcing staff of KITE there. 

Mr. and Mrs. Clifford I. Cane, 
son. New York, Oct. 30. Father is 
eastern business manager of Uni- 
versal’s pub-ad department. 


64 


***** 


PfilSlEfY 

— (t+m* 'i ■ .'t » 

W\ ! :/,y 


Wednesday, November 5, 1952 


Broa 


Announces its option t 

one of the seaso 



ngels 

^ce and totally finance 
Broadway Plays 


A New Farce Comedy by WILLIAM FREE AND JEANIE GUNN 

which has been approved by the script reading committee of our 
board of Professional Advisors as worthy of production and hav- 
ing in their opinion the -potential of a smash hit! 

We believe screen rights to this vehicle may increase our potential 
earnings. THe play is also adaptable as a TV series. 

PURPOSE 

BROADWAY ANGELS, INC. was formed to give people of limited means an opportunity 
to back shows. By pooling the money of a lot of small investors this is made possible. 
The risk is also better diversified because the corporation does not have all its capital in 
any one show. A methodical system is employed in selecting plays, TV packages and 
motion pictures invested in, with the stockholders receiving regular reports of the acqui- 
sitions of the corporation. 

On Broadway, farce com eddies have proven themselves to be extremely profitable if accepted 
by the public as (what is" called) at hit show. The original budget as well as the running 
expense is comparatively small in # contrast to musicals and extravaganzas, while the net 

profits remain high. 

Th« Corporation also owns 


A feature motion picture subject made in the interests of the health and welfare of 
America’s youth. Ready for release. Exhibitor* inquire by mail or wire for immediate 

bookings. 

Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Common Stock Is _ 

Still Being Offered to the Public at 50c per shore 


Mail request to: 
Broadway Angels, Inc 
29 West 65th Street, 

New York 23, N. Y. 


FOR PROSPECTUS AND FULL INFORMATION 

New York Residence Call 



Or 


SU 7-4600 


Or 


Drop by Our Production Office: 

846 Seventh Avenue (near 54th St.) 

New York City 

Office Hours: 10:00 A.M.»8:00 P.M. 
(Monday thru Saturday) 


i 


1 24 Hour Switchboard Service) 1 

NOTE: In the event of oversubscription, postmark or tlpie of call will be honored in order in which subscriptions are received, and we reserve the right to return all or part of any subscription. 

Statements Required by the Securities and Exchange Commission 

$ 

570,000 Shares of Common Stock are offered at 50c per share by BROADWAY ANGELS^ INC* 

There is an allowance of $71,250 brokerage commissions and $25,000 Because these securities are believed, exempt they have not been registered, but a Letter 

expenses, leaving $188,750 working capital which will be invested in of Notification under Regulation A has been filed with the Securities & Exchange Com- 

mission. This does not mean that the Commission has either approved or disapproved 
these securities or passed upon the accuracy or completeness of these statements. 


various Broadway shows under the guidance of Professional Advisors. 




VOL. 188 No. 10 


Published Weekly at 154 West 48th Street, New York 36, N. Y„ by Variety, Inc., Annual subscription *$19. Single copies, 25 cents. 
Entered as second class matter December 22, 1905, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3. 1879. 

COPYRIGHT, 1952, BY VARIETY, INC., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 


NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1952 


PRICE 25 CENTS 


SHOW BIZ AUDITIONS IKE SETUP 


Bitg Swings Met Crowd-Now Hey 


Automobile Makers Battling It Out 


Watch Show; Peak 60G B.O. Preem p[|]J [j|J[)[[j gyp For Ike Inauguration Sponsorship 


By ARTHUR BRONSON 

. The Metropolitan Opera Assn, 
put its best tonsil forward Monday 
night (10), bowing its 68th N. Y. 
season with a new, lavish produc- 
tion of the Verdi oldtimer, “La 
Forza del Destino ,” which cost the 
Met a sweet $67,000 to mount. 

In return, the Met got its money 
right back, with an upped-tariff, 
non-subscription house, long sold 
out, bringing in a terrific $60,000 
(or to be exact- : - : $59,961.50) at the 
boxoffice. Take marks an all-time 
high "at the Met, exceeding last 
year’s $53,112 opener and 1950’s 
opening-night and previous record- 
holder of $54,800, 

Tab for tiie opener was scaled 
to, $30, as against a normal top of 
$8. Audience included society and 
industrial brass, show biz toppers 
from N. Y., HQllywood and abroad, 
and other bigwigs. 

What the audience got was a 
sumptuous new . production of 
“Forza,” with striking sets and cos- 
tumes. by Eugene Berman, ani- 
mated staging by Herbert Graf and 
exemplary conducting by Fritz 
Stiedry. And since this is essen- 
tially a singer’s opera, and hence 
not given so often (the Met staged 
it' last. in 1944), the customers real- 
ly got a musical treat. 

'Zinka Milanov.as Leonora, Rich- 
ard Tucker as Don Alvaro, Leonard 

(Continued on page 87) 


Reefer Rap Splits Up 
Buck & Bubbles For 
1st Time in 35 Years 

Toronto, Nov. 11. 
After 35 years’ association, Buck 
& Bubbles, song-and-dance team, 
will be split for the forthcoming 
six months. Jailed here since Sept. 
20 on charges of illegal possession 
of narcotics, John (Bubbles) Sublett 
was acquitted by Judge Prentice 
on “benefit of doubt,” with Ford 
Lee (Buck) Washington coming to 
the defense of his partner. 

Earlier in week, Buck was sen- 
tenced to minimum six months in 
Jail plus a $200 fine, with extra 
luonth to be served if fine isn’t paid. 
Bubble’s wife, Mabel, was acquit- 
ted but Benjamin Winestone, for- 
mer sax player with several top 
u - S. bands, was sentenced to six 
months and fined $400, 

Judgments followed a Mounties’ 
raid on Buck & Bubbles hotel suite 
here during the team’s local nitery 
engagement. Four defendants, un- 
nn to pos t individual bail of 
$5,000, later reduced to $3,000, 
were in jail since Sept. 20. 


‘Night With Tallu’ 

Mulled for R’way 

Tallulah Bankhead may return 
to legit next year via a “Night 
with Tallulah” show, similar in 
format to the current Broadway 
click, “An Evening with Beatrice 
Lillie.” 

Actress is currently under 
contract to NBC-TV for a series of 
starring shows in that web’s Sat- 
urday night “All Star Revue,” 
and the legiter would be produced 
under the auspices of Charles 
(Bud) Barry, NBC program veepee, 
and Dee Engelbach, producer-di- 
rector of her radio-TV activities. 


ASCAP Eyeing 
S15.0fl0.000 For 


Record 1952 

With the challenge of Broadcast 
Music, Inc., still looming as a 
shadow over the American Society 
of Composers, Authors & Pub- 
lishers, members of ASCAP were 
encouraged at the annual meeting 
last week in New York by the 
brightest financial report in the 
Society’s history. Surpassing ad- 
vance estimates, ASCAP treasurer 
Louis Bernstein reported that 
ASCAP collected $10,375,000 for 

(Continued on page 72) 


✓ 

Judge Scans ‘Roberts’ 

For Scars on Star Actor 

Detroit, Nov. 11. 

“Mister Roberts” was reviewed 
by Circuit Judge Thomas J. Mur- 
phy and his wife the other night 
at the Cass Theatre. They weren’t 
thinking of censoring it. 

They were peering past the 
show’s dialog and characters, 
searching for scars on the face of 
the star, Tod Andrews. He had 
been injured in a taxi accident 
when the play was in Detroit last 
October. He has a circuit court 
suit for damages pending against 
the cab company. 

Andrews’ attorney decided that 
Judge Murphy and three attor- 
neys for the cab company should 
see to what degree the scars on 
Andrews’ face are noticeable. 


Washington, Nov. 11. 

One ^absolute certainty, in the 
Republicans’ “20 years after” re- 
turn to power, is that there will 
be no lessening of the strong ties 
between show biz and the Govern- 
ment. 

Names and faces may change, 
but Washington will continue to 
woo and be wooed by motion pic- 
tures, broadcasting, live entertain- 
ment, and the businessmen behind 
all of these. 

The Government will still sue 
for anti-trust and other violations, 
but when it needs help to reach 
the millions with information, ap- 
peals and messages, it will turn to 
Broadway and Hollywood — as al- 
ways. 

There will be investigations as 
usual of Communism in show biz. 
There will be wrangles, as usual, 
over the admissions, excess profits 
and other taxes. 

In short, the cast may change 
but the plot will be pretty much 
the same. And since there will con- 
tinue to be work to be done in 
Washington, the industries and the 
large companies will all maintain 
their contact people here. 

As of now, and certainly subject 
to later revision, the situation 
looks like this: 

1. There will be a “Voice of 
(Continued on page 87) 

Truman, Adlai 



Ike May Officiate At 

Lambs Inauguration 

President-elect Dwight D. Eisen- 
hower may officiate next spring at 
the inauguration Gambol of the 
Lambs Club in New York. Gen. 
Eisenhower, a member of the the- 
atrical organization, has been in- 
vited to participate by William 
Gaxton, the club's new Shepherd, 
and Fred, Waring, the new Boy. 

Both Gaxton and Waring were 
strongly active in Gen. Eisenhow- 
er’s Presidential campaign. 

Its ‘Lucy/ Berle, 
Godfrey in First 
Natl Nielsens 

It doesn’t come as a particular 
surprise to the industry that “I 
Love Lucy” again tops the Nielsen 
parade, but the fact that Milton 
Berle’s revamped “Texaco Star 
Theatre” cops the No. 2 laurels in 
numbers of homes reached indi- 
cates the continued potency of the 
comic, despite the fact that he 
wound up last season barely inch- 
ing into the Top 10 bracket. 

The ratings, for the two weeks 
ending Oct. 11, are the first nation- 

( Continued on page 60) 


Just as the political conventions 
and election returns coverage pit- 
ted electric appliance manufactur- 
ers against each other in the spon- 
sors' seats, the presidential inaugu- 
ration next Jan. 20 will see auto 
manufacturers battling it out on 
the airwaves. Packard Motors this 
week pacted to bankroll the in- 
auguration via CBS-TV, less than 
two weeks after NBC sold its in- 
auguration pickup to General 
Motors. Depending on the num- 
ber of stations CBS is able to Line 
up, Packard will pay an estimated 
$200,000 for the event, same as 
GM Is paying NBC. 

Outlining CBS-TV’s plans for the 
inauguration, Sig Mickelson, the 
web’s news and special events 
chief, emphasized . this week that 
the sponsorship deal with Packard 
does not include the ceremony it- 
self nor President-elect Dwight D. 
Eisenhower’s inaugural address. 
These, Mickelson said, will be car- 
ried on a sustaining public service 
basis. Packard will come in, how- 
ever, on the motorcade pickup 
from the White House to the Cap- 
itol, which is expected to run from 
11:30 a. m. to noon, and then the 
cus-tomary parade back down 
Washington’s Pennsylvania Ave., 
which is expected to last from 
about 1 to Z p. m. 

Inking of Packard and GM to 
bankroll the inauguration hoopla 
on CBS and NBC, respectively, 
pointed up the manner in which 
the networks are gradually estab- 
lishing a pattern for selling sucli 
special events to sponsors on a sea- 
sonal basis. For the conventions 
and election, WeStinghouse spon- 

(Continued on page 18) 


President Harry S. Truman and 
Gov. Adlai Stevenson appear set 
to hit the literati trail and it’s lead- 
ing to a $1,000,000 payoff for each. 
That’s the amount being, offered to 
Stevenson by a syndicate compris- 
ing Cowles Publishing (Look, etc.) 
the Des Moines Register-Tribune 
syndicate and Prentice-Hall. Tru- 
man can pick up the same tall coin 
via sale of his memoirs which he’s 
reportedly readying. 

Stevenson, who finished second 
best in the fight to replace Truman 
at the White House, figures to ac- 
cept the Cowles, et al., proposal. 
Considered an important factor is 
that Gen. Douglas MacArthur, 
when in the fever of public spot- 
light, had a similar chance to go 
between covers and syndication 
with his writings but hesitated. 
Ephemeral nature of fame led to 
lessened interest in MacArthur 
memoirs. King Features (Hearst) 
originally was interes'ted. 

End of the Truman regime in 
(Continued on page 19) 


mm 




MID-WINTER ITINERARY M 
Nov* 12.. Kansas City Nov. 20.. Denver 


14. .St* Joseph* Mo. 

15.. .0maha* Neb. 
16. .Beloit* Kan. 

18. .Colorado Spgs. 

19.. Pueblo, Col. 


M 21 . .Laramie, Wyo. 
" 22. .Ft. Collins, Col. 

LAST FRONTIER HOTEL 

LAS VEGAS, HEY. 

Noy. 25 thru Dec. 26 


CBS TELEVISION CITY SECTION 


(Starts on Page 271 









2 


MISCELLANY 


A 


UAftlFTY 


Wednesday, November 12, 1952 



But Stageshow for This Year’s Film 
Gala Given Thumbs-Down Appraisal 


* 


London, Nov. 4. 

Twice within the last fortnight, 
the British entertainment Industry 
has put its best foot forward to 
entertain the Royal Family. Each 
show had a $1,000,000 array of 
talent, yet one received unanimous 
crix appraisal while the other got 
a universal thumbs-down-treatment. 

The two royal galas, one spon- 
sored by the film industry and the 
other by the vaudeville business, 
are regular annual events. Between 
them they raise substantial sums 
for show biz charities. The com- 
bined results of this year's efforts 
will exceed $120,000. 

But apart from their money 
raising values, these Royal events 
give added kudos to show biz gen- 
erally, and particularly to the art- 
ists who are invited to participate. 
They are also great social events 
which provide a first-class free 
entertainment for the thousands 
of fans who crowd the streets and 
cheer the arrival of celebrities. 

By a tradition established when 
the Royal Film Gala was initiated 
in 1946, a stageshow follows the 
presentation of the Command Pic- 
ture. Top ranking talent, drawn 
from British and Hollywood stu- 
dios, has regularly been brought to- 
gether. Then with barely a day’s 
'(Continued on page 18) 


‘DIAL’ RECORD PAYOFF 
AFTER 2| WEEKS IN N.Y. 

“Dial ‘M’ for Murder” is set to 
be one of the quickest-payoff shows 
in modern Broadway history. The 
Frederick Knott thriller will prob- 
ably get into the black by Satur- 
day night (15), after only two and 
a half weeks at the Plymouth, N. Y. 

The James P. Sherwood produc- 
tion starring Maurice Evans is net- 
ting about $8,500 a week and on 
the basis of the unanimously en- 
thusiastic notices, almost solid sell- 
out business and climbing advance 
sale, it is a prospect to continue to 
make that operating profit indefi- 
nitely. Meanwhile, the original edi- 
tion continues in London, having 
opened last June. 

The Broadway production of the 
meller was -capitalized at $50,000, 
but involved a production cost of 
only about $35,500, plus $6,000 in 
bonds and deposits. It earned 
around $11,500 on its tryout tour, 

, picked.. ,up $6,500 on its first part-' 
week and $8,500 on its second week 
in New York. 

Jim Barton in Quick 
Recovery After DIness 

Just a few weeks after he suf- 
fered a mild stroke while headlin- 
ing at the Thunderbird in Las 
Vegas, James Barton has been re- 
booked for that spot for next . 
spring. Barton’s recovery has been 
rapid. 

The vet comedian has had a ; 
Metro picture put back for him, 
though he had to forego another at j 
Faramount. Barton is currently 
recuperating at* his New Hyde 
Park, L. JL, home. Medicos figure 
he’ll be back and working in a 
couple of more months. 

The Thunderbird partied him be- 
fore he left for the east. 


CantorLeaves Hosp 

Hollywood, Nov. 11. 

Eddie Cantor has left Cedars of 
Lebanon Hospital exactly six weeks 
after being admitted for treatment 
of a cardiac condition. He will con- 
valesce at home for a fortnight, 
then resume film, radio and video 
commitments. 

As soon, as he ip able he will 
complete recordings for WB’s 
“Cantor Story.” 

Tearful Finale Staged 
At Indefinite Closing 
Of Paris Bal Tabarin 

Paris, Nov. 4. 

Final performance of “Reflets,” 
Bal Tabarin revue which has run 
for three years and with which 
.Tabarin closed down for an indefi- 
nite period, was a dewy one with 
stars, cancan chorus, stagehands 
and .waiters in tears. Life mag did 
a pictorial coverage of Montmar- 
tre’s cancan nitery’s closing. 

Tabarin’s shuttering caused fir- 
ing of almost 200 on the cafe’s per- 
manent staff. This included office 
and b.o. force, waiters, bartenders, 
stagehands and mechanics em- 
ployed to handle the intricate el- 
evator stage. Many performers had 
played in all Tabarin shows for 
past 15 years. 

When closing notice went not 
only to the performing company 
but to the permanent staff as well 
six weeks ago, rumors that Tabarin 
would not reopen began to circu- 
late. Official announcement is that 
house is closing for redecoration 
and repairs, but as repairs and re- 
painting have often been done by 
day, during run of show, reports 
that Tabarin’s closing was final 
persist. 

Squabbling between Tabarin’s 
co-managers, Mme. Sandrini, wid- 
ow of former operator Pierre San- 
drini (who staged “Reflets” just 
prior to his death) and Jacques Du- 
bout, son of Sandrini’S partner, are 
said to have caused decision to 
close the cancan palace at this 
time. Tabarin opened in 1903 and 
was the only cabaret of that period 
still in operation. Last revue, “Re- 
flets,” billed Dick and Dot Remy, 
acrobatic comedy-dance team; Rob- 
ert Lamourt, ventriloquist comic; 
Eileen O’Dare, American dancer 
also starring in the Folies-Bergere 
show; Bood & Bood, novelty act, 
and Andrea Dancers. 

Cancan chorus has idea of form- 
ing troupe of its own. 


USO Prexy Jim Sauter’s 
Good Citizenship Medal 

James. E. Sauter, prexy of USO- 
Camp Shows, was presented with 
the Good Citizenship Medal of the 
New York State Society of the 
Order of Founders and Patriots of 
America, Friday (7) at City Hall, 
N. Y. 

Presentation was made by Gard- 
ner Osborn, govenor of the organi- 
zation, with N. Y. Mayor Vincent 
Impelfitteri participating. 




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FRANK LIBUSE 


Starring with 
MARGOT BRANDER 
LIDO, PARIS, FRANCE 

Concluding a sensational 24 week 
run, our compliments to Managing 
Director M. Pierre Louis-Guerin and 
his associates, au revoir, mes amis. 

We return to the States for the 
Holidays and our holiday, the first 
in 52 weeks of consecutive playing. 

Detroit A.C. starting Jan. £4. 

Personal Management 
AL GROSSMAN 
1270 Sixth Ave., New Yoi'k 


U.S. Nets Prep 
Special Setup On 
Coronation Pix 




London, Nov. 4. 

With abandonment of the experi- 
mental plan for a direct TV trans- 
mission of the Coronation across 
the Atlantic, major U.S. networks 
are finalizing arrangements to film 
the ceremony and have prints 
available for screening from coast 
to coast the day after the event. 

Although the American units will 
have their own cameras along the 
processional route, they will not 
have facilities to film inside West- 
minster Abbey, and will have to 
rely on BBC telefilms for coverage 
of this aspect of the ceremony. Each 
unit will probably be allotted three 
or four positions at strategic points 
adjacent to Buckingham Palace, 
Trafalgar Square and the Abbey. 
Regular crews will be reinforced 
by engagement of additional cam- 
eramen. 

Consideration is being given by 
some of the networks to filming in 
color. As an experiment, last week’s 
state opening of Parliament by the 
Queen was filmed by NBC on 16m 
(Continued on page 60) 

60 Fic Names Sked 

GI Yuletide Tours 

Hollywood, Nov. 11. 

Christmas holidays will bring 
out a minimum of 60 film person- 
alities to entertain American serv- 
icemen at posts in Alaska, Korea, 
Greenland and the Caribbean area. 
Tourists will start Dec. 19 and re- 
turn Jan. 4. 

Four separate groups will be 
formed, according to George Mur- 
phy, Hollywood Coordinating Com- 
mittee president, with 30 perform- 
ers headed for Korea alone. Ar- 
rangements for the tours will be 
made in collaboration with USO- 
Camp Shows and the Army Special 
Services branch of the Department 
of Defense. 


This Week’s Football \ 

By HARRY WISMER-m-m* r iiimt 


College 

EAST 

GAMES SELECTION 

Arjny-Penn • Penn 

But Penn isn’t Georgia Tech. 

NYU-Boston-U JBQSton__U . .. 

Hugh Devore* lacks material. 

Harvard-Brown Harvard .... 

* Crimson gaining momentum. 

Syracuse-Colgate Syracuse .... 

Red Raiders can’t match Syracuse power. 

Columbia-Navy Navy 

Lou Little’s club too thin. 

Dartmouth-Cornell Dartmouth 7 

* Colder weather aids Big Green, 

Fordhnm-Temple Temple 

Both teams have fine spirit 

No. Carolina State-Pitt Pitt 

Red Dawson may be coach of the year. 

Prince ton- Yale - Princeton 

Old Eli no pushover under Oliver. 

Rutgers-Penn State Penn State .... 

Penn State may have lost bowl chance. 

SOUTH 


*PTS, 

. . 6 

-..10 

.. 12 

.. 12 

.. 14 


3 

17 

* 

4 

14 


Alabama-Ga. Tech Georgia Tech 24 

Runaway for Georgia Tech. 

Arkansas-SMU SMU 20 

Mustangs have too much offense. * 

Auburn-Georgia Georgia 17 

Bratowski has helped Bulldogs. 

Clemson-Kentucky Kentucky 14 

Bryant’s coaching te^s tale. 

Duke-Wake Forest Duke 8 

Blue Devils will fight back. 

Florida-Tennessee Florida 3 

• ’Gators have waited for this since 1928. 

La. State-Miss. State Miss. State 6 

LSU really on downbeat. 

Maryland-Miss. Maryland 21 

Terps have everything but a conference. 

! No. Carolina-So. Carolina South Carolina 12 

• Snavely on his way to different climate. 

Texas A&M-Rice Texas A&M 6 

Aggies in a tight squeeze. 

TCU -Texas Texas 17 

Texas definitely bowl-bound. 

Vanderbilt-Tulane Vanderbilt 7 

Vanderbilt bruised but not beaten. 

MIDWEST 

Mich. State-Notre Dame Michigan State 10 

This game should be televised. 

Ohio State-Illinois Illinois 7 

Ray Elliot’s pep talk the answer. 

Wisconsin-Indiana Wisconsin 20 

Badgers will roll over poor little Indiana. 

Northwestern-Iowa Northwestern 10 

Evashevski in trouble at Iowa. 

Okla. A&M-Kansas Oklahoma A&M 7 

“Ears” Whitworth a fine young coach. 

Michigan-Purdue Michigan 7 

Boilermakers have tightened up in stretch. 

Minnesota-Nebraska Minnesota 6 

Golden Gophers have improved under Fesler. 

Missouri-Okla Oklahoma 21 

Crowder will listen to Wilkinson this week. 

Detroit-Tulsa (Fri. nite) . . Tulsa . .. 24 

Oilers better coached. 

Colorado-Kansas State Colorado 21 

Colorado in a walk. 

FAR WEST 

California-Wash. State California 7 

Tough year for Waldorf but can win here. 

So. Calif .-Washington Southern Cal 20 

Trojans loaded. 

Oregon-Stanford Stanford 12 

Indians are rocking. 

PROFESSIONAL 

Packers-Giants Giants 14 

Giants have learned their lesson. 

Steelers-Browns Browns 20 

Browns have Carpenter back in shape. 

’49-ers-Redskins ’49-ers , 30 

Redskins will feel San Francisco’s fury, 

Bears-Rams Rams 12 

Defending champs clicking again. 

Eagles-Cardlnals Eagles 7 

Jim Trimble has Eagles fighting. 

Texans-Lions Lions 28 

Lions have eyes on championship. 

SEASON’S RECORD 

Won, 201; Lost, 67; Ties, 15; Pets., .750. 

’►Point margin represents selector’s choice. 


Toscy ‘Confesses* 

Members of the NBC Sym- 
phony Orchestra are calling it 
“The Maestro’s Great* Confes- 
sion.” It happened while Ar- 
turo Toscanini was putting the 
symph ensemble through the 
rehearsal paces of Richard 
Strauss’ “Till Eulenspiegel” 
for the first NBC concert of 
the season. 

Toscy lamented the fact 
that for years he had been 
playing the Strauss tone poem 
at an accelerated pace. “Ever 
since 1939 I've been doing it 
in 13-and-a-half minutes,” he 
said. “I’ve been foolish. That’s 
too fast. This time it’s just 
right — 17 minutes.” 

Then addressing the orches- 
tra members: “You, too, are 
fools. You should not have let 
me do it in 13-and-a-half 
..minutes,”. 


May Bar Josephine Baker 
From Reentry Into U.S. 

.Washington, Nov. 11. 

Josephine Baker may be barred 
from reentry into the United 
States, according to a spokesman 
from the Justice Dept. Miss Baker, 
currently on a tour of Argentina, 
has been making “anti-American 
speeches” on racial segregation in 
the U. S., according to J. D. spokes- 
man. 

The Negro actress was born in 
St. Louis, but renounced her Amer- 
ican citizenship and has been liv- 
ing in France. 

JVIiss Baker, in the finale of a se- 
ries of lectures in ^ Buenos Aires 
on racial discrimination, flayed 
President-elect Dwight D. Eisen- 
hower, accusing him of bias be- 
cause he allegedly- tolerated segre- 
gation in the Armed Forces.' 


Larry Adler Cancelled 
By Monteleone Hotel, N.O., 
After Amer. Legion Beef 

New Orleans, Nov. 11. 

Larry Adler’s scheduled two- 
week appearance in the plush Swan 
Room of the Monteleone Hotel 
here was cancelled last week <5) 
after an American Legion protest. 

Hotel owner Frank Monteleone 
signed comedian Billy Vine to 
replace Adler. The • harmonica 
virtuoso was paid his full salary. 

Martin Mayer, chairman of the 
Legion’s Americanism committee, 
lodged the protest with the hotel 
owner over Adler’s appearance, 
“because he belonged to a number 
of allegedly subversive groups— 
19 in all.” 

Anthony. Spataf ora, manager of 
' CContlhtfed <tti' Iff) 1 1 1 




Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


PfiftiEFr 


PICTVBK9 



50-50 Chance of 20 % Tax Repeal . 

For Industry Seen Via Exhib Reports 


Fitm industry now stands a 50-50+ 
chance of winning repeal of the 
20% Federal admislsons tax, on 
the basis of exhib reports from a 
variety of key cities. An even 
more favorable position had been 
hoped for by this time, field re- 
ports indicate, but some weak spots 
in the campaign to kill the levy 
have kept the odds to the even 
level. 

Tax campaign committee mem- 
bers have repeatedly urged thea- 
tremen to huddle with Congress- 
men to acquaint them with the eco- 
nomic necessity of removing the 
20% boxoffice take. Results so far 
reflect an inadequate effort on the 
part of theatremen in some sec- 
tions to win the lawmakers' sup- 
port, it’s said. 

National elections had presented 
a minor dilemma for exhibs in that 
results of the voting could not be 
previously ascertained in all cases. 
As a result, there were instances 
where, say, an incumbent had been 
won over to the industry’s side in 
the tax matter, but went down to 
defeat at the polls. In each such 
case, of course, the trade lost an 
ally. 

Hope prevails among many 
tradesters that the tax eventually 
will be scuttled but on condition 
that exhibs intensify their efforts 
in areas where Congressmen have 
yet to pledge their assistance. 


Jack Warner in N.Y. 

Jack L. Warner, Warner Bros, 
v.p. in charge of production, ar- 
rived in New York from the Coa^t 
on Monday (10) and is expected to 
remain in Gotham for a week, both 
on company and personal business. 

Originally, Harry M. Warner, com- 
pany prexy, was also due in Goth- 
am this week, but he has delayed 
his trip about 10 days. 


French Would Counteract 
Italy’s U.S. Inroads By 
N.Y. ‘Festival’ in Feb. 

French film industry is planning 
a New York film festival week 
patterned after the recent “Salute 
to Italian Films Week.” Fete has 
been tentatively set for February 

The industry in France feels that 
its product within recent months 
has been taking a backseat to the 
Italian pix in the U. S. market and 
that it’s time, to come through with 
an energetic bid for attention. The 
French government reportedly is 
making available dollars for the 
festival, which will be arranged by 
Unifrance, the Paris industry’s or- 
ganization devoted to plugging 
French films abroad. 

French plan to show five or six 
of their top pix but haven’t picked 
a theatre yet. They are said to be 
interested primarily in getting the 
Paris, which they consider the out- 
standing showcase for French pix 
in N. Y. French industry execs 
have approached various indie dis- 
tributors of foreign films in the 
U. S. to get their advice on how to 
turn the festival into. the best pos- 
sible plug for French product. 

Possibility looms that, in the 
event of a Franco-American film 
deal involving subsidies to French 
production, the coin will be used 
to finance^ in this country a setup 
similar to Italian Films Export, 
which is supported by frozen earn- 
ings of U. S. distribs in Italy. In 
that case, the festival may be paid 
for out of these funds. 


Schenck as Bd. 
Chairman Seen 
In M-G Divorce 


Nicholas M. Schenck, president 
of Loew’s-Metro, will be proposed 
as board chairman of the M-G film 
company upon its divorcement 
from domestic theatres in March, 
1954, under a long-range plan being 
discussed this week in financial 
and film industry circles. 

Prez of the film outfit, it’s said, 
will be Charles C. Moskowitz, 
who’s now v.p., director and treas- 
urer of the present parent corpora- 
ion. Slated to head the theatre 
company upon its formation is 
Joseph’ R. Vogel, who holds that 
spot in the current integrated cor- 
porate setup. Vogel is a Loew’s 
v.p. and general manager of its 
theatres. 

Personnel alignment of the two 
npw outfits when the splitup comes 
has been the subject of speculation 
for some time. Persons close to 
the situation this week related that 
(Continued on page 18) 



STOLKIN SHIRES 


Crucial state of affairs at RKO 
has taken another dramatic turn 
with the disclosure that Matthew 
Fox is heading a syndicate now ne- 
gotiating purchase of the film com- 
pany’s controlling stock from the 
Ralph Stolkin group. Latter ac- 
quired the shares from Howard 
Hughes this past September for 
over $7,000,000. Fox’s syndicate 
would bail them out for the exact 
same amount — no loss. 

Fox has been in Chicago talking 
the projected takeover with Stol- 
kin and his father-in-law, Abraham 
L. Koolish, and progress has 
reached the point whep, according 
o insiders, an actual deal could be 
consummated within the next day 
or two. Seen substantiating this is 
Tox’s reputation for swift and spec- 
acular trading, as witness his ac- 
quisition of the United Artists man- 
agement with Arthur B. Krim and 
Robert S. Benjamin early last 
year and the key role he played 
shortly after in UA’s quick buy- 
out of Eagle Lion Classics. 

Specifically involved is the 29%- 
of-total-ownership block of stock 
which Stolkin, Koolish, Ray Ryan, 
Edward* . (Buzz) Burke, Jr., and 
Sherrill C. Corwin bought at a 

(Continued on page 19) 


KRAMER REPORTED 
FOR RKO PROD. SPOT 

Just prior to the report of a pos- 
sible buyout of RKO control by a 
Matthew Fox syndicate (see sepa- 
rate story) Stanley Kramer was 
seen the most likely prospect for 
the top production spot. Even if 
Fox comes up with a deal, Kramer 
jnay still be in line for the studio 
berth. 

Actually, though, board chairman 
Arnold Grant states there hasn’t 
been any active casting for the 
spot. Kramer also denies any deal, 
the two have had talks, but these 
wore said to have centered “only” 
on a loanout of RKO contractee 
Robert Mitchum for a Kramer pic. 
Kramer, it’s also pointed out, is 
under a long-term pact with Co- 
lumbia. He adds he is also consult- 
ing Navy brass on “Caine Mutiny ” 


WB SEEKS KAZAN FOR 
STEINBECK’S ‘EDEN’ 

Warner Bros, is seeking to line 
up Elia Kazan to direct the film 
version of John Steinbeck’s current 
bestseller, “East of Eden.” Since 
there’s been no indication that WB 
has acquired the film rights to the 
Steinbeck tome, it’s assumed the 
film outfit has an option, which 
it’ll exercise if it inks Kazan. 

Director returned yesterday 
(Tues.) from Europe and will con- 
fer with Warner execs later this 
week. Jack L. Warner, currently 
in New York, may take part in the 
talks. While in Europe, Kazan 
directed for 20th-Fox “Man on the 
Tightrope,” scripted by Robert E. 
Sherwood and starring Fredric 
March. 


Nassers Credit TV 

For Their Comeback 

r 

Hollywood, Nov. 11. 
Tremendous financial comeback 
of General Service Studios is at- 
tributed to television by George 
Nasser, co-owner with his brother 
James, in announcing that attorney 
George Googin will file Dec. 11 
for discharge of bankruptcy the 
studio has been in for two and a 
half years. * - 

Eight-stage rental lot is now 
operating at about 90% capacity, 
operating profit of around $250,- 
000 before taxes being anticipated 
for fiscal year 1952-53. Meeting of 
creditors, skedded for Monday 
(10), has been postponed by 
bankruptcy referee Benno Brink 
due to various repayment plans 
being drafted. 

The Nassers are still dickering 
with Chemical Bank & Trust offi- 
cials on a loan to help pay off the 
Bank of America, its chief credi- 
tor. When thrown into bankruptcy 
the Nassers owed $3,000,000; they 
now owe $2,000,000, have $500,000 
cash and an annual revenue of 
about $45,000 from rentals, their 
theatres, pix sold to video and 
stocks. Four Nasser pix released to 
television earned .nearly $200,000 
thus far. 


Govt. OK’s Hughes 
RKO Pix Tie Plus 
Theatre Vote Right 

In a stipulation entered with the 
Dept, of Justice, Howard Hughes 
is permitted to continue his 
$8,000,000 financing link with RKO 
Pictures and simultaneously exer- 
cise voting power for the 929,020 
shares of RKO Theatres common 
stock which he owns. ’ However, 
the simultaneous tie-up with the 
two outfits may continue only for 
a maximum of a year. 

Hughes’ theatre stock has been 
trusteed with the Irving Trust Co., 
New York, under terms of the 
RKO consent decree in the indus- 
(Continued on page 18) 



Ankles U Board, Holds Rank Post 


Krim to Eye Europe 

Arthur B. Krim, president of 
United Artists, leaves New York 
for another swing of Europe within 
the next 10 days to look at indie 
product now being readied for UA 
distribution and probably set up 
new releasing deals. 

It’s understood the indie outfit 
has been discussing a production- 
distribution arrangement with Rob- 
ert Haggiag, Italian distrib and of- 
ficial of Scalera Studios, Rome. 


See FCC Okaying 
ABC-UPT Merger 
By This Week 

Washington, Nov. 11. 

Approval of the American Broad- 
casting Co.-United Paramount The- 
atres merger, ^clearance of license 
status of Paramount Pictures, and 
okay of purchase of WBKB, Chi- 
cago, by CBS are expected to be 
favored when Federal Communica- 
tions Commission examiner Leo 
Resnick issues his long-awaited in- 
itial decision in the package pro- 
ceedings, probably late this week. 

Decision will be subject to ex- 
ceptions and oral argument before 
the full Commission before a final 
ruling is handed down, perhaps 
within a month. In view of opposi- 
tion of the Commission’s broadcast 
bureau to the merger, it is likely 
that an argument will be requested. 

How Resnick will decide on the 
complex Parartiount-DuMont con- 
trol issue is a big question in the 
case but it would not be surprising 
if he finds that negative control 
exists by virtue of Par’s 25% in- 
terest in DuMont and its greater 
financial power. If he so finds, it is 
practically certain DuMont will 
also ask for oral arguments on this 
issue and probably on the merger 
as well. 

It’s generally felt here that ap- 
proval of the merger has been in 
the bag since the Commission or- 
( Continued on page 18) 


National Boxoffice Survey 

Fair Post-Election Pickup; ‘Snows’ Champ for Third 
Time, ‘Rifle! 2d, ‘Secret’ 3d, ‘Ivanhoe’ 4th 


First-run biz is better this week 
but the pickup country-wide is not 
nearly as big as had been antici- 
pated. Reports from Variety cor- 
respondents in some 23 representa- 
tive key cities indicate that there 
is an improved business tone and 
that this may be reflected in high- 
er grosses as soon as additional 
strong product gets out into re- 
lease. Aside from the first three 
money films, trade is widely split 
up, with several newcomers pick- 
ing up a considerable share of 
total revenue. 

“Snows of Kilimanjaro” (20th) 
is finishing first again for third 
week in a row. “Springfield Rifle” 
(WB) retained second spot, same 
as a week ago. Third money is 
going to a new entry, “Operation 
Secret/’ another from WB. 

“Ivanhoe” (M-G) is holding at 
fourth, where it was last session, 
while “Because You’re Mine” 
(M-G) is dipping to fifth slot. 

“Miracle of Fatima” (WB), with 
some new dates, is pushing up 
from 10th position of last week to 
sixth place. “Lusty Men” (RKO) 
is showing enough to land seventh, 
with “8 Iron Men” (Col) in eighth 
groove. 

“Quiet Man” (Rep), “The Thief” 
(UA), “Somebody Loves Me” (Par) 
and “Everything I Have Is Yours” 
(M-G) round out the Golden Dozen 
in that sequence. “Way of Gaucho” 
(20th), with some bigger grosses, 
continues to turn in too many fair 
to dull sessions to rate. 

There are some 11 new pix being 


Robert S. Benjamin, 43-year-old 
New York attorney yesterday 
(Tues.) was elevated to board chair- 
man of United Artists. He’s been a 
consultant with the indie distrib 
outfit since the early part of last 
year when he and pards, Matthew 
Fox and Arthur B. Krim, UA presi- 
dent, acquired management con- 
trol from Mary Pickford and 
Charles Chaplin. 

Formal announcement on Ben- 
jamin’s taking the UA chairman- 
ship, which has been vacant under 
the new regime, was by Krim. As a 
prelude to the switch, Benjamin 
has submitted his resignation from 
the board of Universal in con- 
formity with the consent judgment 
in the industry antitrust suit 
which proscribes interlocking di- 
rectorates. Benjamin had repped 
J. Arthur Rank on the U board. 
However, he’ll continue as presi- 
dent of the Rank Organization in 
the U. S. since this would not mean 
any conflict with the decree. 

For some time Krim has wanted 
Benjamin to take a “with port- 
folio” role in UA's top-echelon af- 
fairs, in place of his advisory 
(Continued on page /18) 


Karen Morley, Dassin, 
Burrows Slated For 
Red Probe Hearings 

Washington, Nov. 11. 

House Un-American Activities 
Committee reopens its Hollywood 
probe this week with two days of 
hearings here tomorrow (Wed.) 
and Thursday. While the commit- 
tee has not disclosed the names 
of the witnesses, it was learned 
they were slated to include Karen 
Morley, Jules Dassin and Abe Bur- 
rows. 

Committee merely announced 
that the witnesses would be per- 
sons who figured in earlier testi- 
mony of other witnesses. Indica- 
tions are that the House Commit- 
tee will try to clean up as much as 
pdssible of the Unfinished Holly- 
wood business in advance of the 
report it will make to the new 
Congress. 


unveiled this stanza, but not 
many indicate any decided future 
strength. “Because of You” (U), 
okay in Frisco, is shaping nice in 
Baltimore and fair in Philly. 
“Breaking Through” (UA) is sock 
on its N. Y. preem at the Victoria. 
“Turning Point” (Par) looks best 
in Frisco where it looks big. “Pris- 
oner of Zenda” (M-G) is rated nice 
in N. Y. 

“Steel Trap” (20th), opening this 
week at N. Y. State, shapes big in 
Seattle and pleasing in Cleveland. 
“Iron Mistress” (WB), next due at 
N. Y. Paramount, is solid in Chi. 
“K.C. Confidential” (UA) looks 
very strong in Chi. 

' “The Promoter” (U), still terrific 
on second N. Y. week, is big in 
L. A. “Happy Time” (Col), which 
did not fare well at N. Y. Music 
Hall, is rated smash in a Philly 
arty house. Other newcomers are 
not too good. 

“Assignment Paris” (Col) looms 
nice in Toronto. “Bonzo to Col- 
lege” (U) is fancy in Denver. “Lure 
of Wilderness” (20th), okay in 
K. C., is fine in Portland. 

“Battle Zone” (AA), fair in 
Minneapolis, shapes stout in Chi. 
“Son of All Baba” (U) is sock in 
Washington. 

“Just For You” (Par) looks fair 
in St. Louis. “Limelight” (UA) is 
holding great in two N. Y. houses. 
“Monkey Business” (20th) is fine 
in Louisville. 

( Complete Boxoffice Reports 
.on. Rages 1Q-U) 



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Vol. 188 


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No. 10 


INDEX 

Bills 78 

Chatter 86 

Film Reviews 6 

House Reviews 79 

Inside Television 60 

International 14 

Legitimate 80 

Literati 85 

Music - 65 

New Acts 78 

Night Club Reviews 76 

Obituaries 87 

Pictures 3 

Radio-Television 23 

Radio Reviews 26 

Record Reviews 66 

Television Reviews ...... 25 

TV-Films 21 

Unit Reviews 77 

Vaudeville 73 

DAILY VARIETY 

(Published in Hollywood by 
Dally Variety, Ltd.) 

$15 a Year. $20 Foreign 



riCTURES 



PTSSmff 


Wednesday, November '12, 1952 


Blames Distribs; ‘Change Needed’ 


Charlotte, N. C., Nov. 11. 4 

“The mo$t. pressing and acute 
immediate problem facing us to- 1 
-clay is the "matter of priirtr shorl- j 
age,” Allred Starr, national presi- 
dent of Theatre Owners of Amer- 
ica, declared yesterday (Mon.) in 
an address to the Theatre Owners 
of . North and South Carolina at its 
40th annual convention held here 
at the Hotel Charlotte. 

“Print shortages, as everyone 
knows, are brought about chiefly 
by multiple runs in a given area 
on the same clearance, resulting in 
day-and-dale contracts which the 
distributor finds it impossible to 
fulfill,” Starr said. “It is just too 
easy for* the distributor to charge 
the exhibitor with being the sole 
cause of this 1 unhappy situation,” 
Starr added. It is true that many 
exhibitors demand etfual clearance 
with other theatres over a wide 
area, but this demand stems most 
logically from the fact that all the 
exhibitors in that area are re- 
quired to pay the same terms for 
the pic ture/ ' Any exhibitor has the 
right toaslT himself why he should 
follow another theatre oh a later 
run when both are • paying the 
' same terms. In many cases he 
would be very glad to drop back 
to 60 days or rtiore-' if he were 
given an incentive to do so by get- 
ting lower film rentals thereby. 

“In my opinion,” Starr contin- 
ued, “the distributor is almost en- 
tirely responsible for the shortage 
of prints that results from this un- 
healthy condition, and it seems 
perfectly obvious to ■ me that a 
change must be made lest the 
whole system Of clearances falls 
apart and chaos replaces it. 

‘Senseless Policy* 

“At the bottom of this entire 
situation is the senseless policy of 
the distributors • of maintaining a 
(Continued on page 85) 


SWG Reports ’52 Profit, 

~ Net Worth-of IfiOG 


Hollywood, Nov. 11. 

Regardless of inflation, strike 
troubles and other vicissitudes, the 
Screen Writers Guild finished the 
fiscal year of 1952 with an operat- 
ing profit and started the new 
12-month with, a bankroll of more 
than $100,000. That was the annual 
report of Wells Root, SWG treas- 
urer, who disclosed that the ’SWG 
war against the Alliance of Tele- 
vision Film Producers had been 
financed largely by special assess- 
ments paid by working writers. 

Report showed that SWG mem- 
bership had increased approximate- 
ly 10% during the year, chiefly be- 
cause of the admission of television 
writers. • 


Herzog Quits Cinecolor 

Hollywood, Nov. 11. 

Karl Herzog, president, treasurer 
and director of Cinecolor Corp. for 
six years, has resigned and will be 
succeeded temporarily at* the stu- 
dio hy W. R. Yarnell, veepee and 
representative of the controlling 
company, the Donner Corp. 

Resignation includes the post of 
p resident apd dir ec tor of the Cine- 
color Realty ~Corp7 and "the ' chair- 
manship of Cinecolor, Ltd., Lon- 
don. 



Arbitration Allows Pathe 
To Slice NX Lab Staff 
Without Union Ohay 

Precedent - making . arbitration 
award giving Pathe' Laboratories 
the right to reduce its permanent 
staff, “without being ’ required to 
obtain permission from the union 
to do so,” was handed down in New 
York Saturday (8). 

Award, which is binding on both 
parties, settles a lengthy dispute 
between Pathe Labs and the Lab- 
oratory Technicians Local 702, 
IATSE. Decision of arbitrator Sid- 
ney A. Wolff is seen setting an im- 
portant new pattern and affecting 
the status of Local 702 members 
at other labs. 

Case dates back to early this 
year when Pathe notified the 
union that it planned to lay off 
some 300 union members employed 
at its New York labs. The com- 
pany told Local 702 that it was 
ready to conform with severance 
pay and seniority requirements. 

The union balked, citing a 1945 
industry-wide agreement which 
stipulated that no lab could dismiss 
workers Unless the volume of work 
fell below the level where it could 
be spread over a three-day week. 
Dispute then arose whether the 
1945 clause? was still in force or 
had been superseded by two other 
agreements* in 1947, 1949 and 1951. 
Pathe called on' the Federal Con- 
ciliation Service to step in and an 
arbiter was appointed. 

Arbitration hearings have been 
going on since July. Parties were 
notified of the award Monday (10). 
In finding in favor of Pathe Labs, 
Wolff • stipulated that the provi- 
sions of tiie current pact as to sev- 
erance pay, seniority and good 
faith were * in full effect. Agree- 
ments covering all labs run two 
years with a new- pact due next 
year. 

Pathe stand was that .the 1947 
agreement had eliminated the lay- 
off stipulation which it calls un 
fair to experienced workers. Rather 
than rotate the work, company 
feels it should have the right to 
• cut down on inexperienced men on 

P its staff. Pathe spokesman said 
Monday that some of the lab em- 
ployees have by now left of their 
own volition and that there had 
been no staff cuts due to vaca- 
tions and a certain volume of work. 

Outfit is said to be anxious to 
establish its right to trim its pay- 
roll according to its requirements 
and does not necessarily contem- 
plate large-scale dismissals. 


Exchange Aides 
Vote to Negotiate 
Pacts Individually 

In a surprise move, the Film Ex- 
change Employees, IATSE, via a 
referendum held among the vari- 
ous locals throughout , the U. S., 
have decided to conduct upcoming 
pact' talks with the distribs on an 
individual basis. Since 1946 con- 
fabs have been held on an overall 
basis, with IA prexy Richard F. 
Walsh dealing for the entire union. 
Present decision makes it necessary 
for each local to deal with the 
filmeries separately in each ex- 
change area. 

Present two-year pact expires 
Nov. 30 and talks with the distribs 
are expected to get underway early 
next month. The N. Y. local's board 
will meet tomorrow’ (Thurs.) to 
draw up proposals for presentation 
to the film companies. It’s antici- 
pated that the union will ask "for a 
10% wage hike, a hike received by 
many IA unions in recent pact ne- 
gotiations. 

Two years ago Walsh obtained an 
overall $2,Q00,000 increase for the 
two-year period. 

FTC NIXES BULOVA 
AD TIE WITH OSCAR 

Washington, Nov. 11. 
Federal Trade Commission has 
worked out a stipulation whereby 
Buiova Watch Co. will cease using 
the words “Oscar” and “Academy 
Award” in advertising it;s watches. 
Academy of Motion Picture Arts 
and Sciences also signed the stipu- 
lation. 

“The Academy of Motion Pic- 
ture Arts and Sciences,” announced 
FTC, “agrees forthwith to cease 
and desist from authorizing the 
use of the words ‘Academy Award’ 
or the word ‘Oscar’ or any depic- 
tions or simulations of its statuette 
commonly known as. ‘Oscar’ as a 
designation of or in the advertis- 
ing of watches or any other com- 
modity which has NQT been the 
subject of an ^ award of merit 
or achievement in the field of mo- 
tion pictures unless, as a condition 
to the authorization, the licensee 
is required to state clearly that 
NO meritorious award is entailed 
and that its right to such use is 
by virtue of a licensing agreement. 

“The Buiova Watch Co. agrees 
to cease and desist from using 
‘Academy Award’ or ‘Oscar’ unless 
it is made clear such use is made 
by virtue of a licensing agreement 
and is NOT representative of any 
meritorious award made on the 
basis of comparative tests with 
other watches.” 


Gualino Back in N.Y. 

Dr. Renato Gualino, director gen- 
eral of Italian Films Export and 
chief exec of IFE’s new distribut- 
ing organization in the U. S., fie./ 
in from Rome Monday (10) for two 
weeks. 

While in N. Y. Gualino is ex- 
pected to decide- on setting up 
branches and personnel. He will 
also continue his search for three 
Americans to joins the five-man 
board of the new setup. The 
board will include two Italians, one 
of whom will be Gualino. 


Exhibs Endorse 
Can. P.-R. Plan 


Toronto, Nov. 11. 

With some 300 chain or indepen- 
dent house managers present for 
the annual meeting of the Motion 
Picture Theatres Assn, of Ontario, 
they unanimously endorsed the set- 
up of an inter-industry public rela- 
tions plan for this country, the new 
organization to be tagged The Mo- 
tion Picture Institute of Canada. 

Working plans calls for a bl^nd 
of COMPO’s “Movietime,” plus 
creation of an organization, which 
would enhance boxoffice prestige 
through speakers, press releases, 
personal appearances of film, 
names, and the stimulated increase 
of filmgoers’ interest. 

3, J. Fitzgibbons, president, 
Famous Players (Canadian), with 
some 690 houses across Canada, is 
honorary chairman; David Gries- 
dorf, general manager of Odeon 
Theatres, Arthur Rank’s chain of 
170 houses in this country, will 
head the promotional drive; 
Reuben W. Bolstad, veepee and 
treasurer of Famous Players (Can- 
adian), is secretary-treasurer. 

Newly-elected directors of the 
MPTOA, who will select their ex- 
ecutive board within the fortnight, 
are: Morris Stein, Famous Players, 
Toronto;’ William Summerville Jr., 
B &: F Theatres, Toronto; \E. G. 
Forsyth, Odeon Theatres - (Canada) 
Ltd., Toronto; Angus Jewell, Can- 
nington; Louis Consky, Haliburton; 
Jack Clarke, Toronto; Morris Ber- 
lin, Ottawa; H. C. D. Main, “Lis- 
towel; Harry S. Mandell, 20th Cen- 
tury Theatres, Toronto; J. D. Mc- 
Culloch, Petrolia; Floyd Rumford, 
Forest. . 


I ‘Eternity’ Film Ban 
Sought in 250G Suit 

Los Angeles t Nov. 11. 

Wayne Davis Choate, an Ameri- 
can Indian, filed an injunction suit 
to restrain Columbia from filming 
.“From Here to Eternity.” Action 
was brought in Superior Court in 
connection, with the plaintiff’s 
$250,000 damage ‘suit against 
Charles Scribners’ Sons .and James 
■Jones, author of the book. 

Choate, a former professional 
boxer, declares one of the char- 
acters in the book places him in a 
“humiliating, disgracing and an- 
noying” position. 


Metro Will Have Gotten 
38 Weeks at Music Hall 
In ’52; Tranhoe’ 8 Tops 

With “Plymouth Adventure” set 
to open at the Radio City Music 
Hall tomorrow (Thurs.) and “MiK 
lion Dollar Mermaid” to follow as 
the Xmas-New Year’s picture, 
Metro will have snared about 75% 
of the Hall’s playing -time for 
1952, duplicating its 1951 record 
at the house. All in all, M-G pix 
.will have graced the Hall’s screen 
for a total of 38 weeks during ’52. 

“Ivanhoe,” chalking up eight 
weeks, had the longest run for the 
year, while “Too Young to Kiss” 
had the shortest for a Metro pix, 
running only two stanzas. “Plym- 
outh” marks the 70th M-G picture 
to play the Hall, the romance hav- 
ing started on Oct. 27, 1938, with 
“Young Dr. Kildare.” Metro’s “The 
Bad and the Beautiful” is pen- 
cilled in as the Hall’s first picture 
of 1953. 

Meanwhile, “Plymouth” is sched- 
uled for 400 Thanksgiving Week 
openings, the greatest number in 
any seven-day period for a single 
picture in the history of the com- 
pany. 


Studios Seen 



Oscar Backing 


Chi Mayor Upholds 
Turndown of ‘Miracle’ 

Chicago, Nov. 11. 

Mayor Martin Kennelly in a de- 
cision upholding the police censor 
board’s turndown for a permit for 
“The Miracle” last week left a 
path open that may lead all the 
way to the U. S. Supreme Court. 
Kennelly in his letter to American 
Civil Liberties Union secretary Ed 
Myerding didn’t mention the mat- 
ter of upholding’ religion to deri- 
sion, which was a prominent issue 
heretofore and the matter on 
which the highest court ruled on. 

The mayor said that the film 
violated the section of the code 
pertaining to “immoral and ob- 
scene performances.” Myerding 
said that legal action will now take 
place and that the ACLU lawyers 
would meet this week to map plans, 
to defeat the censor's actions. 


Future of studio support for 
.Academy Awards is up in the air 
again but indications are the ma- 
jors will stick with the. Oscar ritual 
at least for another year. 

Question of continued studio 
coin for the Awards now recurs 
annually. It was kicked around 
again at a board meeting of the 
Motion Picture Assn, of America 
in New, 'York last week with in- 
conclusive, results. Topic was taken 
up at the’ request of Coast execs 
to sound out Eastern opinion. 

Three* majors — Metro, 20th-Fox 
and . Paramount — declared them- 
selves firmly in. favor of continued 
Oscar stagings. Trio contributes 
the larger share of the Awards 
coin,’ which is pro-rated on the 
basis of dues paid to the Assn, 
of Motion Picture Producers. 

Resignation of Jack L. Warner 
from the Academy some months 
ago gave rise to reports that 
Warners had withdrawn its support 
from the Awards. At the board 
meeting* in New York, WB. rep 
Sam Schneider said flatly that it 
would be “erroneous” to draw such 
a conclusion from Warner’s move. 
The WB studio head, one . of the 
early supporters of the Oscar idea, 
pleaded pressure of work in re- 
signing from the Academy.. 

Rest of the companies haven’t 
decided finally on their stand. 
Tenor of their comments, however, 
indicated no serious objections be- 
yond those that have been voiced 
over the past years. 

Execs feel producers and direc- 
tors tend to spend too much time 
trying to turn out Oscar winners, 
and that production and release 
schedules are arranged artificially 
to meet the Awards deadline of 
Dec. 31. In the past, too, charge 
has been made that Academy mem- 
bers lean too much towards arty 
pix which don't earn their keep 
at the b.o. 

Exhibs take similar tack. Bally 
created by the Oscar presentations 
benefits the theatres, they say, and 
focuses attention on film personali- 
ties, Publicity attending Award- 
winning pix also restores their 
value at the b.o. and results in 
repeat bookings. 


*+ Planning to operate between 15 
and 20 theatres by the end of 1953 
as well as produce new films, Gin- 
era ma_Productiqn Corp. is attempt- 
ing to work out a public financing 
deal. Discussions are being held 
with numerous underwriters to sot 
up a stock issue. Meanwhile, com- 
pany has 20 sets of equipment on 
order and has been surveying the- 
atres in various cities to determine 
which ones would be best to pre- 
sent the new film medium. 

Current plans are to present 
“This Is Cinerama,” its demonstra- 
tion film, next in Chicago with a 
Loop opening scheduled for late 
January. No deal has been, set yet 
for a Chi theatre, a number still 
being under consideration. 

Meanwhile, confabs on Cinerama 
production plans were held in New 
York last week. Louis B. Mayer, 
board chairman; Dudley Roberts, 
Jr., pre;xy; Frank M. Smith, veepee, 
and Merian C. Cooper, general 
manager in charge of production, 
participated in the talks. Cinerama 
has a number of scripts lined up, 
but hasn’t decided on the first ef- 
fort of its production slate. Confabs 
will shift to the Coast next week. 

Roberts and Smith leave for the 
Coast Saturday (15) while Lynn 
Farnol, Cinerama publicist, planes 
out next Monday. Mayer will go 
west direct from Miami. Max 
Gendel, FamoL’s . p.a. aide at 
Cinerama, leaves next week for 
Chi to set up ah installation there. 


N. Y. to L. A. 

Mack David 
Alfred Drake 
L. Wolfe Gilbert 
Artie Jacobson 
Irving P. Lazar 
Peter Levathes 
Jerry Pickman 
Glenn E. Wallichs 

Europe to N. Y. 

Cecil Beaton 
Lucretia Bori 
Yvonne De Carlo 
Lloyd Griggs 
Eileen Herlie 
J. Higham 
Russell Holman 
Bill Johnson 
Elia Kazan 
Mary Martin 
Alexis Minotis 
Katina Paxinou 
Harry M. Popkin 
Milton R. Rackmil 
Pavld Rose , 

Raoul Walsh 


» 

Metro Withdrawing 
Wadis’ for 3 Years, 

Then Pop-Price Release 

Following the pattern estab- 
lished when “Gone With. the Wind” 
was first released, Metro has with- 
drawn “Quo Vadis” from the mar- 
ket, with Dec. 31 as the cutoff date. 
Idea is to hold the pic out of circu- 
lation for about three years and 
then to re-release it at popular 
prices. Same plan was followed 
with “Gone,” the pic having been 
Reissued four times following pe- 
riodic layoffs. A fifth release is 
currently being contemplated. 

First indication that Metro 
planned to withdraw “Quo Vadis” 
was contained in an . Oct. 28 wire 
to all exchanges from the home- 
office. Wire asked the regional 
sales offices to inform the h.o. if 
all bookings would be ’ Completed 
by the end of the year. Told by 
all branches that all contracts 
would be liquidated by the last 
day of December, a letter, signed 
by E. M. Saunders, assistant gen- 
eral sales manager, was dispatched 
to all exchanges on Nov. 6 telling 
them to “withdraw this picture 
from circulation” as of Dec. 31. It 
stressed that there would be no ex- 
ceptions. 

Metro sales execs pointed out 
that there was nothing unusual in 
this order and that exhibs. were no- 
tified that this would take place 
when M-G first announced its sales 
policy for “QV.” Pic was released 
in Nov. 1950. 


L. A. to N. Y. 

Desi Amaz 
Diana Barrymore 
Mort Blumenstock 
Frederick Brisson 
Ruth Cummings 
Tony Curtis 
Howard Duff 
Frances Faye 
Peggy Ann Gamer 
Abner J. Greshler 
Don Hartman 
Tom Helmore 
Danny Kaye 
Julian Lesser 
Jerry D. Lewis 
Bill Loeb 
Ida Lupino 
Margaret O’Brien 
George Oppenheimer 
Roy Rowland 
Loring Smith 
Bob Wachsman 
Jack L. Warner 
Margaret Whiting 

N. Y, to Europe 

Howard Duff 
Paul Groll 
Eric Johnston 
Ida Lupino 
Joyce O’Hara 
George Weltner 


Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


PfiSzmff 


PICTURKS 


FRENCH COMPROMISE CLOSER 


Subsidies to French in U.S. Pact 
Would Stir Old MPEA-S1MPP Feud 


Old feud between the Motion*; 
Picture Export Assn, and the So- 
ciety of Independent Motion Pic- 
ture Producers over the question 
of subsidies in any new film agree- 
ment with the French looks set to 
flare up again. 

Eric Johnston, MPEA prexy, and 
Joyce O'Hara, who flew to Paris 
Saturday (8) amidst great secrecy 
to renegotiate a deal, are reported 
ready to put their signatures to 
anything they consider a favorable 
pact even without the consent of 
the independents. It's understood 
that any agreement they conclude 
with the French certainly w r ill in- 
clude open or ‘'hidden” subsidies 
in return for a considerable in- 
crease in dubbing licenses. 

• SIMPP spokesman affirmed Mon- 
day (10) that the . independents’ 
stand against subsidies of, any form 
to industries abroad was irrevoca- 
ble. He said there had been no 
contact between SIMPP execs and 
Johnston for several weeks and 
that the indies were hot aware of 
the basis on which the MPEA reps 
were talking to the French. No 
SIMPP spokesman made the trip 
with Johnston and neither James 
Mulvey, prexy of Samuel Goldwyn 
Productions, nor Ellis Arnall, 
SIMPP top exec, are planning any 
immediate Paris jaunts. 

An hour before leaving for the 
airport in New York, Johnston told 
Variety that SIMPP execs were 
fully informed of the situation. He 
had only a "no comment” to the 
query whether he Was prepared to 
sign a deal,, without indie approval. 
Johnston has carte blanche from 
the MPEA board to settle the 
French situation as he. sees fit. 

Under the last deal with the 
French, U. S. distribs were allo- 
cated J21 dubbing licenses, of 
which 11 went to the independents. 
Latter only picked up six, which 
disturbed MPEA members. 


Col Has New Formula 
Charging Off Neg Costs 
Of Black-White, Tinters 

Columbia has departed from the 
traditional pattern of charging off 
negative costs of films against in- 
come via a new formula under 
which tinted pix are segregated 
from black-and-white. 

Under a new’ amortization plan 
revealed this week, there's also a 
rise in the allocation of costs 
against foreign earnings. Pre- 
viously the allocation against for- 
eign income had been 20%. Now' 
it’s up to 23% for b&w and 28% 
for tinted pix. 

Company stated in an annual re- 
port that the latest experience in 
film rental income shows a larger 
percentage of coin coming from 
the non-domestic market. Thitf, 
along with a slowdown in the rate 
of films’ playoffs, prompted the re- 
vised amortization table. Col’s 
chart is on a worldwide basis, and 
the table is broken down as fol- 
lows : 

Percentage of Amortization 


No. of Wks. 
in Release 

13 

B&W 
Pix 
... 38 

Color 

39 

26 

... 63 

Oc* 

fin 

* 39 

. . 79 

uu 

52 

. ’ 80 

6 O 

op; 

65 t 


oo 

OQ 

78 

, . Qfl 

09 ft 

91 “ 

98 

07 . 

104 

... 100 

9 1 

100 


‘Cheyney* Remake's Dates 
Must Finish by Oct. 1, '53 

Metro has notified all branches 
l ° Wl " d tfp bookings of “The Law 
i l ie t Lady,> by Oct. 1, 1953, at 
Pic must be out of circu- 
rifTi?/ 1 P y *bat time since M-G’s 
time t0 tlie story ex P ire that 

clni? r wM g i- Greer Garson and Mi- 
gliding, “The Law and the 

/ . ls , a remake of Frederick 

(w dale ,5 play » “ The Last of Mrs. 

In Ju"», J 195i‘ C Went lnt0 reIease 


Lesser to Roll Tri-Dim. 
Process With 6 Shorts 

Hollywood, Nov. 11. 

Sol Lesser plans to roll six two- 
reel shorts in the new Tri-Opticon 
three-dimensional process around 
the end of the year. Producer 
holds the U. S. production and dis- 
tribution rights to the British de- 
vice . and has skedded, among 
others, “Mack Sennett’s Bathing 
Beauties of 1953," for which he 
has Sennett’s okay. 

Pix, in color, should go into re- 
lease in about six months, follow- 
ing the first-run showings of a 
package of five Brinish-made shorts 
comprising an hour-long program. 
It should open w r ithin a month in 
San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phila- 
delphia, Boston and New York. 

WB May Await 
New Govt. Rule 
In Reorg Setup 

Warner Bros, may delay the 
presentation of its new reorganiza- 
tion plan to its. stockholders until 
it gets a ruling from the new r Gov- 
ernment administration. Feeling is 
that the company may seek some 
minor revisions or concessions 
from the incoming administration's 
Justice Dept. 

It’s understood that WB asked 
the Justice Dept, last year for a 
ruling on whether or not Major 
Albert Warner would be allowed 
to head the theatre company, a 
move which the consent decree 
disallows. Thought is that this 
request would be made again. 

WB stockholders meeting is set 
for February, but this confab could 
be delayed if the company had to 
prepare something new r for presen- 
tation. Company has until April 5, 
1953, to comply with the consent 
judgment requiring it to divorce 
its theatre assets from its produc- 
tion and distribution entity. Orig- 
inally, WB adopted a plan of re- 
organization which was approved 
by the stockholders in Feb., 1951. 
(Continued bn page 85) 

Heston-'Caesar’ in 16m 
(Cost 15G) Comm’l Date 

Baronet Theatre, New York artie, 
has booked a $15,000 version of 
Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” 
turned out in 16m by Avon Produc- 
tions. Pic, which opens Nov. 24, was 
made by students of Northwestern 
U. in Chicago. This is the film’s 
first commercial playdate. 

Brandon release stars Charlton 
Heston, still an unknown when the 
pic was made in 1950, and was 
directed by* David Bradley, who’s 
since been signed by Metro. Latter 
company has an elaborate version 
of “Julius Caesar” currently before 
the cameras. 



Chi B.O. Spurt 

Chicago, Nov. 11. 

For the first time in recent years 
the Chicago boxoffice has presented 
a more optimistic viewpoint. Fig- 
ures just released by the Chicago 
amusement tax collection office 
show that October of this year 
brought in $108,000 from film and 
legit boxoffice, an $8,000 hike over 
last year’s same period. Most of 
the gain is attributed to generally 
better receipts, which have been 
aided greatly by advanced-price 
pictures, and the upping of admis- 
sion prices in several first-run Loop 
houses. . 

However, the first 10 months of 
this year continued to show a de- 
cline, with $859,000 reported in 
contrast to $945,000 for a like pe- 
riod in 1951. It's a drop of $86,000. 


Rapid consummation of a new 
French film pact with the majors, 
and possibly also the independents, 
was seen this week in -the wake 
of Eric Johnston’s surprise flight 
to Paris. 

Motion Picture Export Assn, 
prexy’s departure from New York 
last Saturday (8) was shrouded in 
secrecy, with the association insist- 
ing to the last minute Johnston 
hadn’t changed his plans and was 
still due to undertake a South 
American trek for the State Dept. 
Original Washington announcement 
said Johnston would leaVe for S. A. 
Nov. 8, with his return skedded 
for Dec. 11. 

Present schedule calls for him to 
leave for S. A. Nov. 15 and a seat 
has been reserved for , him on a 
Pan-American Airways: flight, for 
that date. : 

MPEA topper’s switch in plans was 
understood to be the twin result of 
unfavorable reactiofi by company 
prexies to the news of his State 
Dept, mission, &nd an indication 
from Ted Smith, MPEA rep in 
Paris, that the French are willing 
to compromise on terms. 

Company execs in New York, 
while completely in the dark on 
Johnston's movements, said they 
understood the French were ready 
to give in on the question of the 
dubbing permits but at a consider- 
able price. MPEA head, who is 
accompanied by Joyce O’Hara, is 
known to be shooting for a total of 
135 dubbing licenses; for the U. S. 
distribs. In return, the French 
want a considerable portion of 
American earnings in France set 

(Continued on page 19) 


Big Agenda At 


Allied Bd. Meet 


Washington, Nov. 11. 

The Col. Cole recommendations, 
film prices, arbitration, the Council 
of Motion Picture Organizations 
and television will be the top sub- 
jects considered by the board of 
Allied States during its sessions in 
Chicago Nov. 15-17 just in advance, 
of Allied’s national convention. 

The agenda, released by board 
chairman Abram F. Myers, shows 
that the board will give consider- 
able study to the Cole recommen- 
dation that “Allied leaders now en- 
gaged in certain all-industry un- 
dertakings should resign and de- 
vote all their available time' to 
protecting the interests of the in- 
dependent exhibitors who are 
being gouged by unconscionable 
film rentals, trade practices, etc.” 

The study on film prices and 
trade practices will include con- 
sideration of several remedies, in- 

(Continued on page 85) 


Advance-Price Pix to Get Heavy 
Barrage at Allied’s Obi Parley 


Mason Pic for Korda 
In Berlin Start Feb. 1 

Sir Alexander Korda’s sixth pic 
under his deal with Lopert Film 
Distributing Co. goes before the 
cameras in Berlin Feb. 1 with 
James Mason to star. Lopert out- 
fit is financed by Robert Dowl- 
ing’s City Investing Co. Distrib 
has a 25% world-wide interest in 
the film which it will handle in 
the U. S. 

Writer Harry Kurnitz is now in 
Berlin with Carol Reed working 
on the script. Last pic cpmpleted 
under the Lopert-Korda deal is 
“Gilbert & Sullivan” in Techni- 
color. Print of latter is due in 
N. Y. in December, according to 
Ilya Dopert, prexy of Lopert Films. 
“G. & B.” Is flue for two-a-day 
treatment by Lopert. 


UA In Bank Tieup 
To Audition Prod. 
Packages on Coin 

In a new tieup between United 
Artists and Chemical Bank & 
Trust Co., New York, the indie 
distrib will screen, proposed pro- 
duction packages for financing 
qualifications and then turn over 
the proposed deals with recom- 
mendations to the banking outfit. 

Plan is to have UA turn over 10 
or possibly more such deals ini- 
tially, with the- films involved to 
be made for delivery to UA in the 
latter part of. 1953 and in 1954. 

UA’s role in the financing of 
indie pix, via the Chemical agree- 
ment, directly reflects the bank’s 
confidence in the distrib’s man- 
agment headed by prexy Arthur B. 
Krim, it was stated by Edwin Van 
Pelt, who with Milton Gettinger, 
repped Chemical in setting up the 
new pattern of monetary opera- 
tion. . 

UA itself will not finance the 
packages, it’s pointed out. But the 
indie outfit will have far greater 
influence in arranging the primary 
money for the film-makers. 

Heretofore, Chemical did its 
own screening of loan deals; the 
new tieup means this responsibility 
will be assumed by UA. 


Silverstein’s Latin Tour 
Maurice Silverstein, regional di- 
rector for Latin America at Loew’s 
International, starts a tour this 
week of Metro offices and Loew 
theatres* throughout the south-of- 
the-border area. 


Distribs Would Sell Special Shorts 
To Exhibs to Pay for Arbitration Plan 


With the costof financing arbitra- 
tion estimated between $250,000 
and $300,000 annually, indqstry- 
ites mapping the system have 
drawn up a plan to pay for its 
execution. Plan calls for each dis- 
trib outfit to reissue two special 
shorts annually, with exhibs buy- 
ing the one or two-reelers at the 
regular rental fee. It’s figured 
that this method would bring in 
about $300,000 yearly. 

Although exhibs indicated at the 
outset of the arbitration talks that 
they would be willing to be tapped 
for part of the cost, distrib sources 
doubted that the theatre group 
would contribute much, if any- 
thing, to the coffers. Feeling is 
that the distribs will carry the 
full cost. 

Some quarters doubted that 
$300,000 would be sufficient to 
maintain fully the setup required 
for carrying out the arbitration, de- 


Avowed intention of Allied 
States Assn, of Motion Picture Ex- 
hibitors to level its siege guns at 
distrib trade practices will see its 
first and heaviest barrage aimed 
at advance-priced pix. Salvo will 
be touched off at Allied’s Chicago 
convention Nov. 17-19. Allied top- 
pers as well as regional officials 
are reportedly armed with facts 
and figures and have given notice 
that they’ll “name, names" and the 
pix involved. 

Exhib org in recent weeks has 
been particularly vehement In pro- 
testing the number of pictures 
given the special-handling label by 
the filmeries. Allied argument is 
that exhibs can’t make a profit 
with the upped-scale films because 
of the hefty percentage terms de- 
manded by the distribs. 

. Alliedites are also seen given the 
proposed industry arbitration plan 
a thorough goingover. Outfit 
doesn't like the; provision limiting 
the issuance of advance-priced pix 
to two a year for each company. 
It claims it has no assurance that 
the- distribs will limit the pix to 
those that demand special handling, 
but feels that the filmeries will 
set aside two pix a year for spe- 
cial treatment whether or ndt the 
films deserve the consideration. 

‘ Meanwhile, more than 575 dele- 
gates have indicated their inten- 
tion of attending the Allied con- 
fab, set for Chi’s Morrison Hotel. 
Jack Kirsch, general convention 
chairman, said that he expects this 
total to be augmented by many 
registrants from Chicago and 
downstate Illinois, who plan to at- 
tend but are not making hotel 
reservations, plus a last-minute 
rush of out-of-state exhibs. Wilbur 
Snaper, Allied prexy, leaves New 
York Friday (14) to attend the 
board meeting set for this Satur- 
day and Sunday. 

Actor Ronald Reagen, ex-prexy 
of the Screen Actors Guild, has 
been snared as toastmaster for 
Allied’s banquet on Nov. 19. An- 
other Hollywood personality at- 
tending -is Greer Garson, who’ll 
be at the ladies’ fashion show, and 
the concluding banquet. 


U Going Ahead With 
‘Gunsmoke’ Despite 
Warning by CBS 

Despite" CBS’ warning that it in- 
tends to protect title of “Gun- 
smoke,” which it has been using on 
radio for a year and is prepping 
for teevee, Universal is going 
ahead with plans for a film of that 
tag. 

20th-Fox, which had also been 
prepping a Leonard Goldstein proj- 
ect of same title, recognized CBS 
priority and dropped its tag. Uni- 
versal, however, feels “there is no 
relationship between radio and a 
film studio on a title,” claiming it 
has priority on the title, which al- 
ready has been used for several 
films over the years. 

CBS position is that it has in the 
past sold properties to pix, and 
that ‘Gunsmoke" title represents 
potenial revenue. 


tails, with the sum of $350,000 be- 
ing suggested as a more likely 
figure. It’s pointed out that in 
order to get top people to admin- 
ister the system, good salaries 
would have to be shelled out in 
addition to the cost of tfiei physical 
setup, such as office space, etc. 
Besides, the arbitration plan calls 
for an appeal board, made up of 
outstanding business or industrial 
personalities who have no connec- 
tion with the film industry. It's 
noted that to get these top calibre 
men to serve on a panel would re- 
quire a healthy daily fee. 

Reports that the industry was 
mulling the use of the American 
Arbitration Assn, to administer 
the proposed plan was generally, 
denied in all sectors of the indus- 
try. It was stressed that use of 
the AAA would be too costly and, 
anyway, it didn’t work well when 
it was tried in the past. . ■ 


Alice Terry Settles Suit 
Vs. Ed Small and Col 

Los Angeles, Nov. 11. 

Alice Terry’s $750,000 libel suit 
against Edward Small and Colum- 
bia Pictures, involving the film, 
"Valentino,” was settled out of 
court for an undisclosed sum. 

Former film star had asked 
$250,000 general and $500,000 puni- 
tive damages, charging the picture 
contained a libelous portray of her- 
self. 


.i i * 


RKO Names Moses 

Charles A. Moses, onetime spe- 
cial exploitation rep for United 
Artists and Eagle JLion, has been 
named to a similar post at RKO. 

Moses recently returned from 
Europe, where he was an exec with 
Radio Free Europe for the past 13 
months. He replaces^ Hal, Olven. 

. ’■ • * 


.« % , 


* '4 # 


FILM REVIEWS 


WtRJEJT 


^Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


My Pal Gus 

Excellent comedy on fatlier- 
son-schoolteachcr relations for 
family trade. ' 


“South Pacific Trail.” He goes 
about the standard heroics .. satis- 
factorily and the. saddle antics are 
okay f Dr the program dater market. 

The straight range tale in Ar- 
thur Qrloff’s original script has 
Hollywood, Nov. 7. j Allen and his horse, Koko, riding 
20lh-Fox release of Stanley Rubin pro- j and shooting for tile pleasure Of 

. vul UTirlnn o *•!/*'. .InonivA I »' • i a _ . _ i i< a h . 


tluctron. Stars Richard Widmark* Joanne IciddlG fans as he thwarts the setDcl 
Dru, Audrey Totter; features George ( K1 “ U1C ™ Ilb ««> lie inwaris me sepa 

Winslow, Joan Banks, Regis Toomey, ; rate and combined efforts of the 

I, udwig Donath, Ann Morrison, Usa Golm. two villains, Roy Barcroft, Who 

Directed by Robert Parrish; written by malrpc f ra ln« dicaniipor nnrf Ttaiiff- 
Fav nnd Michael Kanin; camera, Leo . trains^ disappear* and DOUg 

Tover; editor, Robert Pritdr; — musi c , 

Leigh Harline. Previewed Nov. 5, ’52. 

Running time, S3 MINS. 

Dave Jenuings Richard Widmark 

Lydia Marble Joanne Dim 

Joyce .......... Audrey Totter 

Gus Jennings George Winslow 

Ivy Tolliver Joan Banks 

Farley Norris Regis Toomey 

Karl Ludwig Donath 

Polly Pahlman Ann. Morrison 

Anna Lisa Golm 

Tommy Christopher Olsen 

Mr. Evans Robert Poulk 

Judy Mimi Gibson 

Tot Sandy Descher 

Mrs. Lipton Marie M. Brown 

Mr. Wilbur Gordon Nelson 

Hotel Manager William Cottrell 

Van Every Jay Adler 

Delivery Man Frank Marlowe, 

Attorney Frankly n Farnum 

Reporter William Dyer, Jr. 

Toy Store Clerk Otto Forrest 

Bailiff James Flavin 

Judge ’. Jonathan Hole 

McNary Frank Nelson 


20th-Fox has a spritely domestic 
comedy in “My Son Gus,” with a 
good cast sparking the humorous 
plot situations for a smooth-flow- 
ing 83 minutes. The general market 
will find it excellent, particularly 
for the family trade, and favorable 
word-of-mouth should help its 
chances after initial bookings. 

The Stanley Rubin production of 
the well-dialoged screen story by 
Fay and Michael Kanin rates neat 
direction from Robert Parrish in 
putting the principals through 
their paces. Such 1 marquee famil- 
iars as Richard Widmark, Joanne 
Dru and Audrey Totter topline, 
with George Winslow, the little 
boy with the grownup voice seen 
in “Room For One More'* and 
“Monkey Business,” holding down 
juvenile honors. 

Widmark is a bon-bon manufac- 
turer too busy to devote much time 
to his small son. As a result, the 
kid is a problem child who even- 
tually lands in the progressive 
school operated by Miss Dru. Little 
Winslow takes to the teacher, so 
does dad, and things are well on 
their way towards the schoolmarm 
becoming his new mother when 
Miss Totter, Widmark’s ex-wife, 
appears on the scene. 

As the heavy of the piece, Miss 
Totter reveals her Mexican di- 
vorce is invalid and demands Wid- 
mark give up his community 
property half of his wealth for a 
Valid diVorce. Having made his 
money the hard way since Miss 
Totter walked out on him and her 
son, Widmark decides to fight. A 
dirty court battle follows, even 
dragging in Miss Dru as corre- 
spondent. Widmark is awarded the 
right to his money but custody of 
little George goes to Miss Totter. 
Finale finds Widmark deciding his 
son is worth more than his money, 
sb Miss Totter gets the cash while 
Widmark; Miss Dru and Winslow 
start out to build a new pile to- 
gether. 

Widmark is very good as the 
tough, rags-lo-riches father, show- 
ing both good comedy feeling as 
well as the more touchingly dra- 
matic flavor *reqw red in the final 
scenes when he tries to take his 
kid to a mother who doesn’t want 
him. Miss Dru is excellent as the 
heroine, and Miss Totter does well 
by her heavy assignment. Young 
Winslow, under Parrish’s topnotch 
direction, emerges as an appealing 
personality. Parrish carries this 
same touch over into a number of 
other scenes with school kiddies. 
Joan Banks scores in a featured 
spot as Widmark’s understanding 
secretary. Pleasing are Regisf 
Toomey, the hero’s lawyer; Lisa 
Golm, the cook; Mimi Gibson, a 
tot, and Jay Adler. 

Leo Tover’s lensing, Leigh »Har- 
line’s score, the editing and other 
contributions impress favorably. 

Brog. 

South PacMSc Trail 

(SONGS) 


4 a s- Evans, a hanf afet op - who is after 
Estelita’s money. For his tune 
stints he does “Ride Away Your 
Troubles,” which he wrote, and 
“The Railroad Corral,” a tradi- 
tional, and then joins Estelita on 
the soothing ballad, “I’ll Sing a 
Love, .Song,” cleffed by Jack El- 
liott and Aaron Gonzales. 

Barcroft’, foreman on the ranch 
of Estelita’s grandfather, Nestor 
Paiva, plots to make a train carry- 
ing $1,000,000 in gold disappear 
down an old mine shaft on the 
ranch. Paiva escapes death with 
the other passengers when he'wan- 
ders over to a cowpoke campfire 
while the train stops for water 
and is left behind. With Paivh 
presumed destroyed, although he’s 
really off on a three-week trail 
drive*with Allen, Evans moves in 
on the ranch and tries to dispose 
of its assets. When ’Jdlen is able 
to stop this, Evahs and Barcroft 
join forces, attempting to drown 
AUen in a flood and then blow 
him up in the old mine. Justice 
triumphs, however, to bring the 60 
minutes • of film to the expected 
conclusion. B 

Estelita is a pert heroine, Slim 
Pickens provides comedy for the 
juves and Paiva is okay as the 
rancher. Marcroft and Evans are 
hissable heavies. 

William Witney’s direction of 
the Edward J. White production 
keeps it moving reasonably fast,, 
and John .MacBurnie’s lensing is 
good. Brog. 


Angel Street 

“Angel Street,” British im- 
port which opened at the Nor- 
mandie Theatre, N.Y., Mon- 
day (10), was reviewed from 
London by Variety in the is- 
sue of July 10, 1040, under 
its original title of “Gaslight.” 
Review pointed out that the 
Patrick Hamilton stage play 
reaches the screen after “con- 
siderable local success” as a 
legit vehicle. It is likely to 


repeat its ~F.o. pull as a pic 
ture'. 

Reviewer added that “excel- 
lent direction by Thorold 
Dickinson retains all the psy- 
chological drama of the origi- 
nal in presenting the tale of 
a woman steadily being driven 
mad.” Performances' of Diana 
Wynyard as the woman and 
Anton ’ Walbrook as her tor- 
mentor drew praise. Commer- 
cial Pictures, Inc., is distribut- 
ing the import in the U. S. 
(Metro released its own ver- 
sion of the Hamilton play in 
1944. Titled “Gaslight,” it 
starred Charles Boyer and 
Ingrid Bergmam) 


port. Producer Haggiag not only 
was unstinting on the physical 
backgrounds but also tossed in a 
flock of extras whose array of cos- 
tumes at times reached the pro- 
portions of* a spectacle. Editing of 
Terry Morse and Renzo Lucidi 
represents a competent job. Ales- 
sandro Cicognini’s score, played 
by the Rome Symphony Orch, 
helps sustain the film’s mood. 

- • Gi lb. 


It Started in Paradise 

(BRITISH) 


Martita Hunt in hokey British 
drama; mild U. S. entry. 


The Thief of Venice 


Exploitable adventure drama 
for the duals. 


20th-Fox release of Robert Haggiag 
production. Stars Maria Montez, Paul 
Christian, Faye Marlowe. Massimo Serato. 
Directed by John Brahm. Screenplay. 
Jesse L. Lasky, Jr., from original by 
Michael Pertwee; caihera, Anchise Brizzi; 
editors, Terry Morse, Renzo Lucidi; music, 
Alessandro Cicognini. Tradeshown, N. Y., 
Nov. 7, ’52. Running time, 91 MINS. 

Tina • Maria Montez 

Alfiere Lorenzo Contarinl Paul Christian 
Scarpa, the Inquisitor .... Massimo Serato 

Francesca Disani Faye Marlowe 

Captain Von Sturm Aldo Silvani 

A if redo Louis Saltamerenda 

Polo Guido Celano 

Durro Humbert Sacripanti 

Admiral Disani Camillo Pilotto 

Lombardi Fejinand Tamberlani 

Duenna Liana Del Balzo 

Marco , Paul Stoppa 

Mari® Mario Tosi 

Crazzi Vinicio Sofia 

Sharp Eye Leon Menoir 


London, Nov. 4. 

GFD release of Nolbandov-Parkyn . Brit- 
ish production. Stars Jane Hylton, Ian 
Hunter, Terence. Morgan, Muriel Pavlow 
and Martita Hunt. Directed by Compton 
Bennett. Screenplay, Marghanita La&ki; 
''Hscamcra, Jack Cardiff; editor, Alan Osbis- 
ton; music, Malcolm Arnold. At Leicester 
Square Theatre, London, Oct, 28, '52. 
Running time, 94 MINS. 

Madame Alice Martita Hunt 

Martha , a Jane Hylton 

Alison . Muriel Pavlow 

Arthur ‘ Ian - Hunter 

Michael Brian Worth 

Edouard ' Terence Morgan 

“Mary Jane" ..... .... . Ronald Squire 

Lady Burridge Joyce Barbour 

Lady Caroline Kay Kendall 

Models Daghiar Wynter, Barbara 

' Allen, Audrey White 


Made in Italy several years ago, 
“The Thief of Venice” is period 
adventure drama which adds up to 


Rex Allen western, okay for 
program oater market. 


Hollywood, Nov. 7. 

Republic release of Edward J. White 
production. Stars Rex Allen, Koko 

(equine); features Estelita, Slim Pickens, 

Nestor Paiva, Roy Barcroft, Douglas 
Evans. Directed by William Witney. Writ- 
ten by Arthur Orlnff; camera, John Mac- 
BUrnie; editor, Harold Minter; songs. 
Jack Elliott, Aaron Gonzales, Rex Allen. 
Previewed Nov.- 6, ’52. Running time, 60 

K$o Anen . Rex 

Lita Alvarez ' Estelita 

CarloiT*AU; nS ' Slim P^kens 

Lfnt F^« rCZ Nestor Pal ™ 

LinK Felton R 0 v Barcroft 

Rodney Brewster Douglas Evans 

Conductor .. Forrest Taylor 

Am- And 

The Republic Rhythm Riders 


will help offset the lack of mar- 
quee names. With the exception 
of the late Maria Montez, the cast 
is -relatively unknown to . U. S. 
filmgoers. 

“Thief,” incidentally, has had an 
involved career since its comple- 
tion at Rome’s Scalera Studios. 
Originally it was to have been dis- 
tributed through the Neil Agnew- 
■Charles Casanave Motion Picture 
Sales Corp., but the latter’s fold 
caused producer Robert Haggiag 
to shop around elsewhere. He re- 
cently came up with a release deal 
with 20th-Fox. 

Screenplayed by Jesse L. Lasky, 
Jr., from Michael Pertwee’s orig- 
inal, the film is a lusty account of' 
Venetian political chicanery circa 
1575 A.D. Massimo Serato, a top 
.government official, attempts to 
r eize .command after death of the 
Doge. Leader of the opposition is 
naval officer Paul Christian. 

Before Christian eliminates 
Serato and wins the hand of social- 
ite Faye Marlowe, he becomes the 
“ihief of Venice” to raise funds for 
the cause. Assisting him in the 
battle for freedom, among others, 
are tavern-owner Maria Montez 
and a motley horde of former 
s’aves. 

With the accent on action and 
suspense, the Lasky script deftly 
weaves in a plethora of swordplay, 
medieval torture scenes and hand- 
to-hand combat. Movement takes 
place against authentic back- 
grounds via location shooting in 
and around Venice, Flavor and 
atmosphere of the period are well 
cantured by cameraman Anchise 

Brifczi. 

. Under John Brahm’s swift direc- 
tion the story seldom lags. Of a 
muscular physique, Christian ably 
handles the demands of his role. 
Miss Montez contributes a sexy 
portrayal of a peasant girl enam- 
oured of Christian.. Miss Marlowe 


The world of exclusive fashions 
is the setting for this new British 
opus, and the subject is one which 
will naturally appeal mainly to 
femme' audiences. Male patrons, 
who are hardly likely to display a 
great deal of interest in glittering 
arrays of new creations, may find 
it tough sledding as entertainment, 
particularly since it is woven 
around a novel-type yarn. Its b.o. 
potentialities at home are reason- 


good supporting fare for the duals. ■ hl hlHorhf h,,+ if folio o 

Picture’s theme is exploitable and] lo b ^ r ^fegory for the U S 

Film’s strongest asset is its high- 
grade Technicolor. Jack Cardiff 
has done a standout lensing job, 
aided by spacious settings and ex- 
pansive fashions. Appeal of ■ the 
film is entirely visual. 

As the story opens, Martita 
Hunt is shown as the madame of 
a West End fashion salon whose 
creations are behind the times and 
whose few remaining customers 
are of a past generation.- She is 
squeezed out by a ruthless and un- 
compromising Jane Hylton, who 
honestly admits she’s no genius. 
Eventually history repeats- itself 
and after a chequered career, in- 
cluding black market wartime op- 
erations, Miss Hylton finds herself 
replaced by Muriel Pavlow. 

Although scripted by Marghanita 
Laski, the plot is unadulterated 
hokum and the dialog rarely rises 
above the commonplace. Situations 
are obvious, with little imagination 
used in the treatment. Yarn un- 
spools leisurely with the minimum 
action and barely an exterior set- 
ting. Indeed, 95% of the story 
takes place within* the salon itself. 

With this production Miss Hyl- 
ton fises to star status and the local 
girl shows she has her quota of 
talent. Although given a big role, 
she has to battle against the flimsy 
plot, and deserves a better chance 
next time. Miss Hunt plays the 
madame with gracious dignity but 
fades out after the first reel or two. 
Muriel Pavlow shows more charm 
than ability as the young girl who 
succeeds them both. Ian Hunter 
and Brian Worth fill the two male 
roles with polished authority while 
Ronald Squire excels as the writer 
of a fashion column. Joyce Bar- 
bour, Key Kendall and Dagmar 
Wynter play supporting parts ad- 
mirably. Myers. 


Rex Allen finds him^Pif Prim as a gal whose 

» WdS? i 5 M 8 & £ ■Zff&XgZ 

u . „ an d saving a western j th n corrupt ffovernmetif official 

hero.no from a bed marriage ini- Othe. p P lart%pro ™de fairsup- 

vyi; < 1 - !.V • *,<>/•< . t , , 


Jo L*Ai Ito Trois Fois 
(I Did It Three Times) 
i (FRENCH) 

Paris, Nov. 11. 

Gaiunont production and release. Stars 
Sacha Guitry, Bernard Blier. Written and 
directed by Sacha Guitry. Camera, Jean 
Bachlet; editor, Raymond Vany. At Mar- 
beuf, Paris, Nov. 2, '52. Running time, 
85 MINS. 

Renoval Sacha Guitry 

Henri Bernard Blier 

Therese Lana Marconi 

Hcnriette Meg Lemonnicr 

Cheri Siraqpe Pails 

extra-marital shenanigans of a 
typical wordly Gallic* couple who 
begin to stray. In the usual man- 
ner, Sacha Guitry has taken one 
of his plays and adapted it~ into 
film without muqh change in the 
lengthy dialog passages, leading to 
bogging down of action and inter- 
est Cheapie production and Guitry 
name will make this profitable 
here, but is of negligible interest 
for the U. S. except for some arty 
spots on the risque theme. 

Story is like an often told, off- 
color tale. It concerns an aging 
actor who makes a play for a local 
merchant’s wife. In the meantime, 
the merchant goes to Paris on 
some business of his own. Time- 
out is called for him to relate how 
two of his previous wives cheated 
on him. He misses his train and 
comes back to find the actor with 
his wife. Dressed in a clerical 
costume, the actor gives the hus- 
band a lecture on faith, ending the 
pic on its farcial note. 

Bernard Blier, in his usual role 
of the cuckold husband, gives it 
his timing and stature to make the 
role ingratiating Tather than trite. 
Guitry plays the aging Romeo 
with aplomb while Lana Marconi 
adds her hefty sensuality to the 
role of the third-time wife. Lesser 
roles are fine. Sprinkled in the 
verbiage are some hep epigrams 
which are not enough to dispel the 
slowness and contrivance of the 
film. Small budget shows -up in 
flat lensing, grainy film and 
slightly fuzzy sound track. Mosk. 


La Tratia Delta Rianehe 

(The White Slave Trade) 
(ITALIAN) 

Genoa, Nov. 4. 

Minerva Film release of a Ponti-De- 
Laureritils production. Stars Silvana Pam- 
panini, Eleonora Rossi Drago, Vittorio 
Gassmann, Tamara "Lees, Marc Lawrence, 
Ettore Manni; features Barbara Florian. 
Sofia Lazzaro* Bruns Rossini. Directed by 
Luigi Comencini. Story and screenplay, 
Comencini, Giacosi, Patrizi, Pietrangcli; 
camera, Luciano TrSsatti; music, Arman- 
do Trovaioli. At Lux, Genoa. Running 
time, 100 MINS. 


Warners has borrowed Howard 
Keel from Metro to costar with 
Doris Day m “Calamity Jane,” to 
be produced by William Jacobs 
and directed by David Butler, 


Pic’s obvious bally possibilities 
plus large name cast (including Vit- 
torio Gassmann, now in U. S. pix), 
could build this into healthy runs 
where given wide exploitation. A 
somber, uneven meller, calculated 
as a sequel to director Luigi 
Comencini’s previous “Closed 
Shutters,” the film’s shoddy script 
has been built to suit the sensation- 
seeking trade rather than arty 
houses. May run into censor trou- 
ble in some countries. But as long 
as basic themes are accepted, in- 
dividual scenes will get by. 

Basically, the story deals with 
the operations of white slaver Mc- 
Eddy (Marc Lawrence) until he is 
nabbed by the police just before 
leaving the country with his human 
cargo,- pacted for what they think 
is an overseas vaude tour. Fiance 
of ' one of the girls jumps jail to 
save her, finds she has died and is 
followed by police to the trader’s 
dockside rendezvous. 

Subplot involve a girl (Silvana 
Phmpanini) who volunteers to join 
McKeddy’s group, another (Elea- 
nora Rossi Drago) Who is forced 
into racket to save her lover, cow- 
ardly opportunist Vittoria Gass- 
mann plus two semi-innocent 
youngsters who reform. 

A dance marathon, serving as a 
front for the femme peddler’s op- 
erations, gives the film some in- 
teresting backdrops, but is over- 
long and wears thin. a Film’s locale 
is the- Genoa port area, where it 
was shot. 

Thesping is capable within limits 
of a surface script. Location cam- 
era work has that authentic look. 
Other credits of the Ponti-De- 
Laurentiis production are good. 

Hawk. 


famicio Ross** 

(Red Shirts — Antia Garibadli) 
(FRANCO-ITALIAN) 

, Genoa, Nov. 3. 
rrSp. release of a Produzioni 
Grandi Films production. Stars Anna 
Magnani: features Raf Vallone, Alain 
c- n J* ^ acq ? es , Sernas, Carlo Ninchi, 
Serge t Reggiani, Michel Auclair, Gino 
Leurim. Directed by Goffredo Alessand- 
rini and Franco Rosi. Screenplay, E. 

t ia ® L ^ e U z< \- ** e , nz *’ Bolchi; ’ camera, 
Leonlda Barboni and Marco Scarpelli; 
music, Enzo MaseUi; editor, Mario Seran- 
O nco » Genoa. Running* time, 98 

mlNS» 




This film has the Anna Magnani 
name to insure a local income. In 
working with heroic and well- 
known material, pic gets bv, but 
seldom catches fire. It often is con- 
futed and fragmentary. Much of 
this; is caused by production diffi- 
culties; v Once halted 'for lack of 


I funds, pie lost several actors alon* 

I the way, eventually also lost it! 
director, A^ssandri«L-via^ iniurie? 
in an auto accident. Result in what 
was to be a large-scale interna- 
tional production is visible al 
though the patching job -done with 
remaining material . is outstanding 

Story concerns the last days of 
Anita Garibaldi, background by a 
historical segment of the great 
leader’s life: his retreat from 
Rome to the Adriatic, in 1849 Film 
primarily documents the trek to 
the sea amid hardships, with her 
personality .(Magnani) inspiring 
the troops, despite her illness. She 
finally dies in Garibaldi’s arms 
upon reaching the Adriatic coast 

Both Magnani and Raf Vallone 
give vigorous portrayals of the two 
leaders. With only parts of various 
subplots remaining; remainder of 
cast has little chance to do much 
although Alain' Cuny and Jacques 
Sernas have thqir moments. Serge 
Reggiani ably' sketches a traitor 
while Michel Auclair, originally 
slated to star, is nearly invisible 
Camerawork is- outstanding. 

Hawk. 

La Minute De Veriie 

(The Moment of Truth) 
(FRENCH) 

Paris, Nov. 4. 

■ ■ Gaumont release of Fran co-London pro. 
auction. Stars Mlcliele Morgan. Joan 
Gabirv Dani&l Gelin. Directed by Jean 
Delannoy. Screenplay, Delannoy, Roland 
Laudenbach, Henri Jeanson: dialog, Henri 
Jeanson; camera, Robert Lefebvre; edi- 
tor. James Cuenet; music, Paul Misraki 
At Colisee, Paris. Running time, 115 
MINS, 

Madeleine ....^. ........ Michele Morgan 

& et F% Jean Cabin 

Daniel Daniel Gelin 

Meunsier Ida Di Leo * 

^sndlady Denise Clair 

Child a Marle-Franee 


This is a smoothly treated ver- 
sion of the eternal triangle. Gloss 
does not dispel the essential aridity 
and gabby aspects of a husband and 
wife probing the roots of infidelity, 
and deciding to try again. Pic has 
lush technical aspects and the 
names of Michele Morgan and Jean 
Gabin for satisfactory biz here. 
Names of principals and theme of 
marital faithfulness could make 
this of moderate grossing ability 
for art houses in America. 

Film starts out well enough show- 
ing that a successful Parisian doc- 
tor loves his wife and o child, and 
is well off. On a routine check of 
an attempted suicide, he finds that 
the young man was his wife’s lover. 
On returning home to a supposedly 
tranquil anniversary dinner, he 
faces his wife with the Evidence of 
her infidelity. Then, via a lot of talk, 
they go back over the 10 years of 
their married life to learn where 
their marriage went astray. . 

Flashbacks are fluidly segued, 
starting with a shock bit of the 
wife’s jealous tantrum one night 
as she puts but her cigarette on 
the back of a rival. Here she meets 
an unstable, romantic young paint- 
er who becomes her lover. There 
also is the case of an extra cur- 
ricular escapade of the husband. 
Too much is talked out. 

Director Jean Delannoy has not 
injected warmth and passion into 
the proceedings to give the wife’s 
love affair a decidedly unclear ring 
which detracts from the remainder 
of the histrionics. Miss Morgan, as 
the actress wife, looks lovely, but 
never gives a rational feeling to 
her love for the young man and 
her sudden reawakened love for 
her husband. Gabin is ingratiating 
as the doctor, faced with the di- 
lemma of an unfaithful wife whom 
he adores. Daniel' Gelin does not 
get the romantic aspects into the 
essentially npurotic young painter 
due to his episodic role. 

Lensing is tops, with editing 
keeping the flashbacks and clever 
use of sound coherent. Music is 
much to strident and insistent on 
dramatic points. Mosk. 


Season in Salzburg 

(AUSTRIAN-MUSICAL) 

Vienna, Nov. 4. 

Sascha Film release of Ernst Marisclika 
Wienfilm production. Stars Hannerl Matz; 
features Adrian Hoven, Gretl Schocrg, 
Walter Muller, Hans Richter, Richard 
Romanoksky, Lotte Lang, Erik Frey* 
Britz Imhoff. Directed, by Ernst Marisch- 
ka. Screenplay by Ernst Marischka aftw 
operetta of some title by Max Wallner 
and Kurt Feltz; camera, Sopp Ketterer; 
music, Fred Raymond, musical direction, 
Willy Schmidt GentneV. At Apollo, 
Vienna. Running time, 90 MINS. 

This is a good concoction of 
songs and dances in a standard 
musical framework. Story of the 
various adventures and misunder- 
standings during the Salzburg 
season was big comedy hit in legit 
houses. Laughs will be somewhat 
less in this pic, but it will do for 
German language countries. 

4 Performances, with > few excep- 
tions, s.eem half-hearted. Hannerl 
Matz, who scored in “Foerster 
Christl” recently, is not so goqd. 
Most others give mechanical in- 
terpretation of their roles. * 
Ernst Marischka’s scripting and 
directing is standard. So is the 
camera work by Sepp- Ketterer. 
Fred Raymond’s ■ nice • music was 
arranged by Schmidt Ge ’ in 
an okay manner. ° Maas,' i 


< J 'i K J i 


• I 4 l f « c ) lit. I? J A i 


Wednesday, Nrfveml>cr 12, 1952 


ySSat&Fr 



PICTURES 


GROUPS 


Distribs’ Top Censor Strategy 

New anti-censorship strategy mapped by the American Civil 
Liberties Union gives the distribs their strongest means of coun- 
tering outside groups bent on restricting the exhibition of contro- 
versial films. 

In the past, companies said they were powerless to act when an 
outfit, such as one or more of the veterans’ organizations, threw 
pickets around a theatre or otherwise splotlighted a film regarded 
in some way as objectionable. This was the cajse with recent films 
whose casts included persons mentioned in testimony before the 
House Un-American Activities Committee. 

Columbia, for instance, had no way of blocking the sporadic 
picketing of “Marrying Kind,’’ which drew some protests because 
the star, Judy Holliday, appeared before the Senate’s Sub-Com- 
mittee on Internal Security. 

New ACLU setup (see separate story) means the distribs, as 
disturbances crop up, will have an avenue of^approach to their 
censorship problems. 

RKO Press Dept, as ‘Open Territory’ 
Creates Free-for-AB Among 3 Unions 


Hassle among three unions rep-+ 
ping eastern pub-ad staffers' may 
break out as a resuit of the re- 
cent personnel changes in the 
RKO flackery* 

Sign, Pictorial and Display 
Union, Local 230, AFL, is cur- 
rently the bargaining agent for the 
RKO staffers. However, its one- 
year pact with the company ex- 
pired«Oct. 31 and negotiations for 
a new contract haven’t yet gotten 
underway due to the wholesale 
shifts in RKO execs. 

With a new management and 
new pub-ad staffers, Motion Pic- 
ture Home Office Employees 
Union, Local H-63, IATSE, also an 
AFL affiliate, and Screen Publi- 
cists Guild, District 65, Distribu- 
tive and Office Workers of Amer- 
ica, are eyeing the new RKO 
setup as open territory. The IA 
union has already made overtures 
to the RKO staffers and it’s ex- 
pected that District 65 will also 
make a pitch. 

Both the Display outfit and the 
IA union entered the publicists 
field last year, with the former 
snaring RKO Pictures, RKO The- 
atres, Loew’s Theatres and Loew’s 
International while the latter cap- 
tured the Paramount flacks. Dis- 
trict 65 reps pub-ad staffers at 
Warner Bros., Columbia, Univer- 
sal, United Artists and 20th-Fox.. 
Metro publicists have, remained 
unaffiliated. • 

Before either the Display union 
or the. I A outfit, attempts to move 
in as bargaining agents, they’ll 
have to sign up sufficient staffers 
to force a new National Labor Re- 
lations Board election. 

Meanwhile, the Display union 
has been conferring with the staf- 
fers to set up proposals for the 
forthcoming pact talks. No date 
has been set for the opening of 
talks with the company execs, but 
union officials will contact Rob- 
ert Goldfarb, RKO personnel 
chief, this week to arrange a 
meeting date. 

Goldwyn Believes 
Theatres to Continue 
As Key Revenue Source 

Samuel Goldwyn wants it made 
clear that he believes theatres will 
continue to be “the main source of 
motion picture exhibition and reve- 
nues” despite the potential of any 
subscription form of home televi- 
sion. Film-maker, in New York for 
the Nov. 24 preem of his newest, 

‘Hans Christian Andersen,’’ at the 
Criterion Theatre, disputed a New 
York Herald Tribune news story 
. quoting him .as saying his next pro- 
duction might go to home TV. 

Goldwyn issued the following 
statement: ■ 

• • I doubt very much that 
subscription TV will be. anything 
Jike a reality when my next pic- 
ture is completed,’ so there can be 
fio question but that it will be seen 
m the theatres. What I actually 
said was that in my judgment it 
would be at least five years before 
subscription television was com- 
mercially feasible and that then 
Pay-as-you-go TV would have a 
snare of the motion picture mar- 
S'; 1 n .°t that the market would be 

*in^r equally between subscrip- 
‘■on TV and theatres. . . ." 


20th’s Ray Biopic 

Hollywood; Nov. 11. 

Singer Johnnie Ray has signed a 
long-term exclusive acting pact 
with 20th-Fox. 

His first starrer will be “All of 
Me,” a semi-musical based on inci- 
dents in his own career. 


2 Dismissed Publicists 
Win Double Severance 
Pay in RKO-Union Deal 

Hassle between RKO and the 
union repping pub-ad staffers over 
double; severance pay for two pink- 
slipped publicists has been ami- 
cably settled, with the company 
agreeing to shell out at the dual 

termination rate. As a result of 
an agreement between Robert 
Goldfarb, RKO personnel chief, 
’and John Scotti, biz manager for 
the Sign, Pictorial & Display 
Union, Local 230, AFL, George 
Held, former assistant publicity 
manager, -and Fred Norman, for- 
mer radio-TV contact, will receive 
checks for the double rate. Held 
will get 12 weeks’ pay and Nor- 
man 18. 

Dispute arose out of .interpreta- 
tion of method of dismissal. Un- 
der the terms of the pact between 
the outfits, staffers are permitted 
double severance pay if let out for 
economic reasons and the single 
letout rate if fired and replaced. 
Although Held and Norman were 
replaced, company had referred to 
the changes as due to economy rea- 
sons. Union latched on to the 
RKO explanation to win its argu- 
ment for the dual rate. 


20TH-F0X ANNOUNCING 
9-MONTH PROD. SLATE 

Product announcement, setting 
20th-Fox releases for the first 
nine months of 1953, is due tomor- 
row (Thurs.) highlighting a two- 
day meeting of 20th division man- 
agers in New York. 

Sessions start today (Wed.) with 
a discussion of conditions in the 
field. Division heads from the 
company’s 38 branches In the U. S. 
and Canada will then be briefed by 
A1 Lichtman, 20th’s director of 
distribution, and Charles Einfeld, 
v.p. in charge of advertising, pub- 
licity and exploitation, on national 
campaign plans for a quartet of pix 
skedded for release. during Thanks- 
giving and the Christmas and New 
Year weeks. 

Nine-‘month product -lineup will 
be announced by Lichtman, with 
Einfeld outlining campaign plans. 
Discussion will be joined by W. C. 
Gehring, exec assistant general 
sales manager; Edwin W. Aaron, 
western sales manager, and Arthur 
Silverstone, eastern and Canadian 
sales head. A special exhib kit 
giving story, cast and other info 
on* the nine-month lineup will be 
studied by the division managers. 
Continuing campaigns fer “Snows 
of Kilimanjaro” also will be dis- 
cussed. 



VS. PIX CENSOR 

American Civil Liberties Union 
today (Wed.) will instruct its 16 
branch offices across the country 
and 47 state correspondents to un- 
dertake a campaign countering ef- 
forts by private groups to suppress 
exhibition of films which the non- 
official censors look upon with dis- 
favor* 

Memorandum as going to the 
local ACLU reps from the National 
Council on Freedom v from Censor- 
ship, ALCU’s anti-censorship af- 
filiate. It states: “Currently efforts 
are being made, some successful, 
to force motion picture exhibitors 
to withhold certain films from pub- 
lic knowledge. These efforts take 
the form of either requests to mo- 
tion picture house operators, 
threats of boycotts, picketing and 
mass picketing of theatres in- 
volved, and even in some instances, 
acts of violence. But whatever the 
means used or the ends obtained, 
the public right to see, read and 
hear can only be aided by the de- 
velopment of counter pressures.” 

Attempted restrictions on radio 
and television broadcasters also 
will be fought by the ACLU, it’s 
declared. However, the civil lib- 
erties outfit acknowledges that it’s 
difficult to learn in advance which 
programs are to be protested by 
the private groups. Local ACLU 
offices are advised to stress to sta- 
tion managers their obligations to 
provide balanced programming 
(Continued on page 18) 



Hat on Its Budget 

What started out as an ambitious 
attempt to make a western on a 
$25,000 budget at Big Bend Na- 
tional Park in Texas last month 
resulted in dismissal of the com- 
pany and abandonment of the 
venture midway through the script. 
News of the fold was revealed in 
New York this week by several 
individuals involved in the ill- 
fated project. 

Titled “Grubstake,” the aban- 
doned picture was rolled by Bu- 
chanan Productions largely on 
"financing supplied by a limited 
partnership. Some $17,000 came 
from this source while the balance 
of the budget, according to pro : 
ducer Larry Buchanan, stemmed 
from “Texas money.” 

Exact reason why shooting on 
the film halted at the halfway 
point is somewhat clouded. 
Both scripter Len Shubert and 
actor Steve Wyman, who were on 
location with the unit, deolined 
comment. Another principal 
called it an “unfortunate situa- 
tion.” To, that quote, Wyman re- 
marked, “I say ‘amen’.” He, in- 
cidentally, invested $1,200 in the 
film. 

Buchanan, a native Texan, 
turned out several one and two- 
reelers prior to tackling “Grub- 
stake.” He said he brought “five 
principals from New York” as a 
nucleus for the cast. Among them 
were Wyman, Jack Klugman and 
Neale Adams. Youthful producer 
declared that “as it now stands I 
have about 30,000 feet of film and 
the picture represents about a 
two-thirds loss.” 

Taking a philosophical slant on 
the film’s abandonment, Buchanan 
wrote it off as a “tough break,” 
Bjut he stressed that he will per- 
sonally pay hack money to various 
investors in the project, for “I as- 
sume full responsibility.” Largest 
contributor under the limited part- 
nership setup is Alfred Aufhauser 
with $3,000. 


Mayer Makes Award 

Louis B. Mayer left New York 
at the weekend for Miami to pre- 
sent the annual award of the So- 
ciety of Industrial Realtors today 
]4Wed,). Recipient is K. T. Keller, 
president of Chrysler Corp. 

Following this, Slayer will go di- 
rectly to the Coast. 



,080,000 Budget for 22-24 Pix 
In 1953 Outlined by Hartman 


Wanger’s New AA Deal 

Hollywood, Nov. 11. 

Walter Wanger has inked a new 
producer pact with Allied Artists, 
extending original deal made a 
year ago/ ^ 

He’s turned out four pix for A A 
and will start his new pact with 
“Hajji Baba,” 19th century Persian 
adventure novel by James Morier. 


Par’s 1-Day Special 
Showings for Exhibs 
Showcase ‘Bali’ Bally 

Paramount’s one-day lease on 
the Bijou Theatre, New York, will 
serve to give the company a means 
of introducing exhibs to its exploi- 
tation campaign for “Road to Bali” 
in addition to going through the 
legally required motions of trade- 
showing the pic itself. 

Par is taking over the house on 
Friday (14) with plans to show the 
Bob Hope-Bing Crosby-Dorothy La- 
mour comedy four times during the 
day. Exploitation devices which 
theatremen will find on view in- 
clude usherettes and ticket-takers 
in Balinese garb, macaws and mon- 
keys in the lobby and other gim- 
micks providing the South Seas ef- 
fect. Point which Par will under- 
line is that exhibs can similarly 
dress up. their houses at nominal 
expense via tieups, with pet shops 
and the like. Company also is in- 
serting classified ads in the metro- 
politan press inviting persons who 
resemble Crosby, Hope or Miss La- 
mour to work for the ad-pub de- 
partment in connection with the 
film. 

Further, Par will photograph the 
Bijou bally material and send stills 
to theatremen across the country. 


219,884 RKO SHARES 
• LISTED VIA CORWIN 

Washington, Nov. 11. 

Sherrill C. Corwin acquired 219,- 
884 shares of RKO common stock 
in the deal whereby the Ralph Stol- 
kin group bought out the Howard 
Hughes controlling block of stock, 
Corwin notified the Securities & Ex- 
change Commission. This is shown 
in the SEC monthly report of “in- 
sider transactions,” covering the 
period Sept. 11 to Oct. 10. Al- 
though listed in Corwin’s " name, 
the stock represents all the shares 
which changed hands with the pur- 
chase price down / payment to 
Hughes. 

Report showed Bank of America 
holding the stock as pledgee for 
Screen Associates, Inc. In the 
same monthly summation, Howard 
Hughes listed sale of his 1,013,420 
shares of RKO common; Ned De- 
pinet declared sale of his 35,000 
shares. 

David J. Greene told SEC he has 
bought another 1,500 shares of 
RKO Theatre Corp. for a trust ac- 
count which now includes 32,300 
shares of the common. Greene also 
owns 16,450 in his own name, 10,- 

000 shares under a partnership ar- 
rangement, while members of his 
family o\vn another 3,600 shares. 

Jack Cohn disclosed sale of 3,411 
shares of Columbia pix common 
for which he was trustee. He now 
owns 43,214 shares, plus an addi- 
tional 22,438 in trust accounts. W. 
Ray Johnston sold 3,700 shares of 
Monogram pix common. This left 
him only 517. 

Harry Brandt reported sale of 
1,600 shares of Trans-Lux common 
from the G. Brandt Foundation, 
which was left with 3,300 shares. 
His new H. Brandt Foundation got 
its first 200 shares. Mrs. Brandt 
owns 17,700, and Brandt’s Harday, 
Jtnc., has 1,400. 

Harry M. Warner made a gift of 
200 shares of WB common. He still 

1 owns 245,200, plus another 16,000 
| in a trust account. 


f Paramount’s 1953 film-making 
program of “between 22 to 24' pic- 
tures” will be budgeted at $30,- 
000,000, production chief Don Hart- 
man disclosed in New York Mon- 
day (10). The quantity, he added, 
will vary little from last year’s 
output. New slate calls for four 
features to be lensed abroad, with 
the balance to be shot at the studio. 

More than half the '53 program 
will be in color, Hartman declared. 
“All musicals and outdoor pictures 
will be in tint,” he said, “and the 
company .already has, about 10 or 
11 Technicolor commitments. As 
for our overseas production, those 
films are being made abroad be- 
cause their subjects lend them- 
selves to foreign locals.” 

Trekking to the homeoffice for 
huddles with prexy Barney Bala- 
ban as well as with the sales and 
distribution wings on next year’s 
film slate, Hartman plans a 10-day 
New York stay. However, he may 
interrupt his visit to make a quick 
junket to Europe to inspect direc- 
tor William Wyler’s just completed 
“Roman Holiday.” 

Whether he’ll go to Europe, 
Hartman revealed, won’t be deter- 
mined until Friday (14). In the 
event a decision to leave is made, 
his departure will likely be next 
Monday (17). Projected trip large- 
ly depends upon whether Wyler 
has enough “Holiday” film proc- 
essed for him to .look at it. Pro- 
duction head also expects to visit , 
Britain and France on his overseas ' 
swing. 

. Hartman’s. mission to Britain will 
concern Par’s upcoming production 
there of “Wings Across the Sea.” 
Written by John Boulting, the story 
deals with American fliers in Eng- 
land and their effect on the civil 
population. Boulting will direct 
and Joseph Sistrom will produce. 
Shooting predominantly will be 
done in Britain, plus some scenes 
in Hollywood. 

Present intentions, Hartman said, 
provide for “Babylon Revisited” to 
roll in Paris next July or August, 
with Gregory Peck starring and 
Wyler directing. Half would be 
lensed in the French capital and 
the rest at the studio. The F. 
Scott Fitffeerald story was adapted 
for the screen by Philip and Julius 
Epstein. Other pix set for foreign 
(Contnued on page 78) 


B way Warner May Go 
Back to Pix II Unable 
To Sublet This Month 

Although preferring a legit 
tenant for its shuttered Warner 
Theatre, N. Y., Warner Bros, may 
resume a film policy if it is un- 
able to sublease the house by the 
end of this month. Company has 
received many inquiries for ren- 
tal of its flagship and has negoti- 
ated with many outfits. Theatre 
has been closed since early sum- 
ifier. 

WB had been interested in ac- 
quiring Danny Kaye for an in-per- 
son engagement similar to his 
San Francisco run, but the come- 
dian was snared by the nearby 
Palace instead. Inability to find a 
tenant is causing considerable con- 
cern in the WB theatre depart- 
ment, for the inactivity of the 
house has been costing the com- 
pany plenty coin. 

Two deals for use of the house 
are currently being weighed. One 
involves installation of a French 
vaudfilm policy and the other for 
the presentation of Spanish films. 
WB execs were scheduled to dis- 
cuss this week a deal with an 
Argentine exhib, said to be inter- 
ested in taking over the house for 
the presentation of Spanish-lan- 
guagers. 


Col's Reissue Binge 

Columbia is going on a reissue 
binge, it’s apparent in the com- 
pany’s listing of eight films with 
the title registration bureau of the- 
Motion Picture Assn, of America. 

All eight are re-releases, all are 
i westerns and all turned out origi- 
» nally about 10 years ago. 




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Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


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10 


PICTURE GROSSES 


PtfSzfflfr 


Wednesday, November 12 , I952 


Despite Only fNewPic, kArSoars; 
‘Promoter’ Nifty $8,000, ‘Quiet Man’ 
Botf 12G, 6th, “Snows’ Big 30G, 3d 


Los Angles, Nov. 11. 

First-run biz is going into a post 
election upswing here, with im- 
provements noted at practically 
all spots despite practically no 
new bills. “The Promoter,” Brit- 
ish-made film at the small Fine 
Arts where sighting a nifty $8,000 
or near, is the lone new entry. 

•Nearly all holdovers are equal- 
ling or ahead of last week’s trade. 
“Quiet Man” is jumping to great 
$12,000 in sixth round in two thea- 
tres, which is nearly $4,000 ahead 
of the previous week. Fifth frame 
of “Ivanhoe” in two houses, is im- 
proving to $21,000. . “Snows of 
Kilimanjaro” continues steady at 
$30,000 in third week, two loca- 
tions. 

"Androcles and Lion” looks 
neat $7,000 in second session at 
Four Star, “Miracle of Fatima” 
pushed up to $7,000 also, playing 
sixth downtown 'week in two spots. 

Estimates for This Week 

Globe, Vogue, Loyola (FWC) 
(782; 885; 1,248; 70-$l. 10)— “Some- 
thing for Birds” <20th) and “Night 
Without Sleep” (20th). Opened 
Monday (10). Last week, with 
Ritz, “Tomorrow Too Late” (In- 
die) and “Great Adventure” (Lip) 
(10 days), okay $13,400. 

Fine Arts (FWC) (679; 80-$1.20) 
—“Promoter” (U). Great $8,000 or 
near. Last week, second-run. 

Loew’s State, Egyptian (UATC) 
(2,404; 1.538; 70-$1.10) — “Every- 
thing Is Yours” (M-G) and “Scot- 
land Yard Inspector” (Lip) (2d wk). 
Fair $18,000. Last week, mild 
$ 20 , 000 . 

Hillstreet, Pantages, Wiltem 
(RKO-WB) (2,752; 2,812; 2,344; 70- 
$1.10) — “Springfield Rifle” (WB) 
and "Secret People” (Lip) (2d wk). 
Fair $22,000. Last week, nice 
$29,500. 

Orpheum, Hollywood, Metropoli- 
tan-WB) (2,213; 2,756; 70-$1.10) — 
“Way of Gaucho” (20th) and 
“Wife’s Best Friend” (20th) (2d 
wk). Okay $13,000. Last week, 
$15,000. 

Four Star (UATC) (900; 80-$1.20) 
—“Androcles” (RKO) (2d wk). 
Perking to $7,000. Last week, good 
$6,800, but below “hopes. 

Beverly Hills (WB) (1,612; 80- 
$1.50) — “Magic . Box” (Indie) (2d 
wk). Neat $7,000. Last week, 
$8,300. 

Los Angeles, Chinese (FWC) 
(2,097; 2,048; 80-$1.50) — “Snows of 
Kilimanjaro” (20th) (3d wk). Smash 
$30,000. Last week, $31,900. 

Los Angeles, Hollywood Para- 
mounts (UPT-F&M) (3,200; ' 1,430; 
90- $1.50) — “Ivanhoe” (M-G) (5th 
wk). Good $20,000. Last week, 
$19,600. . . ■ ' 

Downtown, Hawaii (WB-G&S) 
(1,757; 1,3,06; 60-$L50) — “Miracle 
of Fatima” (WB). (6th wk, D’town; 
2d rpoveover week, Hawaii). Pick- 
ing up to big $7,000. Last week, 
$6,300. 

United Artists, Wilshire (UATC- 
FWC) <2,100; 2,296; 80-$1.50) — 
“Quiet Man” (Rep) (6th. wk). Ter- 
rific $12,000. Last week* $8,500. 

Canon /ABC) (533; $1.20) — 

“Full House” (20th) (8th wk). Nice 
$3,700. Last week, $4,300. 

‘Somebody’ Strong 11G, 
Omaha; Untamed’ Brisk 
8G, ‘Men’ Lusty $7,500 

Omaha, Nov, 11. 

“Somebody Loves Me” looms as 
standout this week with a neat 
session at Orpheum. “Lusty Men” 
is okay at. Brandeis. Exhibs are 
breathing easier after the election 
dip. “Untamed Frontier” shapes 
fairly good at the Omaha. 

„ Estimates for This Week 

Brandeis (BKQ) (1,100; 16-70) — 
“Lusty Men” (RKO) and “Narrow 
Margin” (RKO), In ’for eight days, 
with good $7,500 likely. Last wefek, 
“Assignment Paris” (Col) and 
“Rainbow Round Shoulder” (Col), 
$7,0*0. 

—Omaha , (Tristates) (2,100; 20-70) 
— “Untamed Frontier” (U) and 
“Just Across Street” (U). Okay 
$8,000. Last week, “Snows Kili- 
manjaro”, (20th) (2d wk), trim $7,- 
500. 

Orpheum (Tristates) (3,000; 20- 
70) — “Somebody Loves Me” (Par) 
and “Arctic Flight” (Mono). Strong 
$11,000. Last week “Crimson 
Pirate” (WB) and “Wagons West” 
(Mono), $8,500. ... 

State (Goldberg) (865; 25-76)— 
“The River” (UA) and “Chicago 
Calling” (UA). Mild $4,500. Last 
week, “Ivanhoe” (M-G) (4th wk), 
mce $4,000 at 35-$l scale. 


a 

Broadway Grosses 


Estimated Total Gross 

This Week $508,200 

( Based on 19 theatres ) 

Last Year $710,900 

( Based on 20 theatres) 


W Fast ICG 
Tops OK St Loo 

St. Louis, Nov. 11. 

Huge downtown Armistice Day 
parade is hypoing biz at three big 
film houses here this week. Cool 
weather over the Dast weekend 
Also helped. “The Thief” is being 
aided tv neat bally to robust ses- 
sion at Loew’s. “Miracle of Fa- 
tima” shapes good in second round 
at the St. Louis. “Somebody Loves 
Me” looks fine at Ambassador.. 
Estimates for This Week 

Ambassador (F&M) (3,000; GO- 
75) — “Somebody Loves Me” (Par) 
and “Night Without Sleep” (20th). 
Fine $15,000. Last week, “Andro- 
cles and Lion” (RKO) and “Carrie” 
(Par), $13,000. 

Fox (F&M) (5,000; 60-75)— “Wa- 
kamba” (Indie) and “California 
Conquest” (Col).’ Opened today 
(Tues.). Last week, “Springfield 
Rifle” (WB) and “Look Who’s 
Laughing” (RKO), lusty $16,500. 

Loew’s (Loew) > (3,172; 50-75)^- 
“The Thief” (UA) and “t»ark Row” 
(UA). Robust $16,000 or near. Last 
week, “Devil Makes Three” (M-G; 
and “.You for Me” (M-G), $11,500.. 

Missouri (F&M) (3,500; 60-75)— 
“Just fox You” (Par) (2d wk) and 
“Carrie” (Par). Fair $9,000. Last 
week, “Just for You” (Par) and 
“Son ■’of Paleface” (Par), average. 
$10,500. 

Pageant (St. L. Amus.) (1,000; 
90) — “Snows Kilimanjaro” (20th) 
(2d wk). Big $9,000. Last week, 
$3,500. 

St. .Louis (F&M) (4.0P0; 75-$l)— 
“Miracle of Fatima” (WB) (2d wk). 
Neat $10,000 after $14,5Q0 first ses- 
sion. 

Shady Oak (St. L. Amus.) (800; 
90)— “Snows Kilimanjaro” (20th) 
(2d wk). Holding at ^2,500 after 
nice $3,000 opening stanza. 


‘Fatima’ Wow $18,000 
Tri Balto; ‘Savage’ 86 

Baltimore, Nov. 11. 

Lone bright spot on current list 
here is “Miracle of Fatima” at the 
Stanley where trade is consistent 
day and night. There is some bet- 
ter than average response also for 
“The Savage” at Keith’s, but 
downtown lineup is mild other- 
wise. 

, Estimates for This Week 

Century (Loew's-UA) (3,000; 35- 
$1.20) — “Ivanhoe” (M-G) (5th wk). 
Holding at $7,000 after big $8,200 
last week. 

Keith’s (Schanberger) (2,460; 20- 
70) — “Savage” (Par). Fairly good 
$8,600. Last week, “Turning Point” 
(Par), $5,900. 

Little (Rappaport) (310; 25-90) — 
“Lady Vanishes" (UA) (reissue). 
Starts tomorrow (Wed.) after fifth 
week of “Full House” (20th) wound 
up good run with $2,700. 

Mayfair (Hicks) (980; 20-70) — 
“Quiet Man” (Rep (8th wk). Re- 
markably good at $6,000 after 
much bigger previous weeks. 

New (Mechanic) (1,800; 35-$1.20> 
— “Snows of Kilimanjaro” (20th) 
(3d wk). Winding up with oke 
$7,000 after nice $10,300 on second. 

Playhouse (Schwaber) (430; 50- 
90)— “Brandy for Parson” (Indie). 
Fine $4,000. Last week, “Stranger 
in Between” (U) (3d wk), okay 
$2,800. 

Stanley (WB) (3,280; 25-75) — 
“Miracle of Fatima” (WB). Smash 
$18,000 likely. Last week, “Spring- 
field Rifle” (WB) (2d wk), slow 
$6,300. 

Town (Rappaport) (1,500; 35-70) 
— “Because of You” (U) (3d wk). 
Nice $7,000 after $8,400 for second 
week. 



K.C; ‘Everything’ Lean 9G, ‘Lure’ 13G 


Key City Grosses 


Estimated Total Gross 

,This Week $2,274,745 

( Based on 23 cities, 208 the- 
atres, chiefly first runs, includ- 
ing N..Y.) 

Total Gross Same Week 

Last Year . $2,724,000 

( Based on 24 cities, and 210 
theatres.) 


‘Snows’ Mighty 



, Hnb Ace 


‘ZENDA’ BIG $20,000, 
FRISCO; ‘POINT’ 14G 

, San ‘Francisco; Nov. 11. • 
A post-election slump is blamed- 
for sluggish biz on Market Street 
here this stanza. .Best bet appears 
to be “Prisoner of Zenda” which 
is - big at Warfields “Turning 
Points is rated stout at St., Fran- 
cis. “Because of You” is doing 
nicely on moveover at the United 
Artists. “Way’ of a Gaycho” is 
particularly dull at the Fox. Most 
other newcomers are light. 

Estimates for This Wjeek 
Golden Gate (RKOX (2,850; 65- 
95)— “Lusty Men” (RKO). Light 
$11,500. Last week, “Springfield 
Rifle” (WB) (2d wk), $9,8Q0. . 

Fox (FWC) (4,651; 65-95)— “Way 
of Gaucho” (20th) . and “Wild 
Stallion” (Mono). Drab $11,000 or 
near. Last week, “Lure of Wilder- 
(Continued on page 20) 


Boston, Nov. .11. 

Standout this session is “Snows 
of Kilimanjaro,” on upped scale 
Met run, with mighty $50,000, big- 
gest local take in years. . Looks in 
for' longrun. ' Balance, of new- 
comers, “Steel Trap” at Memorial, 
“Springfield Rifle” at Paramount 
and Fenway, “Lure of Wilderness” 
at State and Orpheum’ and “Hori- 
zons West” at Boston, shape un- 
exciting. Switching to firstrun 
policy for engagement of “8 Iron 
Men,” Pilgrim reports biggest 
opening day in two years. 

Estimates for This Week 

Astor. (B&Q) (1,500; 50-95) — 
“The Happy Time” (Col). Opened 
Monday (10); Last week, “Miracle 
of Fatima" (WB) (6th wk-11 days), 
$ 8 , 000 . . 

Beacon Hill (Beacon Hill) (862; 
50-90)->-“Miracle of Milan”, (Bur- 
styn and “Last Holiday” (Indie) 
(2d wk). Oke $6,100 following good 
$7,200 for first. 

Boston (RltO) (3,000; 40-85) — 
“Horizons West” (U). and “Scarf 
Murder Mystei^” (Indie). Mild 
$9,000. Last week, “Night With- 
out Sleep” (20th) and “Swinders” 
(Indie), $12,000. 

.Exeter (Indie) (1,300: 60-80) — 
“The Promoter” (U).- Opened Sun- 
day (9) to smash biz. Last week, 
“Brandy Parson” (Indie) (3d wk), 
$4,500. 

Fenway (NET) (1,373; 40-85 — 
“Springfield Rifle” (WB) and 
“WAC From Walla Walla” (Rep), 
Oke $4,500. Last week, “Way of a 
Gaucho” (20th) and “Dance Hall, 
Girls” (Indie), $4,000. 

Memorial (RKO) (3,000; 40-85) — 
“Steel Trap” (20th) and “Savage 
African” (Indie). Only fair at $14,- 
000. Last week, “Something for. 
Birds” (20th) .and .‘‘Scotland Yard 

: (Continued on page 20) 


‘Snows' Lofty $21, 





Cincinnati, * Nov. 11. 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro” is piling 
up a high bizdrift at the flagship 
Albee this frame, and swelling the 
overall total for several downtown 
houses. Keith’s reopened on mlain. 
line' today (Tues.) aftei* several 
months of shuttering with “Blood- 
hounds of Broadway.” Other new 
-bills Currently are “Steel Trap,” 
fairish at Palace -and “The Fight- 
er,” okay at the Grand, “Miracle 
of Fatima” looks g06d on third 
round at Capitol. 

Estimates for This Week 
Albee (RKO) (3,100; 75-$l.l0)— 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro” (20th). 
Streaking to a lofty $21,000. Last 
week, “Quiet Man” (Rep), rousing 
$15,000 at 55-85c. scale. 


Capitol (RKO) *(3*000; 56-85) — 
“Miracle of Fatima” (WB) (3d wk). 
Good $6,500 after ' $8,500 second 
session. 

Grand (RKO) (1,400; 55-75) — * 
The Fighter” (UA) and “Captive 
City” (UA). Okay $7,000 in 6 days. 
Last, week, “Without Warning” 
(UA) and “Untamed Women” (UA), 
about' same. 

Lyric (RKO) (1,400; 55-85)— 
Quiet Man” (Rep) (m.o.). Swell 
fS.SOO* Last week, “Lusty Men” 
(RKO) (m.o.), $4,500. 

(RKO) (2,600; 55-85) ,— 
“Steel Trap” (20th). Fairish $8,500. 
Last week, “Everything I Have Is 
Yours” (M-G), all right $12,000 in 
6 days. 


‘Secret’ Lively 
$13,000 in Cleve. 

Cleveland, Nov. 11. 

First-runs are climbing out of 
the election-week lull but few ex- 
citing newcomers loom on horizon. 
Best puller is “Operation Secret,” 
fancy at Allen. State’s “Every- 
thing I Have Is Yours” looks fair. 
“Steel Trap” at Palace is rated 
pleasing. 

Estimates for This Week 

Allen (Warner) (3,000; 55-85) — 
“Operation Secret” (WB). Fancy 
$13,000. Last week, “Springfield 
Rifle” (WB), $12,000. 

Hipp (Telemanagement) (3,700; 
55-85)— “Way of Gaucho” (20th). 
Oke $11,000. Last week, “Snows 
of Kilimanjaro” (20th) (4th wk) 
ditto. 

Lower Mall (Community) (585; 
55-85)— “Grand Concert” (Indie). 
Getting thin $3,500. Last week, 
“Merry Wives Windsor” (Indie), 
$ 2 , 000 . 

Ohio (Loew’s) (1,300; 55-85) — 
“Somebody Loves Me” (Par) (m.o,). 
Neat $6,000. Last week, “Quiet 
Man” (Rep) (m.o.), excellent $5,000 
on sixth week. This makes smash 
$63,000 for six weeks. 

Talace (RKO) (3,300; 55-85) — 
“Steel Trap” (RKQ). Pleasant 
$11,060. Last week, “Lusty Men” 
(RKO), $10,500. 

State (Loew’s) (3,450; 55-85) — 
“Everything I Have Is Yours” 
(M-G).' Fair $11,000, Last week, 
“Somebody Loves Me” (Par), 
$ 10 , 000 . 

Stillman (Loew’s) (2,700; 55-85) 
—“Hurricane Smith” (Par). Aver- 
age $7,000. Last Week, “Just for 
You” (Par) (m.o.), $6,000. 

Nrower (Telemanagement) (75- 
$1.10) — “SndWs of Kilimanjaro” 
(20th) (m.o.). Grand $5,000 on 
fifth downtown week. Last week* 
series of -daily reissues, $4,600. 


+ Kansas City, Nov li 

Perking of local activity pin. 
some Improvement in product 
helping somewhat currently, stand 
out Is Missouri with Phil Spitafnv 
orch onstage with “Golden Kawk ” 
Great $15,000 is, in prospect. “Lure 
of the Wilderness” in four Fox 
IVJidwest houses is only averani 
while “Everything I Have aR Tc 
Yours” at Midland shapes mild 

A ^l h .?«? e i_ V r£ gue is doin S nicely 
with “High Treason,” Long spell 

of dry and pleasant weather con- 
tinues. 

. Estimates for This Week 

Kimo (Dickinson) (504; 50-75)—, 
“Under Paris Sky” (Indie). Fairish 
$1,400. Last week, “The Well” 
(UA) (2d wk), $1,000. .■» 

Midland (Loew’s) (3,500; 50-75)— 
“Everything I Have Is Yours” 
(M-G) and “Without Warning” 
(UA). MHd $9*000, Last week, “As- 
signment Parife” (Col) and “Mv 
Man and I” (M-G), $8,000. ■ 

Missouri (RKO) (2,650; 65-90)— 
“Golden Hawk” (Col) with Phil 
Spitalny all-girl orch onstage. Rous- 
ing $15,000. Last week, “Lustv 
Men” (RKO) and “One Big Affair” 
(UA), slow $7,500 in 9 days. 

Orpheum (Fox Midwest) (1,912* 
75-$l) — “Snows Kilimanjaro” 
(20th) (3d wk). Wound up today 
(Tues.) with nice $8,500. House 
now dark, but goes legit with 
“South Pacific” Nov. 12. Second 
week of “Snows” was big $9,500 

Paramount (Tri-States) (1.900* 
50-75) — “Turning Point” (Par)! 
Average $7,000. Last week. 
“Springfield Rifle” (WB) nifty $12,- 
000 in 9 days. 

Tower, Uptown, Fairway, Gra- 
iiada (Fox Midwest) (2,100; 2,043* 
700; 1,217; 50-75)— “Lure of Wild- 
erness” (20th) with “Lady in Iron 
Mask” (20th) at Tower and Gra- 
nada. Average $13,000. Last week, 
“Full House” (20th) and “Wife’s 
Best Friend” (20th), $11,000. 

Vogue (Golden) (550; 50-85)— 
“High Treason” (Indie) (3d wk). 
Going nicely at $1,500. Last week, 
$1,800. 


PORT. PERKING; ‘MINE’ 
TALL 14G, ‘RIFLE’ 13G 

Portland, Ore., Nov. 11.' 
Biz is perking a bit this round 
for. first time in over a month at 
first-runs; here since long parade 
of expensive transient name at- 
tractions is over for a time. Down- 
town houses have some strong 
product. ’Springfield Rifle” opened 
good at the' Paramount and Orien- 
tal. f’Because You’re Mine” shapes 
fall at the .Liberty; for best show- 
ing in city. 

Estimates for This Week 
Brokdway (Parker) (1.89Q; 65-90) 
^“Bon?o To College” (U) and 
“Wac From Walla Walja” (Rep). 
Mild $6,000. Last week, “Untamed 
Frontier” (U) and “Go West, Young 
Lady” (Col), $8,500, ; . 

Liberty (Hamrick). (1,850; 65-90) 
— “Because You’re Mine” (M-G) 
and “Hour of 13” (M-G). Tall $14,- 
000. Last week, “Devil Makes 
Three” (M-G) and “My Man and 
I” (M-G), $10,000. 

Mayfair (Evergreen) (1,500; 
$1.25) — “Snows Kilimanjaro” 
.(20th),- (m.o.). Fine $7,500 in 6 
days. Last wfeek, “Outlaw Women” 
(Indie) and “Loan Shark” (Indie), 
$3,000. 

: Oriental (Evergreen) (2,000; 65- 
90)— “Springfieid, Rifle” (WB) and 
“Arctic Flight” (Mono), day-date 
with Paramount. Good $4,500. Last 
week, “Leave To Heaven” (20th) 
and “Black Swan’,’ (20th) (reissues), 
<5 days), $3,000. 

/Evergreen) (1,750; 65- 
90) — Lure of Wilderness” (20th) 

2^™ V< V odo ° Tiger ” (Col) * Fine 
$8,000. Last week, “Snows Kili- 
manjaro” (20th) (2d wk), $13,000 at 
upped scale. 

/Evergreen) (3,400; 
65-90) — Springfield Rifle” (WB) 
and “Arctic Flight” (Mono), also 
Oriental. Good $8,500. Last week, 
stage revue. 

Al, t* s te (Parker) (890; 65- 
90)— “Something For Birds” (20th). 
Sad $2,500. Last week, “Miracle of 
Fatima” (WBJ (6 days), $6,000. 


Patti Page Boosts ‘Baba’ 

To Smash $33,000, D.C.; 
‘Rifle’ Hot 17G,‘Men’llG 

Washington, Nov. 11. 

Election night had little effect 
on mainstem biz, With take just 
about average for recent Tuesdays. 
However, it was slightly up in sev- 
eral situations. General tenor of 
biz, however, has shown an up- 
swing siiice the end of 'the cam- 
paign, with Armistice Day holiday 
expected to help current bills^ Heft- 
iest b.o. of the week ‘likely, will 
be chalked up to Patti Page, boost- 
ing “Son of Ali Baba” into sock 
class, at. Capitol. “Springfield 
Rifle” at the Warner is lively while 
“Lusty Men” at RKO .TCeith’s is 
pleasing.; “Snows of Kilimanjaro” 
continues to. be. holdover champ in 
its fourth round at 'Loew’s Co- 
lumbia. 

Estimates for This* Week 
Capitol (Loew’s) (3,434; 55-95)— 
"SOn of AR Baba” (U) plus vaude 
headed by Patti Page. Sock $33,- 
000, to top anything here in re- 
cent weeks, with Miss Page the big 
draw. Last week, “Lure of Wilder- 
ness” (20th) plus vaude, weak 
$17,000. 

Columbia (Loew’s) (1,174; 74- 
$1.20)— Snows Kilimanjaro” (20th) 
(4th wk). Hefty $18;000 for sec- 
ond consecutive >yeek. Stays. 
Dupont (Lopert) (372; .50-85) — 
Lady Vanishes” (UA) (reissue) (2d 
wk). Sturdy $4,000 after $5,000 
last week. 

Keith’s (RKO) (1,939; 50*85)— 
Lusty Men” (RKO). Okay $11,- 
000, and above average. Last week, 
“Duel at Silver Creek” (U),. okay 
$8,000 in 6 days. 

Metropolitan (Warner) (1,200; 50- 
80) — “Strange Fascination” (In- 
die). Slight * $3,500. Last week, 
“The Mummy” (Indie) “and “Were- 
wolf London”- (Indie) (reissues), 
good $‘6,000. 

Palace (Loew’s) (2,370; 50-80)— 
Way of Gauche** (20th). So-so 
$14,000. Last week; “DreamboatV 
(20th) (2d wk), slim $7,000 for 5 
days. 

Playhouse (Lopert)< (486; 60-$l) 
—“The Thief” (UA) (3d wk). Stout 
$5,000 after disappointing $6,300 
ldst \V00k 

Warner (WB) (2,i74; 50*80)— 
“Springfield Rifle” (WB). Hotsy 
$17,000. • Last week, “Miracle of 
Fatima” (WB) (2d wk), $10,000. 

Trans-Lux (T-L) (600; 60-$!)-- 
“Eight Iron Men” (Col) (2d wkb 
Slipped to $4,000 after fine $6,500 
last week. 


■f ' ' k I 


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11 


* ’ ‘ ' * ! .< J : • Y H ■ I I * f » \ * 9 

Wednesday, November 12, 1952 





, Chi; ‘Battle’ Bangup 11G, 
‘Confidential’ Big 20G, ‘8-Men’ 12G 


Chieago^ Nov. 11. • 

Aftermath of the election hasn’t 
hurt biz, and. with the brisk 
weather, the boxoffice seems to be 
on the upgrade again. New prod- 
uct appears to be a little stronger, 
most of it leaning on the action 
side. Armistice Day hoilday is not 
hurting, either. 

Chicago, with “Iron Mistress” 
and Frankie Laine heading the 
stage show, should zoom to bright 
$52,000, best at bouse in weeks. 
Grand’s “Battle Zone” and “Rose 
Bowl Story” should hit a neat $11,- 
000. “Eight Iron Men” and “Black 
Castle” at Roosevelt looms trim 
$12,000. “Kansas City Confiden- 
tial” at Woods is passable at 
$20,000. 

Among the second - weekers, 
‘Snows of Kilimanjaro” is outpac- 
ing anything in sight with punchy 
session at the State;Lake. In the 
longer runs, “Ivanhoe” shows 
staying power in fifth week at the 
Oriental with a big total. “Mira- 
cle of Fatima” is also still brisk 
in third frame at United Artists. 
“Because You’re Mine” at Palace 
not too good for fourth stanza. 

Estimates for This Week 

Chicago (B&K) (3,900; 98-$1.25) 
“Iron Mistress” (WB) with 
Frankie Laine in person. Solid 
$52,000. Last week, “Everything 
I Have Is Yours” (M-G) with Vic- 
tor Borge* topping vaude, $38,000. 

Grand (RKO) (1,500; 55-98) — 
“Battle Zone” (Mono) and “Rose 
Bowl Story” (Mono). Stout $11,- 
000. Last. week. “Tomorrow Too 
Late” (Indie) and “Feudin’ Fools,” 
(Mono), $13,000. 

Oriental (Indie) (3,400; 98-$1.25) 
—“Ivanhoe” (M-G) (5th wk). Kid- 
die ducats are helping here for 
neat $25,000. Last week, $30,000. 

Palace (Eitel) (2,500; 98)— “Be- 
cause You’re Mine” (M-G) (4th 
\vk>. Not too good at $15,000. Last 
week. $18,000. 

Roosevelt (B&K) (1,500; 55-98)— 
“Eight Iron Men” (Col) and “Black 
Castle” (U). Trim $12,000. Last 
week. “Springfield Rifle” (WB) 
and “Apache War .Smoke” (M-G) 
(2d wk>, $9,000. 

State-Lake (B&K) (2,700; 98- 

$1.25) — “Snow of Kilimanjaro” 
(20th) (2d wk). Running ahead of- 
othcr holdovers with excellent 
$37,000. Last week, $45,000. • 

Surf (H&E Balaban) (685; 98)— 
“Lady Vanishes” (UA) (reissue) 
(2d wk'. Brisk $3,000. Last week, 
$4,000. 

United Artists 4B&K) (1,700; 98- 
$1.25> — “Miracle of Fatima” (WB) 
(3d wk). Showing up nicely at 
$16,000. Last week, $18,000. 

Woods (Essaness) (1,073; 98) — - 
“Kansas City Confidential” (UA). 
Shapes rousing $20,000. Last week, 
“Lusty Men” (RKO) (3d wk), 
$ 12 , 000 . 

World (Iridie) (587; 98)— “Beauty 
and Devil” (Indie) (2d wk). Doing 
well at $2,000. Last week, $5,000 


‘Snows’ Sock $22,000, 
L’ville; ‘Thief’ NSH 8G, 
‘Monkey’ Fine $5,500, 2d 

Louisville, Nov. 11. 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro” at the 
Rialto is making the big splash 
this week along film house row. 
Smash $22,000 looms at upped 
scale. “Thief” at the State shapes 
fair while holdovers of. “Monkey 
Business” at Kentucky and “Spring- 
field Rifle” at the Mary Anderson 
are still nice. 


Estimates for This Week 


Kentucky (Switdw) (1,000; 54-75) 
—■“Monkey Business” (20th) (2d 
'vk'. Still fine at $5,500 after first 
week’s sock $7,500. 


Mary Anderson (People’s) (1,200; 
04-75)— “Springfield Rifle” (WB) 
wk). Continues nice at $5,000. 
Last week, $6,500. 


(Fourth Avenue) (3,000; 
/on?? 1 — “Snows Kilimanjaro” 
o,?! 11, Smakh $22,000 at upped 
• , May hold here or may be 
^nlted to Brown for additional 
jwjnzas Last week. “Somebody 

i Par) and “Red Snows” 
'Lou, neat $10,000 at regular scale. 

, 1 5 tat c, (Loew’s) (3,000; 54-75)— 
(UA) and- “Hour of 
■ F..n VI ;P ) * Fair $8,000. Last week, 
B,.?. p f ou 5 e ’’ (20th) and “Wife’s 
sL Friend” (20th), $9,000. 


Estimates Are Net 

Film gross estimates as re- 
ported herewith from the vari- 
ous key cities, are net; i. e. f 
without the 20% tax. Distrib- 
utors share on net take, when 
playing percentage, hence the 
estimated figures are net in- 
come. 

The parenthetic admission 
prices, however, as indicated, 
include the U. S. amusement 
tax. 


‘Savage’ Fair 

$14,000 in Del 

Detroit, Nov. 11. 

Plethora of holdovers is keep- 
ing grosses down this week. There 
are only two newcomers, “The 
Savage,” fair at Palms, and “Ladies 
of Chorus”-“Strange Fascination” 
at Madison, which shapes slow. Of 
the holdovers, “Ivanhoe” is hold- 
ing up strongest in fifth week at 
the Adams. “Lusty Men” looks 
slow in second stanza at the Fox. 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro” in third 
week at United Artists shapes big. 

Estimates for This Week 

Fox (Fox-Detroit) (5,000; 70-95) 
—“Lusty Men” (RKO) and “Be- 
ware My Lovely” (RKO) (2d wk). 
Down to $15,000. Last week, mild 
$ 20 , 000 . 

Michigan (United Detroit) (4,000; 
70-95) — “Because You’re Mine” (U) 
and “Apache War Smoke” (U) (2d 
wkh Off to $15,000. Last week, 
fair $20,000. . 

Palms . (UD) (2,961; 70-95)— 

“The Savage” (Par) and “Scotland 
Yard Inspector” (Lip). Fair $14,- 
000. Last week, “Untamed Fron- 
tier” (U) and. “Bonzo To College” 
(U), $12,000. 

Madison (UD) (1.900; 70-95)— 
“Ladies of Chorus” (Col) (reissue) 
and “Strange Fascination” (Col). 
Slow $7,000. Last week. “Alleghany 
Uprising” (RKO) and “Annie Oak- 
ley” (RKO) (reissues), same. 

United Artists (UA) (1,900; 95- 
$1.25) — “Snows of Kilimanjaro” 
(20th) (3d wk). Big $12,000. Last 
week, $16,000. • 

Adams (Balaban) (1,700; 95- 

$1.25)— “Ivanhoe” (M-G) (5th wk). 
Sturdy $10,000. Last week, $11,000. 


‘Snows’ Rousing $35,000, 
Toronto; ‘Iron Men’ Hot 
12G, ‘Lovely’ Okay 10G 

Toronto, Nov. 11. 

On six-a-day schedule, “Snows of 
Kilimanjaro” is smash at the Im- 
perial, Canada’s largest film house. 
“Eight Iron Men” also looms neat 
at the Odeon. “Beware My Lovely” 
looms okay at the University. Other 
spots, mainly on holdover, are 
barely okay to fair. 

Estimates for This Week 

Crest, Downtown, Glendale, May- 
fair, Scarboro, State (Taylor) (863; 
1.059; 955; 470, ; 698; 694; 35-60)— 
“New Mexico” (UA) and “Break- 
down” (Indie). Oke $13,500. Last 
week, “You for Me” (M-G) and 
“Scotland Yard Inspector” (Lip), 
$ 10 , 000 . 

Eglinton (FP) (1.080; 40-80) — 
“Assignment Paris” (Col). Nice 
$8,500. Last week, “Washington 
Story” (M-G), $7,500. 

Imperial (FP) *3,373; 50-$l) — 
“Snows Kilimanjaro” (20th). Smash 
$35,000. Last week, “Big Sky” 
(RKO) (2d wk), $11,000. 

Loew’s (Loew) (2,096; 50-80) — 
“Because You’re Mine” (M-G» (2d 
wk). Holding at $6,500. Last week, 
$ 8 , 000 . 

Odeon (Rank) (2,390; 50-90> — 
“Eight Iron Men” (Col). Lusty 
$12,000. Last week. “Story of 
Mandy” (Rank), $10,000. 

Shea’s (FP) (2,396; 40-80) — 
“Somebody Loves Me” (Par) (2d 
wk). Nice $8,500. Last week, 
$14,500. 

Towne (Taylor) (693; 50-75) — 
“Camille” (M-G) (reissue) (4th wk). 
Holding nicely at $4,500. Last 
week. $5,000. 

University (FP) (1.558; 40-80)— 
“Beware My Lovely” (RKQ). Satis- 
factory $10^000. Last week, “Wife’s 
Best Friend” (20th) (2d wk), $8,000. 

Uptown (Loew) (2,743; 40-80» — 
“Everything I Have Is Yours 
(M-G) (2d wk). Oke $6,500. Last 
week, $8,500. 


iron Men* Oke $9,000, 
Buff.; ‘Gaucho’ Fair 8G 

Buffalo, Nov. 11. 

Biz is not getting far this stanza 
at most first-runs currently. “Eight 
Iron Men” looms okay at Lafayette 
while “Everything I Have Is 
Yours” looks fair at the Buffalo. 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro” still is 
trim in third round at the Center! 
Elsewhere it is not so good. 

Estimates for This Week 

Buffalo (Loew’s) (3,000; 40-70)— 
“Everything I Have Is Yours” 
(M-G) and “Apache War Smoke” 
(M-G). Fair $15,000 in 8 days. 
Last week, “Because You’re Mine” 
(M-G) and “Hour of 13” (M-G) (2d 
wk-5 days), tame $7,500. 

Paramount (Par) (3,000; 40-70) — 
“Turning Point” (Par) and “Des- 
peradoes Outpost” (Indie). Slow 
$10,000. Last week, “Springfield 
Rifle” (WB) and “Night Without 
Sleep” (20th). okay $13,500. 

Center (Par) (2,100; 70-$l) — 

“Snows of Kilimanjaro” (20th) (3d 
wk). Trim $9,000. Last week, big 
$14,000. 

Lafayette (Basil) (3,000; 40-70)— 
“Eight Iron Men” (Col) and “Man 
of Evil” (Col). Okay $9,000. Last 
week, “Yankee Buccaneer” (U) and 
“Dance Hall Girls” (Lip), $7,500. 

Century (20th Cent.) (3,000; 40- 
70) — “Way of Gaucho” (20th) and 
“Tropical Heat Wave” (Rep). Fair 
$8,000. Last week, “Untamed 
Women” (UA) and “The Fighter” 
(UA), $9,500, 


‘Secret’ Loud 12G 
in Fair Philly 

Philadelphia, Nov. 11. 

Holdovers are depressing local 
film biz although the weekends 
still are sturdy. “Operation Secret” 
looms as standout with smash ses- 
sion at the Stanton, and is holding. 
Larry Steele’s package show at the 
Earle with “Models, Inc.” shapes 
very dull. “Happy Time” is get- 
ting happy returns at the Trans- 
Lux, with lines throughout week. 
WB apparently has a deal to keep 
“The Thief” on at the Aldine, and 
will hold a sixth after fair returns 
this round (5th). 

Estimates for This Week 

Aldine (WB) (1.303: 50-99)— 

“Thief” (UA) (5th wk). Fair $4,200. 
Last week, $4.50U. Slated to hold 
fl sixth 

Arcadia (S&S) (625; 85-$I.20)— 
“Because You're Mine” (M-G) (4th 
wk). Smart $10,000. Last week, 
same. 

’ Boyd. .(WB) (2,380; 50-99)— 

“Somebody Loves Me” (Par) (2d 
wk). Dim $8,000. Last week, fair 
$14,000. 

Earle (WB) (2,700; 50-$1.10)— 
“Models, Inc.” (Indie) with Larry 
Steele’s “Smart Affairs” onstage. 
Very dull $11,000 for stagefilm 
setup. Last week. “Bonzo To Col- 
lege” (U) plus Frankie Laine on- 
stage, disappointing $15,000. 

Fox (20th) (2,250; 90-$1.50)— 

“Ivanhoe” (M-GV* (5th wk). Terrific 
$20,000. Last week, sturdy $23,000. 

Goldman (Goldman) (1,200; 50- 
99)— “Eight Iron Men” (Col) (2d 
wk). Down to $9,000. Last week, 
$15,000. 

Mastbaiim (WB) (4,360; 85-$1.20) 
— "Quiet Man” (Rep) (6th wk). 
Nice $10,500. Last week, $10,000. 

Midtown (Goldman) (1,000; 75- 
$1.30) — “Snows Kilimanjaro” 
[• (20th) (4th wk). ' Great $18,000. 
Last week, sock $20,000.’ 

Randolph (Goldman) (2,500; 50- 
99)— “Because of You” (U> (2d wk). 
Slipped to $8,000. Last week, good 
$16,000. 

Stanley (WB) ,(2,900; 50-99)— 
“Savage” (Par) (2d wk). Slow $9,- 
Q00. Last week, mild $12,000 opener. 

Stanton (WB> (1,479; 50-99)— 
“Operation Secret” JWB). Smash 
$12,000. Last week, “Black Cas- 
tle” (U). $7,000. 

Trans-Lux (T-L) (500; 85-$1.20) 
—“Happy Time” (Col). Giant $9,- 
000 or near. Last week, “Night 
Without Sleep” (20th) (2d wk), 
$3,000. • 

T. Borsey-‘Rose BowF 
$15,000 Leads Iiidpls. 

Indianapolis, Nov. 11. 

Biz remains at modest level in 
first-run situations here this stanza. 
“Rose Bowl Story,” at Lyric with 
Tommy Dorsey band on stage in 
revival combination policy after 
two year lapse, is drawing fair 
results to pace town. “Back at 
Front,” at Indiana, is top straight 
filmer. . “Devil Makes Three” at 
Loew’s and “Sudden Fear” at Cir- 
cle are in the so-so class. 
Estimates for This Week 

Circle (Cockrill-Dolle) (2,800; 50- 
76)— “Sudden Fear” (RKO) and 
“Annie Oakley” (RKO) (reissue). 
Moderate $8,000. Last week, 
(Continued on page 20) 




Breaking Thru’ Sock $29,01)0 on B’way; 
‘Secret’-Aces-Gale-Bamet Stout 73G, 
‘Zenda’ Hep 35G, ‘Time’ Slow HOG, 2d 


The post-election upbeat at 
Broadway first-run theatres this 
session is proving neither as sharp 
nor as extensive as had been ex- 
pected. Despite five new bills, 
business still is v6ry spotty with 
the sluggish tone in evidence at 
most of the houses. Clear, crisp 
weather most of s current week 
should have been helpful for the 
film trade, but the potential pa- 
trons simply were not seeking en- 
tertainment on any big scale. 

Outstanding exception to the 
trend of newcomers is “Breaking 
Through,” which is heading for a 
smash $29,000 opening week at the 
Victoria. Excellent, novel front 
and surprisingly strong reviews 
gave the British-made pic a great 
start, ancj it has continued this 
pace. « 

“Operation Secret,” with stage- 
show headed by Four Aces, Charlie 
Barnet band, and Sunny Gale 
wound up the first week at the 
Paramount with a fine $73,000. 
“Prisoner - of Zenda” finished its 
initial round at the Capitol with a 
nice $35,000. 

“Way of a Gaucho.” despite a 
strong stageshow headed by Fran- 
ces Langford, Blackburn Twins & 
Marion Colby, did so badly at $55,- 
000 on opening week at the Roxy 
that it will be held over only three 
extra days. “Bloodhounds of 
Broadway” is being brought in 
Friday (14). “Montana Belle” with, 
eight acts of vaudeville is heading 
for a solid $24,000 at the Palace. 

9 Third session of “Limelight” is 
holding in sock style at the Astor 
with $27,000, virtually the same as 
in the second week. It also is con- 
tinuing near capacity at the Trans- 
Lux 60th Street, where on two-a- 
day. 

“The Promoter,” which regis- 
tered a new high at the Fine Arts 
opening week, still is great in sec- 
ond round with $13,500., which is 
better than the initial holdover 
week for “Lavendar Hill Mob,” 
previous champ at house. 

“Happy Time” with stageshow 
is winding up its two-we*ek run at 
the Music Hall with modest $116,- 
000 for second stanza. “Plymouth 
Adventure” opens tomorrow 
(Thurs.). “Snows of Kilimanjaro’.’ 
continues very sturdy with $25,000 
or close for eighth week at the 
Rivoli. 

. Estimates for This Week 

Astor (City Inv.) (1 ,300; 70-$ 1 .50) 
— "Limelight (UA) (3d wk). Third 
stanza ending today (Wed.) holding 
in great style around $27,000. Sec- 
ond week was sock $27,500, over 
hopes. Stays on indef. 

Broadway (Cinerama) (1,250; 90- 
$2.80) — "This Is Cinerama” (Indie) 
(7th wk). Sixth round ended last 
night (Tues.) continues at capacity 
with $42,000, ‘same as fifth week. 
Stays on indefinitely, with mail 
orders being taken, to April. 

Capitol (Loew’s) (4,820; 7j0-$1.50) 
— "Prisoner of Zenda” (M-G) (2d 
wk). Initial week ended. Monday 
(10) was nice $35,000. In ahead, 
“Just For You” (Par) (4th wk), was 
mild $14,000. 

Criterion (Moss) (1,700; 50-$1.80> 
—"Lusty Men” (RKO) (3d wk). 
Holding very well with okay $8,500 
after mild $9,500 for second week. 
Stays on, with "Hans Christian An- 
dersen” (RKO) set to open Nov. 
25, day-date with the Paris. 

Fine Arts (Davlis) (468; 90-$1.80) 
— "The Promoter” (U), (3d wk). Ini- 
tial holdover round ended Monday 
(10) held at smash $13,500, which 
beat the mark held by “Lavendar 
Hill Mob” (U) in second week. 
First session was record $15,000, 
topping the “Hill Mob” old high. 

Globe (Brandt) (1,500; 50-$1.50) 
— “Cairo Road” (Indie) (2d-final 
wk). Off to about $7,000. First week 
was light $9,000. “Turning Point” 
(Par) opens Friday (14). c 

Mayfair (Brandt) (1,736; 50- 

$1.50) — “World in His Arms” (U) 
(5th wk). FifthOframe ended Mon- 
day (10) held at okay $8,000 after 
$9,000 for fourth, Holds on. Added 
heavy campaign helping pic’s run 
here. 

Normandie (Normandie Thea- 
tres) (592; 95-$1.80) — “Angel 

Street” (Hakim). Opened Monday 
(10). In ahead, “Magic Box” (May- 
er) (7th wk), was down<?to $3,000 in 
final 6 days. Sixth week was okav 
$4,500. 

Palace (RKO) (1,700; 75-$1.40)— 
“Montana Belle” (RKO) and 8 acts 
of vaude. Heading for solid $24,000 
or near. Last week, “Battle Zone” 
(Mono) with vaude, $22,500. 

Paramount (Par) (3,664; 80-$1.80i 
— “Operation Secret” (WB) with 
Four Aces; Charlie Barnet orch. 
Sunny Gale, Lane Bl’os., Jay Law- 


rence onstage (2d-final wk). First 
week ended last night (Tues.) hit 
fine $73,000. Previous week, 
"Springfield Rifle” (WB) with Duke 
Ellington orch, others, onstage (2d 
wk), $55,000. 

Paris (Indie) (568; $1.25-$1.80)— 
"Young Wives’ Tale” (Indie) (2d 
wk). Initial round ended Sunday 
(9) was fair $4,200. In ahead, 
"Thirst of Men” (Indie), $3,800. 
"Hans Christian Andersen” (RKO) 
opens Nov. 25, day-date with Cri- 
terion. 

Rivoli (UAT) (2,092; 70-$2)— 

"Snows of Kilimanjaro” (20th) (8th 
wk). Continues very sturdy with 
$25,000 or near. Seventh frame 
wag great $31,000, but a bit below 
hopes. Stays on. 

Radio City Music Hall (Rocke- 
fellers) (5,945; 80-$2.40) — “Happy 
Time” (Col) with stageshow (2d- 
final wk). Down to $116,000 in final 
round. First week was very dis- 
appointing at $122,500, light for 
opening session and below expect- 
ancy. “Plymouth Adventure” (M-G) 
and new stageshow in tomorrow 
(Thurs.). 

Roxy (20th) (5,886; 80-$2.20) — 
"Way of Gaucho” (20th) with 
Frances Langford, Blackburn 
Twins & Marion Colby, Harmonica 
Rascals, Maurice Rccco onstage 
(2d wk-3 days). First stanza ended 
Monday (10) was only $55,000, 
very slow for opening round. Stays 
only three days past initial week, 
with "Bloodhounds of Broadway.” 
(20th) opening Friday (14). This 
new picture is set to run through 
Nov. 30, after which the Roxy 
shutters for about three weeks to 
prep for iceshow-film policy. 

State (Loew’s) (3,450; 55-$1.25) 
— “Steel Trap” (20th). Opens to- 
day (Wed.). In ahead, "Every- 
thing I. Have Is Yours” (M-G) (2d 
wk). down to $10,500 after mild 
$15,000 for opener. Preview of 
"Trap” yesterday (Tues.) helped 
second round. 

Sutton (R & ,B> (561; 90-$1.50)— 
"Four Poster.” (Col) (5th wk). 
— Fourth round ended last night 
(Tues.) was $8,000 after nice $9,000 
for third week. 

Trans-Lux 60th St. (T-L) (453; 
$1.80-$2.40)— "Limelight” (UA) (3d 
wk). Third session ending today 
(Wed.) is heading for great $10,500. 
after $11,500, virtually capacity 
for second round. Stays on indef 
on this two-a-day, upped-scale run. 

Trans-Lux 52d St. (T-L) (540; 
90-$ 1.50) — "Full House” (20th) 
(4th wk). Current round ending 
today (Wed.) looks to hold at 
$9,000 or near after $9,500 for 
third week. 

Victoria (City Inv.) (1,060; 70- 
$1.80) — "Breaking Through” (UA). 
First week winding up today 
(Wed.) is heading for smash $29,- 
000 or close. Holds, natch! In 
ahead, "Four Poster” (Col) (3d 
wk-8 days), mild $12,000. 

■ — ■ ■■ »■ # 

Post-Election Ups Mpls. 

But ‘Point’ Dull $6,000; 
‘Rifle’ Trim at $9,000 

Minneapolis, Nov. 11. 

Prophesied after-election boxof- 
fice upturn is in evidence current- 
ly. The films copped plenty of at- 
tention over the weekend in the 
face of the Minnesota-Purdue foot- 
ball game which drew 53,341 fans 
here. Important newcomers "Turn- 
ing Point” "Springfield Rifle” and 
"Battle Zone” are benefitting from 
comparative scarcity of frgsh fare. 
It’s the fifth week for "Ivanhoe,” 
third for “Snows of Kilimanjaro” 
and "Because You’re Mine,” and 
the second for ‘Everything I Have 
Is Yours.” 

Estimates for This Week 

Century (Par) 1,600; 70-$l)— 
"Ivanhoe” (M-G) (5th wk). Okay 
$4,500. Last week, $5,500. 

Gopher (Berger) (1,000; 50-76) — 
"Because You’re Mine” (M-G) (3d 
wk). Hasn’t made anticipated show- 
ing, but will finish up well at $4,- 
000. Last week, good $4,800. 

Lyric (Par) (1,000; 76-$l>— 

"Snows Kilimanjaro” (20th) (3d 
wk). Big here as elsewhere. Hold- 
ing at fancy $8,000. Last week, 
$ 10 , 000 . 

Radio City (Par) (4.000; 50-76) 
— "Turning Point” (Par). Shapes 
dull $6,000. Last week, "Because 
of You” (U), $9,000. 

RKO-Orpheum (RKO) (2,800; 40- 
76) — "Springfield Rifle” (WB). 
Trim $9,000. Last week, "Yankee 
Buccaneer” (U), $6,000 in 6 days. 

RKO-Pan (RKO) (1,600; 40-76)— 
"Tarzan's Savage Fury” (RKO) and 

(Continued on page 20) 


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WetltfieB<fay* NovemJjer 12, 1952 



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THE TURNING POINT 

William Holden • Edmond O’Brien • Alexis Smith 

Big-Time Gangland’s action-packed story that’s draw- 
ing big-time crowds ... 


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JUST FOR YOU 




Technicolor • Bing Crosby • Jane Wymcfn * Ethel Barrymore 

The“Zing A Little Zong” picture has the cash register 
zinging everywhere . . , 



Perlberg-Seaton’s 


SOMEBODY LOVES ME 


Technicolor • Betty Hutton • Ralph Meeker 

The “Greatest Show On Earth” girl is doing great 
business in her brightest musical . . . 


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THE SAVAGE 




Technicolor • Charlton Heston • Susan Morrow 

Multiple-theatre kick-off in Detroit area is set for 
Heston’s first since “Greatest Show”. . . 


9 out of 11 i 


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Wednesday, November' 12, 1952 




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THE BLAZING FOREST 


Technicolor • John -Payne • William Demarest 
Agnes Moorehead * Richard Arlen • Susan Morrow 

‘Burns all other fire pictures out of memory.” M.P. 
Daily. ‘‘Best ever seen.” M. P. Herald ... 


SON OF PALEFACE 


Technicolor • Bob Hope • Jane Russell • Roy Rogers • Trigger 

The stars of “Paleface,” with Roy and Trigger added, 
are packin' 'em in . . . 


HURRICANE SMITH 


Technicolor • Yvonne DeCarlo • John Ireland • James Craig 
Forrest Tucker • Lyle Bettger 

Just what Showmen’s T. R. said it was: “A ‘natural' 
for all lovers of action!”. . . , 


CARIBBEAN 


Hal Wallis’ 

JUMPING JACKS 


Technicolor • John Payne • Arlene Dahl • Sir Cedric Hardwicke 

The sea saga that everybody, young and old, is 
flocking to see. . . 


Dean Martin • Jerry Lewis • Mona Freeman 

The results are in, from all types of houses 
boys were never so boxoffice-hot . . . 


— and the 











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And for the big year-end holiday time: 

ROAD TO BALI 


Technicolor • Bing Crosby • Bob Hope * Dorothy Lamour 

Their last “Road” picture was the industry's biggest 
•grosser of its year and this is digger . . . 


Color by TECHNICOLOR 

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14 INTERNATIONAL 


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‘WUtVrY'fe' LofteeA ei'tfc* 

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Italo Screen Actors Propping Drive 
Vs. Invasion of Foreign Talent 


•» 

. Rome, Nov. 4. 

The Syndicate of Italian Screen 
Actors has met here to solidify an 
actors’ organization which can col- 
lectively deal with problems of the 
Italian picture industry from the 
actor’s standpoint. Up until the 
last two years there has not been 
any great need for such an organi- 
zation. But with Italian film pro- 
duction increasing every year, TV 
becoming more vital each day and 
numerous co-productions in the of- 
fing, it is felt here that the time 
has come when the actors .must 
have a united front. 

One of the main subjects now 
under discussion is the so-called 
invasion of foreign actors into the 
Italo film field. It is felt that too 
many foreign people are coming 
here and doing pic work, and thus 
taking it away from needy Italians, 
resulting in more unemployed act- 
ors among the native talent. Some 
contend that many of the “invad- 
ers” are not. even • actors in the 
first place. The Italian thespians 
say that if and when producers 
need an actor to play a foreigner 
in the picture, they can send to 
the U. S. or England: Actually, they 
have no resentment against the 
French, whom they consider a sort 
of cousin from over the border. 

Another subject on the agenda 
was the lengthy working hours. It 
is possible forja production to keep 
actors and crew from 16 to even 20 
hours per day. Actors are constant- 
ly held up by slow technicalities 
and unplant ed lighting, they aver. 
Some producers also have a habit 
of paying salaries slowly or not 
paying at all. Gino Cervi and Isa 
Miranda were named to head 
the committee until officers are 
elected. 

‘A&C Invisible Man’ Hits 
Record on Tokyo Preem; 
’Bell’ Also Loud at B.O. 

Tokyo, Nov. 4. 

“Abbott and Costello Meet the In- 
visible Man” drew record-breaking 
crowds to the nine Tokyo theatres 
during its single week’s general re- 
lease stand. More than 152,000 at- 
tended the theatres, with $25,000 
gross. 

. During the . last two weeks of 
October, “Gone With Wind” "(M-G) 
continued to hold first place in re- 
ceipts for a single-theatre, road 
show release, at hefty $19,600. “For 
Whom Bell Tolls” (Par) was close 
behind c»with $16,700, while “A 
Place in Sun” (Par) held steady at 
$7,800. 


1st Big Nip-U.S. Postwar 
Pic Slow on Tokyo Preem 

Tokyo, Nov. 4. 

“Forever My Love,” written, di- 
rected and produced for Daiei Stu- 
dios by Paul Sloane, and starring 
Mitsuko Kimura, Life cover girl, 
opened here to a poor biz, with al- 
most unanimous adverse critical 
comment from Japanese and Eng- 
lish newspaper reviewers obvious- 
ly hurting. Chris Drake plays the 
male lead. • 

The first major Japanese-Amer- 
ican production, it is a romantic 
story of 'a Japanese girl and an 
American GI. It opened in five 
houses here with attendance run- 
ning from 23% to 49% of capacity. 


W. Pakistan Bans 
All Indian Filins 

Madras, Nov. 4. 

West Pakistan .government is 
imposing a ban on the import of 
Indian pictures into that part of 
India to afford protection to the 
Pakistan film trade. Competition 
from Indian films is reported so 
great that Pakistan has not been 
able to set up a strong production 
unit of its own in the years was 
separated from India. Since there 
is no production at all in Eastern 
Pakistan, no ban on exhibition of 
Indian films is expected for 
some time. 

Today West Pakistan produces 
only seven to eight pictures per 
year while with all restrictions 
imposed 70-80 Indian films enter 
the Pakistan territory annually. 
Only recently Pakistan and India 
concluded a trade pact whereby 
six Indian films were allowed in- 
side Pakistan against one Pakis- 
tani film imported into India. Now 
with a total ban on the import of 
Indian films, Pakistani producers 
figure they can produce all the 
films required in Pakistan. 

However, it is doubtful whether 
Pakistan will be able to produce 
even 25% of normal requirements 
of exhibitors unless foreign pro- 
ducers can be persuaded to turn 
out joint productions. The atti- 
tude that Pakistan can produce all 
her own films was advanced after 
a British film advisor went into 
the problem which indicates Brit- 
ish producers may take an active 
part in future ^Pakistan products. 


‘Bell,” ‘A&C’ Big In Other Areas 

Osaka, Nov. 4. 

“For Whom Bell Tolls” (Par) was 
hangup leader of the foreign films 
at the Kansai (Osaka-Kobe-Nagoya) 
area boxoffice during the last 'two 
weeks of October. Playing in four 
houses for one week, “Bell” drew 
101,500 patrons and grossed a ter- 
rific $28,800. 

* Other roadshows during the pe- 
riod were: “Gone With Wind” 
(M-G), run in Osaka being weak 
$6,400 for last two weeks; “Manila’.’ 
(Indie) playing at six houses for a 
hefty $10,000 in seven days; and 
“African Queen” (UA) sturdy $8,- 
500 for one week in four houses. 

“Abbott and Costello Meet the 
Invisible Man,” playing oi.e week 
in nine houses, was a big $14,500. 


Vive le Couleur! 

Paris, Nov. 11. 

Color for forthcoming budget pix 
is being given careful consideration 
here. The Labocolor De Saint 
Cloud Laboratories will process 
all the copies of the forthcoming 
Hispano-American co-production, 
“Babes In Bagdad” for Europe and 
the U. S. Process is Cinefotocolor. 
This year saw two French pix in 
Gevacolor with a great number of 
color shorts. The first Technicolor 
Gallic feature, “The Caprices of 
Caroline,” was recently completed. 

Next big Technicolor pic on the 
way here is the Christian-Jaque 
costumer, “Lucrecia Borgia,” with 
^ Pedro Armendariz and Martine 
B Carol. This will be processed at 
Wr the English plants but a Techni- 
~ color lab is envisaged here within 
the next two years. Also in color 
will be “The Red Dish” by Jac- 
queline Audry and “Camille” with 
Micheline Presle. 


$8,820,000 INVESTED 
IN INDIA’S FILM BIZ 

Washington, Nov. 11. 

Film industry in India repre- 
sents an investment of 420,000,0(10 
rupees ($8,820,000), of which 26Q,- 
000,000 cover theatres, reports Na- 
than L. Golden, director of the 
Commerce Department film divi- 
sion. (A rupee equals 21c in Amer- 
ican money). Tire industry has 
about 90,000 employees. 

Golden also stated: “There are 
60 studios in India having a total 
t)f 140 sound stages at which some 
350 producers turn out about 250 
feature pix each year. Pictures pro- 
duced in Bombay and Calcutta 
average 12,000 feet in length,- while 
those completed in Madras average 
15,000 feet. Average annual im- 
ports of rawstock film amount to 
200,000,000 feet valued at 13,000,- 
000 rupees. The average cost of 
production of a feature film ranges 
from 400,000 to 500,000 rupees and 
it takes from 6 to 12 months to 
complete a full length feature 
film.” 

There are about 3,500 cinemas in 
India, according to Golden, of 
which 800 are touring units. Seat- 
ing capacity of all theatres is es- 
timated at 1,600,000. Average daily 
attendance is roughly 2,000,000. 


Dominican Rep Bans Mex 

Mexico City, Nov. 4. 

Ban without explanation was 
ordered in the Dominican Republic 
by President Trujilo on the Mex- 
ican pic, “The Great Cardinal.” 
This film story is about Hungarian 
Cardinal Mindszenty, being pro- 
duced by Manuel Reachi. Columbia 
is world distributing it. 


Mull Scot Comedy for U,S. 

Glasgow, Nov. 4 . 

Duncan Macrae, legit actor, is 
mulling a plan to take record- 
breaking Scot comedy, ‘-Bachelors 

Are Bold,” by T, M. Watson, to 
America- and Canada. If plan goes 
through, tour would start in May 
because Macrae is engaged till then 
in pantomime. 

Comedy will be staged this win- 
ter in Johannesburg. Play has bro- 
ken all longrun records in Scot- 
land. 

Flood of Damage Suits 
Caused by Italo Star’s 
Walkout on ‘Caihelias’ 

Milan, Nov. 4. 

Suits and counter-suits have in- 
creased the complications stem- 
ming from the refusal of actress 
Gina Lollobrigida to fulfill her con- 
tract to appear in “Women With- 
out Camelias,” directed by Michel- 
angelo Antonini for Forges Davan- 
zati-ENIC. Written by Antonini, 
pic' is the story of a salesgirl who 
is discovered, rises to film fame 
via face and physique, fails in an 
attempt at serious acting, and then 
resigns herself to roles exploiting 
her physical outfittings. Lollo- 
brigida, claiming pic is offensive 
to herself and to the Italian film 
industry, is suing for “moral dam- 
age.” 

Producers, on the other hand, 
are asking for damages totalling 
100 million lire ($150,000) claiming 
the actress signed contract with 
full knowledge of the story, and 
'then failed to show for the first 
day’s shooting. With Lucie Bose 
chosen to sub for the starring role, 
pic is now winding up location 
work here and in Venice. Mean- 
while, director-scripter Antonini 
has likewise filed suit against Gina 
Lollobrigida, claiming offense at 
some remarks made by the actress 
during a radio interview. FILS, 
Italo film workers union, has like- 
wise “deplored” the star’s stand. 
Actress’ suit is set for hearing this 
week in Rome. 

Director Antonini , is also in- 
volved in a suit regarding his pre- 
vious pic, “Our Sons,” dealing with 
juvenile delinquency and partly 
shot in Paris. French episode was 
inspired by real-life murder of a 
boy, Alain Guyader, by sbme play- 
mates. Father of one of the girls 
involved in the murder, the film’s 
story could gravely prejudice his 
daughter’s case, is asking for court 
judgment. 


Nicholas Bros, on Mex City TV 

Mexico City, Nov. 4. 

Nicholas Bros., big on a return 
booking at the swanky Rumba Casi- 
no nitery here, are other top for- 
eign entertainers to appear on TV 
in Mexico City. They are doing a 
brief weekly stint for local station 
XHTV here. 

Ron Potrero, rum manufacturer, 
is sponsoring. 


Legit Shows Abroad 


LONDON 


(Week ending Nov. 8) 
(Figures indicate opening* date) 
Cambridge (8-21). 
St. Mart. (8-29). 
Coliseum (3-15). 
James (10-5). 
Duchess (3-6). 


''Affairs of State,' 

"Bells St. Martin/ 

"Call Me Madam," 

"Dead Secret," St. 

"Deep Blue Sea," 

"Dial M Murder," West. (6-19). 

"Cay Dog," Piccadilly (6-12). 

"Globe Revue," Globe (7-10). 

"Hanging Judge," New (8-23). 

"Happy Marriage," Duke York <8-7). 
"Husbands Don't/' W. Garden (10-1). 
"Innocents," Majesty’s (7-3). 

"Little Hut," Lyric (8-23-50). . 

"London Laughs," Adelphl (4-12). 

"Love of Colonels," Wyn. (5-23-51). 
"Love from Judy," Saville (9-25). 

"Meet Callahan/ 7 Garrick (5-27). 
"Murder Mistaken," Ambassadors (10-4). 
"Paris to Piccadilly," Pr. Wales (4-15). 
"Porgy & Bess," Stoll (10-8). 
"Quadrille," Phoenix (9-12). 

"Relative Value," Savoy (11-28-51). 
"Reluctant Heroes," White. <9-12-50). 
"Romeo & Juliet," Old Vic (9-15). 
"Seagulls Sorrento/.* Apollo (6-14-50). 
"Second Threshold," Vaude. (9-24). 
"South Pacific," Drury Lane <11-1-51). 
"Troublemakers," Comedy <9-16). 
"Water of Moon," "Haymarket <4-10-51). 
"Wild Horses," Aldwych (10-6). 

"Zip Goes a Million," Palace (10-20-51). 
"Young Elli.," Criterion (4-2). 


SCHEDULED OPENINGS 

(Figures denote premiere* dates) 
'Ring Out Bells," Viet. Palace (11). 
'Tomorrow's Too Late," Comedy (17 
"Italian Straw Hat," Old Vic (18). 
'High Balcony," Embassy (19). 

'Blue Lamp," Hippodrome (19). 

'Holy Terrors," Arts (20). 

’'Touch of Sun," New Lindsey (20). 


AUSTRALIA 

(Week ending Nov. 8) 

"KIs* Me, Kate," Royal, Sydney. 
"Folles Bergere," Tivoli, Sydney. 
"See How Run," Royal, Adelaide. 
"Tommy Trlnder Show," Tivoli, Mel 
"South Pacific," Majesty, Mel. 

"Ice fertile," Majesty, Brlsbano. 

"ice Parade," Empire, Sydney. 

Kiwis, Comedy. MeL 


Aussie Equity, Theatre Ops Gird For 
Fight Over Imported Talent Quota 


Grade Fields Tops TV 
'■ Vaude Show in Glasgow 

Glasgow, Nov. 4. 

Gracie Fields is inked to top a 
TV vaude show from the stage of 
Metropole here Nov. 15. She is do- 
ing concert tour of the Great Bri- 
tain playing dates at Bristol, New- 
castle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dun- 
dee, Manchester and Sheffield. 
This is the same itinerary as that 
recently played by Danny Kaye 
and Bob Hope. 

In the .vaude stint here, the com- 
edienne will be supported by Tes- 
sie O’Shea, Bobbie Kimber, Robert 
Wilson and Scot comedians Harry 
Gordon, Jack Radcliffe and Dave 
Willis. Megger is Richard Afton. 
Dave Willis will emerge from his 
recent retirement from show biz to 
take part. 

Yank Hits Head 
Milan Legiters 

Milan, Nov. 4. 

The Renzo Ricci and Eva Magni 
Co. has opened its traditional sea- 
son at the Teatro Nuovo, and will 
stay here until Christmas. Their 
hit was “The Fourposter” (by Jan 
de Hartog), translated by Ada Sal- 
vadore. 

Other plays to follow are “Bell, 
Book and Candle” by John Van 
Druten; “Goodby Mr. Harris” by 
Terence Rattigan; “Brief Encoun- 
ter” by Noel Coward; “Les Plus 
Beaux Jeux du Mond” by Jean 
Sarment. Following the American 
example, classics like “Don Juan 
in Hell,” by G. B. Shaw and ex- 
cerpts from Dickens will be used 
via reading setup. 

Renzo Ricci and Eva Magni are 
one of the best-known Italian art- 
ist-managers couples, and their 
company has been together for the 
last 15 years. Each season they 
produce in Milan .and Rome the 
best American and English plays of 
the preceding year. 


BRIT -LABOR HUDDLE 
WITH GOVT. DELAYED 

London, Nov. 11. 

Because of pressure of parlia- 
mentary duties following the offi- 
cial opening of the new session 
by the Queen, a labor deputation 
to the Board of Trade prexy to 
urge government action to protect 
the British film industry, originally 
set for last Tuesday (4), has been 
postponed for at least a week. 

Deputation was organized by the 
economic committee of the Trades 
Union Congress and was to ba led 
by Tom O’Brien, M.P., general sec- 
retary of the National Assn, of 
Theatrical and Kine Employees, 
and this year’s TUC prexy. From 
the industry unions he was to be 
supported by Gordon Sandison, 
general secretary of British Actors 
Equity, and Ralph Bond, of the 
Assn, of Cine Technicians. 

Meeting with the BOT prez was 
planned as a sequel to an investi- 
gation of film industry problems 
by the labor movement. They plan 
to urge government action on two 
main issues, official assurance that 
steps would be taken to perpetuate 
the Eady levy and for the admin- 
istration to consider restoring the 
distributor’s quota. After being the 
law for 20 years, the distrib quota 
was dropped from the 1948 Films 
Act following representations from 
producers and the technicians’ 
union. Exhibitors and NATKE op- 
posed this viewpoint but were over- 
ruled. 


Aussie Actor for ’Madam’ 

Glasgow, Nov. 4. 

Frank Leighton, Australian actor, 
has been inked for the male lead 
in the new version of “Call Me 
Madam,” scheduled to open a 
seven-week run at King’s Theatre 
here Dec. 15. 

Femme lead goes to Noele Gor- 
don. Others In cast will be June 
Powell and Johnnie Eager, latter a 
radio singer. 


Sydney, Nov. 4. 

A big fight looms here between 
Aussie Actors Equity and the major 
operators of legit and vaude thea- 
tres following an edit by the for- 
mer decreeing that overseas’ talent 
cannot be brought * here without 
the AAE approval. Hal Alexander, 
secretary of AAE, stated in this 
order that his members will be in- 
structed 0 not to rehearse or appear 
with any imported talent not hold- 
ing a quota clearance. He pointed 
out that AAE had decided upon a 
stricter policing of imported artists 
in order to keep local talent in 
constant employment. 

The AAE, ^indicating that some 
managements are exceeding the 
quota covering importees, has 
asked all legit operators to give 
complete details of talent booked 
for Down Under, titte of produc- 
tion, proposed opening date, with 
such information to be supplied, 
six months in advance. Alexander 
explained that Equity had no in- 
tention of introducing a closed 
shop here, but that it simply was 
protecting local union members. 
Current AAE quota gives straight 
legit 75% Australian talent and 
25% imported; musicals, 75% Aus- 
sie, 25% imported. For vaude- 
revue it is 50-50 for local and im- 
ported talent. Grand Opera and 
ballet quota is 25% Aussie talent 
with 75% allowed for imported. 

Alexander said that each im- 
ported artist was expected to join 
Equity here during Down Under 
playdates.vHe explained that AAE 
was always, ready and willing to 
talk with managements on any 
equitable plan to boost stageshows 
here as long as local talent was 
not “kept on ice.” He pointed out 
that the current “Follies Bergere”., 
shpw at the Tivoli., Sydney, had 
only 20% local talent, but that the 
“Tommy Trinder Show,” current 
in Melbourne for the Tivoli chain, 
had a 75% Aussie makeup. Alex- 
ander wants to see top imported 
talent 4 come here provided the 
quota was not exceeded, and if 
taleht joined AAE. 

David N. Martin, Tivoli vaude- 
revue loop chief said he would 
rather shutdown his circuit than 
bow to “regimented entertain- 
ment,” adding that he would never 
agree to any barrier set up by AAE 
against imported talent. 

“If we impose an international 
barrier, what chance will our own 
talent have overseas if American 
and Britain also put up a barrier?” 

Martin said that he had con- 
formed with AAE policy in the 
past but he would fight any move 
to ‘introduce a closed shop in this 
territory. 

U.S.-Mexican Syndicate 
Plans $115,000,000 For 
Mexico Tourist Resorts 

Mexico City, Nov. 4. 

Tourism has progressed so here 
that it has prompted a U. S.-Mexi- 
can syndicate to cpnsider plans for 
a $1 15,000,000 -Tnvestment in es- 
tablishing 100 tourist resorts in 
various parts of Mexico, it was re- 
vealed at the Eighth Pan Ameri- 
can Architects Convention held 
here. Proposition was okayed by 
the government’s tourist depart- 
ment. 

Plans also call for the establish- 
ment of a bank here to attend 
specifically to the increasing tour- 
ist trade. The architects’ meet an- 
nounced that tourism is already 
Mexico’s third most important 
revenue-producing industry. Last 
year, it yielded $18,500,000, not far 
behind oil/ which yielded $20,810,- 
000, and mining, $22,300,000. 

Upbeat of tourism is remarkable 
considering that the government 
and a few private invests only 
spent $1,500,000 last year to attract 
visitors. Almost all that coin was 
spent for folders glorifying Mexico 
as a holiday land. 

It was indicated at the conven- 
tion that a greater investment and 
use of other vehicles of publicity, 
as employed in Canada, France, 
Britain and several U. S. states, 
•would probably add up to a far 
larger number of tourists and that 
much more coin here. The tourism 
bank is expected to give that tour- 
ist trade a greater bootft abroad. 



'VARICTV^ LOMDOK 4tFFfCff> 

• St. Martini flac*, Trafalgar Square 


Japan Okays Yank Film Quota For 
Last Half ’52; Keeps 30 % Remittance 


in 


Tokyo, Nov. 4. 

With the end of 1952 approach- 
the turbulent quota situation 
surrounding the import of foreign 
films into Japan is settling down 
as regards last half year quotas 
and starting up again over the quo- 
tas for next year. Last week the 
finance ministry formally approved 
the allocation per company for 
major U.S. distributors. At the 
same time, he announced that the 
30 ' r remittance figure for the first 
half of the year would hold for 
the last half. 

Meanwhile, the eight importer- 
distributors of U.S. indie films are 
still hassling over the division of 
the 15 indie productions allocated 
by the government. Claims sub- 
mitted by the distribs to the gov- 
ernment total 20 pix. with Daiei 
asking for four; Toho for three; 
Shochiku for two; Select for two; 
Breakston for one; Eihai for five; 
Shin Toho for one, and Ohbei for 
one. 

The finance ministry, now de- 
liberating the policy for film im- 
port next year (April of 1953 to 
March, 1954), expects to announce 
its decision by the end of this 
month. Importers, headed by Na- 
gamasa Kawakita, are currently 
stirring up a campaign for joint 
distrib-public meetings aimed at 
altering the government’s film im- 
port policy. Kawakita claims this 
still follows the pattern set by the 
U.S. Army Occupation, and is 
therefore incompatible with the 
present situation. 

Machinery for the conference is 
being set up with Kawakita pro- 
posing a meeting between two 
leading distributors associations 
and reps of the U.S. majors after 
the Japanese distribs have held 
hearings open to the public. Kawa- 
kita was told informally by finance 
ministry officials that opinions of 
the distribs would be respected as 
much as feasible when they are 
officially presented. 


Skouras Uncertain On 
More Aussie Filming; 

No Down Under TV Aim 


Sydney, Nov. 4, 

Aussie press confer- 
Spyros Skou- 
following his 
said the pri- 
Down Under 
first-hand in- 
pic entertain- 
after by the 


At his first 
ence yesterday (3), 

■rax. 20th-Fox prexy, 
arrival from Korea, 
mary reason for his 
trip was to gain a 
sight of the type of 
ment most sought 
Aussie payee. 

“It’s only by personal contact 
with filmgoers of each country I 
visit that I can learn the enter- 
tainment trend and set plans ac- 
cordingly to keep boxoffices busy,” 
he said. 

Skouras emphatically denied 
that 20th-Fox had plans for the 
promotion of TV here. 

“Let me tell you that TV 
knocked the deuce out of Ameri- 
can boxoffices for the first three 
years, but I guess we’ve got it 
beaten now.” he added. 

Asked whether 20th-Fox woiild 
make another pic Down Under fol- 
lowing the non-jell of “Kangaroo,” 
Skouras said it depended upon get- 
ting a good story. He gave the 
impression, however, that this zone 
is too far removed from the Hol- 
lywood base for the company to 
figure any further local production. 
Proxy also would not commit him- 
self on the future of Cinerama, 
pointing out to his probers that it 
vas still in the experimental stage 
although a big click in New York. 

'Skouras admitted that the rev- 
enue obtained by 20th-Fox here 
continued on “a very satisfactory 
proceeding to add after 
jurihcr questioning on the mone- 
tary position covering other zones 
that Far East biz (covering the 
spots he had already visited) was 
above his own expectations. 

. Abdications are that Skouras will 
give the greenlight to the Hoyts’ 
cinoma loop, i n w hich 20th-Fox 
111 (ls control, to go out on further 
‘M’aiiMon next year. Loop cur- 
nitly operates 186 houses hero 
uikum- topper Ernest Turnbull. 

. . I 11 . rin g his stay here Skouras 
l , . (ln tortained by Gov. Gen. 

hham McKell, Prime Minis- 
Kobcrt G. Menzies, and many 
koy Aussie personalities. He 
ciin„ rclurn New York base via 

aini^r? 01 ’ 0 '' ln dia," Greece, France 
amt Great, BriWm’V . . 


Fight Films Touch Off 
Indonesian Pix Battle 

Djakarta, Nov. 4. 

RKO’s fight films of the Waleott- 
Marciano bout, currently showing 
at the Menteng Theatre along with 
“Sons of the Musketeers,” caused 
serious riots between the two feud- 
ing Indonesian races, Sumatran 
“Bataks” and Amboyna’s “Am- 
bonese.” 

The local police fired several 
shots to halt the fracas. When still 
unable to restore order the Armv 
was called’ in. The running fight in 
Djakarta’s residential district fitt- 
ed for almost an hour, ending in 
the arrest of a number of rioters. 


DEFA Plans 15 Pix For 
’53, Mostly Propaganda 

Berlin, Nov. 4. 

Program committee of Commie- 
ruled DEFA, film producing outfit 
m Germany’s East Zone, revealed 
that 15 pix are planned for produc- 
tion in 1953. The most important 
films, according to DEFA, are five 
propaganda films: “Red Army at 
the Ruhr,” “1813,” “Volunteer- 
Corps Luetzow,” “Vitalien Broth- 
ers” and “Ernst Thalmann.” 

Others lined up by DEFA for 
next year are seven pix which deal 
with “optimistic themes about so- 
cial reconstruction.” The other two 
films are comedies. 


HICOG Pix Prod. 
To Soar in Berlin 


Berlin, Nov. 4. 

Production of High” Commis- 
sioner of Germany films will con- 
tinue here on an increased scale, 
according to George B. Templeton, 
chief of film branch in Information 
Division, Office of Public Affairs. 

At present, two. pix are being made 
in Berlin and preparation for 
others has begun. First will be 
“Better Living,” a film for the 
Mutual Security Agency, which is a 
pictorial story of this year’s Berlin 
Industrial Fair in color. It is be- 
ing produced by Ikaros Produc- 
tions, a Berlin documentary film 
outfit. Second film deals with 
the refugee problem. Virginia Van 
Upp is writing the story and screen- ; ^west'fa^ 

DlQV 9C hnu finer opfirtMivtAnF 


play as her first assignment for 
HICOG. She has been a writer 
for Columbia Pix for several 
years. 

In addition to Miss Van Upp. a 
number of Hollywood people have 
come here - to work on the HICOG 
film program. There is writer 
William Rankin (“Boys - Town.” 
“Harvey Girls” and “Only Angels 
Have Wings”) who is preparing 
“Berlin Today.” which will explain 
Berlin of today. Frank Dazey and 
Agnes Christine . Johnson (Mrs. 
Frank Dazey), who., wrote “the 
Andy Hardy Series.” “Black 
Beauty” and “Black Gold,” also 
are in Berlin to prepare to film 
about kindergarten and lower 
school work, and their importance 
to German child education. 

Jack Moffitt, another Hollywood 
writer, is working on a full-length 
documentary film about postwar 
Germany. Through existing news- 1 
reel and archive pix, it will trace j 
Germany’s growth and progress 
during the past seven years. Tern- j 
pleton explained that the arrjval I 
of these film experts from Holly- 1 
wood constitutes a sort of exchange i 
program, an opportunity for per- j 
sons in American and German film 
industry to learn from each other. ■ 

Templeton has had more than 20 j 
years’ experience in the U. S. film | 
biz. William Faralla, newly arrived 
deputy chief of the film branch, re- 
cently produced and directed a 
series of films for the U. S. Navy 
in* Washington. D. C. He is asso- 
ciated v^th Templeton on the 
forthcoming film program. 


Derek Farr, ‘Murder’ New 
London Smash; ‘Secret’ - 
Looks Doubtful Entry 

London, Nov. 11. 

First of the two thrillers that 
opened here last week, “Murder 
Mistaken” takes precedence on 
merit. Presented by Wauna Paul at 
the Ambassadors last Tues. (4), it 
won acclaim from audience and 
crix. It is a first play by actress 
Janet Green, dealing with an avari- 
cious murderer. 

Excellent acting from Derek 
Farr, Iris Hoey, Brenda de Banzie 
and Patricia. Burke plus good di- 
rection by- John McCormick make 
this wholly satisfying entertain- 
ment. Farr is 'standout in the vil- 
lainous murderer role. 

The following night (Wed.) 
“Dead- Secret,” by Michael Clayton 
Hutton, preemed at the St. James’ 
but got a lukewarm press reaction. 
Presented by Hugh Wakefield, this 
overlong thriller with a four-char- 
acter cast is padded to make a 
three-acter, but with insufficient 
action or suspense to hold the in- 
terest. It has only moderate 
chances of staying long. 

Linnit & Dunfee brought back 
the major part of the old Aldwych 
i Theatre team with Ben Travers 
“Wild Horses” to the 


same theatre last Thursday (6). 
Robertson Hare and Ralph Lynn 
frolic energetically in this typical 
Travers opus „ which was warmly 
received, and likely will make a 
good attraction for the Christmas 
season. 


Sii 
ter 

oi hop 
will 


German Prods. Do More 
Italo Location Work 

Genoa. Nov. 4. 

German producers in recent 
monthfe have been making an in- 
creased number of trips to Italy 
for their location work. Exteriors 
on three German films. Paul May’s 
“Two Beings,” Gustav Ucicky’s 
“Pamela” and Rolf Meyer’s “Circus 
Queen,” last-named for Corona 
Film of Hamburg, have been eom- 
j pleted. 

Four other units are due soon in 
Italy. Georg Jacoby will shoot his ! 
Agfacolor “Blue Mask” (Ro.ja ; 
Film), starring Marika Rokk. in 
and around Rome and Helmut 
Kautner will direct Hans Albers in 
Meteor Film’s “Captain Bay"* on t 
the Adriatic coast. Gustav Ueicky , 
returns to direct “Mca Culpa.” with 
Dieter Borsehe. on Verona Ibca-; 
tions while Veil Harlan goes to 
Capri to shoot an Agfacolor pro- . 
-duction for , Kometfilm, starring ! 
Kristine Soderbaum. 


TEST 3-DIMENSIONAL 
FILMS IN ABC HOUSE 

London, Nov. 11. 

One. of the three . major circuits 
has begun an experiment in screen- 
ing three-dimensional films, using 
the features that were- shown at 
the Festival Tele Cinema during 
last year’s Festival of Britain. The 
circuit is the Associated British 
Cinemas, tryout starting in one of 
their Cambridge theatres last Sun- 
day (9). The 3d part of the pro- 
gram will run 50 minutes, sup- 
planting the usual second feature.’ 
The main film will be an Abbott 
and Costello comedy. 

The experiment is scheduled to 
last a week, D. J. Goodlatte, man- 
aging .director of the ABC circuit, 
emphasizes that it does not consti- 
tute a change in policy nor is it 
an indication that other houses are 
to show stereo films. The results 
of the Cambridge experiment, how- 
evep, will be studied by circuit 
execs. 


Brit. Gets $120,000,000 
Via U.S. Tourist Travel 

London. Nov, 4. 

A record volume of American 
tourist traffic to Britain will earn 
the treasury at least $120,000,000 
this year.^according to an estimate 
by Sir Alexander Maxwell, chair- 
man of the British Travel and 
Holidays Assn. 

In the first nine months of the 
year, *U. S. tourist traffic was 31^ 
above last year’s figure, and the 
September figure of 16.700 was 
more than 3,000 over last year’s 
total. 


Dig That Degree 

Rome. Nov. 4. 

Louis Armstrong. U. S. orch 
leader, has been made an honorary 
student of the Florence University. | 
it was learned here this week. : 
Ceremonies took place at a recep- ■ 
tion given by the University Stu- ■ 
dents Assn. j 

The beaming Armstrong, after re- : 
ceiving the honors, replied simply : 
to his hosts, and then~ with his ! 
.1 band, gave a concert,* . I 


First Trial of Big Circuit for Quota 
Failure on London Docket This Month 


■ London, Nov. 11. 

£!|a CflfAlAT F otfif Cnacnn I . Prosecution of a major 

UldSgOW I465II uuaSOH j circuit for quota default under the 

ni • DID • 1948 Films Act will be heard in a 

DjlOWing Keal I rODllSC . London police court later this 

, A 1 month. Proceedings have been v in- 
Glasgow, Nov. 4. ! stituted by the Boardof Tradc . on 

Legit season here has received . the advice of the Films Council, 
good kick-off, with strong array I against the Gaumont. Haymarket, 
of shows lined up. Paul Vincent one of the J. Arthur Rank Group’s 
Carroll’s latest play, “Green Cars; West End first-runs. The theatre 
Go East,” has a world preem at * j s being prosecuted for failing to 
Citizens’ Theatre Nov. 17. It is a comply with the 25 °c quota for 
‘play depicting Glasgow’s slum dis- 1 gupporting features, 
tricts, with no punches pulled. 

New play. “Guest of Honor,” by J^st May Variety reported that 
Donald Sutherland, preems Dec. 1. , *be BOT was giving consideration 
It is fantasy set in Edinburgh dur- . action against a number of the- 
ing the 18th Century. • atres controlled by the two Rank 

New production, “Masque of circuits for failing to meet the 
Summer,” by Ian Dallas, preemed * supporting quota. No definite de- 
at Citizens’ Theatre last night ; cision has been made so far on 
(Mon.). It is the second work of a ! further prosecutions, but some 20 


24-year-old bookseller, and shows 
real promise. 


Folies Bergere 


Still Tops Paris 


other theatres outside the Rank 
group are due for prosecution dur- ' 
ing the next few weeks. 

The quota default of the Gau- , 
mont was in the year ending in 
September last year. In that period 
the- two Rank . circuits complied 
with their first feature obligations 
at their theatres. Default on the 
supporting quota was on a wide- 
spread scale, with more than 2.000 
j theatres in the country out of a 
Paris, Nov. 11. | total of less than 5.000 fell short 

The Folies Bergere show. “Real | of their ’ obligations. 

Madness,” is still top Paris grosser, As a result t , : w idcsDread 
gelling $27,000 regularly each exMbitor defauU on thT aupporl- 
week, which means sell-out foi all j j n g program, the Cinematograph 
night performances. There are only Exhibitors Assn, began a country- 
a few empty seats at Sunday ma- ■ u ide campaign in the summer 
tinees. The- De Cuevas Ballet at ; wjiicli teed off with a petition to 
the Empire, earning $18,000 week- every MP in the House of Com _ 


ly, is next in line, with Casino de 
Paris’ show. “Gay Paris.” and 
Chatelet’s “Singer of Mexico” 
rivaling for next place with ap- 
proximately $15,000 on a seven-day 
intake. 

Legit houses have less seating 


mons during the period of the 
quota debates. The campaign is 
to be. intensified in the now year 
in the hopes of getting the per- 
centage . lowered for the coming 
year. ° The quota has to be de- 
termined six months ahead of the 


capacity «pnd fall into lower coin- . star t of the quota year. The BOT 

must therefore make -its decision 
not later than next March 31. 

Exhibs have .constantly . aitfucd 
that an inadequate volume of 
„ . . „ „ product has led to the mass de- 

Hymenee. starring Pierre Fres- ; f au its. They assert that many of 

nay and Yvonne Pnntemps. is . the shorts available arc unsuitable 
cleaning up with $9,000 per week. £ or p 0pU ] ar theatre showing. Sec- 

or.d feature producers, on the 


age bracket, but several have sell 
out hits. Revival of “Camille” with 
Ewige Feuiliere at the Sarah Bern- 
hardt is getting $11,000. Michodiere 
with revival of Edouard Bourdet’s 


Henri Bernstein’s new one. 
“Evangeline,” at Ambassadeurs is 
in the $7,500 class, as are Andre 
Roiissin’s “When the Child Ap- 1 
pears” at Nouveautes, “Dialogues ; 
of the Carmelites” at Hebertot. | 
“On Earth As It Is In Heaven” at \ 
Athenee and “Other People’s 
Heads” at Atelier. 

Sasclia Guitry’s revival of “Don’t 
Listen, Ladies” at Varietes is a 
$8,000 weekly averager. Among ; 
the new ones, “Queen of Clubs.” , 
is outstanding, and grossing $7,600 j 
weekly, which is capacity at the ' 


other hand, complain that there is 
ample product but exhibs don’t 
want to pay for it. 


Small Exhib Fight On 
Eady Plan May Slash 
Fund $1,400,000 Per Yr. 


London. Nov. 11. 

If the British picture industry 
small Saint-Georges Theatre, Re- agrees to the concession .demands 
vival of “Siegfried” is another sur- of small exhibitors for variation 


prise with its $9,0^0 at Comcdie- 
Champs-Elysees. 


Descaves Made Director 
Of Comedie-Francaise.! 

Paris, Nov. 11. 

Pierre Descaves takes over the 


in the scale of contributions to 
the Eady levy, the fund may lose • 
as much as $1,400,000 in a year. 
This is equivalent to approximate- 
ly one-sixth of the net income. The 
main plank in the current exhibi- , 
tor agitation is directed towards 
reducing the Eady levy on admis- 
sions up to 17c from the present 

«i e e Co r h edic ' Fran ; t s rono o£ f r r uu c „ g far Ti:rf,o^rL^^ 

head. Pierre Toucha?d, le C ave S C Do ^esent'y op<!rates on sca,s ul> to 
scaves is Assn, of French Critics' 

prexy. He just finished a play Granting of the concession would 

which which will be donfc here next ; not affett an - v of the three ma .i° r 
season with Victor Francen circuits and few theatres operating 

Descaves believes that theatre. in the greater London area where 
radio and television should work : ^ ie l°west admission is around 21c. 
together, since they all have com- rT L he beneficiaries mainly would he 


mon interests. He plans to televise 
some of the theatre’s classics, and 
believes that put on film they can 
serve as an example of French cul- 
ture to other nations and to future 
generations. He wants to instill 


the smaller indie groups in 1 lie 
main provincial centres where the 
17c charge is the most .popular 
price. 

One aspect which is retarding 
tradc unanimity is the fear among 


greater teamwork at the Franchise. ‘ certain producers and distribs that 
■ 'there would be a tendency on the 

Aussie Studio Sells .. I P a * of ., son ' c , thc ? tr .° . own ?'T !° 

13 PlX 10 U.S. IOr F\ 17c..and thus garner the benefits 
Sydney. Nov, 4. °* lhe Eac ^ lev ^ differential. 

Cinesound Studio, a Greater tin- J Firm decision is being delayed 
ion subsidiary, has consummated | for a new meeting of the four 
a deal for the sale of 13 oldie trade associations which prcstijn- 

Aussie pix to the U.S. television . ably will follow the special Cine- 
market.- matograph Exhibitors Assn, coun- 

• Films were directed by Ken G. ■ cil meeting, on this issue, being 
Hall some years ago and include held in London tomorrow <Wed.>. 
“Thoroughbred.” with Helen • Meantime, the question of the fu- 
Twelvetrees; “Lovers and Lug- ture of the 4 Eady levy is to be 

gers” iretitled “Vengance cf the raised in the House of Commons 
Deep”), with Lloyd Hughes; “Mr. , next week by Stephen Swingler, 

Chedworth Steps Out.” “Dad j He has given notice to ask the 

Rudd. M.P.” and “Silence oi Dean • Board of Trade prexy what infor- 
Maitland” heading the list. Deal : mation he has on the present dis- 
menns nice added’ profit for Cine- • cussions and., what action, -he. pr 
sound. - j i ■ - i • * poses to lake. . . ) - 



PSSmrr 


Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


■M 




m 




5'SRfl 


P 


dollar 

mermaid 


; AND THE 

beautiful 


i 




FICKLE FELLOW- 

\ 

Once upon a time there was a guy, even as you and I, 
who went overboard for a chick called "MILLION 
DOLLAR MERMAID.” ’ , 




JT A 







V/* 


ID 


otsve 










* v ' 5 SS r 


m't , 

m 


'i'IL 


,>r 


/A 




J ll „ 







Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


P^Griety . 


a* 


T 


17 


^ fwwfom* // 


/Mv-- 




THEN ONE DAY IT HAPPENED! 

He met -a shapely number called "THE 

BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL.” This 

kid had fire and passion. When he 
heard the STORY OF HER LIFE he 
swore this was the ONLY GIRL! 



WHAT DID HE DO? 

i 

How does the Fable of 
the Fickle Fellow end? 





is the 
snapshot 
he carried 
mi 

wallet 5 



"THE BAD AND 
THE BEAUTIFUL” 

had him in a 
whirl — and you 
couldn't blame him ! 



THERE IS NO ENDING BECAUSE 

THERE’S NO END TO THE 
FLOW OF M-G-M HITS! 

MORAL: With so many fine M-G-M flickers, you’re, bound to be fickle. 



la - 


mruiiEs 


Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


Honor 6 in Canada 
As Pic Pioneers 


Toronto, Nov. 11. 

With the Canadian picture indus- 
try celebrating its 50 years in the 
business, six early exhibitors were 
honored at a banquet in the Royal 
York Hotel here, sponsored by the 
Canadian Picture Pioneers, witji 
some 500 people present. 

Each of six guests of honor was 
presented by Lours Breithaupt, 
lieutenant governor of Ontario, 
with a gold scroll of tribute mount- 
ed on an onyx plaque. These went 
to John Schuberg, Vancouver, who 
in 1898 toured the Canadian west 
with a film tent show and opened 
the first house of his chain in Van- 
couver . in 1902; Ernest Ouimet, 
Montreal, who opened his first film 
theatre there in Januray, 1906, this 
the 1,000-seater Ouimetoscope, with 
reserved seats on a two-a-day pol- 
icy; Jule Allen, Toronto, v^ho 
opened his first house in Brantford, 
Ontario, in November, 1906, and 
subsequently ran up a chain of 50 
theatres; John Ganetakos, who 
opened his Moulin Rouge in Mon- 
treal in 1909 as forerunner of his 
38-theatre Quebec chain, and 
Archie J. Mason, M. P., Springhill, 
Nova Scotia, another 1906 exhibi- 
tor. Missing was F, G. Spencer, 
of St. John, New Brunswick, who 
entered the industry in 1907 to 
launch a maritime chain but died 
a fortnight before the testimonial 
dinner. His son Gordon flew from 
St. John to accept the posthumous 
award. 

Slides of old industry photo- 
graphs and early film flashbacks 
were assembled by Hye Bossin, Ca- ! 
nadian historian and film archivist, : 
with commentary by Winston Bar- ; 
ron, editor-narrator of Canadian : 
Paramount News. Dinner speakers j 
included Jack Cohn, Columbia vee- 
pee and president of the American 
Picture Pioneers; Leonard Brock- 
ington, president, Odeon Theatres 
(Canada), plus several federal gov- 
ernment representatives. 


Benjamin 

Continued from page 3 


status. Benjamin, though a par- 
ticipant in the stock ownership, has 
yet to attend a board .meeting. 

In his consultative -capacityJBen.T 
jamin has worked faith Krim on 
general policy matters and was 
active in the reorganization of 
UA’s entire foreign department 
operation. But he has never had 
the rank of an officer in the com- 
pany’s makeup. 

Benjamin’s position on the U 
board and his spot at UA some 
months ago cued a Dept, of Jus- 
tice suit which spotlighted the 
varied film interests of Phillips, 
Nizer. Benjamin & Krim, N. Y. 
law firm of which Benjamin and 
Krim are partners. Complaint 
also cited the position of Louis 
Phillips, another partner in the 
law firm, as Paramount counsel 
and Krim’s role as head of Eagle 
Lion Classics before it was ab- 
sorbed by UA. While the suit is 
still pending, Benjamin’s bowout 
from the U directorate presuma- 
ble will influence it. 

Benjamin began his career as 
an office boy for the New York 
Film Board of Trade, of which 
Louis Nizer, the law firm’s fourth 
pard, is counsel. Benjamin became 
a clerk with the Phillips-Nizer 
law outfit in 1926, in 1931 moved 
up to status of attorney and in 
1936 was named a pard. In addi- 
tion to the Rank and U posts, he’s 
also been a director and general 
counsel for Pathe Industries. 


S 


Govt. OK’s 

Contioued from page 3 


‘Von Luckner’ Biopic 

Hollywood, Nov. 11. 

First production by G-B Produc- 
tions, recently formed by Jules 
Buck, David Getz and Ml A. Getz, 
will be “Von Luckner, The Sea 
Devil,” based on the adventures 
of Count Felix Von Luckner, sea 
raider, during World War 1. Pic- 
ture will be filmed in Hamburg, , 
Germany, with Robert Siodmak di- J 
reeling. 

New company’s program calls 'or 
a minimum of two features within 
the next six months. Negotiations 
are under way for Western Hemi- 
sphere release for all G-B product. 


SeeFGG 

Continued from page 3 


» 


dered that Resnick consider no 
testimony regarding Par’s antitrust 
history prior to 1948. With this 
limitation, it is believed that any 
possible basis for finding Par dis- 
qualified as a broadcast licensee 
has been removed. It is likewise 
felt that elimination of such testi- 
mony also removes any .taint on 
character qualifications of UPT by 
virtue of its identification with Par 
prior to the consent decree. 

WBKB Transfer 

Approval of the ABC-UPT mer- 
ger would automatically effect 
transfer of WBKB, giving CBS its 
third wholly-owned and operated 
TV station as well as a highly prof- 
itable property. Testimony at re- 
cent package hearings showed that 
WBKB-TV, which CBS is purchas- 
ing for $ 6 , 000 , 000 , earned approxi- 
mately $1,500,000 las!t year. 

The merged company, ABC-UPT, 
would be required to sell the sta- 
tion, which is owned by UPT, un- 
der FCC monopoly rules. ABC has 
its own station, WENR-TV, in Chi- 
cago.- 

Resnick’s ruling on the Par- 
DuMont control issue will deter- 
mine whether each company may 
seek its full complement of five TV 
stations. DuMont has three video 
outlets and Paramount has one 
(KTLA, Los Angeles). If he de- 
cides that control exists, the two 
companies will be restricted to a 
total of five stations. 

Because of its possible impact on 
the stock market, it is understood 
that Resnick’s decision will be is- 
sued in the late afternoon after 
the market has closed. * 


try antitrust suit. Since Hughes 
has sold his stock in RKO Pictures, 
the D. of J. has okayed his removal 
of the theatre holdings from the 
trust arrangement. 

Before the stock actually can be 
taken from Irving Trust and its 
voting privileges acquired by 
Hughes, approval of the Federal 
Court, N. Y., must be given. But 
this is seen as a foregone conclu- 
sion in light of the Justice Dept, 
okay. 

- In the event that Hughes should 
somehow again participate in the 
ownership of RKO Pictures, his 
theatre stock would have to be re- 
placed in trusteeship. Also, a dis- 
continuance of any financial tieup 
with the film outfit would entitle 
Hughes to unrestricted ownership 
of the theatre shares with no time 
limit. 

Hughes’ . removal of the theatre 
chain’s stock from the* trust setup, 
it’s apparent, will be a prelude to 
removal from the company’s board 
of William J. Wardall and Ben 
Fleming-Sessel.* They represent 
Irving Trust on the directorate and 
their replacements, of course, 
would be Hughes reps. 

As part of the deal by which the 
Ralph Stolkin syndicate purchased 
control of RKO Pictures from 
Hughes, the latter agreed to estab- 
lish credit in the amount of 
$ 8 , 000,000 for the new owners. 


Royal Command 


Continued from page 2 

rehearsal, this talent is expected 
to face the Royal Family with a 
60-minute show worthy of the high 
occasion. Year after year, xwith 
just a single exception, the stand- 
ard has been inadequate. Produc- 
tions suffer from under prepara- 
tion, and the producer who accepts 
this chore, knowing that he can 
make no demands on his cast, is 
re&lly sticking his neck out. 

The stageshow for this year’s 
film, gala, when contrasted with the 
second Royal event a week later, 
heavily underscores the impossible 
task of hurriedly putting together 
a show with stars whose experience 
mainly is in a studio, and seldom 
in front of the footlights. 

j The variety gala starts off with 
; one initial advantage. The entire 
j cast regularly play theatres. They 
; all have acts which can be trimmed 
: to meet the timetable of the oc- 
: casion. Last week’s production 
was, indeed, a clear-cut illustration 
of how, with a little ingenuity, a 
powerful array of talent could be 
dovetailed into a good all-round 
show. 

I 

» .The experience of the past fort- 
night demands that the picture in* 
dustiy starts getting a new slant 
jon its^ppUqy. 


[ B’way, H’wood Seen 
Recruited to Hypo 
Inaugural for Ike 

Washington, Nov. 11. 

Although some Republicans are 
-talking- in connection 

with General Eisenhower’s inau- 
gural next .Jan. 20, the first GOP 
inauguration in 24 years is ex- 
pected to include the normal 
amount of showmanship. This 
means that both Broadway and 
Hollywood will be called in to 
help do the job. • 

One feature of any inauguration 
is the Inaugural Ball, held in 
Washington’s large National Guard 
Armory. A second is the parade 
immediately after the new Presi- 
dent takes the oath of office. A 
fairly recent development is the 
Inaugural gala — a large variety 
show held at the Armory with top 
name acts and a name emcee. All 
three of these are ’expected to be 
continued next January when 
General Ike takes over from Presi- 
dent Truman. 

While a chairman and four vice 
chairmen have been named to 
head the Inaugural Committee, 
they do not include show biz 
names among them. Show business 
figures will be appointed within 
the next week or two to tackle the 
various entertainment arrange- 
ments. Republican National Com- 
mittee anticipates about 50 sub- 
committees operating under the 
Inaugural Committee, with about 
2,000 persons serving in various 
committee capacities. 

Hotels here are already accept- 
ing reservations which are coming 
in at a flood tide. All hotel space 
is expected to be booked within 
the next fortnight. 


Auto Makers 

* fcontimied from page 1 ■■■* 

sored on CBS and DuMont, Philco 
on NBC and Admiral on ABC. That 
indicates, according to network 
chiefs, that appliance dealers go 
for summer and fall shows in order, 
to move inventories off their deal- 
ers’ shelves. By the same token, 


Ike Auto Know 

One of Dwight D. Eisenhow- 
er’s first problems as President 
may be the determination of 
what type of car to ride in for 
his inauguration ceremony. 

With General Motors spon- 
soring a pickup of the event on 
NBC-TV and JPackard signing 
this week to bankroll CBS-TV’s 
coverage, the inherent sponsor 
conflict will make it impossible 
for the President-elect to util- 
ize either a Cadillac (top car 
in the GM roster) or a Pack- 
ard. And even if he decides 
on a Chrysler or a Lincoln, it’s 
going to be tough for the blurb 
spielers on each net to brag 
about their sponsors when the 
central figure in the show is 
riding in a corseting product. 


the fact that Packard and GM are 
buying into the inauguration pick- 
ups means that the car companies 
will utilize such events to bulwark 
the ad campaigns during the win- 
ter months, when the first of their 
new season models roll off the as- 
sembly lines. 

Webs haven’t yet had a chance 
to discover what type of sponsor 
they can corral for events falling 
during the spring. 

M-G Adds 4 in Move 

To Build Exploiteers 

Continuing its policy to build up' 
its field exploitation staff, Metro 
this week added four new staffers 
to its hinterland bally crew, bring- I 
ing the total field staff to 27. New 
additions include John L. John, 
Thomas Letcher, Alan Wiedner and 
Jack Weiner. 

As a result of the new appoint- 
ments, several exchange assign- 
ments have been realigned to pro- 
vide fuller coverage in each ter- 
ritory. A new field assignment has 
been made for the Seattle and 
Portland exchange, which will be* 
handled by Wiedner: Another new 
assignment will include New Or- 
leans and Memphis, to be covered 
by Weiner. Formerly these ex- 
changes were covered by press reps 
from other territories. Letcher has 
been named to the Minneapolis ex- 
change, and John to Indianapolis. 
Botli of these branches are iftw 
being covered on an individual 
basis. 


Amusement Stock Quotations 


(fJV.Y. Stock Exchange) 




Week Ending Monday (10) 






Weekly Weekly Weekly 

Tues. 

Net. 

1952 


Vol. in 

High 

Low 

Close 

Change 

High 

Low 


100 s 




for week 

12 % 

8 % 

ABC 

. 33 

9% 

9% 

9% 

\ 

40% 

33 

CBS, “A” . . 

. 24 

38 

36% 

37%' 

— % 

39% 

32% 

CBS, “B” . , 

. 33 

38% 

36% 

375% 

— % 

13% 

11 % 

Col. Pio .... 

. 28 

12 % 

* 11 % 

11 % 



9% 

8 

Decca 

22 

9 

8 % 

876 


48 

41% 

Eastman Kdk 180 

43% 

43% 

423,4 

4 - % 

18% 

11 % 

Loew’s 

. 203 

12 

11 % 

12 

4 - % 

5% 

.3% 

Nat’I Thea . 

. 177 

4% 

33% 

33-4 

1 8 

30%. 

21 % 

Paramount. . 

. 59 

24% 

22 % 

24% 

+ 1 % 

35% 

26% 

Philco 

. 213 

3534 

34% 

35% 

+ 1 % 

28% 

•23% 

RCA 

. 385 

277s 

26% 

27% 

+ 3 -8 

4% 

3% 

RKO Piets.. 

. 169 

37/8 

3% 

3% 

% 

4% 

3% 

RKO Theats. 

. 77 

334 

3% 

33-4 

4- % 

• 5% 

3% 

Republic . . . 

43 

3% 

3% 

3% 

— % 

10 % 

9% 

Rep., pfd. . . 

6 

10 

97 s 

10 * 

4- 74 

12 % 

10 % 

20th-Fx (new) 100 

11 

10 % 

10 % 


21 % 

11 % 

U. Par. Th . . 

. 213 

12*8 

11 % 

11 % 

— % 

13% 

11 

Univ. Pic. . . 

66 

13% 

12 % 

13% 

4- % 

65 

57 

Univ,, pfd. . 

. 1.7 

63 

62% 

63 

4-1% 

15% 

11 % 

Warner Bros 

57 

1134 

11 % 

11 % 

— % 

86 

68 

Zenith 

. 70 

8314 

81 

8276 

4- % 

N. Y. 

Curb Exchange 






19% 

15 

Du Mont . . . 

. 78 

167s 

157s 

16%. 


1 33/4 

2 % 

Monogram . 

. 18 

3i4 

3 

3 

■ 

26% 

20 % 

Technicolor 

. 100 

26% 

26% 

2 d% 

4- % 

3 

2 % 

Trans-Lux . . 

6 

3% 

3 

3 

4- % 

Over-the-Counter Securities 


. Bid 

Ask 


Cinecolor . . 




. 3% 

1 % 

4- % 

Cinerama . . 




■ 

. 6 

6 % 

— % 

Chesapeal^e Industries (Pathe) . . 


. 43s 

476 


U. A. 

Theatres 



. 4% 

5% 

— %•' 

Wait 

Disney 




. 6 % 

7 

— % 


( Quotations furnished by Dreyfus & Co . ) 


Pressure Groups 

- • Continued from page 7 - - — 

and to exercise independent judg- 
ment. 

National ACLU headquarters in 
New York, in its counter-attack 
strategy, intends to advise the field 
reps of booking dates in their areas 
of pix which have been the “ob- 
ject of attempted suppression.” 
This action is thereupon recom- 
mended to the field offices and 
correspondents: 

“Advise the theatreowner or 
manager of his obligation to the 
public at large, and assure him of 
ACLU support, save in instances 
of clearly justified criminal prose- 
cutions. In light of the fact that 
we view motion pictures as within 
the concept of a free press guar- 
anteed by the Federal^ and state 
constitutions, a motion picture 
house operator has, in some way, 
the same I'elation to the public as 
the owner of the newspaper. The 
motion picture is not only the me- 
dium of entertainment. It is also 
a vehicle for the transmission of 
information, news and ideas. It is 
within this frame of reference that 
a theatreowner is engaged in 
something more than a private 
business enterprise; he is also per- 
forming a public service.” 

It’s further suggested that the 
ACLU reps seek to dissuade any 
restrictive action against pic ex- 
hibition. Also, it’s said, “if the 
pressure group’s action has been 
successful, organize prominent cit- 
izens groups to protest withholding 
or withdrawal of any film.” 


Schenck 

- Continued from page 3 

it’s now virtually assured that a 
board chairmanship for the film 
company will be established and 
Schenck is in line for the job. 

Factor behind the intended 
switch, it’s said, is that as board 
topper Schenck will continue to 
hold rein on the corporation’s af- 
fairs - but will be in a position to 
operate at a more leisurely pace. 
Schenck, of course, gives his full 
time to the presidency now from 
his New York headquarters for the 
most part and from Florida during 
part of the winter. 

Moskowitz has been a member of 
the Loew’s .top echelon, for years 
He joined Loew’s in 1913. 

Loew’s divorcement is timed to 
coincide with the effective date of 
the corporation’s pension plan, 
which will have been in existence 
10 years by March, ’54. Under the 
setup, employees must be on the 
payroll five years before they’re 
eligible to join the pension opera- 
tion, and thereafter must continue 
employment an additional five 
years before collecting any bene- 
fits. 


TED MANN AWAITS CALL 
FROM SENATE PROBERS 

Minneapolis, Nov. 11 . / 

Ted Mann, former North Central 
Allied president, operating the 
Minneapolis and St. Paul down- 
town first-run World theatres and 
also several ozoners, is awaiting a 
summons from the U. S. Senate 
subcommittee on small business to 
appear before it and testify in 
substantiation of charges which he 
has made against major film com- 
panies. * 

Calling upon the subcommittee 
to make an immediate investiga- 
tion into the manner in ‘ which 
competitive bidding is being con- 
ducted in the film industry and 
into alleged continued “flagrant” 
violations by the distributors of' 
the antitrust law’s, Mann in his 
communication offered to take the 
witness stand. 

Mann informed the subcommit- 
tee that the present competitive 
bidding is “replete with dishonesty 
and skullduggery” and violates the 
spirit of the U. S. Supreme Court’s 
edict in the Paramount case. He 
also claimed that film companies 
still are conditioning the sale of 
one picture on the purchase of an- 
other and fixing theatre admission 
prices in disregard of the Para- 
mount decision. 


Macdonald, Cohen Due 
Back in Latin America 

Karl Macdonald, Warner Bros. 
International v.p., interrupted his 
swing around WB Latin America 
offices to return to New York to 
vote in last week’s Presidential 
election. Accompanied by Wolfe 
Cohen,** company’s international 
prexy, he heads south-of-the-border 
again early in December to attend 
WB Latin American sales confab 
in Lima, Peru 1 , Dec. 8 . 

Also back at the homeoffice fol- 
lowing a tour of the edmpany’s of- 
fices in the Far East, including 
Japan, Formosa, Hongkong, French 
Indo-China, Indonesia and Singa- 
pore, is Berry Greenberg, special 
foreign department rep. 


Legion Cites 5 Fix 

National Legion of Decency last 
week grooved five pictures into 
its Class “B” or morally objection- 
able in part for all category. Both 
“Bloodhounds of Broadway” ( 20 th) 
and “Invasion U. S. A.” (Col) w r ere 
said to contain “suggestive se- 
quences.” 

Legion asserted that RKO’s 
“Face to Face” tends to “condone 
, taking the law into one’s own 
hands.” Warners’ “Iron Mistress” 
drew the objection that it “reflects 
the acceptability of divorce.” 20 th- 
Fox’s “My Pal Gus” “tends to 
justify divorce and remarriage.” 


Herman Cohen has resigned 


as 


ivienuHcr to aussic 


William Melniker, head of Loew’s 


veepee in charge of production of i International’s theatre department, 
t> a i A Productions and leaves for Australia today (Wed.) 

Kealart I ictures, effective Nov. 14. 1 for inspection of Loewis theatres. 



Wednesday* Noveml>cr 12, 1952 


French Compromise 

- ■— Continued from page 5 sssss 


aside and made available to the 
local industry as a subsidy-loan. 

Exact method to be used by the 
French to make available 135 per- 
mits hasn’t been worked out as 
yet. Various proposals have been 
made, including one to have the 
American distribs buy up other 
countries’ licenses. There’s a 
chance, too, that the French may 
dip into next year’s license quota 
to make the additional permits 
available. 

Permit problem is a difficult one 
since a French Cabinet decree this 
summer reduced foreign imports 
to 138 on a global basis. U. S. used 
to get 121 licenses but was cut 
down • to 90.' The American com- 
panies since then have, in effect, 
instituted a boycott through their 
steadfast refusal to pick up any* 
dubbing licenses. 

Johnston further is expected to 
negotiate the unfreezing of part of 
the almost $6,000,000 in blocked 
U. S. film funds in France. When 
the French voluntarily agreed to 
unthaw $1,200,000 some months 
back as a goodwill gesture, the dis- 
tribs had $4,500,000 left. Since 
then, additional sums have accrued. 

The prolonged stalemate has be- 
come of increasing concern to U. S. 
distribs. The companies are run- 
ning out of dubbed releases and 
few have any dubbing licenses left. 
This prevents them from preparing 
new pix for the market and im- 
poses a serious time lag even after 
an accord has been reached. 

It’s understood that, in the case 
of serious disagreement with the 
Society of Independent Motion Pic- 
ture Producers, Johnston is ready 
to go ahead and sign a deal with 
the French, covering only MPEA 
member companies. 

Subsidy coin could be used by the 
French at home or to set up an 


office in the U. S. to promote and 
distribute French pix, similar to 
the Italian Films Export outfit or- 
ganized by the Italian industry. 

With Johnston now in Paris, 
windup of the talks is expected 
shortly. The MPEA prexy is said 
to feel that quick action is needed 
before the Commie element of the 
French press rallies to torpedo a 
deal by bringing pressure to bear 
on French government reps. Dur- 
ing Johnston’s last Paris trek, the 
Reds picketed his hotel with pla- 
cards urging him to return home. 

Delay Disappoints 

Ar g. Pix Industry 

Buenos Aires, Nov. 11. 

JDelay in the arrival of Eric 
Johnston in Buenos Aires until 
after he comes back from France 
has highly disappointed the trade. 
Originally he had been expected 
here about Nov. 19, but now it 
may not be until mid-December or 
early next year before he makes 
his long-expected visit to Argen- 
tina. U.S. distributors here feel 
that his visit will mark a turning 
point in relations with the Argen- 
tine regime, and that it may go a 
long way towards solving the many 
problems which now confront dis-' 
tribs. 

Solution of these problems had 
been hoped for in 1950 when the 
Argentine treasury minister, Dr. 
Ramon Cereijo, and Johnston, 
representing the Motion Picture 
Assn, of America, signed a pact. 
This agreement was put in opera- 
tion the middle of 1951, a year 
later, and then was only partly 
carried out 01 ^, the Argentine side. 
This pact allowed U.S. distribs to 
resume film imports after a three- 
year hiatus, but nothing was done 


about thawing out the ^Yanks’ 
frozen coin. Also, 

Dr. Cereijo has been out of the 
picture since June 4, and all enter- 
tainment mattery seemingly now 
are under Press and Information 
Minister Raul A. Apold, since the 
Entertainment Board is subordi- 
nated under his department. 
Apold, an ex-newspaperman and 
film script writer, is keenly inter- 
ested in the local pix industry. He 
has been one of the principal ad- 
vocates of the government’s' pro- 
tectionist policy, which has not 
proved adequate enough to save 
the industry from its present acute 
crisis. 

Apold often has expressed a 
wish to visit Hollywood and learn 
something of American production 
methods. 


*9- 


T rtiman-Adlai 

■ Continued from page 1 — 

Washington is cueing other auto- 
biogs and diaries, including works 
by Margaret Truman and Secretary 
of State Dean Acheson, also with 
fancy fees involved, but not in the 
Pres. Truman-Gov. Stevenson-Gen. 
MacArthur brackets. 

As for the economics, it’s been 
found that only a widespread syn- 
dicated market of slicks, dailies, 
etc., can produce the revenue re- 
quired for a book such as Truman’s 
or Stevenson’s. In line with this 
it is recalled that President-elect 
Eisenhower’s Crusade in Europe” 
hit the over $600,000 payoff only 
when extra show business values 
were added in the March of Time 
series for ABC-TV, and via a spe- 
cial "capital gains setup. 

There were, of course, works by 
other statesmen* and military 
leaders and some of these were 
relatively disappointing. In this 
category were the memoirs indited, 
by Gen. Omar Bradley and Adm. 
William Halsey. 


PICTURES 19 . 


Matty Fox May Move In On RKO 

— — ■ Continued from page 3' : — ■ j ■ — 


price of $7,345,940. Covered were 
Hughes’ 1,013,420 shares and 35,- 
000 unloaded by fQQner RKO prez 
Ned E. Depinet. 

Fox’s trek to Chi w r as unheralded 
and his stay there for the Stolkin 
sessions similarly was designed to 
go unnoticed, presumably in the 
hope of signing papers before any 
outside influences could upset the 
deal. Corw'in and Burke also are 
in on the parleys. 

RKO Board Meet 

Simultaneous with the Chi con- 
clave was a board meeting at the 
RKO homeoffice yesterday (Tues.) 
at w’hich Arnold Grant, ' board 
chairman, again was prepared to 
name a new' directorate if word 
from the Windy City would have 
so permitted. Grant had his own 
slate of candidates standing by, but 
since nothing was formally final- 
ized in Chi, the board session w'as 
adjourned to tomorrow (Thurs.). 

Grant’s own future status with 
the corporation possibly will be his 
own decision to make. It may be 
that if Fox succeeds with his deal 
he may want Grant to stay on. The 
two are old associates. 

Actually, the sale negotiations 
and the unidentified candidates se- 
lected by Grant and corporate 
counsel Thomas A. Halleran, of 
Cravath, Swaine & Moore, are un- 
related. Yesterday’s h.o. meet was 
a continuation of a session begun 
last week and adjourned because 
of the unsettled state of company 
affairs. Reason for the adjournment 
again yesterday was that elections 
of new board members could pos- 
sibly serve no purpose. Obviously 
Fox — or any other new control — 
presumably would want their own 
reps on the directorate. 

Grant’s only concern is keeping 
RKO healthy; that is, protect his 
i"”’ ”- r -' r r 7? 1 


own reputation via service in the 
best interests of RKO stockholders, 
employees, associated banks and 
the film trade in general. With 
these in mind, he expectedly will 
map his course when and if the 
Fox sale is resolved. 

As for Stolkin and his pards, a 
deal obviously would mean they’d 
be bailed out from the reverses 
suffered since they took over. How- 
ever, there’s contrary thought in 
the industry that the Stolkin pards 
could also serve their own advan- 
tage by merely holding on to the 
stock and subsequently realizing 
a profit through a buildup of the , 
company, with Grant calling the 
policy turns as he sees fit and with- 
out any interference. 

Meanwhile, the overall new twist 
doubtless will cause much exhib 
concern from the TV angle. Grant 
had pledged no sale of pix in the 
library to telecasters. But Fox, who 
heads a tele outfit, Motion Pictures 
for Television, conceivably has TV 
in mind for RKO should he come 
into control. Some time ago Fox 
was on the Coast looking into a 
possible purchase of films in the 
vaults at various studios. RKO was 
among them. 


R. S. Wolff’s UK Setup 
For RKO Remains Same 

RKO plans to retain Robert S. 
Wolff, its managing director in 
Britain, and does not intend to re- 
organize his setup. 

Statement from Alfred Crown, 
RKO foreign manager, in New 
York last Friday (7) said the com- 
pany- was “highly pleased” wiifci 
the conduct of the UK division and 
had “no intention of making any 
change in this management.” 


MANHATTAN 
I4?2 B'way ot 43rd* 
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252 Wait 125th St * 
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nr. 18l*t St.* 

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957 Southern Blvd.* 
BROOKLYN 
1618 Kingt H'wav* 

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453 Fulton St.* 

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NEWARK 
64 1 Broad St. 

Open Mon. Wed. & 
Sat. nlohti to 9 P M. 
JERSEY CITY 
22 Journal Square * 

STAMFORD, CONN. 
261 Main St. 

*Opon evening} for 
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Qtfiey feel as good as they look 




20 


FICTUHES 


pfisaeft 


Wdneiday, November 12, 1952 


dips From dim Row 


NEW YORK 

Mori Krushen, United Artists 
exploitation chief, back from trip 
to Chicago and Minneapolis where 
he helped open two pix. He super- 
vised teeoff on "Kansas City Con- 
fidential" in Chi and then went to 
Minneapolis to aid the launching of 
"Outpost in Malaya" over the past 
weekend. 

CHICAGO 

Judge William Campbell, Chi 
Federal Court, has set hearing on 
the Deluxe Theatre anti-trust suit 

for Feb. 24. . 

A D. Elden named president of 
Ideal Films, taking the place of 
L. A. Blinder, who has been made 
a member of Esquire Publications 

board. 1 , , ' „ 9 

Third quarter sales for Bell & 
Howell increased 55% over last 
year, but earnings were about the 
same as in 1951. Company's net in- 
come for the quarter was $269,566 
or 52c, compared With $269,613 or 
51c a year ago. 

Austin Hostetler named man- 
ager of the LaPorte, LaPorte, Ind. 

Capitol Theatre, Canton, 111-, re- 
opened after extensive remodeling. 

ALBANY 

Harold Tyler, long-time owner 
of the Delphia in Chittenango, 
elected Assemblyman from Madi- 
son county on the Republican tick- 
et. He will be first exhibitor to 
take a seat at the Capitol. in many 
years. , 

WB’s American reopened Nov. 
first-run theatre, The 600- 


♦ » 4 4 M + ♦HH4IIHMI IH-H4 


as 


Kansas City, returned here 
manager for Realart. 

Albuquerque Exhibitors, Inc., 
bought the La Sambea and El Rey 
from Marlin Butler, who still owns 
the. Ernie Pyle and the Sunset 
drive-ins. It is closing three old 
houses, the small Yucca, Chief and 
Rio 


new name for the 
venture pictures now hitting the 
market. He calls them "wet west- 
erns ’* 

Over 38 of territory’s exhibitors 
already- registered to attend .the 
national Allied States annual con- 
vention in Chicago this month. 

Industry members expect present 
full employment to help the box- 

More workers 


Picture Grosses 


INDIANAPOLIS 

(Continued from page 11) 
"Snows Kilimanjaro" (20th) 


(2d 


Office in the state. More workers wk> dandy jm.oOO for total $32,- 

held jobs in Minnesota m Septem- qqq in two a t $1.10 top. 

ber than ever before in the state s Indiana tC-D) (3,200; 50-76)— 
history, according to latest state « 3 ack Front" (U) and "Yankee 
employment service figures just is- B UCCane er" (U). Nice $10,000. Last 
sued.' ^ tt week, "Way of Gaucho" (20th) and 

. „ . . , . . Federal Judge G. H. Nordbye «<^ ac Walla Walla" (Rep), $8,000. 

Bonnie Howe assistant cashier thi{ .. week to hear postponed argu- Lo ew’s (Loew’s) (2,427; 50-76) — 
at Metro, named cashier, succeed- ment b y Lee Loevenger, counsel <« Devil Makes Three" (M-G) and 

ing Paul Thompson, who quit to for Sol and Martin Lebedoff, in- «. You For Me" (M-G). Mild $9,000. 

become office manager for Lee dependent exhibitors, for a boost Last week, "The Thief" (UA) and 
Theatres. ...... from $125,000 to $150,000 in the. “Hour of 13" (M-G), about same 

L. O. McCormick sold the New judgment awarded them against - 

Tex, Anthony, N. M., to Fred and ma j or distributors and United Par 
Lee Welch. amount Theatres in their anti 

James Cannon bought the f rus t conspiracy suit. 

Apache, Elide, N. M., from Ray- 


mond Keith. 


PITTSBURGH 


ST. LOUIS 

The Zoe, a unit of the Armen- 


Lyrio (C-D) (1,600; 55-$l)— “Rose 
Bowl Story" (Mono), with Tommy 
Dorsey orch, others, on stage. 
Fairly good $15,000. Last week, 
"Hellgate" (Lip) and "The Jungle" 
(Lip), oke $6,000 at 50-76c scale. 


‘Rifle’ Sturdy $22,500, 
Denver; ‘Men’ Lusty 15G 

Denver, Nov. 11. 
"Springfield Rifle" looks stand- 
out here this week, with solid 
grosses in two houses. "Lusty Men" 
shapes good enough to hold a 

- . second week at Orpheum. Weekend 

manager of the Huntingdon, Penna., was dark while Cluster’s ozoner I snow cut grosses down somewhat. 

, * i i- TT„« XT' TXw..4>» r. „ l ..... rt I hri.x. i a mL!. nr l_ 


trout Circuit, Pittsfield, 111., re- 
Carl Dozer, sales manager of lighted Nov. 1. 

WCAE, elected Chief Barker of otto. Ing\versen, owner of the 
the Variety Club for 1953 with Ritz, Montgomery, Mo., planning 
Norman Mervis, independent thea- a new ozoner near that town, 
tre owner, first assistant; Harold The- Government’s atomic en- 
Lund, general manager of WDTV, ergy plant near Paducah, Ky., has 
second assistant; .and Sam Sper- resulted in the feverish construc- 
anza, WB theatre booker as treas- tion of ozoners near that town, 
urer. Loren Cluster relighted his 

Robert L. Frain took over as , Globe, a 500-seater, Salem, 111. It 


7 as a 

seat house, dark several months, „ . , 

had played art pix and subsequent- build -up for Bankson s new 

-run ivrnHiir>t .Tr»hn Swarthout is book, I Should Live So Long, 

which concerns 


drive-in; succeeds Harry E. Houtz, near Salem was operating. 

Jr. Herman Ferguson, a partner tn 

Old Gem Theatre in Erie, closed the Malden Amus. Co., recovering 
for some time, reopens soon as in a Memphis, Tenn., hospital from 
the Cinema, an art house. Charles injuries suffered in a head-on auto 
R. Bick, general manager of Dop- collision near Malden several weeks 
son’s Plaza Theatre, is head of the ago. 
new operation. Dale Thornhill is new resident 

Jack Kahn, publicity director manager of the Fox, Midwest Thea- 1 
for WB in tri-state area, had , his tres, house, Benton, 111., vice Earl 
old war buddy, Budd Bankson, in JMitchell, transferred to Paducah, 
tow for several days on radio and Ky. 


run product, 
manager. 

.. The Lincoln, also a Warner sit- 
uation, has ben slotted a second-* 
run, with a reduction in- admission 
prices. . 

The Utica, third WB house in 
Utica, relighted Sunday (9) as a 
second-run. ‘ 


experiences of^he Trap’ StOUt at $10,000, 

last war’s only combat entertain- 1 


ment unit. The author was the out- 
fit’s CO and Kahn was its principal 
pianist. 


Seattle; ‘Rifle’ 7G, 2d 


Seattle, Nov. 11. 
The big’ swath locally is being 
cut this session by Danny Kaye 
and his heavily advertised stage- 
show at the Paramount where a 


Dick 


DENVER 

Ivy, salesman for 


LOS ANGELES 

Paramount will release seven 

films during the first three months smash week looms. Election blues 
of 1953; January releases are at the boxoffice are over so the 
Allied "Road to Bali," "Thunder in East" remainder of first-runs are back to 

Artists, relinquished the job and and "Tropic Zone;” February; normal. "Steel Trap," "Man in 

returned to his former spot as of- "The Stooge" and “Come Back, White Suit” and "Ivanhoe" in 

fice manager and booker, trading Little Sheba;" March; "Stars Are fourth week are film standouts, 

places with Howard Ross, who now Singing" and "Pleasure Island." - .Estimates for This Week 
goes on the road. Stanley Lefcourt, UA sales man- 

Wm. E. Mitchell, here from ager here, checks in at Pacific ® lue “Bowang^’^Undie) 800 ^^ 


Pennsylvania, made manager of the Drive-In Theatres next Monday as 


Rex, Rapid City, S. D 
Gordon Gibson, assistant mana- 
ger of the Aladdin here, set by 
Black Hills Amus. Co. as manager 
of Hot Springs, S. D., where he 
succeeds Mrs. Ray E.: David, who 
had managed the house since her 
husband was promoted from there 
to city manager in Chadron, Neb. 
L. G. Bartak, building owner, re- 


executive 
mond. 


assistant to Gus Dia- 


$4,000 in 8 days. Last week* 
‘Quiet Man" (Rep) (4th wk-6 


Realart is packaging two Univer- da y s ^»’ $2,500. 
sal films, “Frontier Gal" and . Coliseum (Evergreen) (1,829; 65 
Canyon' Passage/’ for reissue 90)— "Steel Trap" (20th) and "Can- 


Nov. 19. 


MINNEAPOLIS 


yon Ambush" (Mono). Big $10,000 
or near. Last week, "Lure of Wil- 
derness" (20th) and "If Moscow 
Strikes" (Indie), $8,200. 

Fifth Avenue (Evergreen) (2,366; 


_ _ _ Independent late-run St. Paul 

opened the State, Lewellyn, Neb., Lyceum was only Twin City thea- 65-90)— "Wife’s Best Friend" (20th) 
after house had been closed for tre to advertise returns on elec-, and "Faithful City" (RKO). Dull 
some months. tion night — on a 

Dewey Gates, builder of the 
Trail, Evergreen, Colo., sold the 
theatre to B. A. Weil, rancher 
there. 

Bernie McCarthy, recently 
branch manager for Lippert at 


tion night — on a TV set in its $6,500. Last week, "Snows of 
lobby. Kilimanjaro" (20th) (3d wk), swell 

Many drive-in projects in this $7,600 at $1.25 top. 

business 



territory spelling boom 
for local equipment houses. 

With five new accounts added, 
Frank Mantzke’s Northwest Thea 
tre Service, buying hooking com- 
bination, now servicing 70 of ter- 
ritory’s theatres. 

Art Anderson, WB district man 


Estimates for This Week 

Aladdin (Fox) (1,400; 50-85) -t- 
"Sally and. St. Anne" (U) and 
Captain Black Jack" (Indie), day- 
date with Tabor, Webber. Fair 
$6,000. Last week, "Lure of Wilder- 
ness" (20th) and "Old Oklahoma 
Plains" (Rep), good $7,500. 

Broadway (Wolfberif) (1,200; 50- 
85) — "Because You’re Mine" (M-G) 
(4th wk). Fair $6,000. Last week, 
$5,000. 

Denham (Cockrill) (1,750; 50-85) 
— "Cleopatra" (Par). Poor $7,000. 
Last week, "Somebody Loves Me” 
(Par), (2d wk), same. 

Denver (Fox) (2,525; 50-85) — 
Springfield Rifle” (WB) and 
“Fighting Rats of Tobruk" (Indie), 
Big $18,000. Last week, "Quiet 
Man" (Rep) and "Tropical Heat 
Wave" (Rep), big $20,000. 

Esquire (Fox) (742; 50-85) — 
"Springfield Rifle” (WB) ; and 
"Fighting Rats of Tobruk” (Indie). 
Fine $4,500. Last week, “Quiet 
Man" (Rep) and "Tropical Heat 
Wave" (Rep), $5,000. 

Orpheum (RKO) (2,600; 50-85) — 
"Lusty Men" (RKO) and "Apache 
War Smoke" (M-G). Good $15,000. 
Holding. Last week, "Fearless 
Fagan" (M-G) and "My Man and I 
(M-G), $8,000. 

Paramount - (Wolfberg) (2,200; 
50-85)— “Bonzo To College" (U) 
and stageshow. Fancy * $15,000. 
Last week, . "Androcles and Lion 
(RKO), and stageshow, $16,000. 
Tabor (Fox) (1,967; 50-85) — 
Sally and St. Anne" (U) and 
Captain Black Jack" (Indie). Fair 
$6,000; Last week, "Lure of Wil- 
derness" (20th) and "Old Oklahoma 
Plains" (Rep), good $8,000. 

Vogue (Pike) (600; 60-90) — 
"Sidewalks of London" (Indie) 
Fair $2,000. Last week, "Tom 
Brown’s Schooldays" (Indie), 


»* 


U RADIO CITY MUSIC HAIL 

Rockefeller Center 

“PLYMOUTH ADYENTURE 

SPENCER TRACY • GENE TIERNEY 
VAN JOHNSON • LEO GENN 

Color by IKIMCMJi • An M-G-M Pictur* 
ptui OUT MUM! STMK SKCTMU 


week. 

Music Box (Hamrick) (850; 65- 

90)— "Men in White Suit" (Indie). 

Good $4,000. Last week, "Yankee 

cf AiT^-mr'c Buccaneer” (U) and "Toughest 
ager, still confined to St. Mary s » • a ri 7 nna” (R*»n> (2d wk) 

hospital where he was brought 5i a ? nn in Amona (Hep) Ud 

three weeks ago following shot 

wounds suffered while duck hunt- 


Liberty (Hamrick) (1,650; 65-90) 

—"Lusty Man" (RKO) (2d wk).. lA 
Okay $5,000 after fair $7,000 last $1,500, 

Webber (Fox) (750; 50-85) — 
"Sally and St. Anne" (U) and 
"Captain Black Jack" (Indie). Nice 
$3,000. Last week, "Lure of Wil- 
derness" (20th) and "Old Oklahoma 
Plains" (Rep), $3,500 


World (Patrick) (382; 60-90) — 
"Galloping Major" (Indie). Thin 


mg. 

Rex Allen, Republic cowboy 
star, making personals at terri- 
tory’s theatres. 

Tickets selling fast at- $5.50 each 


Music Hall (Hamrick) (2,283; O0-. $1,000 or less. Last week "Never 
$1.25)'-/ , Ivanhoe” (M-G) (4th wk). Take No foF Answer" flndieTTId 


Pin SLUGGISH BUT 
‘SNOWS’ STOUT 14G, 2D 

Pittsburgh, Nov. 11. 
Things look grim this week un- 
css Armistice Day comes through, 
ven with big holiday boosts, how- 
ever, there is little to cheer about 
except at Fulton, where "Snows 
of Kilimanjaro" is holding up fine 
in second stanza. Stays again. 
‘Everyhting I Have Is Yours" only 
so-so at Penn and "Operation 
Secret" isn’t going anywhere at 
Stanley. 

Estimates for This Week 

Fulton (Shea) (1,700; 85-$1.25)— 
‘Snows Kilimanjaro” (20th) <2d 
wk). Very strong $14,000. More than 
enough to hold again. Last week, 
$20,000. 

Harris (Harris) (2,200; 50-85) — 
Wife’s Best Friend" (20th). Pulled 
after miserable 3 days, just $2,000. 
‘Black Castle" (U) and "Horizons 
West" (U) opened yesterday 
(Mon.). Last week, "Steel Trap" 
(20th), okay $7,500. 

Penn (Loew’s) (3,300; 50-85) — 
"Everything I Have Is Yours". 
(M-G). Not generating much steam ' 
and lucky to get $10,500. Last 
week, “Because You’re Mine" 
(M-G) (2d wk-5 days), $8,000. 

Squirrel Hill (WB) (800; 50-85) 
Amazing Mons, Fabre" (Indie). 
Fair $2,000. Last week, "Edward 
and Caroline" (Indie), $1,200. 

Stanley (WB) (3,800; 50-85)— 
"Operation Secret" (WB). Never 
got off ground. Very dull $7,0Q0. 
Last Week, "Turning Point" (Par), 
only $5,500 in 6 days. 

Warner (WB) (2,000; 50-85)— 
Hurricane Smith” (Par). Not too' 
bad $5,000. Last week, "Hellgate" 
(Lip) and "The Jungle" (Lip), 
$5,500. 

SAN FRANCISCO 

(Continued from page 10) 
ness" (20th) and "Lady in Iron 
Mask" (U), $15,000. 

Warfield (Loew’s) (2,656; 65-95) 
— "Prisoner of Zenda” (M-G). Big 
$20,000. Last week, "Because 
You’re Mine" (M-G) (2d wk), $11,- 

000 . 

Paramount (Par) (2,646; 65-95) — 
"Operation Secret" (WB) and 
"Silent Dust" (Indie). Lean $12.- 
000. Last week, "Hurricane Smith" 
(Par) and "Born to Saddle’’ (Indie), 
$11,500. 

St. Francis (Par) (1,400; 65-95) — 
"Flat Top" (Mono). Opened today 
(Tues.). Last week, "Turning 
Point’’ (Par). Big $14,000 in 10 
days. . 

Orpheum (No. Coast) (2,448; 65- 
95)— "Hangman’s Knot" (Col) and 
“Voodoo Tiger" (Col). Fair $10,- 
000. Last week, "Because of You" 
(U) and "Scotland Yard Inspector" 
(Lip), oke $13,000. 

United Artists (No. Coast) (1,207; 
65-95)— "Because of You" <.U) 
(m.o.) and "Night Without Sleep" 
(20th). Okay $7,000. Last week, 
"Something for Birds" (20th) and 
"Night Without Sleep" (20th), $5,- 
500. 

Stagedoor (A-R) (370; $1-1.20“)— 
"Quet Man" (Rep). Heading for 
strong $3,700. Last week, "Never 
Take No for Answer" (Indie) (2d 
wk), $2,800. 

Clay (Rosener) (400; 65-85) — 
"Ivory Hunter” (U) and "Man in 
White Suit" (U) (2d wk). Holding 
at $1,900 after nice $2,200 opener. 


Swell*$&,500. Last week, $9,200. 

Orpheum (Hamrick) (2,599; 65- 
90)-*— "Springfield Rifle" (WB) and 
‘Park Row" (UA) (2d wk). Hold- 


OpenNmi 



jfta&Httiii 


In Pnsm 

THE POMACES'* 

. SUNNY one 

IAWNW CT.y bug MTCS. 

XHAftLIEBARNET 


of all-industry Christmas party ing at $7, OOP or better after okay 
Dec. 13; replaces the film ex- $10,000 last 'week, 
changes’ individual parties. Palomar (Sterling) (1,350; 45-70) 

United Artists exploitation chief, — Just for You" (Par) and "Wild 
Mori Krushen, and exploiter Heart" (RKO) (2d runs). Opened 
Howard Pearl here working on Monday (10). _ Last week, "Son of 


current at 
Paul RKO- 


nwr 

WM 




MStftCMSTIU 


MWni»M l«N»» 


"Outpost in Malaya,” 

Minneapolis and St. 

Orpheums. - 
"Happy Time" set for Minne- 
apolis and St. Paul JtKO-Or- 
pheums day and date Nov. 26 
Bill Volk, circuit owner, 



★ * i/ 2 — HIGH CLASS THRILLER!"— -News. 



PATRICK HAMILTON'S STAGE TRIUMPH 
NOW ON THE SCREEN starring 
ANTON. WALBROQK of "Red Shoes" faiVie 
with DIANA WYNYARD • Robert Newton 


57th Street at 6th Avenue « 


Fentur* «t: 2:35,.+;35, 6i35, 8:35, <0:30 


Paleface" (Par) and "Merry 
Widow” (M-G) (2d runs), oke 

$3,500. 

, Paramount (Evergreen) (3,039; 
$2.50-$4.30) — Danny Kaye and his 
stageshow. In for five days in- 
has I eluding . two matinees. Appears 
headed for terrific $47,000 or bet- 
ter. Last week, "Hangman's Knot" 
(Col) and "Scotland Yard Investi- 
gator" (Lip), slow $6,400 at 60-90c. 


MINNEAPOLIS 

(Continued from page 11) 
"Under the Red Sea" (RKO). Mild 
$5,000. Last week, "Cripple Creek" 
(Col) and “Rainbow Round 
Shoulder" (Col), $4,500 in 6 days. 
State (Par) (1,600; 50-76)— 

"Battle Zone" (Mono). Minus east 
names that mean much here, only 
fair $6,500 is likely. Last week, 
"The Savage" (Par), $6,000. 

World (Mann) (400; 85-$1.20)— 
"Everything I Have Ts Yours" 
(M-G) (2d wk). Nice $4,000. Last 
week, $4,200. 


wk), $1,000. 


BOSTON 

(Continued from page 10) 

Inspector" (Lip), sad $8,000 in 0 
days. 

Metropolitan (NET) (4,367; 74- 
$1.25) — "Snows of Kilimanjaro" 
(20th). Mighty $50,000. Holds. 
Last week, "Somebody Loves Me” 
(Par) and "Toughest Man in Ari- 
zona” (Rep) (2d wk), $11,000. 

Orpheum (Loew) (3,000; 50-85) — 
"Lure of Wilderness" (20th) and 
"Hour of 13" (M-G). Opened fair 
on Saturday (8). Last week, "Be- 
cause. You’re Mine" (M-G) and 
"Apache War Smoke" (M-G) (2d 
wk), $10,500. 

Paramiunt (NET) (1,700; 40-85) 
—"Springfield Rifle" (WB) and 
"WAC From Walla Walla” (Rep). 
About average $12,000. Last week, 
"Way of a Gaucho" (20th) and 
"Dance Hall Girls" (Indie), $10,000. 

Pilgrim (ATC) (1,850; (44-90) — 
“Eight Iron Men" (Col) and "Voo- 
doo Tiger" (Col), Nice $14,500. 
Last week, sub-runs. 

State (Loew’s) (3,500; 40-85) — 
"Lure of Wilderness" (20th) and 
"Hour of 13" (M-G). Opened Sat- 
urday (8). Last week, "Because 
You’re Mine" (M-G) and 'Apache 
War Smoke" (M-G) (2d wk), slow 
$7,000. 



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♦ 


SAG Calls Its First Strike in 19 Years; 
N.Y. Meet to Time Move Vs. Spots 


Hollywood, Nov. 11. 

First strike in its 19-year exist- 
ence was called by Screen Actors 
Guild at a membership meeting 
here Sunday night (9) against New 
York producers of telefilm blurbs 
and the American Assn, of Adver- 
tising Agencies; Strike vote was 
unanimous, but a date was not set. 

While the vote applies only to 
N. Y. producers, it’s considered a 
certainty that the walkout would be 
extended to - the Coast to make it 
effective. Strike vote follows 
breakoff of negotiations after the 
actors were refused added com- 
pensation for rerun of video film 
plugs; 

N. Y. membership of SAG will 
meet to vote on a strike, and will 
probably set the date of the im- 
pending walkout. 

It was disclosed at the Sunday 
night meeting that SAG has a sur- 
plus or “war chest” of $634,316 to 
finance the strike action against 
makers of tele commercials. It was 
increased during the last year by 
$46,439. 

John Dales, Jr., executive secre- 
tary, declared the Guild is only 
seeking a fair and equitable collec- 
tive bargaining contract which will 
provide decent wages and working 
conditions for actors in TV film 
commercials. He pointed out that 
this was the first time in its 19- 
year history that the Guild was 
calling its members out on strike. 

SAG last week turned down an 
offer by representatives of the Fed- 
eral Mediation Service to help set- 
tle the dispute with the teleblurb 
producers. The FMS reps were in- 
formed that the breach was too 
wide and that the question of strike 
action was up to the membership. 

Guild members paid tribute to 
Ronald Reagan, retiring pFexy, as 
Walter Pidgeon was installed to 
succeed him. Other officers elfccted 
were: Leon Ames, first veepee; 
John Lund, second veepee; William 
Holden, third veepee; Paul Har- 
vey, recording secretary; George 
Chandler, treasurer, all for one 
year. New board members are 
Ward Bond, Richard Carlson, Fred 
Clark, John Litel, Millard Mitchell, 
Emory Parnell, Ronald Reagan, 
Barry Sullivan, Audrey Totter, 
Robert Wagner, Rhys Williams, 
Budd Linn, Frank Lovejoy. New 
class A-J board members are Anne 
Cornwall and George Sowards. 


D.S. Aid in F ilming 
Andersen Tales 

London, Nov. 4. / 

A telepix series based on Hans 
Christian Andersen tales is cur- 
rently being lensed in Copenhagen 
by an Anglo-Danish team with 
American financial backing. 

The initial series calls for the 
production of 13 half-hour vidpix, 
of which the first seven have al- 
ready been filmed. Four are to be 
blended into a single feature, 
which will be given normal theat- 
rical release. 

The series, all of which have 
been scripted by Malvin Wald, have 
an overall title of “Peasants and 
Princesses.” Wald went to Copen- 
hagen last year, learned Danish, 
and got together an Anglo-Danish 
team. The films feature the Bar- 
nard Bros., John Nevill of the Bris- 
tol Old Vic and Charles Farrell. 
Ballet excerpts are being con- 
tributed by the Royal Danish Bal- 
let and the authorities in Copen- 
hagen have cooperated in provid- 
ing costumes and other aids to the 
production. 

The backing for the series has 
been provided by Carl Moseby and 
his wife, the latter being a Swedish 
heiress. Pix are directed by Thor 
Brooks, Swedish-born American. 
Wald returned to America last 
week and Is planning to come back 
to Europe next spring. 


Melvyn Douglas Vidpix 
In Second-Run Cycle 

Series of Melvyn Douglas-star- 
ring vidpix, produced originally in 
N. Y. by indie Marion Parsonnet, 
preemed in their second-run edi- 
tion over the weekend under the 
new tag of “Steye Randall” yia 
WABD, the DuMont web’s key 
N. Y, outlet. United TV Programs 
is handling syndication for both 
the original run and subsequent- 
run screenings. 

In N. Y., the series played orig- 
inally on WJZ-TV, the ABC video 
web’s flagship, under the title of 
“Hollywood Off-Beat,” and was 
bankrolled by Dixie Cups. Four of 
the 13 stanzas played in Washing- 
ton under the original title, and 
the entire series has now been sold 
by UTP to DuMont’s WTTG for a 
second-run. 


See End of SWG s 
Vidpix Strike Near 
On Repeat Fees 

V 

Hollywood, Nov. 11. 

Three-month-old Screen Writers 
Guild strike against Alliance of 
Television Producers may be near- 
ing end, a Guild source predicted I 
here, hinting settlement within 
“next two or three weeks*’ 

One reason for optimism was the 
Guild’s proposal for a continuous 
repayment plan for reruns to take 
the place, to large degree, of the 
original proposal of a royalty plan, 
which the producers rejected, thus 
cueing the walkout Aug. 11. 

It’s understood that Alliance ne- 
gotiators, gave . a favorable recep- 
tion to the newest proposal at re- 
cent discussions. Plan calls for min- 
imum payment on first showing, 
with subsequent payments for each 
successive, beaming. It’s also re- 
ported negotiators are nearing set- 
tlement of the issue of separation 
of rights, another controversial 
issue. 

Meanwhile, battle within the 
SWG dver the amendment which 
would curtail the life of proxies 
to a single meeting, instead of the 
present seven-year system, waged 
hot and heavy. 

Thirty proxy-givers sent mimeod 
letters to membership of the Screen 
Writers Guild, asking them not to 
support the proposed constitutional 
amendment and charged the exec 
board with “failure to protect the 
equal rights of the opposition.” 

AFTRA, AGMA Offering Aid 
To SAG in Producer Fight 
On Vidfilm Commercials 

Past differences on tele juris- 
dictional matters are being buried 
as live talent unions have moved’' 
to give full support to the Screen 
Actors Guild in its fight with the 
Film Producers Assn, on a pact 
for vidpic commercials. American 
Federation of Television & Radio 
Artists and American Guild of 
Musical Artists have endorsed the 
SAG stand, with possibility of a 
strike impending! 

, In a wire to the screen guild, 
AFTRA exec secretary George 
Heller said the union’s board ex- 
amined the SAG proposals and “be- 
lieves they represent just and 
equitable compensation to the per- 
formers,” He added, “AFTRA 
recognizes that your fight is our 
fight” and “in the event SAG 
should declare a strike, AFTRA 
will order its members not to 
work for any producer making film 

(Continued on page 22) 


BUT ADVOCATES 



PSI’s Acquisition of $2,300,000 
Vidpix Properties in Europe Jaunt 


Despite all the recent hoopla 
anent the shift in television pro- 
gramming from -live to film, live TV 
Is still favored by most TV execs 
throughout the country. That’s the 
chief result found in the fifth an- 
nual poll of video brass conducted 
by Gordon Levoy, indie video con- 
sultant on the Coast, who revealed 
this week that TV sponsors have 
indicated the sharpest reversal in 
their choice, with only 55% nam- 
ing live shows as their favorite this 
year, compared to 90% who chose 
live over film programs in 1951. 

Levoy, who polled execs of agen- 
cies, stations and sponsors, as well 
as TV editors, found that dramatic 
shows won hands-down as the type 
of programming most favored, with 
sports surprisingly winding up in 
second place over comedy and va- 
riety shows. Respondents also des- 
ignated the half-hour show as the 
best program length and chose dif- 
ferent stories with changing casts 
each week as the best method of 
presentation. Reflecting current 
interest in TV programming prob- 
lems, 65% of the 700 execs polled 
sent in their answers. 

On the question of liv? vs. film 
preference, 52% of the agencies 
this year signified a choice for live 
programming, as compared with 
60% in 1951; 60% of the stations 
favored live, as against 53% last 
year, and 55% of the sponsors, as 
against 90% who favore live in 
1951. (Eighty percent of the TV 
editors voted for live shows, but 
they were not polled last year so 
there is no basis of comparison in 
their choice.) 

Disillusioned on Quality 

While the preference for film 
shows is mounting, with the excep- 
tion of the station managers polled, 
the fact that film did not gain 
wider approval is particularly sig- 
nificant, according to Levoy. He 
attributed the continued vote for 
live shows to disillusion on the 
part of many of those polled on 
the quality of film, declaring that 
“the only conclusion to draw is 
that Hollywood has not lived up 
to its early promise with regard 
to the production of filmed pro- 
grams.” 

As for program formats, an over- 
whelming 87% of the respondents 
voted for dramatic shows, with 57% 

(Continued on page 22) 


Vidpix Upbeat 
In Paris Plants 

Paris, Nov. 11. 

Vidpix are now being made here 
or in the offing with Paris still a 
lure for those who would make 
films more cheaply here or use the 
local color as a hypo or as an in- 
tegral part of the series. Sheldon 
Reynolds, who packaged a “For- 
eign Intrigue” series here, is now 
branching out into more ambitious 
projects. His “Intrigue” series is 
still going on with Jerome Thor in 
Stockholm working on the vidpix 
under the direction of Marcel 
Cravenne. 

Reynolds has just started on the 
first episode of the new series, 
“Theatre Internationale.” It will 
be a series of half-hour TV pro- 
grams in a light vein. First story 
has Claude Dauphin and Vera 
Norman. Vidpic has a five-day 
shooting schedule with Dauphin 
set to head for U. S. and Bing 
Crosby’s “Little Boy Lost” (Par). 

Bill Marshall is readying two 
series to be shot in conjunction 
with Dave Chudnow. Marshall has 
a staff of six writers feeding him 
with thg scripts from Hollywood 
for the first series, “The Secrets 
of the French Police,” based on 
offbeat cases here. Writers are 
Arthur Weiss, Welles Root, Ellis 
Marcus, Berne Giler, David Dor- 
tort. Marshall will direct first 
series with Akim Tamiroff as star 
of the show. Second series will be 
based on the adventures of a 
French police inspector. 


Father Peyton’s Holiday 
‘Family Theatre* Vidpic 

“Family Theatre,” the Father 
Patrick Peyton project, has turned 
out a special Thanksgiving vidpic, 
adapted by Fred Niblo, Jr., from 
Francis Thompson’s story, “The 
Hound of Heaven.” 

Pic stars Ed Sullivan, Macdonald 
Carey and Rod O’Connor. It was 
filmed at Hal Roach’s studios on 
the Coast by Cascade Pictures of 
California and Ben Pivar Asso- 
ciates, with original music by Harry 
Zimmerman. 

The sixth “Family Theatre” tel- 
epic, it will be released nationally 
during Thanksgiving week, getting 
web and local station screenings. 


P&G Foaming, 
Orders Skelton 
Find Story line 

Hollywood, Nov. 11. 

.Adopting a toughened attitude 
of “papa spank,” Procter & Gamble 
has taken off the kid gloves and 
is looking toward the woodshed in 
its dealings with Red Skelton. For 
$60,000 a week, the Cincy soap- 
makers have made it plain to their 
prize comic that, what he’s been 
doing on TV is not to their liking. 

Skelton and his package .owner, 
-Freeman Keyes, are not entirely 
in disagreement and have yielded 
on one count. They'll try a new 
format with a story line and fail- 
ing there will experiment with a 
variety , pattern. The detached seg- 
ments, with Red practically solo- 
ing every week, is not paying off 
to the P&G way of thinking and 
a change has been demanded. Five 
more films in the present design 
remain to be shown. 

Skelton and Keyes are de- 
termined on one point, that what- 
ever they do it will have to be on 
film. They will definitely not hole! 
still for live telecasting, it being 
the redhead's contention that the. 
pace is too killing. He said that 
on his recent guesting with 
Milton Berle he noted that after 
the show, Berle was “a complete 
wreck,” and he adds, “that's not 
going to happen to me.” 

New situation comedy format- 
will be filmed next Saturday (15) 
for the inspection of P & G^but 
it may be put on the air for audi- 
ence and critical reaction. Two 
sets of writers have turned in four 

(Continued on page 22) 

Vitapix to Produce, 

Release Pix for TV; 
B’casters at Helm 

Hollywood, Nov. 11. 

Vitapix Corp., a new film pro- 
duction - distribution outlet ^ for 
television, already is in operation 
in both fields it was disclosed this 
week with the . first formal an- 
nouncement of the firm’s organiza- 
tion. Directors of the firm includq 
broadcasters, a Washington radio- 
television attorney and two film 
production execs. 

In the process of formulation 
for the last 10 months, Vitapix 
enters the distribution field with 
a package of 27 Monogram west- 
erns, 21 starring Johnny Mack 
Brown and six starring Whip Wil- 
son, which were acquired at a cost 
of t around $700,000. Films are be- 
ing reprocessed on fine-grain film 
and have already been sold to 10 
teevee stations. Firm also controls 
theatrical reissue rights to the pix. 

Vitapix also will syndicate two 
telepic series now In production 
by William F. Broidy Productions, 
l “Case History” starring Regis 

1 (Continued on page 64) . . 


Prockter Syndications Interna- 
tional (PSI) wrapped up contracts 
for vidfilm production in Europe 
totaling $2,300,000, via a quickie 
12-day flight abroad by prexy Paul 
White. Just returned to his N. Y. 
headquarters over the weekend. 
White leaves again tonight (Wed.) 
for Mexico City and Hollywood to 
complete further production plans, 
which will give PSI-TV repre- 
sentation in six European coun- 
tries, plus Mexico and Hollywood. 

With PSI having a number of 
properties now contracted for and 
others already in production, there’s 
some question now whether the 
contemplated merger with Official 
Films will go through. White and 
Bernard J. Prockter, overall chief 
of PSI, originally mulled the OF 
merger in order to acquire more 
product for syndication. 

In France. White set plans for 
two series of films, one to be pro- 
duced by Pathe Cinema and the 
other by Paul Wagner. Both out- 
fits are now turning out properties 
for the “Orient Express” series, 
which will be ready for spring TV 
release. ,In Rome, he contracted for 
two additional series to be co-pro- 
duced by Victor Pahlen and Thetis 
Film. This is in addition to the 26 
films now being prepared by Pah- 
len for the “Great Loves” series 
starring Hedy Lamarr. Latter will 
star in the first, seventh and 13th 
of each 13-week cycle, and will 
narrate .the remainder, which will' 
star other w.k. Hollywood actresses. 

White declared that PSI had' 
adopted a new five-point policy 
covering ail production contracts, 
which c&lls for complete control of 
story material; the, right to supply 
the director; the right of approval 
over cast selection; the retention 
of John Nasht as exec producer on 
all series, and an exclusive con- 
tract for TV film production. He 
said the company wants American 
directors not through mistrust of 
European directors but because 
PSI wants to train foreign produce 
tion crews to meet American TV 
requirements. 

In Mexico City, White will hud- 
(Continued on page 60) 


‘Racket Squad For 
NBC Syndication? 

Negotiations are now under way 
which may result in NBC’s ac- 
quisition of the “Racket Squad” 
series for the network’s syndica- 
tion ro§ter. “Racket Squad” is 
currently sponsored by Philip Mor- 
ris in CBS-TV’s Thursday night 10 
to 10:30 period, but. with the cig- 
gie company deciding to ride along 
permanently with “My Little Mar- 
gie,” the latter TV film show 
switches over from NBC tb CBS, 
moving into the “Racket” segment. 
In view of the adventure series’ 
audience payoff, PM was hopeful 
of salvaging “Racket Squad” as 
well, but ran into budgetary prob- 
lems since the company also re- 
cently acquired the Robert Cum- 
mings “My Hero” vidpix show. 

NBC is gearing for a major en- 
try into the TV film syndication 
biz, and as such is anxious to 
incorporate “Racket Squad” into 
its expanding programming roster, 

Rasunmy to Italy 

For Vidpix Series 

. Mikhail Rasumny, Hollywood 
character actor, has been set for a 
series of TV and theatrical films to 
be shot in Italy. . Currently in New 
York, actor takes off shortly for 
Rome, where he’ll appear in ‘The 
Great Loves,” vidpix series being 
produced by Victor Pahlen with 
Edgar G. Ulmer directing. 

Hedy Lamarr and other top 
names from U* S. and Great Brit- 
ain are said to be set for the series. 
Pahlin and Ulmer are also plan- 
ning to use members of the vidpix 
cast for a theatrical film. 


22 


Wednesday, NovemI>er 12 , 1952 






TELEPIX REVIEWS 

* * 



MY HERO 

With Egbert Cnwmrng s, 

Bishop, John Litd, Mary Be& 

Hughes, others; masse, Leo® and by other producers. 

Klstzfcrn one ts an 

Producer: Mori Green process is the 

Director; Harold Daniels __ the business, the talent agency will . 

Writers: Norma* Paul, Jack Eliss- ■ definiteEv he * solid contender in afternoon. Its m xw& fJJJay. Finally his kids and the ! featherweight in texture, obviously 

' Crsss®otgs ; the vidfifcn prodctetioji race. ride. -- i « - — * j — 1 -* 

3 # Mnis^ Sat, 7 : 3 ® p"- - Secies ‘stars Alan Hale. Jr., in The 

DUXHILL CIGAKETS 
XEC-TV, fro® EFwwd 


„ T . .. cot the wife learn the reason for his tes- J necessitating a good deal of pad- 

tte tit«e-wl« as series off So a good siart. Ttojgh 1 ^oUilSfbSuhere w^t enough 

(Biots* It than canoe, > m«t totte ^obeep, 

In “Mv Hero" Bon Sharpe has firm and. hs Ms travels through vivid and poignant account of a Script was warm, with percep- ^ Dalni e 

r-firite chroush with a package set- Europe. naturaEy runs into tron- GI day on the battlefronL Film tive psychological values. Relation- • 

'* - - Jr — *■**- — 1 — X police and gets its major spark from the ;• ship of the parents and the kids ~ £f f * o l 

in Iron Cur- varied GI voices which are blended was naturally and appealingly han- Urafr fJfllllffaQl]? SnaflPr 

Preens had Mm; en to the soundtrack to describe : died. Tale was given nice perform- i * ® 

ering Czeefieslce- the footage. The southern drawl, ances by James Gregory and Audra 

m a . , . _ _ missrcm and. isn- the western twang and the in- Lindley as the couple, with Susan 

feren^e'for comparison, so that his der secret orders from American evitable Brooklynese are the pre- } Hallaran and Stevie Harris regis- 
Tatp^r effort emerges as broad authorities in. Berlin, trying' to dominant GI accents- which give ; tering well as the youngsters. 



Kz, Sets Fatnre Plans 

Hollywood. Nov. ll. 

farce with some unabashed slap- smuggle ^rae microfilm out of the . tfce^FJm a realistic quality that ! Eddie Bowling was effectively *e- ' dictation of^tte^wesenUv eon 6 
ssicfc countrv via tte Czech under- rift* r above the routine doom- strained as narrator. Production j _ ti x ute( i e nat j er Productions h 

With Robert Cummings as the ground. They were caught in the mentary. Capt. Cari Zimmerman. ' was simple but smooth and suited; f ^ argument tavern 

n* Of rtrtnso? every situation, .act. [J^Fl wfco & 0 W 1 . *wn» «« . narrator's ; to the story. ! p?e^ Lou ^ader^ his j«rin“s" 

sales veepee E. Jonny Graff is 
currently liquidating the business 
| by continuing to sell the “Dick 

star. w*. hrips ^ tha script, is . *«*« tf ** £. . 2 ^ 

IS elivlX Ch^te^^a^^fg;^^ *^'2£2LZ>. 

parcels, which 
around £26.000 per 
are in the cans. 



Snader has until the properties are 
disposed of through outright sale. 
| Once that is accomplished, Graff 
f plans to continue in the vidDix 


»™w ' pnntwf tA KHh v** TarS briefing the ciwie- -on the new With Mari Aldon, John Hudson, : business via a new association. He 
has . ESf r Gras. » Rolfe Sedan, John Close, Alex . has had bids from several networks 


umnungs is one fimute wx.o has . we ?j opposite Mm with the two , Army weapons. Gros. 

had no trouble ptaym^ an_ type : ^uier^rr v* as the accepted young 

ArnZ7 *- n couple, complete with a ANYWHERE, U. S. A. 
to hertvy drama. HrS worri^L rfce «r*» -»» of hummr and the abHitv (Fred Baser Waits) 
look is one of me most eroquenx P _- 0 . r ^ way out of any atu- Wffli Eddie Dewiiag, narrator; 

m the business. He is cast as a . *-* ^ : - Xjm Zr- - - 

genial tho*igh burablln'T. helpless • 
citizen. Robert S. Beanblossom. a 


He is cast as a ^rroporting east on the | James Gregory, Audra Bradley, 

nreem T — « good, with director • Susan HaQaran, Stevie Harris 
citizen, nooen .»■ - ; Ri-hard Wing sustaining a good Producer: Victor Wcmyarten 

sales man for the Tha^ke. Real^ cense r* ^soense and action. Sets. Director: John F. Becker 

lltel ^ h the et ^Snti^ doSveSke : r a^d etha: production writer: Howard Rodman 

Litel as tne iranti- oowD.e-iaie , crPtf frf C v - -g standout. aft wins^: Sma_ ta-zo bjil. 

f* 065 !, S *wk B fnM f T ” Strike plugs were the fa- Sustaining 

laugh pointxboth as to situations m jni SLV . ^r-and-com pare" routine. AR T-TV frons New York 
and props, with a thin out ade- •. ,^> 1 ^ r» - barber time h a-"^ f r»«r. *rw;. », 


Rolfe Sedan, John Close, Alex . has had bids from several networks 
Montoya, Paula Trent 5 and agencies, and is also mulling 

Director: George Caban an offer from a top indie Hollywood 

Wrter: End Lesser j producer who owns all rights to 

to/wiii? ^ * pjn * features and wants to go into 

Hollywood ' vldfilm P^ctier. 3nd distribu- 

The element of mystery and sur- 
prise, in which this series is root- 


tion. 


ed. takes a gripping hold at the 
outset and maintains a taut tempo [ 

down to the switch payoff. The » 
device of masked identities and 


* 


Skelton 

Continued from page 21 


qW story thread to sustain the : ““ ~’szzL S ’ ^ bidd'en moti^S“is' wS'^eveloped ' completed scripts and these will 

=— ‘ * T ' rr “ '■ pou vidmx was nroducea by Victor ... .. .. .. intn thp fpet show. 


interest. 
When the 



Wp?n5 a rS? fw rh?H«fth Tn*nr ^ ith & the cryptic offshoots and be telescoped into the test show. 
Sa^FouiSlti? n S ““*«<* » ^Penseful runoff. . 

run on ABC-TV will get an addi- Figment of fiction centers m a ® th ^F point, that of entrusting pro- 
tional cuffo ride on oier stations. i«^el robbery by an employee, | duction to Lou Place, Coast head 

' ' ’* 1 nf fV,Q Russer ° — ~ ~ e 


boss learns that a PICTURE 

Korea) 

Carl Zimmerman, 

Liters secr c tarv neriuades Cum- Kerr, wer ' HLF is plugging the idea that in- - who for reasons of his owm, of the Russel Seeds .agency of 

^ZiiSwt P £ sale b4£fse Prodcc rz Signal Corps Photo- formation is the key to health and his face m bandages. As ! which Keyes is prexy.P & G be- 

the wer 4or?Ses cSt has Mm ! Center ' the kickoff entry sells the message y **, “***?. *“» ^taway he crosses i lieves that Skelton s shows will be 

owin^hfromSnv mo?ey From ' 30 Snn^ 2^« pun. .that when you’re bothered by , P 51 ^ 3 with a gal friendless and j better if ; he devotes more time to 

this oomt the farce vaMes begin ' WCBS-" V", New Yerk . symptoms of illness, get to your broke, who is willing to dee the ; the writing and his own perform- 

to bnfld at a fast clip. 3 f 2 ry Betb * The U. S. Army-produced docu- ' doctor quickly. . coun try with him. IVhen the mask | ance tor the exclusion of the worry 

TT.__* — — I* i-l -1 pie ’ ment?rv Varies. “The Big Picture.’' ? “Fred Bauer Waits” tells the I o ff he reveals well-chiseled . attendant on the production and 

en- I which is being distributed cuffo to l story of an average citizen who ■ features rather than expected ugly ■ other elements of filming. 

scars. Once m Mexico they are l 

i married and settled, but not for 4 


of get-rich-quick promoters, 
gages Cummings In a series of sofa “ 
clinches to gain the deed. Cum- ; 
mings. now told that the property ' 
is a gusher, rigs himself up as a 
Texas cowboy by testing the earth, 
etc., and satisfies the nromoters 
that there's no oil in , them thar ... 
hills. With a profes'.or of geol- ; 
ogy due on the scene to render • 
expert's verdict, Cummings quick- ? 

I y assumes the prof's guise, and * _ . . , 

the geo ? oslst himself turns un to the iir l 13 stanzas 
h ' - 

even 
but 

great surprise — _ . . 

wherein the setups and gimmicks • 13 p n h:s retirnn 
ap extremely basic. Hicjeo.i named 

Miss Bishop, who with Litel is a ^ m T . production 
regular in the skein, is an attrac- , Sterling l elevision. 
tive, graceful gal. tastefully . p UXT ^^'. zs . T^.. ^ 


Vidpfx Chatter 


; long. Cop from the states moves 

• in with extradition papers and the 

♦ jewel robber, knowing that the jig * 

‘is up, asks where he slipped up 

* that brought about his capture. 

!■ To his utter surprise the ffitfoot 'onn^sj-cial spots untU strife is 


AFTRA-AGMA 

Continaed from pace 21 


New York 

Rafnh Bellamy, 


j. All seven L. A. channels showing ! ^ a * ^ a ^ Siven j en ^ et ^' 

i 0 . him tin mnnThe offn thot it «-op tha ' 


him up m^ittis ^o. that U w^the!. Warm.tone of the message con- 



■ , a . — ■ — _ . , ^ a a ■ a. a ^ u ■_ 11 ,1 i ■ i yv q j m I ^ a — 

who wrapped up senes of telefiIms for Community » ^ friend he was after f 0r knif- ! trasts with previous hashing that 
as of his “Man \ Chest editea oy Filmcraft. George ing her boy friend. Mari Aldon had existed during the jurisdic- 

J ’* * - - ..... and f dictional flareup. “We will give 

we can,” Heller de- 
trust that by our joint 

^ ^ u ^ will draw more closely 

Roswnarie: St ars, fating at Goldwymstudios^ ; George Cahan's direction' is brisk I together ''our respective member- 


wholehearted support” for “all 
■ SAG demands” and added that in 
' event of a strike it “will order its 
members to cease working and to 


CHEVRON THEATRE 

_ (Code of Honor) 

vidpix, going into* the 1 Motion Picture Center studios. With Douglas Kennedy, Louis Jean refuse any employment with any 

| with Hal Mohr as artistic director, ' Heydt, ean Bryon, others i producer” struck by SAG. 

{ and Kathryn Etienne, dance direc- Producer: Revue Productions 
• tor . . . J. M. Alkow and T. C. | Writer: Richard Collins 
; Robinson signed Peggy O’Neil for j 30 Mins.; Fri. 9 pun 


course. Litel’s long sere; n expe- | Crime 
rience sees him thro inh a role ) Army, 
that is not geared to exploit his ! “ ” “ - 

strength on the serious side. The | Hollywood _ _ ^ 

pice :s rapid, the sets and [ Margaret Field inked for femme f series of physical culture vidfilms. ■ CHEVRON STATIONS 

above average. To .jud^e by the . i ead !T1 Gene Autry telepix, ... Vidpix package, “Precint Five ” KTLAr'Hollywood 

Trau. ? ‘/9* utlav ^ of ^ esa? - an f:is being talked by producers Ber- i “Code of Honor” is a sluggish 


in it taler, 
right. 


“My Hero’ 


| “Sharpshooter.” with others in cast j nanl Girard and Richard Dorso, ! version of the eternal triangle a 
I 3 enry J tow - seeking Lloyd _ Nolan, °Anthony | fa Iky affair which trudges wearily 


55% Lika ’Em Live 


Continued from page Zl 


BIFF BAKER, USA 

With Alan Hale, Jr., Randy Stuart, ; Hank Fa terson, Dick Jones, Fred ; deal . . . Bruce Bennett made his 
Walter Reed, Harry Brandon, I Krone, Clare Carleton, Stan An- ; telepix debut in Screen Gem’s “So 
Maurice Doner, Marta Mitrovich, | drews. Frank McDonald is direc- j Many Things Happen.’’ Bernie 
others tor . . . Hamilton Warren, head of Giler yam directed by James Neil- 

Producer: Alan Miller film ^dis ribution for Jerry Fair- s son . . . Bud Molin named film 

Director: Richard Irving • banks. Inc., has ankled for similar ! editor on “Our Miss Brooks” . 


h trudges wearily - putting them first. Surprisingly, 
it’s better to keep ■ 51< v of those polled ( 60^0 of the 


S ir nd ; P^nver Pyle, Tex Terry, Quinn and Hugh Marlowe for the | to its moral that it’s better to keep . 

Hank Fa terson. Dick Jones. Fred dpal Rn™** RAn n< *it m^o hie i one ' s romantic yen away from an- > sponsors! voted sports as their first 

other o man’s wife. Very* little hap- ; choice, which shows a decided 

_ _ • iL* I If t A J . * ! . ^ ^ Al • „ 


Write rc: Frank Burt, Fenton Earna- job with Filmcraft Productions . 

ham Georrre Nader stars in Revue Pro- 

30 Mins.; Thurs-, 9 pan. ductions’ “Quicksands,” shooting at 

AMERICAN TOBACCO Republic . . . With first 13 “Our 

CBS-TV, from X. Y. f Miss B’*ooks” telepix canned, di- 


(BBD&O) 


pens in this half-hour study of a growth in preference for sports, 
man breafiiing hot and heavy for Comedy and variety* drew third 
a married woman. and fourth places, with news show- 

Gloria Winters femme lead in ’ in Florida around the . ing strength by winding up only a 

current “Racket Sauad” shoo? |^ um °J the century, “Code” is con- [single percentage point behind va- 
ing at Hal Roach q studios ^rned with a young couple newly j riety (43^ to 42fc>. This is prob- 

Marjorie Lord, Jess Barker, and • amved m a small town, coming ! ably due to interest in the Presi- 

George Macready head cast of ' . e Tte tow-n’s gay 1 dential elections. Feature film 


; rector .-H Lewis plans another show ; “Hands.” Bing Crosby Enterprises’ P laa l nnmediately begins his woo- oldies received not one first place 

■ i j - t_ _ H . - * _ * “ *^ w 1 inrr hovinrt r» A! ^ a _ - _ . * . 



as being none too original, but the John P’card, Adele 
ending did come as a surprise. James Flavin, Charles. Eyans, 
Thesping and direction were good. Kenny \ cEvoy, Joyce McCInskey, 
with the show carrying a neat pace. Jerry Layes and Jess Kirkpatrick 


ing series 77 Firm headed hv Mike ! gent, but nevertheless warns * otSer 

Moser, creator and owner of “Space '‘^e handsome hea\y to keep his ! "hich placed third with the other 
Patrol.” is taking over VIP. which i P aw s off. Fortuitously, someone J respondents, while the quarter- 

m i-i -Li » _ _ i * . t a1c>a tvKa i. V - i • . v . i nAiir nr»AA-«*hnl»Ti» «?*in «nlmnCT rfitH* 


and production as fine ps on any j in Gro s-Xrasne’s “Big Town.” • films teleblurbs, plans shooting of ! else wh o hates the heaw is about ^ our once-weekly was almost com- 
vidfilm series. Show should have \ Exec producer Ian >L Smith of , commercials on film . . . Jay No- * to gun him down when the gallant! P le tely bypassed. Five-minute 

i “TVn; e tu a t ' fa " series being j vello, Ian MacDonald and Frank { husband saves the life of the man ' cross-the-board format received 

Films for I Ferguson in Revue’s “Pablo's he hates. In appreciation for this! only scattered votes. On the ques- 


little trouble in latching onto an [ “This :s the 
audience and selling more of the | produced by 


bankroller’s smokes. 


Life’ 
Family 


Lutheran TV Productions finished i Well” rolling at Republic . . . favor, the heavy, after killing his ' tion' of production methods, 52^ of 

“Biff Baker” is also notable in { his as^nment . . . Robert Gug- KLAC-TV reported negotiating for would-be assassin, ankles the town all respondents voted for a live 

that it marks the first bigtime net-:genhe r\ formerly with KNBH.) “Ethel Barrymore Theatre of the i leaving the happy couple a happv studio audience '46% voted for no 
work show to be produced under; named general manager of Major t Air’’ series produced hv Interstate couple. audience \vhHe 2 %*exoressedriref- 

aegis of Revue Proauctic.n-, w.ioliy- Telev - i Productions, replacing . Television, telefilm subsid of Allied - • Douglas Kennedy «rabs mo^t of erenee for dubbed-in studio re- 
owned Music Corp. of America T\ , Robert DeSousa, who exited . . J Artists. uhe £o *^ e as the anTbitiou?blade; > aribn. * - 



24 RAMO.mKVKIOX PI^RtEff Wednesday, November 12, 1952 ' 


WTAM-WNBK No ‘One Hoss Shea,’ 
NBC’s Cleve. Adjuncts Start Jumpin’ 


Doubting Thomas, Jr. 

Providence, Nov. 11. 

Unfamiliarity with local politics and election night trends, and 
a clerical error for which A. P. took full blame, led Lowell Thomas 
Jr., into announcing the wrong winner in the Rhode Island gu- 
bernatorial election, on WJAR-TV, late election night. Thomas 
Jr., was brought into the local picture, admittedly not knowing the 
ropes, to help announce electionjaight returns. Despite the pres- 
ence of oldtime local newsmen, the erroneous flash was handed to 
Thomas, who just read it as an A. P. dispatch. t 

With the flash, TV cameras in Republican headquarters went into 
action picturing the dumbfounded, unbelieving, supposedly suc- 
cessful candidate, Raoul Archambault. Fortunately for his own 
peace of mind, he was speechless and couldn’t comprehend the an- 
nouncement. After a few minutes of unavailing effort on the part 
of his jubilant Republicans to get Archambault to understand the 
meaning of the flalm, the main studio took over again with a reitera- 
tion of the flash, and the “hope” that they, hadn’t made a wrong 
announcement. The A. P. retraction followed shortly after. 

A. P. later apologized and announced' that through a clerical 
error, the figures for Eisenhower and Stevenson, which had Eisen- 
hower ahead in the State, were copied on a Gubernatorial ballot. 
Winning candidate was Democrat Dennis J. Roberts. 

Showdown Stage Doe Soon On New Chi 
AFTRA Pacts; 20% Fee Hike Poser 


Cleveland, Nov. 11. 4 

Cleveland this week is doing a 
“six-months-after” appraisal of the 
NBC -owned WTAM (radio)- 
WNBK (television) operation, and 
the verdict is strictly in favpr of 
the regime inaugurated last May 
by Hamilton Shea. If Clevelanders 
were anticipating a “one hoss 
Shea” type of management, they 
were doomed to disappointment. 
For “Ham” Shea, when pressed 
on the subject’, can point to a 
90% hike in October radio busi- 
ness over the previous October, 
and a show-minded AM-TV broad- 
casting setup that’s literally jump- 
ing these days. 

This is a far cry from t he d ays 
— actually years — when WTAM 
was relegated in Cleveland broad-, 
casting ranks to a “low man on 
the totem pole” status as repre- 
senting some mysterious monster 
from out-of-town. There had 
never been a serious attempt to 
endow it with a community con- 
sciousness, serving the “home 
folk.” It was content to ride along 
on a sign-on-to-sign-off feed from 
the parent network. 

Last May Jim Gaines, NBC’s 
o & o chief, dispatched Shea, his 
assistant, to Cleveland to “do 
something, no matter how dras- 
tic.” Shea, who made his bow into 
NBC as a comptroller, was 
plunged headlong into a toughie. 
For years the CBS affiliate, 
WGAR, was the “community 
baby.” Agencies and sponsors, if 
they thought of WTAM at all, did 
so as an afterthought. 

Shea got results almost immedi- 
ately. When the meat cutters, soon 
after his arrival from N. Y. for 
his new assignment, went out on 
strike, Shea thought up the “im- 
possible” idea of bringing the two 
factions together, with the Mayor 
in the middle, and letting them 
slug it out on the air. It was one 
of the few times in' broadcasting 
annals that a major strike was 
successfully arbitrated under kilo- 
cycle auspices. 

Fast Stepping In the Morning 

In collaboration with Gaines, 
Shea figured that, with daytime 
radio's new recognition (now that 
TV was taking away the late after- 
noon and evening play) why not 
warm up the transmitter in the' 
morning with a hot show, 120 
minutes of it cross-the-board, and 
condition the listener to stay 
tuned to WTAM? Result was — 
(Continued on page 60) 

Pearson Shifts 
To DnMont Net 

Commentator Drew Pearson, who 
checked off the ABC video web 
Sunday night (9), returns to TV via 
the DuMont network Dec. 24, 
holding down the Wednesday night 
7:30 to 7:45 period. Carter Prod- 
ucts, which bankrolled his ABC ; 
program, will also sponsor the Du- 
Mont show, through the Ted Bates 
agency. 

Carter ankled the ABC web 
through dissatisfaction with the 
11 p.m. Sunday slot. On DuMont, 
Pearson’s show will follow the 
high-rated “Captain Video,” which 
Bates execs believe will make for 
a good lead-in audience even 
though “Video” is a kid show. Pear- 
son continues for Carter on ABC 
radio. 

YOU ARE THERE’ SET 
FOR FEB. CBS-TV BOW 

“You Are There,” onetime prize 
property on the CBS radio web, 
makes its DOW' as a TV show start- 
ing Feb. 1 under sponsorship of the 
Electric Cos. of America. Show 
will occupy the Sunday evening 6 
to 6:30 slot, being sandwiched be- 
tween the new “Omnibus” show 
and Edward R. Murrow’s “See It 
Now.” Agency for Electric Cos. is 
N. W. Ayer. 

On radio, the show attempted 
to bring listeners in for a direct 
^ participation in famous historical 
^ events, ranging from Biblical times 
to the present. Video show will 
follow the same format. It will be 
basically a live presentation but 
will include a number of filmethjn- 
*erts. Producer and director have 
not yet been named. 


Hypos for Dinah 
NBC-TV has worked out a 
new type of long-distance on- 
screen ballyhoo for its Dinah 
Shore show, which permits the 
vocalist to promote her show 
clear across the couhtry with- 
out moving from in front of 
the TV cameras in her Holly- 
wood studio. c 

At the windup of each of 
Miss Shore’s 15-minute pro- 
grams, the cameras stay on her 
for the first half of the 30-sec- 
ond station break. During this 
time, she plugs a song from 
her next program. This is fed 
to N. Y. on the micro-relay fa- 
cilities and kinescoped, with 
the ldne then played back on 
NBC’s early-bird “Today” 

* show on the morning of Miss 
Shore’s upcoming program. 

Tex McCrary, ‘Home’ 

From Election Wars, 
Shops for News Slot 

With no time available for a 
news show on either WNBC and 
WNBT, the NBC network’s twin 

N. Y. flagships, Tex McCrary is 
presently shopping around on other 
networks and local N. Y. stations 
for a straight news program. Mc- 
Crary, who was off the air for nine 
months prior to Election Day be- 
cause of his campaign activities for 
President-elect Dwight 'D. Eisen- 
hower, had said several months ago 
that he planned to concentrate on 
straight news shows when he re- 
turned. 

McCrary returned to the “Break- 
fast with Tex and Jinx” radio show 
on WNBC Wednesday (5), the day 
following election, but is stale- 
mated in his talks with WNBC on 
plans for his own show. WNBT 
sold its 6:45 to 7 p.m. news slot 
last week to Esso, which does not 
require a name commentator. Sta- 
tion offered him the five-minute 
local cut-in spot on the early-bird 
“Today” show, but McCrary turned 
this down because of an aversion 
to getting up so early in the morn- 
ing. He said that he is not under 
exclusive contract to NBC. 

McCrary, meanwhile, will con- 
tinue on the “T&J” radio show 
but Will, not rejoin his wife on 
the afternoon video show. He said 
that he is also preparing a “se- 
rious” newspaper column, such as 
the one he once • wrote for the 
N. Y. Daily Mirror, for another 
local newspaper or for syndication. 

McCrary himself will take over 
the interviewee spot on the “T&J” 
show this morning (Wed.) to an- 
swer the many questions and com- 
plaints about his association with 
Eisenliower since he bowed off the 
, show last spring. He’ll be put on 
the hot seat by 12 specially-invited 
guests. 


. WINS’ Post-Midniter 

WINS, N. Y„ will launch its first 
post-midnight remote show in over 
a year on Nov. 23 when -it beams 
Louis Quinn from Duke’s, Forest 
Kills eatery. Show will be aired 
Sunday through Friday from 11:30 
p.m. to 2 a.m. 

Quinn, who did a gab spell from 
the Copacabana, N. Y., will do the 
stint for a firm 13 weeks. Indie’s 
last post-midnight chatterer was 
Fred Robbins, who aired from a 
Howard Johnson’s. 


Radio-TV Takes 
Bow tor Getting 
Out Reeord Vote 

Washington, Nov. 11. 

A large part of the credit for the 
tremendous vote (around 60,000,- 
000) at last week’s national elec- 
tions should go to' the ^combined 
efforts of radio and TV stations 
and networks, according to the Na- 
tional Assn, of Radio and TV 
Broadcasters which played a ma- 
jor role in the “register and vote” 
campaign of the National Heritage 
Foundation. 

NARTB points out that 1 broad- 
casting stations were in a position 
to have a greater impact on the 
citizen this year than four years 
ago in urging exercise of the voting 
franchise. Since the last election, 
it points out, the number of radio 
sets grew by 30,000,000 to 109,000,- 
000 and 19,000,000 TV receivers 
came into use. 

Since the conventions in July, 
the networks, more than 3,00Q 
AM and FM stations and 109 TV 
stations poured forth millions of 
appeals to citizens to get out and 
vote. During the last 11 days of 
the campaign alone, says NARTB, 
(Continued on page 64) 


There’s a Sun. Future 
In CBS-TV ‘Show Biz’ 

If Luckies Pulls Out 

CBS-TV already has an order in 
the bouse for “This Is Show Busi- 
ness” continued sponsorship guar- 
anteeing it a Sunday night slot 
should Lucky Strike decide to call 
it quits when the contract expires 
Jan. 18. New client auspices is 
being kept under wraps but it 
would involve cancellation of a 
current show to pave the way for 
the “Show Business” pickup. 

Luckies is still undecided in re- 
solving the Sunday night 7:30 to 
8 slot. The Ciggie company wanted 
“Show Business’* as an alternate- 
week attraction when Jack Benny 
goes into TV on an every-other- 
week basis next season, but “Show 
Biz” producer and creator Irving 
Mansfield has declined to accept 
an alternate-week exposure. As 
result, Luckies has been eyeing 
the new Ann Sothem “Private 
Secretary” vidpix series to share 
the 7:30 period with Benny. 


Bob Welch to NBC 

Robert L. Welch, vet major stu- 
dio producer, inked a long-term 
pact with NBC yesterday (Tues.) 

as a producer-director. Under con- 
tract to Paramount for the last 
seven years where he has turned 
out most of the Bob Hope starrers, 
Welch’ joins NBC Jan. 1. 

He’ll be specifically assigned to 
create new properties for both live 
and film shows. 

WNBT Revamp 
In ‘Esso’ Moreover 

“Your Esso Reporter,” which has 
been a nightly 7 o’clock feature on 
the N. Y. Daily News’ WPIX for 
the last two years, switches to 
WNBT, the NBC video web’s N. Y, 
flagship, starting Nov. 15, when it 
will move into that station’s 6:45 
to 7 slot. Move. necessitates a com- 
plete reshuffle of the 6 to 7 p.m. 
strip on WNBT, with a number of 
advertisers who had participated 
in various shows during that hour 
being shifted to other programs. 

“Sense and Nonsense,” the new 
audience partielpationer . being 
sponsored by Coca-Cola Bottlers, 
will take over the 6 to 6:30 period. 
Following 15 minutes are still open. 
“Esso Reporter,” from 6:45 to 7, 
replaces WNBT’s news, -sports and 
weather roundup. Five - minute 
weather segment, sponsored by 
Consolidated Edison, is being 
moved up into the 11:10 to 11:15 
p.m. period, following John K. M. 
McCaffery's news show. Bill Stern’s 
five-minute sports spot is being 
temporarily discontinued, with his 
sponsors being relocated into “11th 
Hour Theatre” and other shows. 

Jessel’s All-Star TV 
Trailer for Sol Hurok 
20th Biopic on Dec. 27 

While officially no longer with 
20th-Fox, George Jessel has been 
doing some personal drumbeating 
for his three upcoming films, and 
his Dec. 27 NBC-TV show will be 
built as an unofficial trailer for 
his last pic on the lot, “Tonight 
We Sing,” based on the Sol Hurok 
biog. Jessel is trying to assemble 
Ezio Pinza, Edith Piaf, Roberta Pe- 
ters and Tamara Toumanova. His 
next show (Nov. 29) will have 
Rocky Marciano, Ben Blue and De- 
nise Darcel on the roster. Inci- 
dentally, the Hurok film is Jessel’s 
first in the 10 years he was at 
20th to make Radio City Music Hall 
as 4he Lincoln’s Birthday attrac- 
tion. 

Jessel did a surprise walk-on 
with Tallulah Bankhead on the past 
Saturday night show. He happened 
to be in the Colonial Theatre, au- 
ditioning the house for his N. Y. 
originations and “to begin with,” 
says he, “I can still remember when 
I was cancelled at the Colonial, so 
I don’t want no part of that house. 
The very thought of it would make 
me a flop on TV also.” While there, 
however, there was a bit when a 
gallant swain was to be in the 
wings, and Jessel displaced the 
previously cast no-name actor for 
that particular bit. 


Chicago, Novell. 

Talks on new AM-TV staff an- 
nouncer and video talent pacts cur- 
rently underway between AFTRA 
and the network stations and the 
major indies are slated to hit the 
showdown stage at month’s end 
when the present tele contracts 
expire. 

Union’s local TV. proposals were 
tossed onto the bargaining table 
last week, and the industry’s 
counter-offerings are expected to 
be presented next week when 
AFTRA chief Ray Jones returns 
from a New York bargaining ses- 
sion on the national codes. Clinkers 
in the TV negotiations are almost 
certain to be the demands for a 
20% hike in the entire fee struc- 
ture and elimination of the multi- 
ple discount setup for strip shows. 

Discussions on the gabber paper, 
which terminated Oct. 31, have 
been under way for about six weeks 
and remain stalemated. AFTRA 
proposed a 30-day extension of the 
talks beyond the cutoff date, to 
bring the target date on the spieler 
negotiations in line with the video 
bargaining. Strategy follows the 
pattern of the recently completed 
merger of the American Fed era- 

continued on page 58) 


Serutan Checking 



Serutan this week notified CBS- 
TV that it is checking off .the web’s 
“Battle of the Ages” show after 
the Nov. 29 broadcast, whicn means 
it will have completed only the in- 
itial 13-week cycle. Show is aired 
Saturday nights from 10:30 to 11, 
with Morey Amsterd....i emceeing. 

Cancellation means that CBS 
will haye only a half-hour alternate 
week sponsored for its ft to 11 p.m. 
block Saturdays. Web has its new 
“Meet Millie” and “USA Canteen” 
shows in from 9 to 10 as competi- 
tion to NBC-TV’s “Show of Shows,” 
but has yet to sell either of them. 
Sealy Mattress bankrolls “Balance 
Your Budget” in the 10 to 10:30 
slot alternate weeks only, and the 
10:30 to 11 period is now to become 
open. 

Reason for Serutan’s cancellation 
was not given, but it’s believed that 
“Battle” failed to make a dent in 
the ratings drawn by “Hit Parade,” 
aired directly opposite on NBC. 

Mrs. Considine’s Fancy 
Feeds May Be Sponsored 

Mrs. Bob (Millie) Considine and 
Dee Bredin, who are turning over 
the second and third of their 
“What's- Nc-wr” dinners- to char- 
ity, have web and sponsor interest 
in the project as a potential tele 
program. 

Private dinner parties will be 
held Tuesday (18) and Dec. 16 at 
the St. Regis Roof, N. Y., with the 
N. Y. United Cerebral Palsy get- 
ting the take. On the Nov. 18 edi- 
tion, program will include Bob 
Considine, Bob Ruark, who leaves 
on an African safari at the end of 
the month, Raymond Loewy on in- 
dustrial design, Harry Wismer on 
sports, Howard Lindsay on legit. 
Jane Pickens will sing and models 
will display new fashions. 

First dinner was held at the 
Stork 1 Club, N. Y. 





J* CARROL NAISH 


A* “Luigi” in • 

Life with Luigi”— CB9 Radio and TV. 




I'^klETY 


TELEVISION IKE VIEWS 


25 


Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


4~fr 

4* 


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■ H M M M M M M ♦ f H- f f » I ♦ - » + +» » » » I M M M H M *4 - 

Tele Follow-Up Comment 

< 1 ♦ HHim i MI HHMH » f - H + 1 4 4 J 


Rob Hope’s second seasonal en- 
j vv . on "Colgate Comedy Hour" last 
Kmicliv <9> via NBC-TV was a 
mi'iocl 'affair. When the comic was 
shooting fast gags in solo, he at 
least riveted attention. As might 
be expected, he started off with 
election jokes and a letter from 
Truman to Ike. From this point 
there developed .a series of skits, 
most of them n.s.g. Heartiness and 
invention were missing: 

Hurricane Hope as star footballer 
in Kronkheit College was particu- 
larly pale. Sharp improvement 
was shown when the comedian was 
joined by Rosemary Clooney in a 
gagged-up edition of “Two Sleepy 
people.” SJhow actually woke up 
about five minutes past the half- 
way mark when the Four Step 
Bros, set the tubes aflame with 
their group and individual, tap- 
ping. They’re a real sparkplug'for 
any bill. Les Brown’s orch, which 
worked the whole show, gave them 
able hacking here. 

Bill Goodwin paired with Hope 
in a lakeoff on "famous brothers” 
(Frank & Dick Merriwell, Jesse & 
Frank James) that had a laugh or 
so. They preceded this with what 
turned out to be a long plug for 
their mating on the NBC cross- 
boarder which was launched Mon- 
day t to'* for Jell-O. Miss Clooney 
was finally allowed a spot of her 
own and did handsomely by "Oh 
What a Beautiful Morning” and 
"Most Unusual Day.” There could 
have been more of her for a 60- 
minute outing. Hope finished off 
by personating private-eye Sam 
Spade in the White House. Up to 
the point where this was cut for 
time purposes, it didn’t seem to be 
going anywhere. Possibly the miss- 
ing snapper could have hypoed the 
monolog. That’s what the whole 
fray lacked — snap. Trau. 


This past Sunday afternoon’s 
"Juvenile Jury” was distinguished, 
(l 1 . per usual, by Jack Barry’s ex- 
pert handling of his charges, and 
(2>. the obvious question how come 
so good a Sabbath (or any other 
day for that matter) show isn’t 
sponsored? It was a natural for 
Scotch-Tape some time ago. It’s 
one of the brightest midafternoon 
Sunday videoers, particularly ideal 
for the weekend, at home-lookers. 
A No. 3 distinction was a Bobby 
Knight, an appealing and very per- 
sonable juvenile who inspires the 
obvious "he oughta be in pictures” 
observation, and who, it developed, 
comes by his naturalness by heri- 
tage. lie is the son of singer Felix 
Knight. The overall distinction of 
Barry’s juveniles always is their 
appeal, "unfresh” attitude and 
wholesome approach without being 
a bunch of little milquetoasts. But, 
most important, here’s a natural 
for any bankroller without strain- 
ing the b.r. Abel, 


Tallulah Bankhead in her second 
try on the NBC Saturday night 
’AH Star Revue” series indicated 
that she's found her metier on TV. 
Unlike her first show, which was 
suited more for radio than for 
video, this session had everything 
plotted along lines designed for 
maximum impact. Tallu put on a 
show that could as easily appeal to 
mass as well as class audiehces. 
The various elements were tied in 
neatly by a pair of expert line 
throwers. Patsy Kelly and Phil 
roster, and the various sequences 
were excellently performed. 

O invaluable aid to Miss Bank- 
neacl s cause was the presence of 
David Niven and Paul Hartman. 
Niven, who did Dorothy Parker’s 
Hero We Are” with Miss Bank- 
noad. caught the cornedv spirit of 
that piece. It was a literate and 
rewarding session. Hartman re- 
Pi. lst ‘ ( * a dance teacher bit with 
Miss Bankhead that he’s done fre- 
quently in Vaudeville with Grace 
Dari man. 


Other guests included Vaui 
Jionroe who boomed out "You 
tor good effect and dancer 1 

«-nii C \ 01 - w ^° hefl ded a group 
«ni disciplined dancers. Flet 
ei s choreography was colorful ; 
rapidly gaited. 

Brobably the funniest bit in 
y ,! ’ u a satire of "GWT 

l'! 1 ' 1 subtitles. This pi 

ni, (,alll 'd "Real Gone avec 
nue /0 and constituted a hilari 

u-K° n bllsln ? SSs Another good 
f 0 , 10 b y Miss Bankh 
thr . her takin e a small 1 
anml-ni 1 zo °* There were bi 
J Pi .nances by a moppet i 

di rim!' J 1 e ? s f 1 P ut J n*a quickie 
n - which he remained silei 
a ntore shows of this str 

d-irii) i SS R? l nk head could be a i 
mining performer on video. 

Jose 


Bd Sullivan has usually 

th./ 'i ° ,r dition of his 
rm* it.wn ICBS-TV) to 1 


sonalities lie biographs on the 
show 1 , but for his "Bert Lahr Story” 
last Sunday night (9), he mixed 
Lahr in with some standard vaude 
acts for what was almost a straight 
revue presentation. Result was a 
neatly-paced program with only 
.minor drawbacks, with Lahr lead- 
ing the parade’ with three of the 
best skits culled* from his many 
Broadway legiters. Sullivan paid 
little heed to the comic's early 
beginnings in show biz, letting his 
talents speak for themselves, and 
Lahr capitalized on the idea com- 
pletely. 

Stanza opened with Barry Fitz- 
gerald back for his second guestint 
in as many weeks. His casual pa- 
laver with Sullivan was easy to 
take and he delivered sensitively 
on Lincoln’s inaugural address. 
This led into the "I Like Ike” 
number, which Irving Berlin has 
already withdrawn from his "Call 
Me Madam” legiter, neatly done 
by Pat Harrington and the two ac- 
tors who originated the tune in 
the show. Delta- Rhythm Boys, 
just back from Europe, turned in 
a fine job on "Dry Bones,” with 
their rendition cleverly aided by 
a special effects *trick of a skeleton 
super-imposed over the body of one 
of the quartet. Harry. Mimmo 
socked across his eccentric terp- 
ing, taking off on an American 
jive-hound and a Spanish heel-and- 
toer. Mimi Benzell registered, in 
a production number, on "Sweet- 
hearts,” even though the former 
Metopera soprano went sour once 
or twice. 

Lahr, for. his part, wowed with 
two sketches from the recent "Two 
on the Aisle” revue (the baseball 
player interview and "Schneider’s 
Miracle”) and with his near-clas- 
sic woodchopper’s routine. Art 
Carney, permanent member of the 
Jackie Gleason cast on CBS, scored 
solidly as the announcer in the 
first skit to foil excellently for 
Lahr’s fun, and a good support- 
ing cast backed Lahr well in the 
sketch about the Central Park 
paper-picker. Sullivan and his co- 
producer, Mario Lewis, will stage 
the second stanza of Lahr’s "life” 
next week. 

Marjorie Gateson was on hand 
in a specially-filmed commercial 
for the show’s Lincoln-Mercury 
bankrollers. She overdid thp sell- 
ing job. Stal. 


"Those Two,” Pinky Lee-Martha 
Stewart starrer, has hit a better 
stride since moving to the Coast. 
Format of the NBC-TV airer has 
been altered, with more emphasis 
on the story line. A sub-plot is 
given a three instalment ride — in 
the Monday - Wednesday - Friday 
span — but keeping the general 
framework of Lee trying to help 
Miss Stewart, as a show biz hope- 
ful. to stardom. 

On the edition caught Monday 
(10). tale had Lee trying to get rid 
of a former film star whose inter- 
cession he feels may lose him the 
thrush's affections. He acted the 
whack to scare the old dame, but 
that only resulted in the woman’s 
deciding to move into the same 
boarding house. New scripters on 
the series, Jack Crutcher and Sea- 
man Jacobs, provided an amusing 
continuity, although leaning too 
heavily on the zany approach. 
Highspots of the quarter-hour were 
Miss Stewart’s warbling and Lee’s 
antic terping to the "Sabre Dance,” 
which he hoped would frighten the 
battleaxe. Directorial chores are 
competently handled by Ben 
Brady. Lee-Stewart team wound 
with a tuneful live commercial for 
Procter & Gamble’s Tide. Bril. 


IT PAYS TO KNOW 
With Jessica Goldin 
Producer: Arnold Wilkes 
Director: Bill Dancy 
30 Mins.; Wed., 10:30 p.m. 
Sustaining 

WBAL-TV, Baltimore 

This is another credit mark on 
the growing list of public service 
contributions being developed at 
WBAL-TV. Utilizing the facilities 
of the local high school evening 
classes for adults, Arnold Wilkes, 
director of the station’s public 
affairs and education, has organ- 
ized a Spanish class complete with 
teacher, blackboard and pupils, 
and has accomplished an entertain- 
ing* session that holds interest as 
it instructs. 

Directing the lessons is Miss 
Jessica Goldin, who has a decided 
flare for projecting her stuff in 
a manner that enlists complete 
home attention to her simplified 
conversational stuff as it engrosses 
her studio audience, a selection of 
pupils from her actual classroom. 
Mail has been reported extraheavy 
and indicates a widespread interest 
in education via video. The formula 
here is a good one, Burm* 


CBS-TV, Ford Foundation Workshop 
Preem Long-Awaited ‘Omnibus’ Series 


THE BIG REVUE 
With Doug Romaine, Mildred 
Morey, Alan and Blanche Lund, 
Doris. Swan, George Murray, 
Phyllis Marshall, Ross Bertram, 
The Nicklings, Clair Rousse, 
Peter Mews, The Revue Dancers, 
Samuel Hcrsenhoren Orch 
Exec, Producer: Don Hudson 
Director: Norman Jewison 
60 Mins.; Mon. 8 p.m. 
WESTINGHOUSE OF CANADA 
CBLT, from Toronto 

l Spence Caldwell) 

On his formula of swift pace and 
flossy finish, Don Hudson has 
whipped together in "The Big Re- 
vue” what is undoubtedly the 
Canadian Broadcasting Corp’s top 
TV musical series; and the purse 
strings are obviously loose on the 
elaborate talent and staging costs. 
Producer is Don Hudson, former 
stage director of the Canadian 
Army Show, who took this over- 
seas, and was later advertising 
staffer for J. Arthur Rank’s trans- 
Canada chain of 160 film houses 
before switching to CBS-TV. 

Using a "Show Boat” theme, 
cameras cleverly pan for the cheer- 
ing dockside arrival of the float- 
ing show-shop, with ,the rousing 
opener of "Here Comes the Show 
Boat,” with orch and mixed chorus, 
and then into the^ maternal frus- 
tration of Magnolia’s love for a 
gambler,’ with Doug Romaine as 
the captain and Mildred Morey as 
his wife quickly taking over the 
comedy proceedings and carrying 
these throughout. 

For the love interest, there’s 
Doris Swan and George Murray, 
with both in excellent voice, the 
former for her "Believe Me If All 
Those Endearing Young Charms”; 
Murray for "Deep in Your Eyes”; 
and the pair in subsequent duets 
of "I Told Every Little Star” and 
"Only Make Believe.” But it’s the 
Morey & Romaine clowning that 
continuously garners the yoks, 
notably their eccentric dancing and 
her raucous rendering of “Life 

Upon the Stage” and “Honey, 
Won’t Y6u Please Come Home?” 

Romaine’s pantomimic romanc- 
ing, under his wife’s baleful eye, 
plus his bewildered bafflement at 
being taken at card-drawing and 
the shell game by a river boat gam- 
bler (Ross Bertram, slight-of-hand 
artist, in camera closeups of the 
mitt manipulations) was the com- 
edy standout. On tempo change, 
Phyllis Marshall whammed over 
with "Man I Love.” Interspersed 
were the acrobatic and nonchalant 
Nicklings, Clair Rousse for his in- 
strumental virtuosity, the neat 
m.c. work of Peter Mews, a fine 
crinoline ballet to "St. Louis 
Blues,” with all choreography on 
the bill by the Lunds, and a rous- 
ing "Robert E. Lee” finale by 
Hersenhoren’s orch and mixed 
chorus. All concerned rate bows, 
with an extra - salaam on produc- 
tion values to Hudson, who kept 
everything in focus. " >McStay. 


By GEORGE ROSEN 

CBS and the TV-Radio Work- 
shop of the Ford Foundation pre- 
miered the long-awaited "Omni- 
bus” television series on Sunday 
(9) in the most ambitious video un- 
dertaking since the Foundation set 
up shop. Designed as a 90-minute 
showcase with a ^flexibility in pro- 
gramming content and format, to 
permit' for practically anything 
and everything it deems worthy 
for presentation in advancing the 
cause of TV, "Omnibus” literally 
"threw the book” at its initial 
viewing audience Sunday. 

As described by emcee Alistair 
Cooke (who in turn can be de- 
scribed as the BBC’s Voice of 
America), “Omnibus” has all the 


OMNIBUS 

With Alistair Cooke, emcee 
Producer: William Spier 
Executive Producer: Robert 

Saudek 

Director: Andrew McCullough 
Writer: Cooke 
90 Mins., Sun., 4:30 p.m. 
WILLYS-OVERLAND 
CBS-TV, from New York 
( Ewell & Thurber) 


THE MIKADO 

With Martyn Green, Ella Halman, 
Lehman Engel, conductor 


THE BAD MEN 

With Russell Collins* Joshua Shel- 
ley, Harry Bellaver, Malcolm 
Broderick, James Westerfield, 
Mary Stuart, Sidney Potier, 
Sharon Porter 
Writer: William Saroyan 


WITCH DOCTOR (film) 

With Jean Leon Destine, Jeanne 
Ramon Alphonse Cimber. Pro- 
duced by Ritter-Lerner-Young 
Associates & Unity Films 


TRIAL OF ANNE BOLEYN 
With Lilli Palmer, Rex Harrison, 
Edwin Jerome, Jonathan Harris, 
Richard Kylie, Robert Pastene; 
Suzanne Bloch, music 
Writer: Maxwell Anderson 
Producer: Alan Anderson 
Director: Alex Segal 


characteristics of a top-coin variety 
show covering the arts and the 
skills. It’s a longhair, middle- 
brow version of "Toast of the 
Town,” with "Studio One” thrown 
in. Instead of Sophie Tucker, 
Frankie Laine and the "Life of 
Bert Lahr,” "Omnibus” accents the 
loftier facets of entertainment and 
enlightenment, as witness, for ex- 
ample, last Sunday’s Volume One 
with such variegated items as a 22- 
minute play specially 'written for 
"Omnibus” by William Saroyan; a 
24-minute play (also specially cre- 
ated for "Omnibus”) by Maxwell 
Anderson, called "The Trial of 
Anne Boleyn”; the initial TV 
screening of the prize-winning 
film, "Witch Doctor,” with Jean 


Leon Destine; Martyn Green in 
excerpts from. "The Mikado”; 
some humor-slanted X-ray motion 
studies and an Armistice Day dis- 
sertation by Cooke. (Upcoming 
are some studio-originating per- 
formances by the Metropolitan 
Opera Co., excursions into science, 
history, etc.). 

There were moments on Sun- 
day’s premiere that were dra- 
matically interesting and enter- 
taining, and to evaluate "Omni- 
bus” piecemeal would permit of 
some lavish praise, with no seg- 
ment without merit. But taken as 
a 90-minute whole, it was a show 
that lacked cohesion, was spotty in 
production, and, perhaps foremost, 
failed to establish a necessary 
mood or color. There was no at- 
tempt to achieve a continuity, for 
even with Cooke’s leisurely stroll 
from set to set, it was a disjointed 
series of program components. 

As far as innovations or revolu- 
tionary techniques were concerned 
the program offered nothing of 
consequence, the most distinguish- 
ing "firsts” being the Anderson- 
Saroyan contributions. Consider- 
ing the "Omnibus” topflight pro- 
duction 'credits, with a veritable 
army of professional knowhow, 
and considering, too, the top coin 
availability, the production level 
was frequently a distinct letdown. 

It was particularly apparent in 
the show’s opening moments as 
Cooke gave the audience a looksee 
into the future panorama of "Om- 
nibus” — a scope that encompassed 
all the arts. But it only succeeded 
in getting the show off on the 
wrong foot, for it was dull, plod- 
ding and technically poor. Here 
the lighting and camera work were 
strictly amateur. Fortunately it 
glided into the Martyn Green 
offering of the "Mikado” excerpts, 
with Ws delightful "Got a Little 
List” buffoonery and Katisha’s 
lament — an acceptable tidbit even 
to those not addicted to G & S 
fare. 

The showing of X-ray films, of 
subjects in motion, with accom- 
panying . commentary by Cooke, 
provided the show’s top imagina- 
tive and humorous moments. Here, 
is a facet of programming that 
“Omnibus” is especially equipped 
to perform; an oddity in content 
and length that couldn’t fit into 
most shows. 

Saroyan’s play, "The Bad Men,” 
was Saroyan. It was a throwback 
to the dramaturgy he was tossing 
off so prodigiously in the late ’30s 
and early ’40s, once more playing 
around with symbolism in one- 
syllable words. He remains one 
of our gifted playwrights with mo- 
ments of humor and truisms that 
are delightful and vigorous. The 
performances were fine, but the 
production was meagre. ' 

Sandwiched between the Saro- 
yan and Anderson plays was the 
presentation of the Destine "Witch 
Doctor” film. Telescoped to TV 
screen dimensions, this interesting 
and authentic dance by superb 
performers lost immeasurably. 

Easily the standout attraction 
was the “Anne Boleyn” play, 
which found Anderson on familiar 
ground, since it treated with the 
same subject matter as his "Anne 
of the Thousand Days” ex-legit 
click. With Lilli Palmer and Rex 
Harrison (latter repeating • his 
Henry VIII characterization) in the 
leads, with Alex Segal at the di- 
rectorial helm and Alan Anderson 
producing, “Anne Boleyn” emerged 
as a fine piece of drama. Miss 
Palmer is an actress of deep feel- 
ing and sensitivity, and therefore 
her historical portrait became 
alive and understandable. Harri- 
son endowed the Henry VIII role 
with earnestness and made the An- 
derson version of the King in- 
triguing. Segal’s direction made 
for dramatic tenseness and was 
paced for a fluid production. 

CBS-TV has designed "Omni- 
bus” for four sponsors. Thus far 
Willys-Overland has bought into 
the program. ^It took a long ride 
on the opening show. Multiplied 
four-fold^- . it_. bodes an , ominous 
commercial future for "Omnibus.” 


JET PILOT 

With JLt. Cmdr. Robert Horder, 
Jerry* Garvey, George Cisar 
Exec, producer: George Heine- 
mann 

Producer-director-writer: Lynwood 
King 

30 Mins.; Sat., 10 a.m. , 

Sustaining 
WNBQ, Chicago 

If the rest of the series lives up 
to the promise of the opener (8), 
WNBQ program chief George 
Heinemapn and producer-director 
Lynwood King have themselves a 

(Continued on page 64) 


Machine vs. Man 

If anything. TV’s unprecedented coverage of last Tuesday’s (4) 
election returns demonstrated that the machine will never take 
the place of the human. NBC and CBS in particular went to ex- 
traordinary and expensive lengths to "gimmick up” the Ike-Adlai 
ballot coverage, with robot-like calculators occupying a prominent 
place on the TV rostrums. But for all their glorified digits, their 
value was dubious at best. They looked expensive and awesome 
— but were as cold as a last week’s campaign kine.’ 

Neither the electric "brains” of NBC’s Monrobot or CBS’ Univac 
knew or understood what the voter felt in his heart or what dis- 
turbed his mind. ’ It remained for the Ed Murrows, the Ef. V. 
Kaltenborns, the Bill Henrys, the Lowell Thomases, the John Dalys, 
Walter Winchells, et al., to vest TV with the "feel” of the 1952 
campaign and to transmit to the millions of viewers the warmth 
and the spirit of America at the polls, the frustrations and despair 
of the vanquished and the jubilations of the victor. 

In a network-by-network appraisal of the Election Night cover- 
age, CBS-TV easily copped the major laureK, both in terms of 
the excitement generated in the camera’s pickup of the hectic ac- 
tivity in the election newsroom at Grand Central Building, N. Y., 
and in the overall staffing of the herculean job. As the "pivot” 
man. of the CBS-TV blow-by-blow, Walter Cronkite duplicated the 
sock, job he , turned .in at .the politica l, conventions - wJlr 
There was a slick, purposeful continuity about the whole CBS-TV 
wrapup, with few hitches. 

In contrast to the outstanding job it did from Chi last July, 
NBC-TV’s election night coverage was a disappointment; certainly 
a more subdued presentation than CBS’ and failing to convey the 
history-in-the-making coloration that backgrounded the activity in 
Radio City’s Studio 8H. 

ABC was more successful through its wide camera sweep of the 
coverage excitement at the mammoth 66th Street, N. Y., studio 
and overall its simulcast was effective. 

DuMont was content to ride along with a pickup of the CBS* 
Westinghouse coverage, commercials ’n’ all, with some camera 
delinquencies scored as even the trademarked CBS identification 
intruded into the DuMont range. 

On the N. Y. local front, John McCaffrey exhibited an alertness 
and searching commentary in his WNBT wrapups. 

There were lots of commercials. . Rose. 


26 


RADIO IIEVDEWS 




Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


tOft HOPE SHOW 


Irtth Bill Goodwin, announcer, 


ADVENTURES OF MICHAEL 
SHAVNE 

| With Robert Sterling, Judith Par- 
rish, William Redfield, Ian Mar- 
tin, Jackson Beck,' Lee Grant 
Producers: Jack Barry, Han En- 
right 

Director: Enright 
Writer: Lillian Schoen 
30 Mins.; Thurs., 0:30 P 4 n. 

I Sustaining 


Zsa Zs* Gabor, guest; others 
Producer-director: Bill Lawrence 
Writers: Howard Blake, Freddie 

yynj * 

15 Mins,; Mon.-thru-Frl., 9:30 a.m. 

GENERAL FOODS 
NBC, from Hollywood 

( Young & Rubicam) 

This is the new Bob Hope day- 

time show and it may well set the ABC, from New York 
pattern for a complete reshuffle in Michael Shayne, novelist Brett 
network radio programming, in Halliday’s private eye, is now work- 
that a number of other name per- ing the a i r i an es in a mystery series 
into w £ lch em phasUes 


sonalities may follow Hope 
the after-breakfast hours if he can 
draw a rating. On his uutialer 
Monday (10), in fact, a group of 
such -stars (on hand to congratu- 
late Hope on his new venture) 
might have been indulging m a 
little kidding-on-the-square as they 
cracked about the dough Hope is 
pulling in. Hope's show is costing 
Jell-O $2,000,000 in a time and 
talent package deal, including a 
new nighttime half-hour which he 
preems in January. 

That Hope will draw a hefty day- 
time rating is virtually a certainty. 
Show is obviously taped at a more 
respectable hour than its airtime 
(which would make it 6:30 a.m. on 
the Coast) and, as a result, he and 
his announcer. Bill Goodwin, plus 
their guestars, are in top form. 

stanza Monday 


suspense ele- 
ments rather than violence or 
scientific detection. It should prove 
a good audience bet, since there’s 
a sizable group which has followed 
Halliday tomes over the years, and 
the radio version is effectively pre- 
sented. . . 

Story on Thursday’s edition (6) 
was unusual and of sustained in- 
terest. It dealt with a strange, lone- 
ly kid, who stares at girls but is 
afraid to speak to them, who hangs 
around bars jmd poker games but 


MR. SHOWBUSINESS 
With Jack Arthur, William O’Con- 
nor, Terry Dale, Larry McCajice, 
Wally Koster, Clautfe Rae, 
Howard Cable Orch (30), mixed 
chorus (12) 

Director: Jackie Rae 
Writers: Frank Peppiett, Alan 
Cullimore, John Aylesworth, 
Jackie Rae 

30 Mins., Tues. 8:30 p.m. 

Sustaining 
CBC, from Toronto 
Probably the most heavily-budg- 
l-eted Canadian Broadcasting Corp. 
sustainer arid definitely the sys- 
tem’s top musical on production 
values, “Mr. Showbusiness" is a 
new weekly series to depict the 
colorful career of Jack Arthur. 
He started out as a boy-violinist 
with the late Sir Harry Lauder and 
was brought over here by the Scots 
singer-comedian, and then went 
into Mississippi showboats, George 
Primrose's Minstrels, prior to be- 
coming a top producer himself. 
Until the virtual vanishing of 
vaude, Jack Arthur produced all 
trans-Canada stage shows for Fa- 


is pushed around by others. Shayne mous Players (Canadian), of which 


»♦♦ > »»»♦ M Ml i u i 


found out that the youth (William 
Redfield) was bent on suicide. 
When the police came in to pick 
him up for the murder of a priest, 
Shayne persuaded them to let him 
talk to Redfield, lest he shoot him- 
self. Detective’s talk with the 
youngster drew out his history as 


While the a ii i youngster arew out uis History 

in Hrom I a twisted personality, afraid of and 
hating people, and finally trying to 
“gain his manhood" by killing. 


congratulations pouring in from 

- 


Yam was potent because it 
probed into a man’s emotions 
rather than working with crime 
meller gimmicks. It had some good 
psychological insight and a sub- 
theme in the danger of mob jus- 
tice. Redfield wqp particularly im- 


From the Production Centres 

IJV NEW YORK CITY . • . 

James M. Strain, former Coast exec for Capitol Records, has joined 
World Broadcasting System as account exec in the northeast region 
Jayne Smathers, ex-J. Walter Thompson, is a new time-buyer 
it Cecil & Presbrey , . . National Council of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church has opened a recording studio and AM-TV office in the Church 
Missions House . . . George Padovani, director of Italian programs for 
WOV planed back over the weekend to N. Y. after three weeks’ pro- 
duction confabs in the hjdie’s Rome studios v . . Ex-radioite Tommy 
Tucker is now Master Sgt. Henry W. Tucker, assigned to Camp Kilmer, 
N J Elizabeth Lawrence, of “This Is . Nora Drake" cast, on “Whis- 
pering Streets" today (Wed.) . . . Lester Gottlieb, CBS Radio -program 
v p , named a co-chairman of the March of Dimes AM-TV committee 
Theodora Zavin, staff counsel to Broadcast Music, Inc., co-au- 
thored “Your Marriage and the Law" for Rinehart, with IJarriet F. 
Pilpel, partner in Greenbaum, Wolff & Ernst , . . Saul Carson, radio- 
TV critic for the N. Y. Compass, sold a piece on TV and the elections 
to the Nation mag two days after fold of his own sheet. 

Dwight Cooke, CBS Radio correspondent, off on a lecture tdur; ditto 
Emily Kimbrough, of the same web, who’ll fill dates at Tulsa and Kent, 
O this week . . . Larry Dorn, MBS producer, has a new record album 
og Biblical stories sung and narrated, by Jack Berch; Mary Gunn wrote 
the adaptations ... Mel Allen will chair the drive for the National 
Council to Combat Blindness, which will stage a benefit at Carnegie 
Hall Dec. 21 . . . Jack Sterling marked his fifth anni with WCBS last 
week . . . Federal Life & Casualty has bought a heavy spot sked on 

u WINS, via William Warren, Jackson & Delaney . . . Mutual’s sports 

association with big names in show chief, Paul Jonas, sporting an “S" from Michigan State, as a result of 

his early scheduling the eleven on web s Game of the Week . . , 
Harry-Marble, WCBS announcer, hunting in the Maine Woods this 
week . M&cmillan books will back the Monday edition of WQXR’s 
“Music Magazine" . . . John F. Hardesty and Kevin B., Sweeney on the 
road last week, addressing Michigan Assn, of Broadcasters; Hardesty 
also spieled for the Ohio radiomen. 

Palladium Productions’ “Planet Man" show sold to WCAU, Phila- 
delphia; WTAM, Cleveland, and WTIC, Hartford, to push the show’s 
outlets past the 100 mark . . . Ex-Ambassador James G. McDonald and 


he is still an executive, produced 
the Canadian Army Show; last year 
was appointed producer of the 
24,000-seater grandstand show at 
the Canadian National Exhibition, 
which he’ll do again next year. 

It is this background, plus his 


business — and his development of 
several big names himself — that 
will form the basis of the series. 
This time, it’s the story of Jack 
Arthur’s dealings with George M. 
Cohan, with nostalgia the keynote, 
but there is plenty of top writing, 
apart from the inspirational motif, 
as Jack Arthur answers the ques- 
tions of a youngster, Danny, who 


the comic’s friends (Hope himself 
was on about 10 seconds), the 
Tuesday stanza gave indication 
that the show is Hope at his old- 
time radio best— and that’s good. 

Participating in the initialer, 
among others, were Jack Benny (a 
natural because of his long-time 
association with Jell-O, even 

thOUgh he failed to tltilize S ajlu, auu was uptneu uy a 5 <juu ■»»» ..... — ■ . -- - » ..... x — - - — — - - , _ . , . , xiriimT »„ i| 1LL 

“Jell-O Again salute), Blng-^^ including Ian Martin, Jackson your-chin-up hokum here but its Christmas Fund Drive to benefit kids in city hosps . . . WWRLs Alma 
Crosby, GrouchoMarx, ™1 Harris, Beck and Lee Grant. Robert Ster- honest. Vessells John’s “Homemakers Club,” Negro-slanted senes, expands 

Dennis Day ana even NBC prexy jj n g h an( fl e( j tfie title ro i e com _ with just a brief announcement into the 9-9:30 a.m. strip . . . Richard D. Gillespie, formerly with 

Joseph H. McConnell, plus ^.s pe t e ntly (he took over from Donald of theme, Howard Cable’s 30-man Cresley Broadcasting, has joined Frederic W. Ziv s sales promotion 
Zsa Gabor, who is serving as l y ^ ur y s w hen the three-week old orch whams into “Give My Regards department . . . WNEW has added a jazz series by Marion McPartland 

editor on the series tor me stanza moved to a new time last to Broadway” and then Arthur into j n the 7-35-7:45 p.m. strip; it’s part of program director Bill Kaland’s 

- wmrn w - - - - - .... the narrative of the Cohan career, ' ’ 


Lice. XICUUCIU WftH pell LlUUlcW.1V llll- uwua vx « J u > ; w , .... fnr* rlriim 

presslve in portraying the psycho- seeks advice as how to succeed ex-UN chief Trygve Lie on WLIB s memorial services for Chaim Weiz- 
tic kid, and was backed by a good in the theatre. Plenty of keep- roann, first president of Israel . . . WOR is launching its eighth annual 


week, under the plan which will 
have a different femme star join 
Hope for each cross-the-board 
cycle. Even without Hope’s full- 
time participation, this fnade for .a 
lot of fun and served to get the 
show rolling fast. 

Regular cast got down to work 
Tuesday, with Hope concentrating 
on Iris customary stand-up mono- 
logging and kidding with Goodwin 
and Miss Gabor. Latter sounded 
okay as Hope interviewed her on 
her recent film-making in Paris 
with Jose Ferrer in Moulin 
Rouge." Also wrapped up in the 


week), with Judith Parrish playing 
his femme aide. 

Production was smooth, with an 
accordion used to set the initial 
and closing scenes and recorded 
bridges as music cues elsewhere. 

Bril. 


RAY ASHTON-STEVENS SHOW 
Producer-Director: A] Riidd 
10 Mins.; Mon.-thru-Frl., 11:30 p.m. 
Participating 
WBBM, Chicago 
Kay Ashton-Stevens is back 
again on the . Windy City ether 


format Is an audience participation with this brisk nightly chatter ses- 
shill with Hope handing out slon on the theatrical world. On 
watches to the listeners sending this new assignment she’s working 
In “true- funny stories" that he under the discreet auspices of the 
ion rSS on the air Playwrights Co. and Gilbert Miller, 

Plugs for Jell-O ‘were well han- who are sharing the tab as sort 
dledby Goodwin and the General of an “institutional" pitch for legit 
Foods product received plenty of in general, rather than as a spe- 
fide-blueainc in the Goodwin- clfic plugging vehicle for their re- 
Hope^ powwows Stal spective productions. (Playwrights 


seguing into interpolated Cohan 
hits from “I Can’t Tell Why I Love 
You” to a rousing orchestral arid 
mixed voice chorus, blending “Over 
There” and “It’s a Grand Old 
Flag.” 

Outstanding is Terry Dale in her 
singing of “Only 45 Minutes from 
Broadway" and later with' the male 
chorus in “So Long, Mary," plus 
her duet of “The Bowery" with 
Wally Koster, with latter also in 
excellent voice for “Mary.” Also 
tops are Larry McCance, who plays 
the speaking role of George M. 
Cohan a la Jimmie Cagney, but 
good; and Bill O’Connor who Is the 
singing voice as Cohan tries out 
his new songs. 

But, although this is his first 
venture into radio, it is Jack Ar- 
thur’s show and he shows no sign 


p.m. strip; ........ . 

pitch to insert keyboard artists for 13-week rims . . . WQXR will beam 
the Philharmonic’s Young People’s Concert for the 10th season, start- 
ing Saturday (15) . . . John L.Sinn and Maurice (Babe) Unger of Ziv 
back from Europe where they worked on the outfit's new Adolph Men- 
jou vidpix. 

IN HOLLYWOOD . . . 

Norman Blackburn, late NBC* joins the Pat Geyer agency to ride 
herd on radio and television . . . Dinah Shore will be sparking jwitli 
Bing on his next two General Electric shows . . . Norman Winter 
moved ins platter parade, complete with sponsor, over to WRKD . , . 
Jergens is switching from Hollywood Playhouse to “Romance” on CBS 
after ’fix si. of the year.. Guest stars will be used and Norman Macdon- 
nell produces . . . Guy della Cioppa is bringing back “Johnny 001101** 
to CBS radio and auditioning .for a successor to Edmund O’Brien, who 
is thesping back east . . . Jack Benny will put in a busy month making 
speeches at charity affairs and emceeing homage^paying banquets . . . 
Larry Harding, CBS client relations manager, took a cut at the in- 
firmary . . . Hugh Wedlock and Howard Snyder closed their typewriters 
on the Martin and Lewis show to go east and write for television , . . 

Ben Starr was voted 


Jack Mulligan named sa es manager of KLAC .. 
of nervousness. On delivery, plus veepee of western region of Radio Writers Guild and Hector Chevigny 
his youthful appearance, _ there unanimous choice .as national prexy. Chevigny, longtime Coast writer. 


QUIZ KIDS a „ «• 

With Joe Kelly, Pat Conlon, Sally 
Ann Wilhelm, Naomi Cooks, 
Billy McHugh, Frankie Vender 
Ploeg 

Producer: Larry Woolf 
Director: Pat Weaver 
30 Mins.; Sun., 3:30 p.m. 

Sustaining 
CBS, from Chicago 
Back on CBS after a 


y V. VUUVvAvlAOi AOJ VTAA^UOO 1 - j , • » A. 1- * * ‘a I U1IA1IAII1VUO VUVXVO im'AVAXWX VO/ i V 

has “Fourposter" currently here to keep him out j os t e y es ight several years ago but has continued active in the east, 

and Miller’s “Gigi" opened hist — ~ 

week.) 

With her own stage career and 


13-Week 


subsequently as wife of the late 
, Ashton Stevens, dean of drama 
critics, Mrs. Stevens long has had 
her finger on the show biz pulse. 
So it’s a breeze for her to keep 
i this late-evening squib jampacked 
with anecdotes of the theatre and 
allied arts. 


She’s also spicing the strip with 
an occasional guest interview that 
contfnuin IT 'the * pre-hiatus" practice I should make for even broader ap- 
oftaphlgtoe airer atvarious high I peal. On the installment dialed (6) 


layoff, this Junior-size "Information 
Please" now in its 12th season is 


of TV that a little pancake makeup 
wouldn’t cure; and lad still has his 
hair. On production, Jackie Rae, 
himself a former Jack Arthur 
protege, has done an excellent job, 
with all members of the cast, to- 
gether with the Cable crew and 
phorus, making this the CBC’s top 
musical series and one that would 
have no difficulty securing a spon- 
sor but for that CBC policy of 
keeping commercial programs to 
the minimum. McStay. 


• • 


19 


schools around the city. Assem- 
bly visits may have some home- 
town promotional values but they 
add little for the network dialers. 
It’s still the mental agility and 


Ole Olsen (& Johnson) came aboard 
for a chat. Latter, besides a trailer 
for “Skating Vanities" with which 
O&J are touring, was an interest- 
ing roundrobin of things from the 
* ‘ * Dave , 


the flashes of youthful insight dis- vaude side, 
played by the current batch oi m 

SffggS thafgwe "L This Is Radio Salute To 

spark. On the program caught 
(9) the participation by guest quiz- 
zers from the visited school was 
pretty awkward and stiff and 
slowed down the proceedings. 

Bulk of the stanza stayed with 

the regular format with chief quiz- i one of those supe 

zer Joe Kelly firing the queries cally-produced radio shows was 


Medium Wins Kudos As 
Mich. B’casters Tribute 

Detroit, Nov. 11. 
One of those super-colosSal, lo- 


st the five regulars who continue 
to amaze with thpir broad range 
©f knowledge. Session was giving 
a good topical twist as several of- 
the questions dealt with the recent 
elecuon. 

— The — p hysical — setup- st this.- par- . . if 

ticular location wasn’t too happy, di<>" was written, directed and pro- 
as Kelly had trouble a timejor two duced by Jack Rellis, of WXYZ. It 


presented Saturday (8) at the fifth 
annual meeting of the Michigan 
Assn, of Broadcasters.' It was tape- 
recorded and will be broadcast, 
this week over each of Michigan’s 
68 radio stations. 


• -ire — errj nmr — cmTdW 


nrr ui- 
— rxmr 




— xtvr 


catching the answers. 


Dave. 




TRIBUTE TO GLENN MILLER 
Producer-Director: Ray Starr 
€0 Mins. 

KWWL, Waterloo, Iowa' 

The only thing missing from 
KAVWL’s 60-minute tribute to the 
late Glenn Miller is the famed 
Miller music. Against the back- 
ground of the Miller theme, 
“Moonlight Serenade," however, 
producer-director Ray Starr put to- 
gether a solid package of* music 
biz names who were associated 

(Continued on page 60) 


presented the story of radio in 
documentary form backed by a 12- 
piece orchestra and seven per- 
formers. 

WWJ donated its auditorium for 
the live presentation of the show 
before the Michigan Assn, of 
Broadcasters. WXYZ provided the 
orchestra under Phil Brestoff’s di- 
rection and paid the actors. 

“This Is Radio" told how. the 
lives of 6,500,000 Michiganders had 
been affected by radio and how it 
would continue to affect their fives. 
It told of the experimental broad- 

(Coptinued on page 60) 


. 1 1 


i i 


it < c 


1 I I ( 


'm * . *. 


SATURDAY NIGHT — COUNTRY 

STYLE 

With Sunshine Sue, Little Mary, 

Leonard Jones, Wcsternaires, 

Benny Kcssingcr, others 
30. Mins,; Sat., 10:30 p.m. 
Sustaining 

CBS, from. Richmond 

The country cycle, on radio, as 
in the music biz, is still gathering 
speed and that apparently has’ 
cued CBS to climb aboard with this 
new airer for fuller Saturday night 
coverage of the hoedown belt. This 
series is originating from various 
key mountaineer music cities with 
the kickoff coming from WRVA in 
Richmond, where the “Old Domin- 
ion Barn Dance" has been on since 
1946. This whole genre stems from 
WSM's “Grand Ole Opry" corn- 
fest and this show adheres to the 
standard cider-jug format of hill- 
billy vocalling, yodelling and guitar 

Instrumentals. 2. 

. Sunshine Sue,' a WRVA cornball 
favey emceed the preem with the 
usual vitality. She also piped 
“Sweet Molly Malone" and “What. 
You Gonna Do" in a duet with an- 
other femme vocalist, Little Mary. 
A vocal combo, the Westernaires, 
contributed a couple of numbers, 
while Benny Kessinger scored with 
his yodelling. A guitar solo- was. 
delivered by Leonard Jones and 
the show also included some har^ 
monica and accordion instrumen- 
tals in a ’familiar backwoods vein. 

This ’show should click with the" 
hillbilly fans who apparently can’t 
get too much of this kind of twan- 
gy country music. Helm . 

lit ***»'• r t * 


IJS CHICAGO 

Don McNeill, after a trial run, to berth his ABC “Breakfast Club 
permanently at the Morrison Hotel’s Terrace Casino. Morning waker- 
upper previously has been housed at the web’s Civic Theatre . . . Peter 
Finney has taken over all radio-TV activities, except time buying, 
at the. Harry B. Cohen agency . . . AFTRA chief Ray Jones in New 
York this week for web negotiations . .‘ . Mutual director Herb Rico 
and presentations manager Fred Schneier in for conferences with Car- 
roll Marts’' Chi echelon . . . Jack Cloud has joined the Jim Jewell 
package shop as merchandising director*v . . CBS’ “Life With Luigi" 
airs from here .next Tuesday, (18).. 

WCFL unwrapped a new daily afternoon amateur show featuring 
Chi Federation of Labor members and their families. Show is directed 
by Fred Herendeen, with Marty Hogan hosting . . . Ex-NBC publicity 
topper Jack Ryan in town last week on a buying trip readying the 
opening riext week of his specialty shop in Appleton, Wis. . . . Sun- 
Times columnist Irv Kupcinet will again emcee the Chi Federated 
Ad Club’s annual “Off-the-Street Club" party Dec. 11 . . . Nancy Carr 
and Thomas L. Thomas booked in as headliners on Mutual’s “Chicago 
Theatre of the Air” Saturday night (15). 


IN SAN FRANCISCO ... 

CBS President Frank Stanton to address San Francisco Ad Club’s 
radio-TV department luncheon, Nov. 17 . . . Katherine Kerry dropped 
her ayem series on KYA . . . Mrs. Hans Klussman, cheer-leading cham- 
pion of the local cable cars, nominated for a Mary McBride achieve- 
ment award . . . Jimmy Lyons moves his midnight progressive music 
session from KNBC to KGO . , . KROW, Oakland, opened’ San Fran- 
cisco sales office at 681 Market with Charles Johnson in charge . . , 
More KGO wedding bells: Laura Zarubin of music ^clearance to wed 
Ensign Stanley Anderson in January . . . Wanda Ramey added “Kid 
of the Month" feature on her daily femme series with Oakland Junior 
Chamber of Commerce presenting awards to outstanding youngsters 


IN WASHINGTON .. . 

George Flax, ex of Republic Pictures here and in New York, has 
been upped from production staff of WTTG-DuMont to director of 
publicity and promotion . . . Morris Siegel has left sports staff of the 
Washington Post to join WT,OP as radio-TV sports commentatof . . • 
FCC Commissioner Frieda Hennock will be guest of honor at dinner 
of Americaq^Women in Radio and Television’s loc^l chapter, and will 
speak on “Opportunities for Women in Educational Television" . .. . 
WWDC-MBS d.j. Willis Conover has turned night club columnist via 
a new chore in the “Washington Spectator" . . . Ruth Crane, WMALr 
ABC femme topper, will present a new TV playlet, “Here’s Mr. Smith, 
chpsen by her as winner of a competition sponsored by National League 
of American Penwomen . . . RTMA donating radio and TV sets to each 
of the state and territory winners of the annual Voice of Democracy 
contest, sponsored, for high school students, by RTMA, NARTB, and 

* * (Continued on page 64) 


* ‘Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


'T m T m I" 



....mMlM.2....1 i I.ai, 

IIAIHO-TELE VISION 


27 



TV’s Newest Milestone 
— Pattern for the Future 

By J- L. VAN VOLKENBURG 

(President, CBS< Television) 

With the huge expansion in the number of intercon- 
nected markets, and the lifting of the freeze on new 
station licenses by the Federal Communications Commis- 
sion this year, television has reached one great milestone 

in its geographic growth as a national 
ihedium. With the vastly important 
'role that television has played in 
national affairs this year, too — from 
General Eisenhower’s first speech as 
a Presidential candidate at Abilene, 
Kansas, on through the political 
conventions, and the election — tele- 
vision has more than demonstrated 
its arrival as a mass communications 
medium as well. And now, with the 
formal dedication of CBS Television 

. City in Hollywood — the world’s larg- 

j l van volkenburg and finest facilities uniquely de- 
signed to meet the needs of this 
growing medium — television has reached its newest mile- 
stone. 

Each of the importants events of 1952 are closely in- 
terrelated. The number of interconnected markets and 
the growing number of stations, the demonstration of 
television as a tremendous social and political force, all 
point to the fact that the broadcasting industry must 
now face newer and greater obligations for providing the 
kind of programming that takes into account its vital 
role as a truly national medium, 

Along with the rest of the industry, CBS Television 
long anticipated the day when the two major points of 
program origination— New York and Hollywood— would be 
linked together by transcontinental facilities providing 
for a two day flow of programs. Yet, CBS Television took 
the first important step toward providing the framework 
within which network broadcasting can best function. 
This step was the building and completing of CBS Tele- 
vision City as a pivotal point of network operations in 
Hollywood. As a. result, for the first time television now 
has production facilities precisely designed to meet its 
huge demands. 

Every stick and stone and pane of glass that went into 
Television City’s building was planned with a single pur- 
pose — to furnish the best and most efficient staging of 
live television that could be found anywhere in the world. 
The actual layout of this gigantic plant makes for an in- 
geniously fluid and flexible floor plan, capable of almost 
instantly adapting itself to any production requirements. 
Through thoughtful design, facilities for both audience 
and non-audience shows were built. The entire complex 
problem of construction — including scenery construction, 
building stage props* wardrobe handling, rehearsal hall 
requirements, and administration— are all housed effi- 
ciently within a single unit. 

To make highly efficient television production of this 
scope possible, assuring an even flow of materials, and 
eliminating, at the same time, every extraneous element, 
a horizontal building' plan was adapted to facilitate this 
assembly-line technique. 


28 Hours a Week Capacity 


Out of this streamlined operation will come lower pro- 
duction costs. 1 Yet, one of the most important gains to 
be derived- from Television City' is the wealth and variety 
of live network programming which will originate from 
the Coast. Today there are about five to seven hours a 
week of live network programs originating from Holly- 
wood, on all networks. Television City alone has a produc- 
tion capacity of as much as .28 hours weekly. 

The great audience response to Hollywood-originated 
live programs — such as “Jack Benny,” “My Friend Irma,” 
Art Linkletter’s “House Party” and “Life With Luigi,” to 
name a few — amply indicates that the full utilization of 
talent, as well as geographic dispersal of production, is 
a healthy thing. It allows every great production center to 
develop and exploit the things it can do best, and it 
stimulates a greater and more colorful diversity of pro- 
grams. 

Many new stations have already built fine facilities of 
their own, such as WCAU-TV in Philadelphia, and others. 
Before long many television stations will be planning and 
constructing additional facilities. Although few, if any, 
will be able to emulate Television City in terms of its 
magnitude, nevertheless, as;a pattern for efficient produc- 
tion techniques, as a guide to practical operations, it will 
surely serve as a model for such new facilities. 

In addition to Television City’s role in creating afford- 
able, top quality network programming, this architectural 
and engineering .achievement can surely help the tele- 
vision industry reach a hew standard of practical opera- 
tions which' will add immeasureably to the realization of 
its goals as one of the most important cultural develop- 
ments in American history. 


Lore-Laden Site 

CBS Television City’s 25-acre tract is part of Gil- 
more Island. wTdrh 1c rw> mnrft n» inland than Times 

Square is a square. They’re both areas within a 
metropolitan area. The first house on Gilmore Island 
was an adobe structure built in 1828 by Jose Antonia 
Boeha when the territory was the stamping grounds 
of Spanish dons. 

In 1880 Arthur Freeman Gilmore came to Cali- 
fornia from Mercer County, 111., bought the house 
and 256 acres, started dairy farming. In 1901, dig- 
ging a well, fie struck oil and developed a rich oil 
field which flourished until about 25 years ago. 

Earl, son of Arthur Gilmore, was born in the 
adobe house in 1887. it was .Earl Gilmore who devel- 
oped Farmers’ Market, .Gilmore Stadium. Gilmore 
P ield, the Gilmore ,-jprivp-Jn Theatre and the Pan- 
Pacific Auditorium. 


So Proudly We Hail If You’ll Pardon a Cliche. 


By WILLIAM S. PALEY 

( Chairman of the Board, CBS, Inc.) 

We are naturally very proud of our new Television 
Lily; proud because of its technical excellence and 
be ^ U j y ’ anc * P rou d because our faith in the growth 
and development of television which lay behind the 
early planning of this project, seems wholly justified. 

\Ve know that CBS Television City will give more 
efficient tools and more pleasant working conditions 
to the creative skills and artistries responsible for our 
.Hollywood originations. We hope, in addition, it will 
give impetus to ever better programs and that it will 
prove to be a symbol of our determination to provide 
the American public with the best television service 
in -the world. 



H. Robinson, Jr, 


A Tool for Talent 

_ By HUBBELL ROBINSON, JR. 

( CBS-TV V.P. and Director of Network Programs) 

If you Jaid all the words eulogizing the mechanical mar- 
vels of Television City end to end, you would have a pile 
as massive as that structure itself. The opportunity it 
offers in efficiency, economy and more imaginative, more 

dramatic use of the television me- 
dium makes the word “impressive” 
seem puny. 

But the potential magic this archi- 
tecture houses is also a staggering 
challenge. For if the dream it sym- 
bolizes is to become reality, the cre- 
ative efforts of the men and women 
who will work there must match the 
achievements of the builders who 
work with steel and mortar and draw- 
ing boards and you know how many 
miles of cable, wire, lights, etc. 

Television is the mechanieal marvel 
of this century. Creatively at least, 
according to its highly articulate and unrelentingly vo- 
ciferous critics, it is something short of marvelous. 

Jack Gould of the New York Times, an eloquent and 
able dart-slinger, took all phases of the industry most 
severely to task In a recent Sunday piece. He toted it 
all up in the phrase “Let’s face it. Television is getting 
pretty bad.” 

Well, let’s face it — some of television is getting pretty 
bad. But it seems to me at least, that some of it is also 
pretty good — not as good as it should be, not as good as 
it can be, but, nonetheless, pretty good. Each week it has 
moments of high good humor, of fine-tempered raillery, 
of moving drama and of information and public service. 
No need here to detail chapter and verse. 

But to name -just a few, “I Love Lucy,” “Mama,” the 
oaferies of that engaging clown Jackie Gleason, “Studio 
One,” “Lamp Unto My Feet” are cases in point. And the 
General’s boys have entries which qualify as highly. 

The problem most simply put, is to try to grade all 
television product up to its best and to try to make that 
best better. It can be done. But it can be done only if 
television moves aggressively 6 to gather unto itself the 
talents which can produce that result. 

Those talents extend far beyond the actual performers. 
They must include writers, directors, producers and exec- 
utives With the vision and courage to invest in these peo- 
ple and then encourage them, protect them and guide 
them to the goal we must reach if television is to con- 
tinue to mature and be healthy. 

Right now, television .has a corner on American recre- 
ation. If it is to hold that corner, it must also get a cor- 
ner on as many and as varied creative talents as it can 
lure into the fold. 

When Thomas Jefferson expressed abiding faith in the 
ability of the American people to arrive at the right an- 
swers, of their own free will, Nielsen, Trendex, A.R.B., 
and other professional decimal-pointers were over 100 
years from even being the proverbial light in their fath- 
ers’ eyes. 


Public a Dependable Judge 


But their findings indicate that in the long run, the 
American public Is a pretty dependable judge of what 
they want in the way of entertainment. 

There is, currently, a large hue and cry in the trade 
and public press about quiz shows and crime shows. Yet, 
it is of some significance, that the public has never em- 
braced either of these forms of entertainment passionately 
enough to land them in the first 10 most popular radio 
and television shows, over any protracted period of time. 
Their novelty may give them a momentary shine but when 
the novelty is gone, the public quickly detects the shabbi- 
ness of the basic product and turns elsewhere. No prod- 
uct in this field has ever approximated the enthusiasm 
and continued attraction .which entertainers such as Jack 
Benny, Burns & 'Allen, Amos ’n’ Andy, and the painstak- 
ingly-done dramatic shows have had. 

In the field of public service and information, it is quite 
true that television, like radio before it, devotes far less 
time, percentagely, to programming in this area than to 
projects in. the straight entertainment field. And, yet, 
television already has some notable achievements in this 
area. A most recent and proud one being “Victory at 
Sea.” 

. On Nov. 9, we launched “Omnibus” in assoqj^tion 
with The Ford Foundation. As these words were written, 
the first performance had not yet taken place. The cali- 
ber of it is yet to be measured, although if it livCs up to 
the concept of its executive producer, Bob Saudek, and 
the ' tbp-ffigfit .creative people whose larehts he has ‘em- 
ployed, it should be a notable achievement. If it falls 
short of that, it will not be because of any lack of indus- 
try, of imagination or effort to gather together the best 
available people for the job. And it will, I think, be a 
landmark in that, for the first time, it provides something 
no other medium has ever provided — an hour and one- 
half variety show of the mind. One hour and a half 
packed with ideas that should be provocative and stimu- 
lating with entertainment chosen because of its quality 
and with production on which endless care and meticu- 
Housness have been Expended. 

* And I think it is worth noting that successful projects 
in this field are not 'easily come by. We have three new 
public service shows in preparation. Roughly six months 
have already been expended on two of them and the third 
will take many ’ additional months if it can be made to 
jell at all. 

This whole area of programming requires a particular 



The Show’s Still the Thing 

By HARRY ACKERMAN 

( CBS-TV V.P. i?i Charge of Network ■■ 
Programs, Hollywood) 

On Saturday. Nov. 15, Jaek Benny will park his car (be 
it Maxwell or Cadillac) in the talent parking area at mam- 
moth new CBS Television City in Hollywood. 

He will walk a few steps to the talent entrance where 
he will check his cobwebbed coin 
purse with a guard, who will put it in 
a’ locker and hand Jack the claim 
ticket. 

Benny then will stroll a few more 
steps down the corridor to his private 
dressing room, furnished functionally 
but tastefully with wardrobe closets, 
dressing table, mirror, lounge and 
wash basin. 

After changing clothes, Jack will 
step around the corner to the make- 
up rooms where everything is pro- 
vided for a star’s appearance on tele- 
vision. 

He will take a passenger elevator to the third floor re- 
hearsal halls — each of which is 60% of the actual stage 
area — for final rehearsals of a special one-hour star-laden 
show which will officially dedicate the vast new video tem- 
ple on a coast -to-coast television hookup. 

When it’s time to go on-camera, Benny will again take 
the elevator to the 12-100 square-foot studios immediately 
below the rehearsal halls for final run-through and actual 
telecast. 

All in all. Jack’s itinerary from parking lot through 
show production marks' one of the most convenient strolls 
ever enjoyed by a star in television — somewhat less in 
duration and easier on the shoe-leather than the par- 
simonious Benny's infrequent trips to the dank recesses 
of his vault room. 

And Benny’s movements through CBS Television City 
will be multiplied many times by the raft of CBS-TV 
Talent who will appear on the special inaugural show 
with him — top drawer CBS video stars such as Burns and 
Allen, Bob Crosby, Cathy Lewis, Marie Wilson, Eve Ar- 
den, J. Carrol Naisfy Art Linklelter, Cass Daley, Eddie 
“Rochester” Anderson. Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Alan 
Young, and Tim Moore, Spencer Williams and Alvin 
Childress, of CBS-TV’s “Amos ’n’ Andy.” 


Harry Ackerman 


Method in Madness 


i 


CBS Television feels there is a method in all this costly 
madness of designing a building that fits the needs of 
talent like a fencer’s tights. Long ago, CBS-TV Execu- 
tives and architects William Pereira and Charles Luck- 
man decided there exists an astounding lack of conven- 
ience for talent in the entertainment world — chiefly con- 
venience between rehearsal hall area and actual studio 
area. 

The proximity of rehearsals to production is only one 
of many problems that CJBS-TV and the architects met, 
and licked, in our mutual evolution through more than 50 
different plans 1o achieve the “World’s first execlusively- 
dfesigned TV plant.” Pioneering always presents its pit- 
falls, but we feel the now-complete initial unit of Tele- 
vision City is justification for most of the then revolu- 
tionary ideas we dared broach — ideas that will mean bet- 
ter productions for the public in hundreds of ways. 

Not the biggest, but not the least, of our accomplish- 
ments in building Television City lies in providing this 
much-needed convenience for talent. We feel that the 
built-in efficiency of our steel-and-concrete giant is a 
more tangible expression of our edneern for talent desires 
than merely patting our stars on the back and saying, 
“Gee, you’re a nice fellow, so we’re going to give you 
this fur-lined layout.” 

CBS-TV is convinced that the convenience of Television 
City is going to pay off in better programs because this 
type of convenience is simply another word for efficiency 
— not only for stars but for production crews, set design- 
ers, painters, directors, etc. It will mean better sets, bet- 
ter lighting- and smoother production. 

It’s taken a lot of doing, but we feel our headaches were 
all worth while. There were moments when we were 
amazed to find ourselves up to our ears in the business of 
real estate and construction — moments when we all found 
grim humor and some truth in a sign that a quipster- 
engineer nailed to a wall of the Television City construc- 
tion shack. It. read: 

“If you can keep your head when all about you are 
losing theirs, then maybe you don’t understand the situ- 
ation.” 

■d 

field of ability which is as rare as- any outstanding skill. 
One of its basic requirements is the ability to take topics 
which, in themselves, will not attract many people and 
present them so that they will be compelling viewing in 
millions of homes. That, it seems to me, is one of the re- 
sponsibilities of creative programming in the public af- 
fairs field. \ 

All of this is extremely relevant to the inauguration of 
Television City as a factory in being. For this astound- 
ing plant reposes in a community where there are gath- 
ered more creative talents and a ‘wider variety of talents 
than anywhere else in the world. 

Those are the simple facts. It is easy to sneer at Holly- 
wood, to scoff at its charlatans and buffoons but still the 
fact remains — there is more talent of every kind here 
Than anywhere - else, it Ts "massecT here. ‘ And television, 
the greatest mass medium the world has ever known, 
needs those talents desperately. 

If ways can be found to marry those talents to tele- 
vision then Television City can not only be a monument 
to the vision and ingenuity of its builders but to thq real- 
ization of the medium’s spine-tingling potential. 

I hope CBS Television will be- the midwife to that mar- 
riage. Only in this way can we escape the only-too-often 
justifiable charge of repeating patterns and formulas and 
move toward a steady freshening and maturing of the 
whole program structure. It cannot be said too often that 
this entire business will succeed or fail depending upon 
how well it treasures and secures the people who can 
bring to it vivid, resourceful and imaginative talents; how 
much it can do to place at the disposal of those talents 
every available tool to make the work more effective and 
more- productive. • 

That conviction brought Television City into being. 


28 


HABI0-TEUE VISION 


UTssmn 


"Wedheetfay, November 12, 1952 


The Ultimate in Push-Button ‘TV Costs More, But It’s 

Entertainment Needs Writers, Too Worth More & Does More’ 


Hollywood. 

Have recently had the pleasure of being escorted 
through the new West Coast TV plants of both NBC and 
CBS. CBS is on Beverly Boulevard in the center of an 

unincorporated no-raan’s land surrounded by the City of 
Los Angeles. It overlooks the pastures of Fairfax Avenue. 
NBC is in the outskirts of the City of Burbank hard by the 
dry Los Angeles Biver. And it overlooks the fact that the 
tourist to Hollywood has no easy access to its audience- 
hungfy studios. But each is a masterpiece of architectural 
planning and contains the latest miracles of man’s creative 
thought on what can be done photographically and accous- 
'tically with electric and electronic impulses. 

Each TV setup is full of machinery and gadgetry so 
complicated it can only be understood by a team of MIT 
Profs and yet all this stuff is so mechanically 
devised that it can be controlled by a high-school 
boy. This brings up — as , one solution always raises 
another problem — the job of finding someone who 
can control a high-school boy. Some say this is 
TV, itself; that TV has taken charge of our youth. If this 
is the'case, we are approaching perpetual motion — -a form 
of entertainment is run by macnlnes which are controlled 
by the boys this form of entertainment controls. It’s con- 
fusing but it is no more involved, not a bit more compli- 
cated, than the new TV studios of NBC and CBS. Each is 
the embodiment of the ultimate in push-button entertain- 
ment. 

And without writers both could become warehouses. 

It is important to think about this at a time when people 
whose business it is to criticize — a sound and important 
function, necessary to the growth of everything — are 
beginning to take pot shots at the quality of entertainment 
offered to the mounting army of people who nightly sit, 
as if hypnotized, staring back at a one-eyed monster that’s 
chewing into their constantly atrophying budgets to the 
tune of one payment a month. This audience has a better 
way of criticizing than by splashing words on paper. But 
few of them exercise this God-given, constitutional right to 
snap a switch as long as their payments continue. When 
the set is finally paid for, the obligation to condone the 
expense of it, by liking everything that flashes across its 
screen, will no longer exist and there will begin a lot more 
switch snapping at inferior entertainment. In short, if the 
interest in. VT does not wear off when the novelty wears 
off, the interest wears off when the payments cease. 


By. CARROLL CARROLL 

sonalities. This, too, takes writers. There is, however, a vast 
important area needing hasty improvement in the dra- 
matic field. 

Who is to set the pattern for this improvement can only 
be determined by time. But it seems inevitable that it, too, 
must be the writers. But whoever it is, there will be no 
improvement made, or even possible, until something is 
scrapped. Of course> when electronic tape comes along, it 
will.be celluloid that’s scrapped; along with the whole 
complicated motion picture technique which would . be 
substituted for the more fluid technique possible with 
electronic cameras. 

Perhaps what should be scrapped is that element of 
confused thinking in the production of TV half-hour 
dramatics that leads to an over-emphasis on physical trap- 
pings; an effort to make what is essentially small and/or 
cheap look like something big and important. In most 
cases this effort backfires, resulting in a bad case of 
over-production that spotlights the flaws in an anemic 
story. Stories are too often read with production values 
In mind rather than the intrinsic quality .of the basic story 
and writing as the prime consideration. 


That Guy From Avon 


i 


i 


Those Preconceived Conclusions 


While there have been recent surveys to prove that the 
interest in TV does not wear off, it is hard to believe that 
these are anything but the findings of wishful thinkers who 
misread their data to verify a preconceived conclusion. 
To believe there is no wearing-off of interest in TV is to 
argue against the law of diminishing returns. Nothing in 
this world grows more valuable - with use. Everything has 
its peak. With some things it’s when they’re new. Other 
things. . .mostly living and growing creatures; /.reach a 
maturity and then* decline. Everything wears out and 
familiarity breeds, if not contempt, at least condescension. 
The overindulgence of every honeymoon wears off. 

There is little room to doubt that the first bloom of tele- 
vision’s novelty is wearing off each day in thousands of 
TV homes and this makes the family, if not less interested 
in their 21-inch tube, more selective in what they watch 
on it, 

Which should make this a good time... .with those two 
blooming plants readying themselves for the Full Flower- 
ing of the great electronic joust between two mighty net- 
works breaking lances on steel cables ... to examine pos- 
sible ways of improving the going TV shows and the 
coming TV shows while there is still time to get the fix in 
before all the payments run out. And you can’t get this fix 
in with buildings and equipment. You’ve got to do it with 
paper and typewriters and men who know how to u£e them. 

There is little room to doubt that the first bloom of tele- 
to improve the shows which are as good or bad, week-in- 
Week-out, as their high-powered star, the shows in which 
comedians keep relentlessly -doing what they can do best, 
or what they think they do best, or what they think their 
audience thinks they do best until that audience begins to 
get the itchy feeling that it’s seen everything before and 
families in living rooms start to turn on the lights and talk 
to each other again. In short, there seems to be no object 
in trying to do much changing where personalities are the 
focal point of a show, unless you can improve the per- 



> 


WHAT TELEVISION CITY MEANS TO ME 

By HARRY ACKERMAN 
(CBS-TV V.P. in charge of Network 
Programs, Hollywood) 

CBS Television City makes me feel something like a 
proud father, for at long last I can provide a home for 
my shows— an ultra-modern super-efficient home that 
gives them every advantage Jfor increased production 
health and rating growth. Television City is an exciting 
challenge too, for its huge studios will offer, for the first 
o pportunit y to build dramatic shows qn the West 
Coast to supplement our audience comedies. Finally, 
CBS Television City invites the development of new and 
advanced production methods to enhance all the pro- 
grams, for its new, lighting techniques and unique equip- 
ment provide possibilities for effective “mood” produc- 
tion work that is unmatched anywhere. 

A. E. JOSCELYN 

( Director of CBS Operations , Hollywood) 

Completion of the initial unit of Television City is 
really only the start of a new manner of producing tele- 
vision programs. This, the first unit ever to be designed 
and built from the ground up for the origination of Net- 
work Television programs, presents advantages of opera- 
tion that are as different as 20th-Fox's present modern 
studios compared with the old barn in which C. B. De- 
Mille made “The Sm la'V M-n ” i ■ 1Q13. 

There is no doubt that new methods allowed by the 

1 i V 1 


A fellow who used to live in Stratford-on-Avon once 
said “the play’s the thing.” It was a sharp observation 
when he put it into the mouth of the Melancholy One; 
and every effort to ignore its truth has turned out a pro- 
duction that is for the most part “a melancholy one.” 

More attention must be paid to the creating and finding 
of compact sharp stories, off the beaten track, because 
before much longer the beaten track will become so bgaten 
it’s a trench. New conflicts must be found, new ways to 
express man’s triumph over woman or adversity ... if 
these are not identical. The boy-meets-girl .theme is not 
the only story-line to success. Some of the greatest plays 
and many of the finest, most thrilling and financially suc- 
cessful motion pictures have either been completely with- 
out women or the females in the cast have been dragged 
in’by the casting office to fill out some old costumes rather 
than contribute something to the story. In fee simple (and 
the fee for the writing should not be as simple as some 
would keep it) the future success of TV drama seems 
rooted in the ability of those who must produce the stuff 
for the next couple of years to take the trite out of the 
trite and true. 

Once stories of strength, built around small but vital 
single, sock, poignant incidents in people’s lives are found 
... as opposed to the regular run of slick mag phosphate . . . 
then a way must be worked out to add just enough produc- 
tion to season these stories and by decor, costuming and 
adroit casting of minor roles accent the honest flavor of 
the writing without adulterating it with dishonest over- 
production. When an effort is made to make cheap things 
appear more valuable or richer than they are, little is 
ever achieved but vulgarity or tawdriness. A good story 
doesn't need contrived “production values.” There is 
seldom physical room or actual money for lavishness in TV 
films, so the production emphasis must fall on taste and 
intrinsic merit; when it doesn’t, TV, the world’s greatest 
lie-detector, puts the finger on it, 

It is hard, and it will become increasingly harder, to 
find even adequate story material that can be produced 
with even simple dignity and wadded into the 24 minutes 
or so that is left of a half-hour show after time is taken 
out for opening and closing cre'dits and commercials. 
Perhaps, then, the arbitrary divisions of time now in effect 
have been a little too confining.. Maybe, for the good of 
the future, the TV hour should be re-divided into thirds 
instead of fourths. The bonus of an extra five minutes 
could be a tremendous boon to any 15-minute show. And 
the difference between 30 minutes and 40 minutes might - 
be the difference between a gripping presentation and the 
over-simplified little tales that now cost so much to make 
and are generally of so little quality. . 

Naturally, changing the basic division of the TV hour 
would scrap most of the existing filmed shows. Obviously 
it is uneconomic to do this at present. But a time will 
come, and that time will probably be with the general use 
of the oncoming electronic tape, when celluloid is 
scrapped. Why not scrap the present TV time division 
with the present method of TV recording and start all over 
again with a fast and simple method of recording pictures 
in a time segment that gives a writer a little more room 
to spin his yarn? 

The ultimate point being, while bowing to the technical 
advances that will improve the physical qualities of TV; 
while building more and bigger studios, mustn’t we also 
give deep thought to the fact that the men who create and 
adapt the material TV cannot survive without, should be 
given more and better room in which to work? % 

tremendous size of the studios, the ease of moving gear, 
equipment and sets from shop to studio and studio to 
storage, are going to bring about even greater develop- 
ments in the building of the units yet to come.* 

NAT PERRIN 

( Producer of (, My Friend Irma”) 

'Naturally it was exciting to be connected with an im- 
portant “First” and “Irma” was the first show telecast from 
CBS' new Television City early in October. Of course, it 
had its trying moments too. 

__ Would th e studio really be ready? Would everything^ 

work? Would all those millions of wires Td» seen be con- 
nected to all the right places? Well, Television City came 
through with colors flying. It was a lusty birth to an in- 
stitution which is going to make entertainment history — 
with a worthy assist, I hope, from— -“My Friend Irma.” 

ANITA SALTA 
(CBS-TV Secretary ) 

I consider myself very fortunate to be able to look for- 
ward to the bright prospect of working in the new and 
beautifully equipped offices of Television City. It offers 
many new facilities for employees, including a modern 
employee’s lounge and sun deck, which will make working 
there a pleasure. 

Television City is a monument to the pioneering spirit 
which CBS has always shown and it is this spirit which 
makes employees like myself proud to be a small part of 
this great organization. 



By FRED M. THROWER 

( CBS-TV V.P , and Director of Sales) 

The most significant thing to me about the opening of 
CBS-TV’s new Television City in Holly wood is that it once 
again demonstrates the faith the network has in the future 
of television as an advertising medium, and" in particular, 

in the future of CBS Television. 

Speaking of the future of television, 
I was recently exposed to the results 
of a thorough and searching inquiry 
into tomorrow’s dimensiohs • of tele- 
vision put together by McCann-Erick- 
son and' very ably presented’ by Sid- 
ney Dean of that organization. This 
presentation was shown at a meeting 
of the Association of National Adver- 
tisers at the Hotel Plaza on Sept. 30, 
and I am told it will be made avail- 
able to ANA members in printed 
form. 

The presentation gave special em- 
phasis to the potential TV-home circulation offered by the 
present 63 television markets, the cost, and the increase 
in circulaion and cost to be expected when 125 markets, 
twice as many as we have now, are available. McCann- 
Erickson calculated that when the next 62 most important 
markets are opened up that those total 125 markets will 
include about 80% of U. S. Retail Sales and 78% of 
U. S. population. . ' * 

As might be expected, the presentation points out that 
125 markets will cost a lot more than the present 63, and 
as TV set ownership increases in the next few years, the 
cost per thousand potential circulation is expected to de- 
crease appreciably. My own belief is this — while TV will 
never be more expensive than other media in terms of 
what it delivers, it will undoubtdly be so in terms of dol- 
lars. 

Television costs more but it is worth more because it 
does more. Surely television which affords sight plus sound 
plus action, plus product demonstration, bannot be com- 
pared with static media. 


Fred thrower 


How the Ad Dollar Is Spent 




In 1952, the total national advertising dollars being 
spent, in the five general media, are running at an annual 
rate of two billion seventy-five million dollars. The media 
pie for this year is currently being sliced as follows: 



Dollars in . 

Per. 


millions. 

cent. 

Television . 


20 

Newspapers 


26 

Radio 

395 

19 

Magazines . 


29 

Outdoor . . . 


6 

Total .... 


100 


Since the proof of the pudding is always in the eating, I 
am convinced that television will prove that it deserves 
nearly twice that much by the end of 1954. 

The current 1952 rate of expenditure for television Is 
running 41% ahead of 1951. 

Advertising, as everybody knows, is the handmaiden 
of American business. This is, indeed, a direct ratio of 
advertising to sales. And so, the dollars American indus- 
try puts into advertising are not static — but are the most 
dynamic dollars that industry invests in any part of its sell- 
ing operation. The figure for national advertising dollars 
in the five general media has increased tremendously each 
year as the nation grew and its needs were met. In 1940 
570 million, 1946 one billion 75 million, 1951 one billion 
. 925 million, and in 1952 (at current rate) two billion 75 
million. 


78% U.S. Coverage 


i 


If it turns out in the future, as the McCann-Erickson 
presentation predicts, that many advertisers f will be 
using a basic station lineup in television which will provide 
coverage of 78% of America’s homes, I’m convinced that 
these advertisers are going to be happy with a medium 
that provides broader and greater impact for their prod- 
ucts and much greater merchandising influence in all 
channels and at all levels of distribution. 

Advertisers who are using television most effectively 
are reaping the harvest today. Advertisers renew, they 
expand into additional markets as fast as they can, and 
they buy more time periods and programs, but we sellers 
of TV can’t tell you why, for that would be telling Macy’s 
about you know who. . 

Our base of advertisers is strong. Many television ad- 
vertisers are already in their third, fourth or fifth years 
without lapse and more are coming in all the time. 

Though specific case histories are closely guarded, out- 
standing results are being obtained today by advertisers 
in television. For instance, Advertiser X studied sales for 
three months, bought a half-hour network program in 30 
markets. After three months' experience, he reviewed 
sales again, and found an average increase of 67% in TV 
cities versus non-TV cities, The advertising manager told 
me that the greatest increase in sales resulting from any 
previous campaign (and they indulge in big ones) was 
20% — tested on the same 'basis. There are innumerable 
other examples— most of them so good that, believe it or 
not, we canii- talk about them, - 

The fuure of television, as I believe I’ve indicated, 
looks bright to me. The exciting opening of CBS-TV’s 
Television City is, in itself, a new dimension for tele- 
vision or it will give better access to Hollywood talent, to 
new techniques and, we hope, to lower production costs. 


Ice & Atomic Ages Meet 

With striking coincidence, at the very time the 
Atomic Energy Commission was setting off an atom 
bomb in Nevada last April, excavators at CBS Tele- 
vision City dug up what USC paleontologists identi- 
fied as a relic of the Ice Age — a 50,000-year-old ele- 
phant tusk. 

The tusk, along with the atom bomb, made news 
across the country. 



Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


pmrefr 


RADIO-TELEVISION 


29 


»> w SSI*" I Remember a Monster 


By MARIE WILSON 

Hollywood. 

Television City means much more to me than just the 
place where I’ve planted my fingerprints in the cement 
( V0U didn’t know this, did you, Mr. Ackerman?). I feel 

like a real trallblazer here, because 
we presented the first show from TV 
City. I’ll never forget that painter 
who kept following .me around ex* 
plaining what “w-e-t p-a-i-n-t” spelled. 
He was such a nice man before they 
took him away. 

I like the location at Beverly and 
Fairfax. It’s very easy to get to Bev- 
erly and Fairfax. And such an inter- 
esting walk through “Farmer’s Mar- 
ket” — the sets are very realistic. Last 
night I noticed CBS-TV had planted 
ushers up and down the street to 
watch for me. Right here I want to 
thank those boys who looated me in the west wing of .that 
broom closet just before, showtime opening night. 

CBS-TV has given us a beautiful studio. The walls are 
covered with, scarlet drapes, on which are printed the 
CBS-TV eye. Here is where they made their only mis- 
take; everyone knows walls have ears. 

Seriously, I do like our new home here very much. We 
have a beautiful modern apartment for “Irma,” and every 
room has a view — of the audience. For the first time a 
TV performer can see the audience easily. Incidentally, 
they can see us, too. It’s very friendly, and that’s what I 
like most about CBS Television City. 



Marie Wilson 



Cathy Lewis 


-And Only 10 Minutes Away 

By CATHY LEWIS 

Hollywood. 

Since the night we presented the. first “My Friend 
Irma” show from CBS Television City with the smell of 
fresh paint and cement in the air, I’ve felt a little senti- 
mental, besides being proud and happy, to have been one 
of its pioneers. ' * 

This is a tremendous project, hous- 
ing a wonderful medium! Television 
performing is rewarding but exhaust- 
ing. which is why I am personally de- 
lighted with the location of TV City, 

Our home (her husband is'CBS-Radio 
Producer Elliott Lewis) is in Beverly 
Hills, just 10 minutes from Gil- 
more Island. And my mother, grand- 
mother, sister and mother-in-law all 
live in the vicinity of Beverly and 
Fairfax, so from now on I can See my 
family occasionally. Before, a visit 
with them was a rare treat with re- 
hearsals six days a week. 

Architecturally speaking, I particularly like the pro- 
scenium of Studio 33 here; I like the depth and width. 
The set designer, Tony Mondell, a very talented and ar- 
tistic person, has my most affectionate regard for the new 
and beautiful sets on which we work. 

In fact, if Variety would allow me another page I would 
like to list the names of every single member of our 
“Irma” crew, especially the technicians, who realize that 
time and energy are of the essence to performers on a 
live television show. 

In a way, Television City presents a new challenge to 
the- television performer. Equipped with $1,500,000 
worth of the latest-design technical facilities, TV City 
gives us an opportunity of providing better entertainment 
for millions of American homes. 

The new “magic” lighting system is an excellent ex- 
ample. A show like our* “My Friend Irma” now can be 
lighted with as many as 10 automatic light cues compared 
to the previous three or four. TV City’s new video switch- 
ing system allows for ' smoother, more “tricky” picture 
manipulation. 

In summary, it’s a privilege to be performing from a 
television facility that in itself is a tribute to the world’s 
fastest growing entertainment medium; 



D. J. Jacobson 


By DAVID J. 

( Director of Public 

Every man has something he always wants to remember. 
And something he wishes he could forget. For me both 
are symbolized in a single experience. 

What I mean to say is I don’t think I’ll ever forget the 

Monster. And the most terrible part 
about it is that I don’t really want to. 

The first time I saw the thing it was 
literally oozing out of an airplane on 
the landing strip at LaGuardia Air- 
port. An intense little genius you’ll 
probably never meet, named Dale 
Clark — who built it — was jumping all ° 
around screaming orders, raving, cry- 
ing, while the biggest packing cases I 
ever saw emerged from the ship’s 
belly. 

It would all be very simple, we 
thought. The thing is built in Los 
Angeles. Flies to New York. Stuck 
on a truck. Hauled to the Waldorf-Astoria. Taken up on 
an elevator to the Starlight Roof. One, two, three put it 
all together and on May 2 all affiliates attending the 1952 
CBS Television Clinic would be bug-eyed at the sight of 
this Complete working model of CBS Television City. 

Then our ingenious contraption would be shown to the 
press, advertising agency people and clients in New York. 
After, it would trek the country, moving from one de- 
partment store to another, while millions of awe-stricken 
people marveled, at this modern miracle. 

And all of this really happened, just as we had hoped. 
Though not exactly as we planned. Which is why the 
Television City model got to be known as the Monster. 

Like I said, the . Television City model came in the 
biggest crates imaginable. They never would fit on one 
truck or two. It took three trucks to haul the whole 
thing to the Waldorf-Astoria. 

Now six people on thie west coast had measured these 
crates. And 12 different people at the Waldorf-Astoria 
had measured the elevator shafts. But believe it or not, 
climatic conditions were so erratic both in Hollywood and 
in New York, that there was a tremendous amount of 
shrinkage and expansion of rulers. The result was that 
no two people had the same set of measurements. Oh 
yes, and there was one other result which turned out to be 
rather disgusting; the crates wouldn’t go up the elevator 
shafts. 

Maybe this is a tale out of school. But after 12 hours 
of stretching, pushing, kicking, and swearing, the crates 
still wouldn't get into the Waldorf-Astoria elevator shafts. 


The Miracle at the Walclorf 


JACOBSON 

Relations, CBS-TV) , 

The advertising agency people and the press and every- 
one else in New York saw, in miniature, the dreams and 
ideas that CBS Television was constructing into a fantastic 
concrete and steel reality on the west coast. And every 
night after the showings of the Television City model 
operations men like Walt Pierson, Pete Emmons, Tony 
Boschetti, A1 Raymond, just to name a few, would come 
in and help figure out ways to turn the Monster into a 
practical thing that could troupe all around the country. . 

We were really on the spot, too. For some reason big 
department stores in major cities throughout the country 
had been wiring for the rights to show the model to their 
customers. What they had heard and read about Televi- 
sion City made them think that the model was a wonderful 
gimmick for increasing store traffic. In their enthusiasm 
every store promised that they would do at least one full 
page of advertising in their local papers and support the 
whole model promotion in their city with store windows 
as well. 

This was it — a chance to show everyone what the world's 
finest plant, designed exclusively for television, would look 
like, how it would work, and why it meant that CBS Tele- 
vision would maintain and expand its areas of leadership 
in programming. 

Somehow I remember reading that St. Peter’s in Rome, 
the House of Parliament in London, and the White 
House in Washington were classic examples of the tre- 
mendous public relations force and symbol that a well 
designed building can beeome. I remember reading, too, 
about CBS Television City, as “an exciting and dynamic 
new example of what the future holds in store for the 
American Public in the way of better programs, and for 
American Business in the way of an efficiently stream- 
lined pattern for this phenomenal advertising medium.” 
-This growing consciousness of Television City’s tremen- 
dous significance was, in no small measure, due to the 
Monster itself. 


SRO at Macy’s, Elsewhere 


i 


More than once complete defeat looked particularly 
painful aqd inevitable — especially to anyone who supports 
two kids and has a mortgage to pay off. By 3 o’clock in 
the* morning the Monster had become something of a 
terrible challenge to every CBS stage hand, electrician, 
and carpenter. One man would try his idea and fail. A 
second would taste defeat. A third would end up with a 
groan. 

' Someone shouted, “Throw Dale Clark down the elevator 
shaft,” and I was almost carried away by the thought. 
The expressions on Bill Golden and John Cowden’s faces 
were dead giveaways. I didn’t get top close to the shaft 
myself. And you may not believe this, but to this day 
nobody is quite sure exactly how the Monster ever did . 
get. to. the Starlight Roof. 

Me, I’ve got my own theory about, it all. I just believe 
that those stage h^nds and electricians and, carpenters are 
so used to doing impossible things in Television that 
sooner or later they’ll accomplish almost anything in the 
world. 

I saw them. - ' 

After a successful showing at the CBS Television Clinic, 
they moved the Television City model from the Waldorf- 
Astoria to CBS Television at 485 Madison avenue. They 
set it up in the studio and had it huhiming and performing ^ 
its complete bag of tricks in no time. 

Maybe you know the rest. 

— — ■ 


In New York City’s R. H. Macy & Co. over 150,000 people 
flocked around the Television City model. At Gimbel 
Bros, in Philadelphia the Television City model display 
out-pulled the competing Foreign Automobiles Show, de- 
spite the current- craze for sports cars. At Kaufman's 
Department Store in Pittsburgh the Television City model 
brought crowds into the store on some of the hottest days 
of the summer. Men in the automobile industry out in 
Detroit found it a staggering demonstration of the prac- 
tical thinking and promise that CBS Television was in- 
vesting in its future. The tremendous audience that 
flooded the J. L. Hudson Store in the automobile city 
was equally awed. Down in Minneapolis, during the Min- 
nesota State Fair, the Television City model was a stand- 
out attraction at the Dayton Co. Up in Chicago, too, 
it captured the imagination of everyone who saw it. And 
by the time the model arrived at Los Angeles, where it 
went on display for the first time at Bullock’s Department 
Store and then at the famous Farmers Marked it had 
played to an audience of around 5,000,000 persons. I’ve 
no guesses as to the number of people who read, about 
it or heard about it. 

Every step along the way Arthur Perles, the Monster’s 
guardian> carefully clocked the crowds and recorded reac- 
tions. And "every step along the way the Monster was 
looking a lot more attractive from where we sat. 

Somehow — now — it seems the thing that turned the 
Monster into a miracle is really a compound- of the same 
indomitable elements that went into the building of CBS 
Television City itself. It’s courage, foresight, downright 
imagination and the ability of people to work together 
toward a common objective. 

That’s why I’ll always remember the Monster, the ugly 
hours and the happy days. I'm not too worried about the 
conflict of emotions. It doesn’t make me feel like I’m 
exactly ready for the psychiatrist’s proverbial couch. Not 
because I have any penchant for monsters. But merely 
because I have a great admiration for progress. 


Take a Sandwich-Loaf Idea, Add Some 

Imagination, and Presto — CBS-TV City 

By WILLIAM L. PEREIRA and CHARLES LUCKMAN 


' Hollywood. 

In designing the initial unit for 
CBS-Television City, as well as in 
do ve loping the master plan for the 
complete 25-acre project which 
CBS-TV will ultimately erect here, 
we were aware that in this assign- 
ment we were charged with doing 
more than meeting the specific 
needs of a single building. We felt 
that in a larger sense we had the 
opportunity to do a trail-blazihg 
job for an uncharted industry. To 
lulfill this assignment, we felt that 
we had to reconcile the needs — 
sometimes the co nflicting needs- — 
Ff Tlm many diverse elements in 
the entertainment industry ... ac- 
tors, producers, technicians, direc- 
tors and sponsors. Our aim was to 
develop a facility in which the 
creative elements in television— 
11 ie actors, musicians, writers and 
directors — were provided the best 
environment for working and for 
Projecting their talent; and at the 
^mie time design a plant in which 
eniertainment could be mass-pro- 
ciiimi with enough economy and 
vinc ieney to meet the requirements 
, ! lu - management group in re- 
ducing operating costs. 

He were in the position archi- 
; ,,(ls often dream about but s°Idom 


given carte blanche. We were faced 
with a problem and asked to de- 
velop a solution without reference 
to tradition or precedent, because 
when we started the design phase 
of the program, television was 
without tradition and without 
precedent. We were asked to de- 
sign the first facility to be built 
expressly for television — at a time 
when neither our client nor our 
staff could quite determine what 
the needs for television production 
were likely to be. While we do not 
presume that in the new CBS-TV 
facility which is noW-Completed we 
have devefoped a packaged solu- 
tion to all the housing needs for 
the new medium, we think we may 
have established a pattern which 
will be followed by scores of other 
television, facilities which will be 
built throughout the country in the 
next few years. 

| Flexib ilit y Keynote [ 

The premise underlying our de- 
sign approach to the new CBS 
Television facility was the require- 
ment for complete flexibility. Two 
factors imposed this need for flex- 
ibility: first, in terms of size alone, 
it was necessary that the facility 
could be pyenneb'd -a** Iho growl 


quarters; second, the very newness 
of the medium required flexibil- 
ity to accommodate technological 
changes which will almost inevi- 
tably develop in the years ahead 
and which may drastically revise 
our current conception of the pro- 
duction, distribution and merchan- 
dising of television programs. 

In the initial unit, the require- . 
ment of expandability has been 
met through, among other things', 
the use of movable walls. Three of 
the four exterior walls of the 
building are hinged on iron con- 
nections at each supporting point 
on the” structural frame, When It 
becames desirable to enlarge the 
building, the walls can be detached 
from the frame, the additional con- 
struction can be carried on within 
the over-all design plan of the unit 
and the walls then re-aftached to 
form the exterio'r of the enlarged 
building. 

A~ maximum degree of flexibility 
his been achieved through the de- 
sign solution we finally arrived at 
in the studios’. In the course of our ' 
preliminary research, we consid- 
ered handling the studio buildings 
in circular, octagonal or pentago- 
nal fprms. These were all re- 


unit has been constructed on the 
sandwich-loaf principle, with four 
large rectangular studios divided 
by service corridors. At a level 
just above the studios are the re- 
hearsal halls, to which we have 
allotted approximately 60 % as 
much space as has been given to 
the studios. However, within the 
total rehearsal-performance area, 
an infinite amount of rearrange- 
ment is possible. The amount of 
rehearsal space may be increased 
or diminished, and the size and 
shape of any or all of the studiQS 
can be altered. 

| Transportation Solution | 

The craft shops, which will house 
carpentry, painting and scenery’ 
warehousing, have been planned 
for high-speed, efficient produc- 
tion. The need for efficient disper- 
sion of traffic has also determined 
our jolans for transp orting soenpry 
and props to the production areas. 
This will be handled in such a way 
as to eliminate interference and 
congestion caused by the move- 
ment of talent, members of the 
audience or business visitors to the 
building. All transportation of mas- 
sive units can be handled either 
through the central passageways 
between the studios, or by means 
of outside runways which encircle 
the building. In effect, the actors 
coming down into the studio from 
the rehearsal halls will meet their 
scenery being moved up from the 
storage area on the lower level. 
This emphasis on split-second tim- 

• v ■ '■'S '■> *j r • ' ;< • i - ",«( . 

iD 1 


ning for any other entertainment 
medium, becomes mandatory in 
television, where, the volume of 
production surpasses anything be- 
fore achieved, and where produc- 
tion costs can become uneconomic 
unless the most optimum condi- 
tions for efficient operations are 
provided. 

J Seating Arrangemen t [ 

The size and layout of studios in 
which audiences will be accommo- 
dated were problems requiring in- 
tensive research, since a great 
diversity of opinion has been reg- 
istered about how large an audi- 
ence should be permitted at a 
television show, and where that 
audience should be placed in rela- 
tionship to the performers. Our 
final solution has resulted in rooms-' 
which "Will seat an audience of 350, 
with the audience placed between 
the center camera rangp and— the 
stage floor. The audience section 
begins at a level lower than the 
stage, and rises halfway back in the 
auditorium to stage level. This 
seating arrangement was agreed 
upon because it offered the maxi- 
mum number of seats in an ar- 
rangement around the camera plat- 
form without disrupting produc- 
tion. With the camera platform in 
the midst and on the sides of the 
audience, the spectators will feel 
that they are actually a part of the 
production that is taking place. 
This scheme has the basic advan- 
tage of a flexible and portable cam- 
era platform, and we feel that 
am-h V ■'* * n roaxi- 

.I o.j ^ ^ ») 


L 





Wednesday, November 12, 1952 



Television City furnishes one more 



Wednesday, Noveml>er 12, 3.9S2 


P'SfilETY 



example of the creative leadership of CBS Television.. 



^edneeclriy, November 12, 1952 



providing the best television programming, with the 



Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


P^RIEff 






Si 


W«dttwJ»y, N«v«mW 12, 1952 




** • 


Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


PfotiEfr 



methods, and control television production costs. 



RADIO-TELEVISION 


Wednesday, November 12, X952 


S6 


P&RIETt 


The First 21 Years of CBS-TV: 
From Henry Burbig to ‘ Lucy 


By HANK WARNER 

'Asst. Dir* Press Information, CBS-TV) 


The formal dedication of CBS i 
Television City in Hollywood on j 
Saturday, Nov. 15, is another ac- 1 
complishment in the 21 years of \ 
CBS Television pioneering. 

Behind the operations of the 
15-acre initial unit of the world's 
finest facilities designed for tele- 
vision is more than two decades 
of successful programming and 
technical progress that began on 
July 21, 1931, when CBS inaugu- 
rated the country's first regular 
schedule of television broadcast- 
ing. 

Plant expansion, which has been 
spectacular in the past few years, 
has reached a new peak in the 
opening of CBS Television City. 
In New York, where CBS Tele- 
vision started 21 years ago in a 
few offices at 485 Madison Ave., 
The network now has 18 television 
studios plus many other facilities, 
and is building a mammoth new 
TV production center. 

That inaugural CBS Television 
program on the night of July 21, 
1931, was broadcast from 10:15-11. 
There were celebrities and city 
officials in the small room at 485 
Madison Ave., that served as an 
audience studio. This was ' the 
program: 

Mayor Walker officially launched 
the CBS Television Station. Na- 
talie Towers was introduced as the 
“CBS Television Girl.” Kate Smith 
sang “When The Moon Comes 
Over The Mountain”; Henry Bur- 
big offered a comic specialty 
called “Little Red Riding Hood”; 
tenor Ben Alley and Helen Nu- 
gent gave a joint song recital; the 
three Boswell Sisters sang “Heebie- 
Jeebie Blues”; George Gershwin 
played “Lisa”; Helen Gilligan and 
Milton Watson sang musical com- 
edy favorites. Ted Husing was the 
emcee. 

Before 1931 ended, CBS Tele- 
vision was on the air 49 hours a 
week — seven hours daily; seven 
days a week. And talking about 
Presidential Election coverage — 
back in ’32 CBS Television re- 
ported the Roosevelt-Hoover re- 
sults. 

| The ‘60-Line’ Era— to 1933 ~ 

CBS Television in the early ’30s 
broadcast on 2778 kc. Signals 
were reported at Kansas City, and 
from overseas. But in these fre- 
quencies only very narrow chan- 
nels could be assigned to televi- 
sion, limiting definition to about 
60 lines from top to bottom of the 
picture — as compared to today’s 
. 525 lines. 

There were only about 7,500 
television receivers' in the Ne.w 
York Metropolitan area in 1932 — 
about the same number that exist- 
ed in 1946 — but the number of 
sets wasn’t important. What mat- 
tered was that CBS Television had 
inaugurated extensive experimen- 
tation in all branches of the new 
industry — programming, public 
service and technical research. 

Interest of newspaper publish- 
ers in owning or affiliating with 
television stations probably stems 
from what they saw in 1932. That 
year CBS Television installed re- 
ceivers at the annual convention 
of the American Newspaper Pub- 
lishers Assn, in the Waldorf-As- 
toria. And during the four days 
of the convention the publishers 
witnessed every afternoon, two and 
one-half hours of CBS-TV broad- 
casts, with Norman Brokenshire as 
emcee. They saw boxing bouts, 
dancing lessons, the drawing of 
newspaper cartoons, comedy and 
concerts, and a mystery drama 
titled “The Television Ghost.” 

The 49-hours-a-week schedule in 
the early '30s had a great Variety 
of program fare. But the picture 
quality of the 60-line image was 
not adequate; space in which art 
i'sts had to perform was restricted, 
for technical reasons; out-of-doors 
operations and remotes were not 
feasible with the equipment at 
hand. So after more than 2,500 
hours of broadcasting, CBS Tele- 
vision on Feb. 23, 1933, announced 
temporary suspension of broad- 
casting from the experimental sta- 
tion W2XAB. 

The remainder of the ’30s were 
the cradle years of the electronic 
era in television, and in CBS lab- 
oratories there was continuous de- 


velopment and experimenting. i 
; In 1936 CBS set aside $2,000,- 
000 for experimental television. In 
1937, CBS ordered one of the 
world’s most powerful television 
transmitters for installation atop 
the Chrysler Tower, together with 
the then most modern electronic 
camera equipment for film and 
“live” pickup. . This equipment 
was originally designed to pick 
up and transmit 343-line electron- 
ically-produced images. However, 
while the equipment was still un- 
der construction, CBS announced 
that it was being modified to 44l 
lines; in 1941 it was raised to the 
present 525 lines. * 

CBS Television established in 
1937 its program center in the 
Grand Central Terminal Building, 
the first full-scale working model 
in this country of a complete tele- 
vision unit operating under typical 
conditions of actual daily produc- 
tion. 

On October 10, 1939, the new 
transmitter atop the Chrysler 
Tower was operated on tests for 
the first time. 

Regular Commercial TV — 1941-47 j 

The go-ahead signal for regu- 
larly scheduled commercial tele- 
vision, based on electronic devel- 
opments, was flashed by the FCC 
for July 1, 1941. Only two sta- 
tions in the entire country began 
operating under the new authori- 
zation. One of these two stations 
was operated by CBS. 

The CBS Television station, 
W2XAB, changed its call letters 
to WCBS on the same day and be- 
gan a 15-hour-a-week schedule of 
television broadcasting on Chan- 
nel 2. It concentrated on the ba- 
sic matter of good programming, 
as to both content and produc- 
tion. 

CBS Television, even 10 years 
ago, in 1941-42, regularly broad- 
cast news, special events, forums, 
documentaries,' educational and 
children’s programs, audience par- 
ticipation, dance music, sport and 
variety programs. On Pearl Har- 
bor Day, Dec. 7, 1941, there was 
an hour and a half documentary 
of the attack. There was a Na- 
tional Defense series; a documen- 
tary . on the Infantile Paralysis 
Foundation; first aid lessons by 
the Red Cross. Twice weekly 
The Arts in America,” was pre- 
sented in cooperation with the 
Metropolitan Museum of Art. 
There were the Metropolitan AAU 
Badminton Tournament and the 
Inter-Service Boxing Tournament 
with Jack Dempsey as referee. 

On June 1, 1942, the 15-hour-a- 
week schedule was curtailed to 
conserve scarce tubes and man- 
power, to four hours a week. 

From war’s beginning, CBS Tel- 
evision laboratories went complete- 
ly into government service. Staff 
and equipment were flown to Eng- 
land for secret work in connection 
with the D-Day invasion. 

On May 5,- 1944, the CBS Tele- 
vision station in New York re- 
sumed “live” broadcasting, after 
16 wartime months of film. 

Cognizant of amazing wartime 
developments in electronics, and 
with commercial operations in 
view, CBS Television devoted the 
1944-46 period to broadening its 
base for black-and-white program- 
ming and gradually resumed op 
erations interrupted by the war. 

In June, 1945, CBS Television 
announced that its facilities were 
available to network clients on a 
“working partnership” basis for 
testing, development and broad 
casting of commercial video pro 
grams. 

Sports in the 1944-46 period in 
eluded AAU boxing bouts in the 
CBS Television studio; college and 
pro basketball; pro ice hockey 
Golden Gloves Boxing Tourna 
ment; Columbia University foot- 
ball games from Baker Field; 
Sportsman’s Show; Horse Show; 
Rodeo. 

On November 1, 1946, call let- 
ters WCBS were changed to 
WCBS-TV. 

In 1947 the CBS Television sta- 
tion in New York transmitted a 
program to Boston in a demon- 
stration of A.T.&T. microwave fa- 
, cilities. With the existing coaxial 
j cable between New York and 
Washington, it was possible to 
transmit television programs from 


Washington to Boston. CBS Tele- 
vision set up informal working 
agreements to exchange programs 
with stations in Baltimore, Wash- 
ington and Philadelphia (while the 
latter was still under construction) 
and blue printed its Eastern CBS- 
TV network, as^the. nucleus of its 
nationwide network. Receivers 
started rolling off the assembly 
lines by the hundreds of thou- 
sands, demand for the sets gen- 
erated by programming that cap- 
tured the public imagination: 

In 1947, CBS Television present- 
ed from Madisoq Square Garden: 
collegiate and professional basket- 
ball; hockey; the leading track 
meets; the dog and horse shows; 
the Rodeo and Ice Follies; the 
Circus. That year the network 
presented the home games of the 
Dodgers and all seven games of 
the World Series; the home foot- 
ball games of Columbia Univer- 
sity, Georgetown U., horse racing 
at Aqueduct, Belmont and Ja- 
maica; tennis championships from 
Forest Hills. 

There were such special events 
as the Opening of Congress and 
the Special Session; United Na- 
tions opening ceremonies; Ameri- 
can Legion Convention. 


TV Emerges As Selling Force 


1947 marked acceptance of tele- 
vision as a new, powerful selling 
force, Twenty-nine sponsors used 
WCBS-TV during the year. A new 
rate card, effective Jan.^ 1, 1948, 
for the first time added air time to 
the charges hitherto made for fa- 
cilities and production services. 

In January, 1948, there were 
only working agreements with sta- 
tions in Baltimore, Philadelphia 
and Washington. By December 31 
of that year there was a CBS-TV 
network of 28 affiliates. 

CBS Television entered network 
operations with the experience of 
5,000 previous hours of on-the-air 
programming. 1948 started with- 
out a single network program; be- 
fore the year was out there was a 
total of 70 CBS-TV network pro- 
grams. 

This was the year in which CBS- 
TV created, among others, such 
perennial entertainment favorites 
as “Arthur Godfrey’s Talent 
Scouts,” “Studio One,” Ed Sulli- 
van’s “Toast of the Town”; and 
the religious senes “Lamp Unto 
My Feet.” CBS "Television News 
with Douglas Edwards was placed 
on a five-day schedule. The famed 
Triple Crown events of horse rac- 
ing was a highlight of the sports 
coverage. There was a 7V6-hour 
pickup of the Hiss-Chambers Hear- 
ings; and the . entire Christmas 
Eve Midnight Mass from St. Pat- 
rick’s Cathedral. 


First TV Clinic in History 


CBS-TV conducted the first ns 
tionwide television clinic in Marcl 

1948, in New York. A second clini 
was held in January, 1949, bot 
attended by several hundred sts 
tion executives responding to a< 
quire the CBS know-how of pre 
gramming, technical and busines 
sides of television broadcasting. 

In February, 1948, CBS-TV bt 
gan construction of then one c 
the world’s largest and most moc 
ern television plants, in the Gran 
Central Terminal Building, a 
successor to the one the ne 
work had established in 1937. E> 
pansion of these studio facilitie 
included innovations in productio 
processes, such as “cool lighting, 
no higher than 74 degrees; real 
screen projection for still an 
moving backgrounds; and the doi 
ble control system of TV recorc 
ings developed by CBS to' assur 
maximum fidelity. Also under ir 
stallation in’ 1948 was a new fiv( 
kilowatt television transmitter an 
special antenna in the. Chrysle 
Tower to increase signal strengt 
to the full power permitted b 
the FCC. 

Although new station constru< 
tion was limited by the FO 
“freeze,” the CBS-TV network e? 
panded from 28 to 55 stations i 

1949. They served major markel 
accounting for 58% of all U. S 
retail sales. Network time sale 
increased twentyfold in 1949. Th 
rating of CBS-TV’s sponsored eve 
ning programs in late 1949 ave] 
aged 22.2. This was 11 percer 

(Continued on page 52) 


TV’s Westward Ho! 


By JACK HELLMAN 

Hollywood. 

Time was, and not so long ago, when visiting brass paid a call they 
Were all for seeing what the town had to offer. The tourist traps, the 
swank niteries and the sprawling estates with tiled swimming pools 
captured their immediate fancy on the first time around. Now their 
demand completely bypasses these play-time spots. 

“How about going through Television City?” they implore, and no 
longer than it takes to make a phone call to Charlie Glett a tour hour 
is set. Said one rubberneck recently, ‘'this is frightening.” What he 
meant was that CBS in Hollywood must be serious about staking (he 
net’s flagship ’ operations in Hollywood. He hadn’t been over to see 
NBC’s Television Headquarters in Burbank. But enough of that. This 
is a CBS-TV City number. 

Those who look beyond the foreseeable future are clairvoyantly con- 
scious of a trend reprising its radio act. In the early days of AM, 
when the networks and then the ad agencies controlled all the big 
shows, they were determined to entrench the art in N. Y. Hollywood 
tugged and hauled but the exodus west only- dribbled. But the west 
was not dismayed and sure as shootin’ the stream of commerce started 
flowing. The rest can be found in a half hundred books. 

| talent’ tlie Punchline 

Now it’s television that’s looking to the west and the welcome mat 
is out. Such rising edifices as Television City attest to more than a 
curiosity. Just let one of them ask, “What has Hollywood to offer 
that we haven’t in New York?” Such a lead line will touch off a 
thousand, “let me tell him.” Climate they know about so this is 
blithely skipped over. The big punchline, naturally, is talent, know- 
how and space to move around in. 

The prophets who dared to speculate on the inevitability of TV on 
film are no longer without honor. What started as a groundswell has 
now erupted into geyser-like proportions and the latter day oracles 
are making fantastic predictions, such as 75% of all the big shows will 
be on celluloid. They laughed, too, when the Coast defenders fore- 
l cast a western origination for most of the sightless leaders. Just how 
far out on a limb these soothsayers are is for future judgment but to 
say that it’s trending that way is not just .hyperbole. 

Trends don’t shape without a struggle and, like genius, must have 
suffered. The east doesn’t like the idea at all 6ft losing, its hold on 
the new art from but there’s little to be done to stem the tide. But 
it’s not all tele-on-film that accounts for the westward ho. Columbia’s 
four new studios (that’s just a starter) are patterned for live shows and 
the occasional TVR’s (CBSlang for kinescope). Not that they can’t 
be converted to celluloid but that can wait. The way Chuck Luck- 
man and Bill Pereira designed the plant it could be turned into a roll- 
erdrome in a matter of hours. 

Columbia’s leadership and pioneering in pouring millions into a va- 
cant space to further the advance of a new electronic art is* concrete 
evidence of faith and permanence in Hollywood’s place in the future 
of television. Men with vision, such as the Bill Paley planners, must- 
know full well that the west must be reckoned with as a positive fac- 
tor in the advancement of this entertainment miracle and to that end 
they’re gambling in millions. The risk is much less than in other 
industry projects. 

So, it’s California, here we come and even sung in off-key it sounds 
good. To us. To the east we say, sorry, fellers, but you may like it 
out here. 


Some Vital Statistics 
On CBS Television City 


Floor Space: There are 374,620 square feet of floor space, including 
passages, in CBS Television City — equal to 8V£ acres. 

* * * 

Steel: The structural steel in CBS Television City’s initial 15-acre unit 
weighs 3,386,000 pounds. There are 2,730,000 pounds of reinforcing 
steel rods — enough to make a 1-inch round rod 190 miles long. 

* * * 

Concrete: Twenty thousand cubic yards of concrete were poured info 
the initial unit — enough to make a 24-foot-wide highway 8!fc miles 
long. 

* * * 

Asphalt: The 26,000 square yards of asphalt used to pave parking areas 
and roadways in CBS Televisidn City’s initial unit is enough to build 
a 24-foot two-lane highway two miles long. 

* * * 

Pilings: The steel shell and concrete piles on which the buildings set 
add up to 61,180 feet — or a string of piles 11 Vi miles long. 

+ * * 

Lighting: Electrical lighting in each of the four giant studios re- 
quires 2,000,000 watts — sufficient to light up the average 12-story 
building. 

* * + 

Outside Storage: The outside storage yard covers 11,000 square feet 
and has space for six 10-ton trucks at the loading dock. 

* * * 

Refrigeration: The refrigeration equipment for air cooling is sufficient 
to make 670 tons of ice daily. It operates with 600 horsepower. 

* % * 

Landscaping: There are 130,000 square feet of lawn and planting areas 
at CBS Television City — equal to three acres. 

* * * 

Parking: There are parking facilities for 710 cars at CBS Television 
C!ty and it’s all free, with certain sections of course reserved for 
personnel, the rest for the public attending studio-audience pro- 
grams. 

* * * 

Floor Coverings: One hundred three thousand square feet of linoleum, 
asphalt tile and carpets comprise the floor covering— the equivalent 
of 2 V 2 acres. 

* * H< 

Glass Walls: The four-story unit serving as the administration and sefrv- 

ices buudmg has exterior all-glass walls of 12,000 square feet— one 
Of the largest installations ever made. 

* * * 

Fencing: The outside railing and fencing totals 1,200 lineal feet. 

* * + 

Doors: There are 475 doors in the initial unit of CBS Television City. 

* * * 

jniles of piping — 222,000 lineal feet — was installed at CBS 
Television City for the electrical and plumbing work. 

* * • * 

^ Ve hundred-thirty miles of electrical wire— 
2,dU0,UU0 lineal feet — was installed. There are 4,000 fixtures. 

* *• * 

Sheet Metal: Two hundred one thousand square feet of sheet metal 
went into the air conditioning ducts — the equivalent of 4!& acres*. 


12 ; "1952 ~ “ 

AO-Electronic Control Board 

By E. F. KOOK 

( President Century Lighting Co.) 

The all-electronic switchboard at CBS-TV City is the indention 
of George Izenour. The development was initiated in 1939 under 
a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation. It was completed and 
demonstrated at Yale Drama School in the spring of 1946. Ex- 
cept for several years in the Research and Development Project 
of our Government during World War II his work on the board 
was constant. In 1950 the inventor completed arrangement with 
Century Lighting for its exclusive manufacture and distribution. 
The board is called the C-I Board; after the inventor and the 
manufacturer. 

' . To George Izenour goes full credit for the invention of the 
first all-electronic switch and dimmer board. And to CBS Televi- 
sion goes the credit for Initially using this revolutionary instru- 
ment for television lighting control. And interestingly enough it 
is also the largest all-electronic system in use in the world today. 

The C-I Board places in the hands of the lighting director an 
instrument wherein all controls for switching and dimming are 
mounted in a console small enough to permit its installation in a 
place where lighting effects can best be judged. Because of its 
compactness it is possible for the operator to manipulate it without 
an assistant. The C-I Board Is easy to operate; it is economical to 
maintain. Infinite lighting effects can be attained: it is an infal- 
lible mechanical memorizer. Through the use of the fader imper- 
ceptible light changes that range in time from seconds to minutes 
can be accomplished. It is possible to preset light cues in a man- 
ner that insures continuity of dramatic action. By means of these 
various devices time and man-hours saved. 

The’ system is based on the employment of the high-current, 
inert-gas filled thyratron tube. The tube is engaged both as con- 
tractor and dimmer and both functions are accomplished in a 
single, remotely controlled network. 

The Board is comprised of two main elements. One is the Con- 
sole Control Desk to which is attached a Preset Panel; the other 
is the tube bank. The entire system is unitized. Therefore, re- 
pair or replacement of a component Is accomplished in a matter 
of minutes; operable interference is avoided. 

The Console Control Desk is simple in design; compact; pre- 
wired; with all of its controls logically arranged and in easy reach 
of the single operator required to handle it. Very small wires run 
through a main cable from the console to the tube bank. In this 
manner remote control is effected. 

C-I Advantages 

Summarizing here are the distinct and singular advantages of 
the C-I Board: 

A. Modern design, compact, lightweight, mobile Console Con- 
trol Desk that is located in a place where lighting effects can be 
best judged and the Operator can see as well as hear the sh<$v. 

B. All-electronic tube control dimmer and switch system that is 
highly efficient since this is a primary quality of the thyratron 
tubes. 

C. A 5 scene Preset Panel (with means for an additional 5 pre- 
sets) of 100 circuits capable therefore of creating 500 x 500 light- 
ing combinations. 

D. Dimming at variable intensities in single or multiple circuits. 

E. Loads ranging from a single watt to 5,000 watts. 

F. Dimming curve that is essentially linear and therefore smooth 
to the eye. 

G. Proportional mastering and fading either with Manual fader 
or ‘Automatic fader. 

H. Time dims that range from one second to 120 seconds or in 
that ratio. 

J. Fingertip operation of all controls all centralized in one Con- 
trol Console Desk. 

K. Prewired and unitized system insures low maintenance cost; 
low installation cost. 

L. Replacement of component parts without use of a tool and 
within fractions of a minute. 


Building in Two Directions 

By OSCAR KATZ 

( Director of Research , CBS Television ) 

The opening of CBS Television City in Hollywood represents more 
than an architectural achievement. It represents not only leadership 
in plant expansion, but leadership in a basic policy of network opera- 
tions — the building of top-rated programs. 

These developments — plant construction; program construction — go 
hand-in-hand at CBS Television. The “architecture” in building high 

audience appeal programs is a little less spectacular, perhaps, since 
you cannot touch it as one does a new edifice. Neither can you take 
pictures of it. Nevertheless, one without the other is meaningless. 

Coincident with the formal dedication of the world’s largest plant 
exclusively for television, and the starting of the 1952-53 broadcasting 
season, CBS Television has grabbed off a more commanding lead than 
ever in top ratings. 

This enviable position, the subject of double-truck advertisements 
titled “Lucky” in many dailies and trade papers throughout the coun- 
try, showed CBS Television programs winning 7 of the top 10 ratings 
. . . 4 of the top 5 . . .and 13 of the top 20. Not bad for the first time 
up this season. 

I House-Owned Packages [ 

Looking back through the years in line with the fabulous expansion 
in programming and plant facilities, we see evidence of the develop- 
ment of the new trend. In 1949, Pulse ratings showed six of the top 
10 programs on CBS Television . . . and all six were CBS-TV pack- 
ages. In 1950, the CBS-TV package program operation continued to 
develop high-quality programs at moderate costs. At the year’s end, 
CBS-TV produced shows accounted for more than half of the CBS 
nighttime television schedule. Also during 1950, Multi-Market Tele- 
pulse reports showed that GBS-TV advertisers placed more programs 
in the “Top 10” more times than did advertisers on any other television 
" 'work. 

The emphasis on good programming also remained predominant 
in the 1951-52 season, when more than half the nighttime schedule 
was made up of CBS-TV packages. Among the 34 programs which 
appeared in the American Research Bureau National Ratings Top 10 
during the year, 14 were CBS-TV programs, and of these 14, 10 Were 
CBS-TV packages. 

In writing of the 1951-52 season in Variety* George Rosen, in a 
revealing story of changing patterns in television and audience view- 
ln S habits, said: “The ascendancy of the situation comedy formula in 
TV programming, which finds CBS Television moving Into a new sphere 
of importance as ‘I Love Lucy’ sets the leadership pace on all three 
rating services, with such items as ‘My Friend Irma’ taking its place 
to the top 10 ARB ranks.” 


PSStEff 


You Name It 
And They’ll 
Create It 

== By DICK HOPKINS =! 

( Manager of Scenic Design A - 
Construction, CBS-TV ) 

The setup for designing and con- 
structing scenery at CBS Televi- 
sion City in Hollywood is some- 
thing brand new in the long his- 
tory of showbusiness — nothing 
like it has ever been seen before 
in the legitimate theatre, the film 
industry, in opera or in television. 

In the first place, everything is 
all under one-roof — from raw ma- 
terials to finished product. Every- 
thing moves from one place to 
another on a production-line basis, 
swiftly, economically. - 

. There’s a carpentry shop* of 
about 14,000 square feet. It is 
equipped with every conceivable 
high speed power tool for wood- 
working. And has a personnel load 
of 35 carpenters. 

There’s a paint shop of about 
12,000 square feet, equipped with 
power sprayers, driers and moving 
paint frames. It can handle scenery 
fiats up to 22 feet high. More than 
20 painters can work in the place 
at one time. 

There's a prop repair shop of 
more than 2,500 square feet, where 
cabinet makers and other skilled 
craftsmen can repair props 


45,000 Wanted In 

There’s always a small army 
of zealous ticket seekers who 
want to be among the first to 
witness an historic event. The 
ticket division of CBS Televi- 
sion City in Hollywood antici- 
pated a large number of re- 
quests for the first broadcast 
from CBS TV City, the sea- 
son’s first “My Friend Irma” 
program, on Oct. 3. 

But the ticket division staff- 
ers will never forget what hap- 
pened: More than 45,000 per- 
sons, native Californians and 
tourists asked in person, wrote, 
phoned and Wired for the 350 
tickets available. This was 
probably the largest request 
for studio tickets in the history 
of broadcasting. 


damaged over a period of time. It, 
too, is equipped with every type of 
tool. 

There’s a special effects shop 
where chaps with the ingenuity 
of Edisons work with chemicals, 
electronics and mechanical devices 
to produce on short notice what- 
ever the show producer calls for 
— forest fires, explosions, fog, rain, 
snow — well, you name it and they’ll 
create it, in a hurry, too. 

And there’s a plaster shop where-' 
modelers and pattern makers turn 
out fake architectural forms — ped- 
estals, balustrades, columns, cor- 
nices etc. — and those breakaways, 
the bottle that cracks up into frag- 
ments when a guy is hit over the 
head with it. 


| Traffic Routes Inside Plant \ 

These shops are grouped in the 
service area of CBS Television 
City, From this service area there 
are three different traffic routes to 
all parts of the plant. Via each of 
these three routes, materials can 
be moved in and out of the shops, 
in and out of the studios, in and 
out of the entire plant. 

A private street road leads up 
to a loading dock at the service 
area. Six trucks can line up at 
the dock. From the dock there .is 
a ramp that leads up to a two-lane 
road which runs, at second story 
level, completely around the four 
huge studios of CBS Television 
City. On one side, the two-lane 
road adjoins the entire service 
area. Between the studios them- 
selves there is a three-lane pas- 
sageway. Trucks can drive on over 


Kudos 

As pithy an appraisal ever 
made of the concept and prog- 
ress of CBS Television City ac- 
companied the Variety Show- 
management Award to CBS 
last May* 

The award was given “for 
what it (TV City) may do for 
good programming within the 
framework of a sane economy.” 


RADIO-TELEVISION S7 


Out of Practical Plans 
Comes a Dynamic Reality 


By FRANK FALKNOR 

(V.P. in Charge of Operations, CBS-TV) 

The growth of television has been much more rapid than was origi- 
nally anticipated. Most of the rapid growth has been in the east, 
especially in New York City, where suitable large structures were not 
available in which an integrated studio and production plant could be 
constructed. Nor were suitable large land areas available in Man- 
hattan where such a plant could be built from the ground up. Naturally 
the result was to construct individual studios and production shops in 
widely separated locations. CBS Television recognized the problems 
attendant to such plant operation, as well as the saving in production 
cost that would follow if*an integrated plant were to be developed and 
constructed. 

When Hollywood became a potential source of television production 
plans were started to develop a general plan for an integrated plant 
in which a script could be brought in one door, physical materials in 
another, actors in still another door and the three elements compound- 
ed into an element of entertainment to be distributed to the public 
by means of coaxial cable or microwave, as a complete television show. 

The plafh evolved, now exists as a reality at the corner/of Beverly 
Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue in Hollywool and is known as Televi- 
sion City. It consists essentially of two main elements, the Central 
Service Building and the Studio Building. The Central Service Build- 
ing contains all shops, with personnel and machinery, for the physical 
creation of scenery and properties from raw materials, as well as the 
personnel necessary to take a script and interpret its story into the 
physical elements of scenery and dramatic action necessary to tell it* 
story to the eye as well as to the ear. 

The Studio Building, the second element, contains the actual playing 
stages, 4 in number, two studios for audiences and ‘two non-audience 
studios. An integral part of this building is a scenery storage area, 
a dressing room area and a rehearsal hall area, all so located with 
respect to the studios that minimum travel is necessary between the 
vaaious areas. 


Since it is a well-recognized fact that at this time little is known 
of the future trend of production requirements as to the use of live 
audiences at the point of origination of the show, the size or sizes of 
studios required or of the many developments that must come in the 
area of electrical and mechanical aids to television production, the 
primary consideration i,n the studio portion of the planning was the 
shell of the structure. 


The structure shell was so designed that the maximum In studio area 
size and number could he attained with minimum disruption to an : 
operating plant and at a minimum cost. The original studio sizes were v 
so chosen that the present tendencies to stage large productions can \ 
be accommodated and also so that if the future dictates the need for X 
smaller studios, the original ones can be subdivided to provide practical - 
and useful dimensions after subdivision. j 

All walls separating studios and the end wall of the studio blocks • 
are non-load bearing and they do not contain any wiring or other 
necessary services such as water, air conditioning, etc. In fact, the 
present studio blocks can have all internal walls and the end wall 
removed without disturbing any electrical or mechanical devices neces- 
sary to the operation of the building of video or audio facilities. 

The present studio blocks can be extended to twice their present ‘ 
length, .in which case the steel end wall of the present studio blocks - 
would be disassembled and would become the end wall of the ex- 
tended blocks. A third studio block can be added to the two present 
blocks in which case such constrflction would automatically result in J 
additional rehearsal halls, storage areas, dressing rooms and other \ 
necessary facilities such as passages for the transportation of scenery, ij 
etc. The audience studios can be easily converted to non-audience 
studios by removing the seats and extending the stage floor over the : 
audience area which is an indentation in the studio floor. 


This same philosophy of expansion without destruction Of initial 
units has been carried out in the planning of the entire initial, plant, i 
The present studio blocks are to the west of the Central Service Build- 
ing can be expanded to twice their area by extending them westward, 
and further incresaed 50% by adding a third block to the north. • .j 


The Central Service Building of Television City can be expanded to ' 
the north to accommodate service demands made by adding studio ■: 
blocks. Studio blocks equal in number and size can be added to the \\ 
plant to the east of the Central Service Building thereby permitting an ! 
expansion of the initial unit to six times its present area without in- 
activating any of the facilities or operations in use when the expansion r 
takes place. '! 

While video, audio and lighting facilities now installed are the most !" 
modern available sight was never lost of the fact that television pro- tj 
dnetion problems as now known will probably not be those we will j 
struggle with five, 10 or 20 years from now. With this in mind we f ; 
feel we have evolved the fundamental structure of a television plant i 
which can be expanded to what looks like reasonable limits for years 
to come as well as a structure which can be modified internally to meet ! 
changing demands and at the same time provide the most modem jj 
television facilities that have so far been developed. A minimum of y: 
capital investment as well as a minimum amount of loss of capital 1$ 
already invested will be required to keep Television City abreast of Jj 
production requirements as new techniques and demands devlop, jj 

Television City can also “roll with the punches” of changing produc- ji 
tion problems without being accused of being “set in its ways” by the ■* 
original planners. . j 


a half-mile of lanes right inside 
the plant. 

The trucks can also drive right 
into the oversize freight elevators, 
or into any of the shops, or* into 
any of the studio stages. 

The flow ^>f material at CBS 
Television City is also handled by 
electric powered “mules”— -tractors 
—to which can be coupled any 
number :of trailers, like a string 
of railroad cars. 

Right below the studios there’s 
an interior storage space of 30,000 
square feet for stock scenery. Raw 
materials can be stored in outdoor 
sheds adjoining the service build- 
ing. 

Adjoining the shops is an area 
providing all the comforts of the 


most advanced industrial plants — jj 
showers, lockers, rest rooms, etc. ! 

Despite the fact that CBS Tele- 
vision City today has the finest 
service plant in the entertainment 
business, we .know that further ex- , 
pansion of television will require * 
modifications. We are ready — every > 
shop in the service area can be I- 
expanded laterally or vertically as jj 
space requirements are increased. 

No detail contributing to the Jj 
most efficient, economical produc- '! 
tion of scenic needs has been over- ■ I 
looked. The final 'design of the j 
service area grew out of the ex-? ; 
perience of CBS Television has jl 
acquired over the past 21 years— \\ 
since it started the country’s first ! 
regular schedule of television 
broadcasting. 1 





Wedwegday* N»VMu£ei’ 12, 1952 



Congratulations to 

ppn 

vDu 


Television 

City 


, AUMMVMVV{ N • « ' < ' ' v ^ s ' ' f * *** 

k -'i r - ' w ' ' ^ 


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r« 3 &v ;v _ < ; t . {r „ . .. . .. 


f^RlEff 


Wednesday, Novemkr 12, 1952 




Congratulations 

c 

to 

CBS TELEVISION 

on the Opening of 

CBS-TV CITV 


LINDSLEY PARSONS 
PRODUCTIONS, INC. 




Just Completed 39 Productions 

THE fILES OF JEFFREY JONES" 

Starring 

DON HAGGERTY 

for 

CSS TELEVISION SALES, INC 




Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


Pfis&IETY 


GOODSON-TODMAN 

PRODUCTIONS 


Gneatioe Pnotyt&mntUta lab Rjadio- r ^eUutiton oud *1*1/ tyUm 



41 East 57th Street 
New York 22, N. Y. 


MARK G00DS0N 


BILL TODMAN 


42 


PfiRIEff 


WeJneaciay, November 12, 1952 


Glad to be in the C. Bar S. Corral 




// 


HOLLYWOOD BARN DANCE 

CBS-Radio, Sunday, 3:30 P.M. 


u 


THE COLEMAN CORRAL" 

Tuesday Evening, 8:30 to 9 P.M., CST 


Direction 



Congratulations 

CBS 

% 

On the Opening of Television City 


A Milestone in Hollywood's 
Television Progress 


ACME FILM LABORATORIES, Inc. 


HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA 


Congratulations 


LUD GLUSKIN 


GENERAL MUSICAL DIRECTOR 
COLUMBIA PACIFIC NETWORK 





Wednesday? NayiMakif 12? 195 % 



Congratulations 

To CBS on their New Television City 


It 


LOVE LUCY 


n 


A DESILU PRODUCTION 


STARRING 


LUCILLE 

BALL 


ARNAZ 


WITH 


VIVIAN VANCE 


WILLIAM FRAWLEY 


Producer: 


Director: 


JESS OPPENHEIMER 


WILLIAM ASHER 


Writers: 


JESS OPPENHEIMER - MADELYN PUGH - BOB CARROLL, JR. 


Director of Photography 

KARL -FREUND 

Production Manager 

ARGYLE NELSON 

Asslsfaiif Director 

JIM PAISLEY 


Executive Producer 

DESI ARNAZ 


Exclusive Representation: 5bon W. SUahnm 


Musical Director 

WILBUR HATCH 


Film Editor 

DANN CAHN 


Public Relations 

KEN MORGAN 


44 

"TTHni — 1~ iiinii'iiirr^^--' 



•;W - NovritiWr 12, 19S2 




<a 




TELEVISION- 

' d 

Sponsor — Cavalier Cigarettes 

Every Friday Evening, CBS-TV 

RADIO- - 1 

Sponsor — Cavalier Cigarettes 

Every Tuesday Evening, CBS 




Wednesday? NoveAr. 12» 1352 


ry 


PIBn&rr 





TELEVISION- 

Sponsor — General Foods 

Every Monday, CBS-TV 


RADIO- 

Sponsor — The Wrigley Co. 

Every Tuesday Evening, CBS 







femkr 12, 



It's Great to Be a Part of the Big CBS Family 


MARIE WILSON 


4 


CATHY LEWIS 


Stars of 


Radio and Television 



Best Wishes 


WILBUR HATCH 


Musical Director 
GBS-KNX 


Congratulations and Best Wishes 


DON WILSON 


ELLIOTT 


LEWIS 


Wednesday, Novem ber 12, 1952 


PRrjMty 


Ini happy to be a part of 


the big CBS family 






>><^1 




.? ; 
v> ^ 




;,s ' 


Special thanks 


to 


CAMPBELL’S SOUPS 
“CLUB 15” 


JACK BENNY 

and 

LUCKY STRIKE 


for our pleasant 
association 









Wednesday, November 12 , 1952 


The William Simpson Construction Co 


SINCE 1879 


CONGRATULATES 



c 


THE tiOLUMBIA DROADCASTING 


s 


YSTEM 


ON 


THEIR NEW TV 


CENTER 


and adds to Their Long List of 
Completed Theaters — Radio Studios— 

Television Studios and Transmitter 

Stations This Modern Plant for Television Production. 


We 


honored to have contributed 


so much to the construction of 
Television City. 


Congratulations and Best Wishes 


CBS! 


E. WILLARDSON, INC 

(Plumbing and Heating) 

2880 Rowena Ave. 

Los Angeles 39, Calif. 





Wednesday* November 12» 1952 


P^^iEfr 





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■AtGcjah k ieflmioti Wotim GEORGE YOUNG ELECTRIC CO. 

^ (J L OS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 


COAST INSULATING PRODUCTS 


(A CORPORATION) 


Thermal-Sound and Acoustical Engineers and Contractors 


SPECIALIZING IN: 


SOUND STAGES 


RADIO STATIONS 


MOTION PICTURE and TELEVISION STUDIOS . . 


. . . Including CBS Television City 


SINCE 1923! 


2316 SAN FERNANDO ROAD LOS ANGELES 65, CALIFORNIA 


PHONE: CAPITOL 2-8131 



Wednesday, November 12 , 1953 



To CBS-TV 

k 

Our Very Best Wishes 

And Congratulations 


Fawcett-Pierce, Inc 


INSTALLERS OF 


H. H. ROBERTSON “0” PANELS 


PL. 3-1135 


6829 So. Avalon Boulevard, Los Angeles 3, Calif. 


Congratulations 

to CBS 

On the Occasion of the Opening of Their 

NEW TELEVISION CITY 




THE 


HEYWOOD WAKEFIELD 


PEMBREX 

THEATRE SUPPLY CORP. 


DISTRIBUTORS of Century Sound and Projection Equipment 

Strong Troupers and Trouperettes 
* 

MANUFACTURERS of TV Background Projection Equipment 

PEMBREX ARC LAMP PROJECTORS 
PEMBREX MAZDA LAMP PROJECTORS 


AND THEIR PACIFIC COAST DISTRIBUTORS 

THE B. F. SHEARER COMPANY 


LOS ANGELES • SAN FRANCISCO • PORTLAND • SEATTLE 


ARE PROUD TO HAVE BEEN SELECTED 
TO FURNISH THE LUXURIOUS 

HEYWOOD WAKEFIELD CHAIRS 

FOR THE NEW 

CBS TELEVISION CENTER 
AUDIENCE STUDIOS 




IN HOLLYWOOD 


fflHEYWOOD- 


l 


L«J WAKEFIELD 




ACCENTON ELEGANCE 


1969 5. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, California REpuhiic 1-3111 


EST.im 



Wgrfitegfl ayt November 12, 1952 



TiJtsie 



M 


IV J. UCH has happened in the field of 
communications since we started in this 
business 25 years ago anfd CBS has done 


*« 


more than its share in bringing about 
this progress. 


Our congratulations, CBS, on your latest 
contribution to broadcasting, the comple- 
tion of your Television City. 


FREEMAN GOSDEN AND CHARLES CORRELL 




Wednesday, Novemter 12 . 1952 


Congratulations . . . 

PRC 

' 

TELEVISION 

» 

CITY 


» . . Frances Buss 


The First 21 Years 

--■ 1 Continued from pane 36 ■ 


higher than the second network. 
CBS-TV developed 23 package 
shows in 1949, and' 18 of them 
were being sponsored in early 
1950. 1949 saw the introduction 

of “Arthur Godfrey and His 
Friends,” “Mama” starring Peggy 
Wood, “Suspense,” “This Is Show 
Business” — all still going strong. 

| Setting the Pace in the *50s j 

The total number of affiliates 
jumped from 55 to 61 in 1950 de- 
spite the fact that the FCC 
“freeze” on new station construc- 
tion, instituted in 1948, was still 
in force. CBS Television acquired , 
three new studios and two new 
theatres in New York and began 
construction *of CBS Television 
City in Hollywood (on Dec. 28, 
1950). 

The CBS TV package program 
operation expanded, and at year’s 
end such shows accounted for 
more than half of the CBS-TV 
nighttime schedule. CBS Tele- 
vision network billings reached 
$13,000,000 in 1950, a 271% in- 
crease over 1949. 

And again, behind this expan- 
sion, was good programming: Jack 


Benny made his television debut; 
and among the network shows in- 
troduced in 1950 were “Big Top,” 
“Big Town,” “George Bums & 
Gracie Allen,” “Danger,” “Garry 
Moore Show,” “Lux Video Thea- 
tre,” “Perry Como Show,” “Stork 
I Club,” “What’s My Line?” 

1950, a year of' crisis precipi- 
tated by the • Korean outbreak, 
saw a George Foster Peabody 
Award . given to the CBS Televi- 
sion Network for “United Nations 
In Action.” During 1950, CBS Tel- 
evision presented a total of 110 
hours of telecasts. from the Secur- 
ity Council and General Assem- 
bly. 

Also in 1950, CBS Television 
broadcast the first meeting of the 
President’s Cabinet ever to be held 
in public, from the stage of the 
Chicago Civic Opera House, with 
Vice President Barkley presiding 
and all departments represented. 

CBS Television in 1950 contin- 
ued its major sports coverage and 
exclusively carried the Joe Louis- 
Ezzard Charles fight in which Joe 
r tried to regain his crown. That 
fight launched the series of Wed- 
nesday night boxing programs 


WELCOME 
TO THE 


RANKSI 


which is still running, and which 
has featured, among its regularly 
scheduled top bouts, nine world 
championship fights. 

| 1951 — Threshold of the Future | 

The year 1951 witnessed the 
CBS administrative reorganization 
resulting in the establishment of 
CBS Television (along with CBS 
Kadio and CBS Laboratories) as 
an autonomous division, with J. L*> 
Van Volkenburg as president of 
CBS Television. 

On Jan. 1, 1951, CBS-TV acquired 
Station KTSL, Los Angeles, later 
switched broadcasts to KTSL from 
KTTV, the former L. A. affiliate. 
On Oct. 28, the KTSL transmitter 
was moVed from Mt. Lee to Mt. 
Wilson, giving the station tenfold 
more power and a threefold in- 
crease in service area; call letters 
were changed from KTSL to 
KNXT. 

In New York, WCBS-TV in- 
creased its power from 13,700 
watts to 20,100 watts, and on Dec. 
14, began broadcasting from the 
Empire State Building. 

One of the most widely hailed 
programs of 1951 was Edward R. 
Murrow’s “See It Now,” Peabody 
Award-winning series which The 
New York Times cited for “lifting 
the medium to a new height of ma- 
turity and usefulness.” 

Coverage of the United Nations 
in 1951 was by far the most com- 
plete and comprehensive fn all tel- 
evision. It included a special se- 
ries of exclusive daily and weekly 
broadcasts of the General Assem- 
bly meetings in Paris. Official 
U. N, TV recordings were flowfl to 
New York every day. 

CBS Television in 1951 covered 
the Japanese Peace Treaty Con- 
ference in San Francisco — the oc- 
casion of the first transcontinental 
television broadcast, the Presi- 
dent’s “State of the Union” address 
to Congress; Joint hearings of the 
Senate’s Armed Services and For- 
eign Relations Committee; General 
MacArthur’s return and report to 
Congress; Kefauver Committee 
hearings; the issuance of the 


CBS 

TELEVISION 

CITY 

HOLLYWOOD 


names of 3,198 American prison- 
ers in Korea. 

The number of advertisers us- 
ing CBS Television in 1951 in- 
creased to 103. Gross billings that 
year reached $42,470,844— an in- 
crease of 266.4% over 1950, the 
fastest rate of growth in billings 
in all television. 

By the end of 1951, more than 
half the nighttime schedule was 
made up y * of CBS-TV packages. 
'Among the 34 programs which ap- 
peared in the American Research 
Bureau National Ratings’ “Top 10” 
during the year, 14 were CBS-TV 
programs, and of these 14, 10 were 
CBS-TV packages. 

Still high-ranking programs add- 
ed in 1951 include, “Amos ’n’ 
Andy,” “Chronoscope,” “Crime 
Syndicated,” “I Love Lucy,” 
“Man of the Week,” “Mike & 
Buff,” “Racket Squad,” “What In 
the World?” 

. - 

| 1952 — Beginning of a New Era 1 

Now being converted into the 
largest production television cen- 
ter on the Atlantic seaboard is a 
vast property on Manhattan’s West 
Side, between 10th and 11th Aves., 
West 56th to West 57th Streets. 
This alone contains about nine 
acres of floor space. The rooftop 
can be used for landing helicop- 
ters running last-minute , news 
films. In addition to the service 
area, the plant is capable of hous- 
ing 10 large additional studios. 

The^ first regular broadcasting 
operation originated from CBS 
Television City in Hollywood on 
Oct. 3. The initial unit of the 
Hollywood plant covers 15 acres. 
There are four huge studios and 
a four-story service building. The 
plant has ZVz acres of floor space. 

Creative programming continues 
apace, distinguished so far in 1952 
by the addition of such stars as 
Jackie Gleason, Red Buttons, an 
expanded Jack Benny television 
schedule; Eve Arden as “Our Miss 
Brooks,” J. Carrol Naish ir “Life 
With Luigi,” “Art Linkletter’s 
House Party,” “Meet Millie,” Ed- 
die Albert in “Leave It To Larry,” 
Jane Froman’s “U.S.A. Canteen,” I 


Marie Wilson and Cathy Lewi? in 
“My Friend. Irma.” y in 

The program schedule has been 
expanded to about 12 hours a dav 
and includes such daytime f e » 
tures as “Arthur Godfrey Time’’ 
the serials “Love of Life,” “Search 
^Tomorrow" and -The Guiding 

CBS Television devoted 139 
hours of broadcast time to the cov- 
erage of the Presidential Conven- 
tions — the greatest amount of time 
ever devoted to a single news 
event. 

The number of advertisers and 
gross billings are at an all-time 
high. 

The network now totals 74 sta- 
tions. 

Revolutionary techniques in set 
design and construction this year 
have resulted in an authentic note 
of realism; rear projection has been 
perfected to almost magical illu- 
sions of reality; trick effects were 
developed to simulate the vagaries 
of nature with such effectivenesi 
that viewers seeing rain reach for 
umbrellas, and almost “feel” .the 
damp snow falling. Lighting of 
scenes was perfected to create 
natural room and outdoor shadows. 

CBS Television took the lead 21 
years ago in establishing regular 
broadcasting, creative program- 
ming, technical progress and plant 
expansion. It has kept and in- 
creased that lead. 


AUSMUS VICE SIEGEL 
AS NAEB PRESIDENT 

Minneapolis, Nov. 11. 

Graydon Ausmus, University of 
Alabama, is the new president of 
the National Assn, of Educational 
Broadcasters, succeeding Seymour 
Siegel, station WNYC, New York. 

Other officers chosen at the na- 
tional convention here were Bur- 
ton Paulu, University of Minne- 
sota, vice-president; James Miles, 
Purdue, secretary, and Frank' 
Schooley, University of Illinois, 
treasurer. 


NOT ORIGINAL - 


BUT SO SINCERE . 


ROBERT STEVENS 
Producer-Director 


CoHafuduiaiiOHl CBS l 


Installation of All Portable Fire-Fighting libit* for CBS 

AAA Safety Fire Equipment Corp. 

in»i N « RA » 0 F r ICES MARINE DIVISION 

Sal GnhwTi* 332? Eait 4th Strt.t 

ru f , °J ,f * Long B.ach 14. Calif. 

Umbarland 3-3370 Long Beach 3-42415 

SALES AND SERVICES OF: - 

• Automatic Sprinkler System* • Fire Hose* 

• Flame Proofing • CO i System , 

• Portable Fire Unit* • Fir# Detector* 

(MEMBER NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION I 


Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


P^Sriety 



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— continued from pa ire 29 


mum amount of horizontal move- 
ment for the camera. It is conceiv- 
able that as television production 
develops, the practice of having- 
audience shows may be completely 
abandoned. If that occurs, the de- 
pressed “dish” into which audi- 
ences have been placed in our 
studio plan can easily be covered 
by flooring without involving any 
major structural change in the 
building. 

In making our major architec- 
tural decisions, we, of course, 
could derive no guidance from 


what has been done in other tele- 
vision facilities, since most of them 
in use at that time were converted 
structures which had originally 
been built for other purposes. We 
relied on what we could develop 
through research, on continuous 
consultation with our client, whose 
own concepts of its needs were in 
the process of being crystallized, 
and oh deducing what we could 
from the requirement of the other 
major entertainment media of 
radio and motion pictures. In many ! 
instances, we consider that the i 


decisions we finally made are ex- 
ploratory ones— to be tried out 
and, if they do not work, to be 
revised in terms of the actual func- 
tioning of the facility. 

In othqr words, we think of the 
initial unit as an experimental 
workshop. We are well aware of 
the fact that the building, when it 
is first put into use, may not com- 
pletely meet all the needs of all 
the people who will use it. But we 
do know that the initial unit has 
been so planned that whatever 
changes are needed — in terms of 
requirements which were not an- 
ticipated or »ew developments 
which have matured — can be made 
economically and effectively with- 
in the terms of the basic design 
concept. 



Wednesday^ November 12, 1952 


Writers’ Lament 

An Ode to Reviewers 
==Bv ALAN LIPSCOTT — 

When the script goes for a tag, 

And the camera kills the gag, 

Blame the writers! 

When a comic muffs his lims, 

And ad libs some monkey lines. 

Blame the writers! 

When producers force directives. 

With ridiculous objectives, 

Blast them not with your invectives. 
Blame the writers! 

When a scene must have “Titwillow,/* 
And it’s kayoed by Pptrillo, 

Blame the writers! 

When a cutter cuts with lust, 

And three plot lines bite the' dust 
Blame the writers' „ 

When some agency exec, 

Pulls a boner from the deck, 

Don't stick out your critical neck. 

Blame the writers! 

When you don’t see actors* faces, 

And the dialog off base is, 

Blame the writers! 

When the little woman’s cookin’ 

Grips your vitals while you’re lookin’. 
Blame the writers! 

When some non-creative thinker. 

Gets a hankering to tinker, 

Never call that thinker, “Stinker.” 
Blame the writers! Shame the writers! 
With your opinions maim the writers! 
Blame the writers! 


New Britain TV Station 
Readies Drive to Prep 
Public for UHF Shift 

Hartford, Nov. 11. 

Although it is still a paper or- I 
ganization, WKI&B-TV, of neigh- 
boring New Britain, has under- 
taken a series of educational clin- 
ics to make dealers, servicemen, 
the public and press aware of the 
transition to UHF. The station, 
which has been allotted channel 
30, has to date held three clinics 
in which dealers, press and TV 
servicemen \yere briefed on the 
future of UHF and what has to be 
done to get reception to the pub- 
lic. To this end Robin D. Comp- 
ton, wellknown engmeer, gave de- ' 
tailed talks on the varied prob- ! 
lems, and via the question-and-an- j 
swer route answered many qucs- j 
tions. 

Station plans to inform the pub- ■ 
lie, via ads, what to expect from ! 
UHF and ( vvhat to do to receive the | 
new band. Station anticipates be- ' 
ing on the air from New Britain 
early in January. 

Programming at the outset, says , 
Pete Kenney, station manager, 
will be network and kine. Network 
commitments have not yet been j 
worked out. There wilfbe little’, 
or no local coverage at the start, 
he said. Main interest will be to 
got the station on the air. i 

i 

WCAT Folds in So. Dakota 

Minneapolis, Nov. 11. 

South Dakota’s oldest radio sta- 
tion. WCAT at Rapid City, operat- 
ed by the School of Mines and 
Technology for 40 years, has gone 
off the air. 

It has been silenced bv wornout 
equipment and lack of funds. 


Best Wishes 
TO CBS 

TELEVISION CENTER 
HOLLYWOOD 


CAROL 

IRWIN 


Congratulations! 

CBS TV CITY 

HOLLYWOOD 


DONALD DAVIS 
DOROTHY MATHEWS 
Producer* 










4 


CONGRATULATIONS TO CBS 


from 

"Oils miss rrooks" 

STARRING 

EVE ARDEN 


Directed by 


AL LEWIS 


A 


MR. CONKLIN . . 
WALTER DENTON . 
MR. BOYNTON . . 
MRS. DAVIS . . . 
HARRIETTE CONKLIN 


. . GALE GORDON 
. RICHARD CRENNA 
. ROBERT ROCKWELL 
. . JANE MORGAN 
. GLORIA McMILLAN 


Written by 


AL LEWIS and JOE QUILLAN 


Production Executive 

LARRY BERNS 


S 

Sponsored on Television by GENERAL FOODS CORP. 
Sponsored on Rodio by the COLGATE*? ALMOLIVE"PEET GO. 



KAMO-TELE VISION 


P^GsuJBfr 



Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


Estimated Weekly Network TV Program Costs 

Nighttime and Daytime Overall Costs Include Production Expenses 9 Actor s 9 Musicians 9 Wnters 9 
Royalties 9 Freelance Directors^ Set Construction Commercial Announcements 9 Agency 

Directors 9 But Not Agency Commission Or Time Charges . 

(Agencies Listed by Initials are Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn; Benton & Bowles; Cecil & Presbrey; Dancer, Fitzgerald & Sample ; 
Doherty, Clifford & Shenfield; Foote, Cone & Beldihg; Kenyon & Eckhardt; Ruthrauff & Ryan; J. Walter Thompson; Sullivan , Staf- 
fer, Colwell & Bayles, and Young & Rubicam.) 


PROGRAM NETWORK 

Aldrich Family NBC 

All Aboard CBS 

All Star Revue NBC 

Amos ’n* Andy (Film) .......... CBS 

Gene Autry Show (Film) . . * CBS 

Balance Your Budget CBS 

.Battle of Ages..'. CBS 

Beat the Clock CBS 

Jack Benny Show CBS 

Beulah (Film) ABC 

Biff Baker, USA (Film) CBS 

Big Town (Film) CBS 

Big Payoff NBC 

Big Story NBC 

Boxing ? CBS 

Boxing (Best Fights) DuM 

Boxing DuM 

Boxing NBC 

Break the Bank CBS 

Bride & Groom CBS 


Broadway to Hollywood DuM 

Burns A Allen (Film) CBS 

Came! Newsreel NBC 

Candy Carnival CBS 

Captain Video DuM 

Cavalcade of Amer. (Film) NBC 

CBS News CBS 


COST 

$20,000 

3.000 
60,000 

32.000 

17.000 
10,600 

8.000 

8.500 

40.000 

15.000 
20,000 

16.500 
3,000 

(per V^-hour) 

17.000 

15.000 

7.500 

12.500 

15.000 

9.500 

2.500 

(per V^-hour) 

2,500 

37.000 

2.500 

(per V4-hour) 
3,800 
5.100 

25.000 
3,400 . 

(per V4-hour) 


PRODUCER 

.Lester Vail 

GRIG. 
.N. Y. 

.Lester Lewis 

.N. Y. 

. Pete Barnum 

. N. Y.-L.A. 

. Gosden-Correll 

. H’wood 

.Armand Schaefer 

. H’wood 

. Louis G. Cowan 

.N. Y. 

.Norman Livingston 

. N. Y. 

. Goodson-Todman 

.N. Y. 

. Ralph Levy 

. H'wood 

.Roland Reed Prod 

. H'wood 

. Alan Miller . . 

. H'wood 

. Gross-Krasne . ? 

. H’wood 

.Walt Framer 

.N. Y. 


SPONSOR ‘ AGENCY 

Campbell’s Ward Wheelock Lester Vail 

Lionel Trains Buchanan * 

Participating 

Blatz Weintraub 

Wrigley R&R 

Sealy Mattress Olian & Bronner 

(alt. weeks only) 

Serutan Franklin Bruck. ...... 

Sylvania C&P 

Amer. Tobacco BBD&O 

Procter & Gamble. .... .DF&S 

Amer. Tobacco BBD&O 

Lever Bros Hewitt, Ogilvie Gross-Krasne 

Colgate . Esty * . . 

Amer. Cigaret SSC&B B. Prockter N. Y. 

Pabst Warwick & Legler Bill Warwick Various 

Adam Hats Hirshon-Garfield N? Y. 

Co-op .' N. Y. 

Gillette Maxon Bill Garden N. Y. 

Bristol-Myers DC&S Ed Wolft N. Y. 

Gen. Mills DF&S, 

Knox Reeves Masterson, Reddy 

& Nelson N. Y. 

Tidewater Oil Lennen & Newell Ted Hammerstein N. Y. 

Carnation Erwin Wasey Ralph Levy H’wood 

alt. with Goodrich.** .... BBD&O . . . . 

Camel Esty NBC News Dept N. Y. 

M&M Candies Esty Charles Vanda Phila. 

Gen. Foods B&B Olga Druce N. Y. 

duPont BBD&O Various H’wood 

Amer. Cigaret SSC&B Don Hewitt N. Y. 

and 

Oldsmobile D. P. Brother 


Perry Como Show CBS 


Dennis Day Show NBC 


Embassy Club 


Four Star Playhouse (Film) . . 


ABC 

11,500 ■ 
11,000 

P. Lorillard 

. . .Lennen & Newell 

.NBC 

Armstrong Cork .... 

. . BBD&O 

.NBC 

40,000 

Buick 

. . .Kudner 

CBS 

12,750 

12,750 

50,000 

Carter Prod 

. . . SSC&B 

CBS 

Schick 

, . .Kudner 

.NBC 

Colgate 

. . . Sherman & Marquette 




Ted Bates 

CBS 

6,500 

Chesterfield 

. . .Cunn. & Walsh 


(per V4-hour) 



.CBS 

11,000 

3,500 

Block Drug 

. . . C&P 

ABC 

Vitamin Corp 

. . , Kastor, Farrell, 



Chesley & Clifford . . . . 

.NBC 

25,000 

RCA 

.. JWT 

.NBC 

18.000 

Procter & Gamble . . . 

. . . B&B 

CBS 

9,500 

Campbell’s 

...Ward Wheelock 

.DuM 

4,000 

Carter Prod 

. . . Ted Bates 

alt. with Toni 

. . . Weiss & Geller 

.NBC 

30,000 

,7,500 

Chesterfield 

. ; .Cunn & Walsh 

.NBC 

P. Lorillard 

...Lennen & Newell 

ABC 

2,000 

Voice of Phophecy.. 

. . . Laughlin-Wilson, 




Baxter & Parsons 

.NBC 

18,000 

Procter & Gamble..*. 

. ! .Compton* . . . .' 

.NBC 

25,000 

Ford 

. . . JWT 

CBS 

25,000 

25,000 

Singer 

. . .Y&R . 

.NBC 

Chesterfield 

. . .Cunn. & Walsh 

.CBS 

54,000 

Participating 



Jerry Danzig N. Y. 


Chas. Russell, 
Fred Heider . 






, Various 
N. Y. 

, N. Y. 

, N. Y. 


Stanley Shapiro. H’wood 

Marion Parsonnet N. Y. 

Walt Framer N. Y. 

Louis G. Cowan. Chi 


H’wood 

........ N . 'V « 


Frank Wisbar H’wood 

Screen Gems H’wood 

Don Sharpe H'wood 


Godfrey & Friends CBS 

Arthur Godfrey Timet CBS 

Greatest Fights (Film) NBC 

Guiding Light CBS > 

Gulf Playhouse NBC 

Hallmark Theatre NBC 

Happy’s Party DuM 

Paul Harvey News ABC 

Hawkins Falls NBC 

Gabby Hayes NBC 

Heaven for Betsy CBS 

Hollywood Opening Night NBC 

Hollywood Screen Test ABC 

Hour of Decision ABC 

Howdy Doody NBC 

I Love Lucy (Film) CBS 

I Married Joan (Film) NBC 

It’s News to Me CBS 

I’ve Got a Secret CBS 

Keep Posted DuM 

Kids & Co DuM 

Kraft Theatre NBC 

Kukla, Fran & Ollie NBC 

Life Begins at 80 DuM 

Life with Luigi CBS 

Unkletter’s House Party CBS 

Live Like a Millionaire ......... ABC 

Lone Ranger (Film) ABC 

Love of Life CBS 

Lux Video Theatre CBS 

Mama CBS 

Man Against Crime (Film) CBS 

Mark Saber (Film) ABC 

Martin Kane . NBC 

Meet the Masters (Film) NBC 

Meet the Press NBC 


25.000 

3.500 

(per V^-hour) 

4.000 

I. 700 . 

(per ^-hour) 

20.000 

11.500 

6.500 
2,100 

2.000 

(per Vi-hour) 
1,100 

(per V4-hour) 
10,000 

17.500 

6.500 

2.500 
1,565 

(per V4-hour) 

38.000 

30.000 

10.000 
10,600 

3.500 
3,500 

17,500 

II, 500 
2,000 

20.500 
2.125 

(per Vi-hour ) 
7,5ft0 

llooo 

9,000 

(per week) 

15.000 

11.500 

20.000 
20,000 

15.000 

25.000 
3,800 


ck Hurdle N. Y. 

Participating Larry Puck N. Y. 

Participating * Larry Puck N. Y. 

Chesebrough Cayton Allan Black ~ ...N. Y. 

Procter & Gamble Compton Dave Lesan N. Y*. 

-Gulf Y&R Frank Telford N Y 

Hall Bros FC&B A McCleery n’ Y* 

Florida Citrus JWT Tom Maher ]pitt * 

Burton Dixie Turner Harvey N Y 

Lever Bros N. W. Ayer Ben Park *..*.*! Chi 


Participating 


Joe Clair N. Y. 


Lever Bros McCann-Erickson Jacin Prods N Y 

Parson Phar Harry B. Cohen Bill Corrigan .* ’ .' H’wood 

Ironite Brooke, Smith, 

~ . French & Dorrance ...Lester Lewis N. Y. 

Billy Graham 

Evan. Assn Walter F. Bennett Various 

Participating Martin Stone ..!!!!!!!!*.*. N. Y. 


Philip Morris •. .Biow 

Gen. Electric Y&R 


Jess Oppenheimer H’wood 

Dick Mack, 

Simmons Y&R P ' V * WoIfson H’wood 

alt with Jergens Robt. W. Orr Goodson-Todman N Y 

Carter Prod SSC&B Goodson-Todman .... N Y 

alt. with Prom Tatham-Laird ' Y * 

5Pa D & 0 Martha Rountree N. Y. 

KWf Sh ° e ?mr£ cy Wyatt & Schuebel N Y 

Kraft JWT Stan Quinn .i.R Y. 

sSutan o " 'i Beulah Zachary Chi 

<**>■ Foods B&B Mac Benol . ! ! ! ! 

John Guedel H’wood 


Participating 


Charles Anteq, TV Adv., Inc Masterson, Reddy 

Gen. Mills. DF&S TrendlSmnbell Si*. 

Amer. Home Prod Biow ! ! . ! ! ! ! ! Chades ScTencf. . ! ! ! ! ' ’ N y 

1^^-.:::::::::: * 

£ef- »: ::::: :: : $£% ; &F U £ : : : ; “ 

, „ “ St Gcorges * K W*» Mirth. Rountree Various 

(Continued on page 58) 


Revere 


CBS Brass, Godfrey Crew 
Help Miami WTVJ Execs 
To Tee Off New Studios 

Miami, Nov. li 

New York, Chicago and Atlanta 
agency reps, trade-paper and local 
news columnists and editors, full 
cast of the Arthur Godfrey show 
(sans Godfrey), network brass and 
an FCC rep converged here over 
the weekend as guests of Mitchell 
Wolfson and Sidney Meyer for 
opening of the new studios for 
their WTVJ, lone tele outlet in 
South Florida. 

They hosted some 250 guests 
with official ceremonies on Satur- 
day (8), featuring the Godfrey 
gang. Previous days had press 
tours, cocktail parties and other 
appurtenances to the gala climax. 

In his dedication speech at a 
dinner preceding the first tele- 
cast from the new studios, Wolf- 
son told the junketeers that “a 
number of television stars have 
expressed a desire to stage their 
shows from here.” Northbound 
cable opens in January. He also 
pointed out that “when a man up 
north . . . sees sleet and ice while 
looking at bathing beauties in 
Miami Beach on his TV set” he 
should think of this area as “a 
corner from heaven.” 

Wolfson also stated that the sta- 
tion will retain the staff which has 
been with the organization since 
the original studios were opened 
in March, 1949. New studios are 
Located in the old Capitol Theatre 
building, which was completely re- 
designed for the medium. Main 
studio contains all the latest im- 
provements in video with setup for 
200 persons to view shows. Huge 
stage is equipped with RCA cam- 
eras, pedestal and boom Houston- 
Fearless dollies and Trans-Lux 
rear-screen projection unit for use 
of combined stage settings on a 
large scale. 

Godfrey talent, emceed by 
Frank Parker, was a straight song 
session, due to short time for re- 
hearsals. Appearing with him were 
Marion Marlowe (discovered here 
by Godfrey two seasons ago), a.<) 
well as rest of the regulars on the 
show. Network toppers included 
CBS ve-epee Fritz Snyder and 
NBC sales veepee George Frey. 
FCC rep was Sylvia Kessler, head 
of the Opinions and Research de- 
partment. WTVJ, incidentally, 
carries a major portion of net- 
work shows out of CBS. 


MINNESOTA PUSHES 
FOR EDUC’L TV WEB 

Minneapolis, Nov. 11. 

After Paul A. Walker, FCC chair- 
man, told an assemblage here that 
its decision “would affect their 
children and childrens’ children 
educational opportunities for years 
to come” a representative citizens 
committee of 111 was immediately 
organized here to open a drive for 
a $5,000,000 statewide TV non-com- 
mercial educational network. 

A plan will be presented to the 
next Minnesota legislature which 
will be asked to appropriate that 
sum for the project. 

The decision to set wheels in mo- 
tions for the statewide network 
was reached following pro and con 
arguments from the guests who 
had been assembled by the Uni- 
versity of Minnesota. Samuel C. 
Gale, prominent attorney, repre- 
senting the National Citizens Com- 
mission for the Public Schools, was 
named temporary committee chair- 
man. 

Preceding debate found Stanley 
Hubbard and W. J. McNally, KSTP- 
TV president and WCCO-TV board 
chairman, respectively, on opposite 
sides of the argument. 

Hubbard, who was voted down, 
argued that only an educational 
station for the Twin Cities, instead 
of a network, should ba considered. 
But McNally declared “there i.3 no 
way we can approach the legisla- 
ture without a plan for all of this 
state’s people,” and his arugments 
prevailed. 


Wight's Philco Post 

Philadelphia, Nov. 1L 
William Wight has been named 
director of -public relations for 
Philco Corp., according to an an- 
nouncement (9) by William Bal- 
derston, prexy. 

A Washington v.p. of Carl Byom 
& Associates, Wight has been in 
charge of public relations for the 

r* i * t « it . *i.( iU a Id Cl. 



Wednesday*) November 12, 1952 


East Vs. Vest TV Originations 


Official opening of CBS Television City in Los Angeles Nov* 15 
accents anew the current controversy as to whether the west coast 
will inevitably supersede New York as the major origination point 
for TV shows. That the growing emphasis on film will result 
! n some N. Y.-to-L. A. dislocations is, of course, a certainty. But 
for the present, at least, the -following breakdown cf CBS-TV net- 
work shows indicates the hold of Gotham-originating. shows: 


FROM NEW YORK 
(F) Film (L) Live 


All Aboard (L) 

Balance Your Budget (L) 

Battle of the Ages (L) 

Beat the Clock (L) 

Break the Bank (L) 

Bride and Groom (L) 

Red Buttons Show (L) ' 

Chronoscope (L) 

City Hospital (L) 

Perry Como Show (L) 

Crime Syndicated (L) 

Danger (L) 

Double or Nothing (L) 

Doug. Edwards with the News (L) 
Everywhere I Go (L) 

Jane Froman’s U.S.A. Canteen (L) 
Jackie Gleason (L) 

A Godfrey and Friends (L) 

A* Godfrey’s a.m. Show (L) 

A. Godfrey’s Talent Scouts (L) 
The Guiding Light (L) 

Heaven for Betsy (L) 

It’s News to Me (L) 


I’ve Got a Secret (L) 

Lamp Unto My Feet (L) 

Leave It to Larry (L) 

Love of Life (L) 

Lux Video Theatre (L) 

Mama (L) 

Mike and Buff (L) 

Garry Moore Show (L) 

Omnibus (L) 

Search for Tomorrow (L) 

See It Now (L) 

Sports Spot (L) 

Stork Club (L) 

Strike It Rich (Day and Night (L) 
Studio One (L) 

Sunday News Special (L) 
Suspense (L) 

There’s One in Every Family (L) 
This is Show Business IL) 

Toast of the Town (L) 

The Fred Waring Show (L) 

The Web (L) 

What’s My Line (L) 

Wheel of Fortune (L) 


FROM HOLLYWOOD 


Amos ’n’ Andy (F) 

Art Linkletter’s House Party (L) 
Gene Autry <F) 

Jack Benny (L) 

Biff Baker, U.S.A. (F) 

Big Town (F) 

Burns and Allen (F) 

Four Star Playhouse (F) 

I Love Lucy (F) 


Life With Luigi (L) 

Meet Millie (L) 

Man Against Crime (F) 

Mr. and Mrs. North (F) 

My Friend Irma (L) 

Our Miss Brooks (F) 

Racket Squad (F) 

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (F) 
Smilin’ Ed McConnell (F) 


UNESCO to Debate TV’s Inti Role; 
May Override State Dept. Stance 


Paris, Nov. 11. 

What part television will play 
as an instrument of international 
understanding will be determined 
at the important general confer- 
ence opening here tomorrow (Wed.) 
of the United Nations Educational, 

Scientific and Cultural Organiza- 
tion. Television will be a major 
concern of this seventh session of 
UNESCO, which will act on recom- 
mendations drawn by a committee 
of experts to utilize the power of 
the medium in serving humanity. 

The big question before the con- 
ference is whether to override a 
U. S. State Dept, recommendation 
to set up a system of priorities for 
UNESCO programs which would 
relegate mass communications, 
which includes television, to last 
place. If the recommendation is 
vetoed, UNESCO may embark on 
an extensive program in the TV 
field. 


The State Dept, recommendation, 
contained in a communication of 
Sept 20 to UNESCO Director Gen- 
eral Dr. Jaime Torres Bodet, urged 
that the agenda for the conference 
be revised to exclude all but the 
following programs: Fundamental 
Education, Extension of Free and 
Compulsory Primary and Post-Pri- 
mary Education, Education for Liv- 
ing in a World Community, and 
other activities related to economic 
development of under-developed 
countries. 

U. S. Government, through its 
representative at UNESCO, Robert 
S. Smith, recommended the other 
subjects to be omitted at this time 
to enable the conference to con- 
centrate on most urgent problems. 

Fortified by a report recommend- 
ing that “appropriate staff be desig- 
to assume responsibility for 
UNESCO’s activities in the grow- 
ing medium of television,” the con- 
ference will have to decide whether 
appropriations should be made for 
mis purpose. 

Clearing House 

In the meantime, UNESCO has 
cgun a concerted study to utilize 
merman experience in formulat- 
E Us program for the internation- 
ior cultural and in- 
1 ™ at V >n M purposes. It is under- 
fm- IS 0 S01 ’ ve a clearing house 
it nl °i’mation on world television, 
fw.ir nu ' ture > .social impact and 
«.;* los 1()r broadcast transmis- 


tilii^k^ 0 is also wo 
junto use of TV for e 

oJr ,s a4te ntion on 
a P 11 P through 
-dies of special pa 


letins on this subject are under 
preparation. 

A further project is under way 
to promote production and ex- 
change of programs and to facili- 
tate agreements on customs and 
tariffs necessary for the purpose. 


Chevigny | 

1 Continued from page 23 

month saying the RWG administra- 
tion-backed slate had been support- 
ed by and supported 13 individuals 
who, WTU claimed, had been un- 
cooperative witnesses before Con- 
gressional probes or who had been 
named as associates by ex-Commu- 
nists. 

• Chevigny said the “attempt was 
to create the impression that these 
13 people formed a bloc.” How- 
ever, he claims, of the 13 named 
he has met only six, and of the 
six he hasn’t seen two in 10 years. 
He added that the serving of the 
summonses “elicited a partial re- 
traction from the group itself and 
one member has individually vol- 
unteered the information that her 
name -was unvvarrantedly included 
among the signers.” 

Scripter is. author of several 
books, including “My Eyes Have a 
Cold Nose.” 

‘Undersigned’ Lose Again 
In Third Election Try 
At Radio Writers Guild 

Campaign by “We, the’ Under- 
signed,” anti-Communist group, to 
oust the administration of the 
Radio Writers Guild failed in last 
week’s election. It’s the third 
time the "Undersigned” group has 
been defeated in the Guild. 

Philo Higley, nominee of the 
official nominating committee, was 
elected veepee for the eastern re- 
gion by a vote of 187-57 over Lau- 
rence Hammond, opposition candi- 
date. Hector Chevigny, adminis- 
tration candidate for the national 
presidency, beat Paul Milton, “Un- 
dersigned” nominee, by 198-26 in 
the east. Results in other regions 
aren’t in yet. 

Elected to the council in the east- 
ern region were (in order of de- 
scending votes) John Stradley, 
John Merriman, Ira Marion, Bruce 
Marcus and Franklin Wiener. 
Elected as alternates were Robert 
Cenedella, Lillian Sehoen, Gra- 
ham Grove, Abfam Ginnes and 
Sam Moore. All the “Undersigned”- 
backed candidates for the council 
were defeated. 


PfigalEff BABIO-TEm’lSH)\ 57 


Humphrey Sees Politico Revolution 

Due to AM-TV; Cites Dailies Monopoly 

' + 


DuMont-RCAA 

Iwmrm * Continued from page 23 -• 

web could televise Princeton at 
Yale via WABD; North Carolina 
State at Pittsburgh, via its WDTV,' 
Pitt, and Columbia at Navy via its 
WTTG, Washington. The following 
week, the web could televise Yale 
at Harvard on WABD; Penn State 
at Pitt on WDTV, and Washington 
and Lee at Virginia, on WTTG. 

In his wire ■ to the college 
prexies, Dr. DuMont expressed the 
hope that, “in view of the interest 
j of American educational institu- 
tions in TV and the opportunity 
TV presents for bringing the uni- 
versity s influence into the home 
in the public interest,” that per- 
mission to televise the games 
would be granted. “We will be 
glad to invite you to appear be- 
tween the halves with the presi-» 
dent of the other competing col- 
lege to briefly discuss the outstand- 
ing achievements of your respec- 
tive schools,” he added. - 


U. of P/s Murray 
Proposes a New 
NCAA Grid Plan 

Philadelphia, Nov. 11. 

Francis T. (Frahny) Murray, 
athletic director at the University 
of Pennsylvania and longtime foe 
of the National Collegiate Athletic 
Assn.’s restrictions of grid tele- 
casts, came up with a new plan 
over the weekend whereby NCAA- 
member schools could make their 
own arrangements for television 
next season. 

Plan was discussed in two tele- 
casts here Sunday (9) on “Junior 
Press Conference,” WFIL-TV, 
11:30 a.m. and “American Forum 
of the Air,” WPTZ, 2:30 p.m. Both 
were originations from this city 
for the ABC-TV net and the NBC- 
TV net, respectively. On the pro- 
grams Murray broached new plan, 
which had been published in Sun- 
day morning dailies here. 

His opponent in the air discus- 
sions was Bob Hall, Yale athletic 
director and chairman of the 
NCAA’s TV committee., who said, 
he had read Murray’s new pro- 
posals in the press but that they 
hadn’t as yet reached Hugh C. 
Willett, president of the NCAA. 
Murray and Hall recently engaged 
in a telegram battle that received 
nation-wide publicity when Mur- 
ray sought NCAA to telecast the 
Penn-Notre Dame game in this 
area. 

Briefly, Murray’s new proposal 
called for part of the money real- 
ized from the television rights to 
be turned over to an NCAA board 
which would administer it as a 
fund to reimburse any school 
which could present proof that 
the televising by another team 
had caused an attendance decline 
at its games. The rest of the fund, 
under Murray’s plan, would be 
used to provide post-graduate 
scholarships for varsity lettermen 
who had made good scholastic rec- 
ords. 

Murray’s letter to Willett was in 
the form of a resolution for the 
consideration by the NCAA’s TV 
committee and its executive coun- 
cil at the forthcoming 47th annual 
conference. It suggested that each 
member be allowed to make its 
own arrangements for televizing 
home games. That one-third of 
the gross TV receipts be contri- 
buted into a television trust fund 
to be administered by a board of 
three trustees. That these trustees 
be authorized to make payments to 
any NCAA members, who present 
convincing claims of a financial 
loss at the gate due to live tele- 
casts during 1953, using 1951 and 
1952 figures during TV-controlled 
years as basis for comparison. 

Another provision of Murray’s 
resolution provided for the post- 
graduate scholarships for college 
athletes, and a fourth provision 
forbade sponsors of alcoholic bev- 
erages as “not in the best interest 
of American youth.” 


Omaha — Max Young’s KSID ra- 
dio station at Sidney switched from 
1540 to 1340 kilocycles and chang- 
ed operations from daytime only 
to full time. Les Hilliard of KOLT, 
Scottsbluff, and A1 Meyer of 
KMYR, Denver, waived objections 
for slight interference. 


WPIX’s Series of R’way 
Columns; Waiker-Laurie 
Also Setting Own Show 

Danton Walker, N.Y. Daily 
News’ Broadway columnist, and 
Joe Laurie, Jr., may be co-partici- 
pants on two separate TV pack- 
ages currently being set. One is 
the WPIX (N.Y. indie) station’s 
"Broadway Columns of the Air,” a 
five- or six-a-week series, 7:15- 
7:30 p.m. nightly, with a different 
chatterer (plus guest) participat- 
ing. Lou Ames, program manager 
of WPIX, has lined up Walker, 
Ed Sullivan, Frank Farrell, Laurie, 
and will round it out with kindred 
personalities, probably Dorothy 
Kilgallen among them. 

The other Laurie-Walker co- 
package is one which Martin 
Goddman is setting up, the colum- 
nist as moderator and Laurie, p.a. 
Richard Maney and two others as 
panelists. It may be called “Show 
B|z,” from the bestseller co-auth- 
ored by Laurie. ^ 


Lag In Educl TV 
Bids Seen Paving 
Way For Biz Entry 

Minneapolis, Nov. 11. 
Unless considerably more activ- 
ity toward the acquisition and use 
of channels set aside for non-com- 
mercial educational TV stations de- 
velops in the immediate future, 
“there is slight basis” for justify- 
ing the continued reservation of 
their 242 frequencies, and many of 
these may wind up in private in- 
terests’ hands, according to Earl 
Minderman, special assistant to 
FCC chairman, Paul A. Walker. 

Addressing the National Assn, of 
Educational Broadcasters’ national 
convention here, Minderman said 
that although the deadline is June 
3, thus far there have been but 
23 applications made to the FCC 
for non-commercial TV station per- 
mits, and only nine have been 
granted. However, he pointed out, 
a substantial number of applica- 
tions are in preparation. 

Minderman estimated that the 
cost of preparing an application 
for a commercial TV station, and 
carrying it through, will run from 
$25,000 to $50,000 and that two 
years will elapse before a FCC de- 
cision is forthcoming. Such ex- 
pense and long wait-are avoided by 
(Continued on page 62) 

Cronyn-Tandy to Stick 
To AM-TV If Projected 
Show Proves a Click 

Husband-and-wife team of Hume 
Cronyn and Jessica Tandy, co- 
stars of a projected new situation 
comedy series for NBC radio and 
TV, have promised the web that 
they will confine their activities 
almost exclusively to broadcasting 
foi at least two years if the AM 
and video shows prove successful. 
Couple is now touring with the 
road company of “Fourposter.” 

Couple cut an audition platter 
of the radio show, to be titled 
“Marriage,” in Chicago recently 
but both they and NBC were dis- 
satisfied with the finished product 
and plan to re-cut the platter in 
i;he near future. NBC is scheduling 
the show for a start soon after the 
first of the year and, while no 
specific time slot has been select- 
ed, will probably put it in Sunday 
evenings. Video version, which 
will be lensed on film, is earmark- 
ed for a preem next fall. 

NBC, meanwhile, which is 
steadily expanding its situation 
comedy programming activities, 
received the pilot film on its pro- 
jected Mickey Rooney vidpix series 
from the Coast this week. Web’s 
salesmen are now out peddling it 
to potential agencies and clients. 


Minneapolis, Nov. 11. 
Citing the great need of non- 
commercial educational TV devel- 
opment and taking some potshots 
at commercial television, Sen. H. H. 
Humphrey of Minnesota, in an ad- 
dress at the Natienal Assn. of Edu- 
cational Broadcasters’ national con- 
vention here, asked for a crusade 
to prevent monopoly of ■ informa- 
tion and education through the 
written and spoken word. 

Aroused by political campaign 
occurrences that preceded his 
Democratic patty’s defeat in the 
recent election, which found the 
press lined up almost solidly be- 
hind the successful Republican 
candidate, Senator Humphrey ex- 
pressed concern lest newspaper 
monopoly be extended further in 
the TV and radio fields. 

The association was asked to 
take a stand with him against suefi 
monopoly. 

“Beware that ouf radio and tele- 
vision stations are not also en- 
trusted to newspapers which have 
no competition in their communi- 
ties,” pleaded Senator Humphrey. 
“Competition is healthy and in 
many localities radio and television 
must afford it.” 

As a result of radio and TV, 
Senator Humphrey declared, a 
political revolution is in the mak- 
ing. Great voters turnout, mark- 
ing a record high, was attributed 
by him in large part to the various 
ether forums and candidates’ ap- 
pearances. 

With an increasing number of 
people becoming “cynical” about 
the press and the latter “failing to 
develop its full potentiality in edu- 
cating the public politically,” Sena- 
tor Humphrey said the day of wide- 
spread non-commercial educational 
TV must be hastened. 

Lashing out at the quality of 
much of the present TV program- 
ming, Senator Humphrey pointed 
out that "eVery parent is becoming 
increasingly concerned” because of 
the large number of crime shows 
and the low quality and even harm- 
ful potentialities of much that goes 
out over the airlanes. 

“On television we witness 1,000 
crimes a week, whereas the me- 
dium devotes only 1% of its time 
to religion and 3% to education,’* 
said Senator Humphrey. 

Programs Criticized 

Decrying present trends, the 
Senator asked that program bal- 
ance be developed. He said he 
isn’t convinced that station sol- 
vency must be based on mediocrity, 
and pointed out that TV stations 
have a great opportunity to raise 
cultural standards. 

“As much as I like old British 
films and enjoy having my youth 
renewed, I also want much more 
substantial fare than I’m now get- 
ting,” said the Senator. “When 
theatremen have come to me to 
relate their present troubles, I 
have emphasized that their main 
salvation undoubtedly lies in im- 
provement' of their entertainment 
product. Unless television raises 
its standards it, too, may lose many 
converts.” 

The 1934 communications act 
should be revised in the light of 
television developments and in 
terms of public service and educa- 
tional and cultural activities, Sena- 
tor Humphrey asserted. 


Campbell Soup 

Axes ‘Club 15’ 

Hollywood, Nov. 11. 

The old agency story, “we need 
the money for television,” puts into 
the unemployment column “Club 
15” after its Jan. 16 broadcast. 
Musical strip stars Bob Crosby and 
Gisele Mackenzie with the Mod- 
ernaires and Jerry Gray's orches- 
tra. Show has been sponsored by 
Campbell Soup since July, 1947. 

On teevee, Campbell, through 
the Ward Wheelock agency, is 
sponsoring three weekly programs 
of “Double or Nothing” with Bert 
Parks and “The Aldrich Family.’* 
Lone remaining entry on radio will 
be Walter O’Keefe’s “IDouble or 
Nothing.” 

“Club 15” will be offered around 
to other agencies. 


RABVO-TELE VISION 


Estimated Weekly Network TV Program Costs 


PROGRAM NETWORK 

Mr. and Mrs. North (Film) CBS 

Mr. Peepers NBC 

Robert Montgomery Show. .... .NBC 

My Friend Irma CBS 

Gsrry Moore Show CBS 

My Hero (Film) ! NBC 

My Little Margie (Film). CBS 

Arthur Murray Party DuM 

Name's the Same ABC 

Omnibus CBS 

On I ' i' W’ih Considirev NBC 

Our I)*' s Brooks (Film) CBS 

Ozz ? e & Harriet (Film) ABC 

Pla : i’ . esman DuM 

Quiz " CBS 

Ring.*’ • Interviews DuM 

Roc’\v K : wg, Detective DuM 

G* 

Roy rovers (Film) NBC 

Scot. Music Hall NBC 

SclTitz Playhouse (Film) CBS 

Search for Tomorrow CBS 

See It Now CBS 

* 

Dinah Shore Show NBC 

Short Short Drama (Film) NBC 

Red Skelton (Film) ABC 

Sky Kin? (Film) ... . ABC 

Smilin’ Ed McConnell (Film) ...CBS 

Space Patrol ABC 

Sports Snot CSS 

Strike It Rich CBS 

Evemngi 

Strike R’chv CBS 

Stud'o One , CBS 

Sunday N>ws Special (^BS 

Super Circus ABC 

Suspen e CBS 

Tales of Tomorrow ABC 

Talent Scouts- CBS 

Texaco Star Theatre NBC 

This Is Show Business CBS’ 

This Is Your Life NBC 

Those Two NBC 

T-Men in Action NBC 

Toast of Town CBS 

Today NBC 


Tootsie Hippodrome ABC 

TV Playhouse NBC 

Twen'y Questions DuM 

Two JFo*’ the Money NBC 

Voice of FIreslore NBC 

The Web C°-S 

Welcome Travelers NBC 

Fred Wiring Show.. CBS 

What’s My Line ! CBS 

What’s *he Story DuM 

Where Was I Du. -I 

Walter "'ncke'H ABC 

Winchell-Mahoney NBC 

You Asked for It • ABC 

You Bet Your Life (Film) NBC 

Groucho Marx* 

Your Hit Parade NBC 

Your Show of Shows NBC 

Youth on March DuM 

Zoo Parade NBC 


COST 

20,000 

18.000 

33.000 

20.500 

2.000 

(per h 4 ->our) 

25.000 

25.000 

10.000 
10.000 

13 000 

(per >"or*oV) 

3.000 
27,200 

30.000 

5.000 
5 500 

.50 


17,500 

30.000 

25.000 
9 COO 

ipervv k> 
21.250 


(per 1 4-hbur) 

4.000 

(per 1 :-hour) 
37.&00 
2df.OGO 

5 

5 000 
2,100 
6500 

6 0(>0 

25. .(.0 
2. 1(;0 
6 . 8'0 

11. (L0 
8 8.0 

8.01/0 
5 LOCO 
1-L0C0 

18.000 

4.000 

(per 1 i-N ur> 

15.000 

25.500 

'2>:o 

(5 T> '"!>.) 
435 

(10 ’' ns.' 
650 

(15 rn’ns.) 

4.500 

26 000 

8.375 

20 oo;* 

13.00 * 
11. 30 

1 .000 

(per 1 i- u . ur) 


Continued from page 5G 1 — ■ — j.-. . .. . i 

SPONSOR AGENCY PRODUCER OR1G. 

Colgate Sherman & Marquette. . . .John W. Loveton H’wobd 

Reynolds Metals Buchanan Fred Coe N. Y. 

Tobacco BBD&O Udontgomeiy N. Y. 

Johnson's Wax Needham. Louis & Brorby 

Camel Esty Richard Whorf H’wood 


Weffyesduy, November 12 , lQso 

~ CBS’ 9-Month 
- $3,807,171 Net 


ail. with Bendix Tatham-Laird .. 

Participating 


Mutual of Omaha 


aii. with Lambert Lumber! & Fcaslcy 


Cut’s Paw ........... S. A, Lev, ne 

Bayuk Cigars ..Islington & Co. 

Arne ■. Chicle DF&S 

Procter & Gamble Compton 

Gen. Foods BiB 

Scott Paper JWT . . . 

Schlitz Lennen & Newc 

Procter & Gamble Biow 


Alcoa Fuller. Smith & Ross 


Pepsi-Cola 


Biow 


Brown Shoes Leo B.frnel 

Ralston Ordner . . 

Gen. Cigar 

Colgate S'- 'man & 


Colgate E\y 


I'Oi'xV'ieh Pit; r L.’:> 

Ksl’ogg Leo Burnett 

M-us J/»o Burnett 

Auto- Vie C”;P 

1- eisl-_r . . , nirshon-Gariit 

(a.l. w\;. onlvi 

Liptc . < T.'u YiR 

Tjx:s Co. Nudner .... 

Amew Tobacco B3 3&0 

H**zel Bi&hop Lrmor.d Spc 


Borden's 
Lincoln-iMercih v 


DC&S 


Sweets Co 

Phi let) 

ait. w'-'h Goodyear 

LucL'n's 

LorH'ard 

Fire Tone 

P. Tonll-rd 

Participat’ng. . . . . 


35 0C0 
8 "60 

6 ‘ 00 

17.500 

18.500 * 

7.500 

20.000 

30.000 
29.700 

(per ^a-hour) 

2.500 

7,000 


Gen. E eclric . . . 
Stood. e ... 
DuMont Labs. . , 

Wine Corp 

Gruea 

S'eldcl 

alt. with Crosle.v 
Ros^fii'M Packers 

DeSoto-Plymouth 

Amer. Tobacco . 

Participating . . . 


Mo -.ell* & 


. ...S3C&3 . ... 

. . . . B&B . . . 
. . . . Guild, Bascom 


Young PeopVs 

Church of Air 

Quaker Oats N^cdlvam. Louis 


.Richard Whorf 

. H’wood 

Herb Sanford 

.N. Y. 

Mort Green 

. H’wood 

Hal Roach, Jr 

. H’wood 

A. Murray . 

. N. Y. 

Goodson-Todman 

.N. Y. 

William Spier 

. N. Y. 

NBC News Dept 

. N. Y. 

Larry Berns 

.H’wood 

Robert Angus-Bill Lewis 

. II ’wood 

Trans- America 

.N. Y. 

Louis G. Cowan 

.N. Y. 

.»•••••#•!•»* 

, Various 

Stark-Layton 

. N. Y. 

» 

Rogers 

. H’wood 

Harry Herrmann 

. N. Y. 

Edward Lewis '. 

. H*w ood 

Chas. Irving 

.N. Y. 

Ed. R. Murrow 


Fred W. Friendlv 

.N. Y. 

Alan Handley 

. I Tweed 

B. Proeklcr 

. H’wood* 

Freeme n Keves * 

. H’wood- 

Joe 1 Chcrtok 

.Chi 

Frank Ferr’n 

. K’w ood 

Alike Moser 

. H’wood 

Jud Bailey 

,N. Y. 

A V a 1 1 Framer ! 

N. Y. 

Welt Framer 

N. Y. 

FlMeher Marble 

. N. Y. 

Ted Marvel 

.N. Y. 

Phil Patton 

.Chi 

Mer in Ma nulls 

.N. Y. 

Mort Abrahams 

N. Y. 

Larry Puck 

N. Y. 

Milton Berle 

. N. Y. 

Irving Mansfield 

. N. Y. 

Pi a loh Edwards 

. H’wood 

Valter Craig 

I T wood 

B. Proeklcr 

N. Y. 

Ld Sullivan. 


' r arlo Lewis 

N. Y. 

Dick Pinkham 

N. Y. 

Vernon B 'cker- 


Milton E. Stanson . . . 

N. Y. 

Fred Coe 

N. Y. 

Garry Stevens ' 

N. Y. 

Coodsoa-Todmen 

N. Y. 

C’has. Polachek 

N. Y. 

Goodson-Todman 

N. Y. 

Tom Hicks 

Chi 

Bob Banner 

N. Y. 

Goodson-Todman 

N. Y. 

David Lowe 

N. Y. 

Wh ft e-Rosen berg 

N. Y. 

ABC Staff 

N. Y. 

Sherman Marks 

N. Y. 

Oxararl & Steffner 

IT wood 

John Gucdel 

H’wood 

Dan Lounsbury, 


Ted Fetter 

N. Y. 

Max Liebman 

N Y 

Dr. Percy Crawford 

N. Y. 

Don Meier 

Chi 


* Simulcast; “price quo ted is that if show were sold as TV package only 
•!' Simulcast; price nuoted is additional cost for TY'ing rad o show. 
i Combined package price for radio and TV. 


Chi AFTRA 


C''Milimicd from pa?e 21 


tion of Radio Artists and Televi- 
sion Authority, and is designed to 
give the union both radio and TV 
pressure toward reaching an agree- 
ment. 

Dead End Seen 

However, at the slow pace the 
announcer talks have proceeded 
and the expected reaction to the 
tele requests, the possibility is in- 
creasing that the talks will hit a 
dead end. 

Prime stumbling block in these 
first TV* * talks under the AFTRA 
banner, aside from the upped pay 
demands, will be the proposed re- 
vision of the discount formula. 
Under the old pact inked under ‘ 


1 TVA auspices, talent fees are re- 
vised downward in ratio to the 
number of shows worked in a par- 
ticular strip. Union is asking that 
this be done away with, and pro- 
poses instead a 20<N discount on 
guaranteed or contract assign- 
ments. 

The old contract pegs performers’ 
fees at $36.75 for a single 15- 
minute show, but the rate for a 
weekly strip of five quarter-hours 
is $131.25. That figures out to a 
maximum weekly savings of $52.50 
mi the multiple discount basis. 
The proposed formula sets the one- 
time-only quarter-hour fee at $44. 
a boost of 20' & . But for shows 


lh<n guarantee two days or more 
work, AFTRA suggests a 20 r 7- re- 
peat discount. So five quarter- 
hours at the new rate would come 
to $22J, less the discount of $44. 
or fil76, On this basis the new 
pact would up the five-times week- 
ly lees $44.75. 

The 20 ' }, discount proposal, it’s 
understood, is unique to Chicago. 
No such formula has been offered 
in the New York and Los Angeles 
demands, which ask for the com- 
plete elimination of strip discounts. 

As in the case of the AM ne- 
gotiations. the so-calied iringe 
benefits proposals will also en- 
counter plenty of resistance, pro- 
posed video code includes a similar 
employer-financed health and wel- 
fare p'an, including retirement 
benefits. 

AFTRA is also shooting at indie 
producers who bypass the epdc by 


asking that stations refuse them 
use of •facilities. 

Another tussling point is the de- 
mand that news reporters, com- 
mentators and analysts he classi- 
fied as talent and under the scope 
of the pact. 

* 

Minneapolis —Larry Ilaeg. WCCO 
general manager, reelected to the 
state legislature . . . New WM1N 
morning radio show has Gerard 
Samuel. Minneapolis Svmphony 
orchestra assistant conductor, com- 
menting on music to be played bv 
the orchestra the ensuing \vcek 
living Smith, lormerlv general 
manager of YVCMC. ‘Wildwood. 
A. J„ an addition to the WCCO 
producing stall. Same station ele- 
vated Jack Huston from announcer 
to producer . . . WTC’N here re- 
ports increase of billings in- Get. 
over Sent, aggregated approxi- 
mately 20' o 1 


CBS, Inc., wound up the win* 
months ended last Oct. 4 with ! 
gross of $120,747,983, termed V 
company execs as the highest in i t 
history and attributed to the fi 
that the statement for the first 
time includes the nine-month earn 
ing| of Hytron. Inc., with which 
CBS recently merged. Consolidated 
statement, which includes the earn 
ings or all five CBS sob-Uls' 
showed a net of $3,807,171, as com- 
pared' with $3,532,666 for the saint* 
period in 1951. 

Company does not break down 
its statement into- the earnings rec- 
ord of the subsidiary firms (CBS, 
TV, CBS Radio, Columbia Records 
CBS-Columbia' and Hytron) so that 
there is no detailing of how the 
radio end TV nets made out. Tre 
gross for the first three quarters 
this year compares with $86,793. 
044 for the same period in 1951 
but that figure included the opera- 
tions of Hytron and CBS-Columbia 
for only the three months starting 
in June, 1951. 

Web’s nine-month earnings this 
year were equal to $1.63 per share 
as compared with $1.81 for the 
same period in 1951. Difference 
between the lower earnings per 
share and the higher gross this 
year is attributed to the fact that 
the 1952 per share earnings are 
figured on 2,340,896 shares out- 
standing, while the 1951 earnings 
are figured on only 1,956.003 
shares. 



Industry Execs to Gab 
At B.U. Two-Day Confab 

Boston, Nov. 11. 

Harold- E. Fellows, prez of the 
National Assn, of Radio & TV 
Broadcasters; Robert Saudek, AM- 
TV exec of the Ford Foundation; 
Robert ’ W. SarnofT. NBC-TV 
veepee, and gabbers Erwin D. Can- 
ham and Elmo Roper will partici- 
pate in the fifth anni celebration 
for Boston U.’s School of Public 
Relations and Communications. 

Two-day fete Friday and Satur- 
day (14-15) will have a discussion 
on radio’s future, with Saudek. Fel- 
lows and Harvey Slruthers, 
manager of WEEI. taking part. 
Seminar on use of film in TV will 
include SarnofT, vidpic producer 
Jack Chcrtok and Samuel Pinanski, 
prez. American Theatres Corp. 


CSS-TY’s Answer 

V— u.— . Continued from page 23 - 

has. NBC airs the United Nations 
sessions daily from 11 to 11:30, 
which is a public service sustain- 
ed while both ABC and DuMont 
are dark at that time. 

While declining to admit that 
CBS might open up other time pe- 
riods to the same type of flexible 
selling pattern. Thrower said the 
system provides one answer to low- 
ering TV advertising costs, since it 
permits the small-budgeted adver- 
tiser to con.e into TV at low costs. 
And, he pointed out, if the show 
pays off for such sponsors, it can 
convince them to sink their money 
into bigger video shows. CBS sales 
chief cited also the fact that the 
new system is basically the same 
as that offered advertisers by mag- 
azines. so that the web is also going 
after magazine advertisers in its 
bid for new business. 


WJZ-TV 

3 Continued from page 23 ■— 

directors anu assistant directors. 

To inject the station with more 
of a local personality, Mowrev has 
been using a gal, Peggy O’Hara, 
to do live station breaks in song 
and rhyme. Former singer on a 
Philly station. Miss O’Hara sings 
three new jingles each night, scuti 
nights a week, in the 6:30-11 P-tu* 
span. 

Another station-promotion idea 
is being used on the new “Second 
Cup of Coffee” morning strip. Se- 
ries. which has a relaxed approach, 
trailerizes the programs for Ine 
rest of the day in ’ an informal, 
chatty way that blends in with ils 
entertainment elements. 

Approach has been paying oil, 
with the station now bringing i n a 
record amount of coin, and the 
sales permitting the revolving fund 
to be used for additional shows. 


0 



Wjulneflifay, November 12, 1952 


59 


/ 






•f 







>»■ 


for Information 


REEMACK ENTERPRISES 

527 Fifth Avenue, New York 


Phone: MUrray Hill 7-7979 



M RADIO-TELE VTSIOft 

maaa— »*i n i ' < ■' »'' ttymrnrn-m— rm— ■— **^*^****''**' r <ut 

MU' ■rnrim;7Hp«mi.«ni».r ■ « ..III I ■..i.Mi.i.r.n.n. I ■■• I ' ■ " mimnmmvnnsM rn 

Radio Reviews 

-..■-a.- z Continued from page 26 5 s 


with Miller^in his formative years 
and who worked with him after he 
had hit the bigtime. 

It was a hefty undertaking to 
round up the flock of names, out 
special tapes of their Miller 
tributes and intersperse each seg- 
ment with a sample of their musi- 
cal styling but Starr and his aides 
have done a slick editing and 
selection job and the session flows 
smoothly throughout. ‘Through the 
gab of the guesters, session adds 
much to the growing Miller legend. 

Among the music biz artists who 
were rounded up for the tribute 
were Bing Crosby, Ralph Flanagan. 
Rav Anthony, Benny Goodman, 
Kay Starr, Connee Boswell. Billy 
May, Tex Beneke, the Pied Pipers, 
Hal McIntyre. Charlie Spivak and 
the Dorsey brothers (Tommy and 
Jimmy). Gros. 


RED FEATHER QUIZATHON 
With Carl de Suzc, Nelson Bragg, 

others 

5 hours; Sun. (9), 1 p.m. i 

All Boston Stations 

Teeing off the annual Red 
Feather campaign, this one-shot 
five-hour “Quizathon,” carried in 
relays over all local stations, in- 
vited listeners to phone in queries 
regarding health and welfare, 
which, in turn ‘Jvfere answered by 
various experts assembled at point 
of origination. 

Although stations carried the 
program in half-hour segments the 
brunt of the emcee chores was 
handled by WBZ’s Carl de Suze 
and WCOP’s Nelson Bragg, each 
of whom was on the air through- 
out the five-hour stint. Calls were 
taken by various radio and spots 
celebs who volunteered to answer 
phones and dole out questions to 
the proper authorities for answer- 
ing. Sample queries included 
“Will a mastoid operation leave, 
my daughter deaf?” “Do they 
know how cancer gets started?” 
and “How much do campaign work- 
ers get paid?” Each question was 
answered quickly and efficiently 
and a listener following the pro- 
gram around the dials could cer- 
tainly learn plenty about the 
workings of this charitable agency. 

Main beef from listener’s stand- 
point, was the hubbub of back- 
ground noises at studio which at 
times reached such proportions 
that it was difficult to concentrate 


on the question at hand. However, 
this was a “first” and as such went 
off with remarkably few bugs. 

Roy Whisnand, WCOP general 
manager, chairmanned the radio 
committee, and rates a bow for the 
efficiency with which show cut 
from one station to another without 
foulups. Elie. 

1 

JACK LACY SHOWCASE 
With Lacy, R. D. Wilbur Orch, 

guests 

Producer-director: Stan Ediss 
Writer: Irv Lewis 
55 Mins.; Sat., 6:05 p.m, 

WINS, N, Y. 

Jack Lacy, WINS’ powerhouse 
platter spinner, has the basic ele- 
ments for a pleasant “live” ses- 
sion in his “Showcase” stanza but 
it needs plenty of work, especially ; 
in the scripting department, be- 
fore it can expect to win any 
steady dialers. 

Program is pegged on young 
show* biz talent who are given a 
chance to display their talent and 
gab with Lacy on their background 
and aspirations. Lacy is an affable 
host but he’s held down by the 
stilted patter. Attempts ‘at humor 
are weak as is the try for an un- 
inhibited gay mood. The R. D- 
Wilbur orch supplies a nice touch 
with lively instrumentals. 

On show caught, Saturday (8), 
Lacy showcased the singing-writ- 
ing team, Corky Robbins and John- 
ny Bosworth. Duo preemed their 
number, “Don’t Hurt The Girl,” 
and Miss Robbins . soloed “They 
Can’t Takp That Away From Me” 
and Bosworth worked over “I’m 
Yours.” Tunes were delivered with 
appeal arid both came across as 
bright and . eager songsters. The 
Wilbur orch brightened up the 
program with workovers of “You 
Do Something To Me,” “Sentimen- 
tal Journey” and “Don’t Hurt The 
Girl.” Gros. 


Coronation Pix 

Continued from page 2 ; 

Kodachrome. If justified by tlm re- j 
suits, the Coronation may also* be 
filmed as a tinter, thus providing 
something useful in the library, 
which would have a potent reissue. 



value when color transmissions be- 
come the rule. 

The plan for a direct relay from 
London to New York, which was 
dropped about a month ago, would 
have cost a minimum of $250,000. 
Project was shelved when it be- 
came evident that the elaborate re- 
lay equipment required could not 
be made available in time to per- 
mit* extensive experimental work. 
The original project called for 
11 hover planes fitted with re- 
lay equipment. The next best thing 
would have been to fly the films 
over by Comet, which would have 
permitted screening the same 
night. But the new Comet, with 
an adequate range to cross the 
Atlantic, will not be ready until 
the summer of 1954. 


PSI’s Vidpix 

Continued from page 21 ■■......m 

die with Oscar Dancingers about 
production of nine additional films. 
He’ll be in Hollywood Sunday (16) 
for talks with Bernard Tabakin, 
PSI Coast veepee, and William 
Stephens, Coast production super- 
visor., Leonard L. Loewinthan, PSI 
veepee and general counsel, and 
Leon Kaplan, .Los Angele^ attor- 
ney, will participate in these hud- 
dles. 

White announced the opening of 
a Paris office in the Hotel George 
V, which will be in charge of 
Nasht, like the London office. 
White also disclosed the appoint- 
ment of Paris barrister Charles 
Torem as European counsel. 


‘This Is Radio’ 

Continued from page 26 ;,,*, - 

cast of the Michigan .primary ie- 
turns in the year of Harding’s elec- 
tion and the first reactions to ra- 
dio as an infernal “contraption . . . 
liable to blow up any moment right 
in your living room.” 

It told about the first coast-to- 
coast hookup in 1927 for the Rose 
Bowl game; repqrts of the Mexican 
revolution; the round-the-world 
trip of the Graf Zeppelin; Byrd’s 
conquering the South Pole; auto- 
mobile radios in 1930; mobilizing 
to aid the Lindbergh kinapping 
case in 1932; Roosevelt’s fireside 
chats; use of radio in bringing aid 
to flood and other disaster areas; 


Easy to take.. 


3 times daily 



Sales ailing in Philadelphia? 
Take John Trent 3 times daily. 
And now you can , , . because, 
for the first time in HPL’s 
history, WCAU carries 
John Trent 3 times every 
weekday, by listener demand : 


fc:30 am SUNRISE SALUTE 

4:30 pm* THE HOUSEWIVES' 
PROTECTIVE LEAGUE and now: 

10:30 pm STARLITE SALUTE 

Buy participations on any 
combination of these programs 
and you’ll find out why 
sponsors call Trent's shows 


“the most sales-effective 
participating programs in 
Philadelphia.” He’s just what 
the doctor ordered ... for 
you. Call us for the full 
story on rates, availabilities, 
and HPL merchandising. 


*9:00 AM Saturday 


THE HOUSEWIVES’ PROTECTIVE LEAGUE programs on WCAU 

Philadelphia • 50,000 watts • Represented by CBS Radio Spot Sales 


Wednesday, November 12, X952 


Inside Stuff— Television 

Betty Carr, WDTV, Pittsburgh, staffer who won the $1,000 first n,.* 
on Dennis James’ “Chance of a Lifetime” program last week w P 1 a* 
cided not to take the booking at the Palace Theatre in New y?* 
that’s customarily part of the award package." Miss Carr has a dati 
show in Pitt with her husband, Charlie Baldour, and figures that win 
what she’d lose there for a week, together with traveling and living 
expenses in New York, in addition to some new gowns, the Palace p 
gagement would cost her money. So singer’s only pocketing the 
and calling the rest of the deal quits. 8 and 


American Telephone & Telegraph, keeping pace with the- launching 
of new television markets, has set plans for making microwave faoiii 
ties available to connect Holyoke and Springfield, Mass., and New 
Brunswick, Conn., to nationwide video networks. Connection is in 
be made to the N. Y.-Boston radio-relay system at an intermediate 
microwave tower about 120 miles north of N. Y. City. New links are 
expected to be ready for use early next year. e 


King Edward’s abdication state- 
ment in 1936; the Hindenburg 
explosion; church services, educa- 
tional programs; music, variety 
shows, comedy shows, quiz shows, 
setting-up exercises — in short, the 
•story of radio. It was swiftly-paced 
and hard hitting. 

The narrator was Jay Michael, 
with songs by Dee Parker and 
John Connely and sketches by 
Ernie Winstanley, Lee Allman and 
Rollon Parker; sound by Ray Kui- 
pers. All of them were good and 
well-cast. 

“This Is Radio” was a fitting 
tribute to a communication me- 
dium which has had far-reaching 
effects on the lives of all of us. 

Tew. 


It’s ‘Lucy,’ Berle 

-■ ■ ■ - Continued from page 1 - , 

ally-projected Nielsens since the 
return of the major TV attractions 
for the ’52-’53 season. 

Significant are the absence from 
the lineup of such major showcases 

as the Sid Caesar-Imogene Coca 
“Show of Shows” and “All Star 
Revue,” two of the more costly 
video packages. In the national 
Nielsens, “Show of Shows” in the 
past has invariably copped Top 10 
attention. 

The Berle ratings indicates that 
he’s found the right formula for 
a reemergence into the Nielsen 
bigtime. 

On basis of homes reached here’s 
how the Nielsens shape up: 


Homes 

"I Love Lucy”. 12,324,000 

“Texaco Star Theatre” 9,454,000 

"Godfrey & Friends” 9,009,000 

(Chesterfield) 

“Colgate Comedy Hour” 8,903,000 

“Dragnet” 8,902.000 

“Buick Circus Hour" 8,856,000 

“You Bet Your Life” 8.586,000 

“Arthur Godfrey & Friends”.. 8,310,000 
(Pilisbury) 

“Godfrey & Friends” 8,000,000 

(Toni-Gilielte) 

“Gangbusters” 7,860,000 


WTAM-WNBK 

Continued from page 24 
and is — the Johnny Andrew’s mu- 
sical variety fiesta, now' SRO and 
grabbing off an exclusive chunk 
of ratings. Although Andrews was 
imported from Manhattan, he’s al- 
ready entrenched himself as a 
community personality. He’s here 
to stay. (Gaines, envisioning pro- 
gramming hypoes for other out- 
of-town o & 'o’s, is currently au- 
ditioning for an early-morning 
showcase on NBC’s Washington 
station ) . 

To further solidify the WTAM- 
WNBK new-found community rec- 
ognition, Shea figured that, since 
Cleveland is a major steel center 
with the town’s top payroll, and 
since so many Clevelanders knew 
so little about where so many of 
their husbands and fathers worked, 
he took the TV cameras to the 
Lake Erie shorefront to depict the 
unloading of 18,000 tons of ore. 
And, in a subsequent series of 
five shows, he followed through on 
the subject to its final conclusion. 
Into the steel blast furnace rooms 
went the cameras, the open hearth, 
the steel rolling mill — all were 
visualized in one of the town’s 
notable public service community 
series. 

Presently, in conjunction with 
Western Reserve University. She^ 
is set to preem a “job aptitude” 
scries which augurs a video pre- 
cedent. And in January, in coop- 
eration with Life magazine, the 
station will inaugurate a series in 
which Cleveland will be depicted 
as a kind of “Middletown USA” In 
portraying cultural development 
of American cities. That WNBK 
should be singled out as the TV 
showcase for the series is a tribute 
to “Operations Shea.” 


New Bankroller On 
‘Grand Central’ 

“Grand Central Station.” a per- 
ennial Saturday morning show on 
CBS Radio for years before it lost 
its sponsor two months ago re- 
turns to the web’s Saturday ’line- 
up Dec. 6 with a new bankroller 
Cream of Wheat has bought the 
show as a replacement for its 
“Let’s Pretend,” also a CBS per- 
ennial, and will slot it in the 11:05 
to 11:30 a.m. period. 

“Pretend” has been drawing a 
hefty 4 to 4.5 rating, considered 
good for Saturday mornings, so 
CBS will sustain the show in hopes 
of luring another sponsor. Tt will 
probably move the program back 
to the 10:30 to 11 slot, replacing 
“Smilin’ Ed McConnell,” which is 
being dropped by Brown Shoes. 
Period from 11 to 11:05 is occu- 
pied by Bill Shadell and the News, 
bankrolled by Campana. 


Don W. Lyon Director Of 
AM-TV at U. of Rochester 

Syracuse, Nov, 11. 

Don W. Lyon, TV program chief 
at Syracuse U., has been appointed 
director of TV and radio of the 
U. of Rochester. He will take up 
his new duties Nov. 15. 

Under the Rochester setup. Lyon 
also will serve . as assistant pro- 
fessor of TV education in the 
School - of Liberal and Applied 
Studies. 

A veteran TV-radio man. Lyon 
has had 14 years experience as a 
writer, announcer and director in 
New York, Troy and Syracuse. 



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Times change, Mr. Longfellow. Specifically, the early 
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Along came WCBS-TV’s “Early Show” at 6:15, 
and a revolution in more than a million New York 

homes . Its top feature films drew mothers from the 

* 

kitchen, fathers straightway from work. It changed 
dinner hours . . . moved TV sets into dining rooms. 

While competitive shows were still attracting 
chiefly children, “The Early Show” came up with a 
73% adult audience! 

And this audience not only grew older. It grew 
far bigger, “The Early Show” increased its share- 
of-audience from 23% to 56%— more than the other 
six New York stations combined!. 

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Wednesday, November 12 1 , 1952 



New York 

ABC-TV director Bob Doyle off 
on a three-week motor tour of the 
South “Trash or Treasure,” Ar- 
nold Peyser package, shifted to 
Thursdays at 9 p.m. on DuMont. . . 
Ed Herlihjr and Perry Como to 
judge contest for the Roslyn, L.I. f 
Jewish Centre . Ben Grauer 
working on a book on his recent 
survey of Europe 


the Milton Berle show last night 
tTues.), but will be back next week 
. . . WNBT newscaster Bob Wilson 
copped second prize in an upper. 
Hudson motorboat race . . .. Swan- 
son food is sticking with ABC-TV’s 
“Name’s the Same”; Johnson’s wax 
is coming in to take the niche be- 
ing vacated by Bendix. 

Drama critic Ethel Colby’s 
“Broadway Matinee” extended to 
five days weekly on the DuMont 


Les Wintz and Richard La Man web at 12:30 p.m. ...Singer Fran 


have opened a packaging and pro- 
duction office in New York. Both 
were formerly with Bernard Schu- 
bert office. 

Marcal has bought 13 Buster 
Keaton films for airing on WABD, 
via Calkins & Holden . . Martin 
Kosleck doing the solo-perform- 
ance on “One Man’s Experience” 
on DuMont this week . .Tito Vuolo 
has replaced Carlo De Angelo in 
title role of WJZ-TV’s “Papa Cel- 
lini,” De Angelo will resume his 
production chores after recovering 
from his recent illness . . Fudder, 
Smith & Ross has signed George 
F. Foley to produce a color film, 
narrated by Thomas Mitchell, for 
Plymouth Cordage . Donald Buka 
stars with Olive Deering in ABC- 
TV’s “Tales of Tomorrow” Friday 
(14). 

Brig. Gen.. David Samoff, RCA 
board chairman, spoke on “World 
Brotherhood and Science” at the 
25th anni luncheon in Washington 
yesterday • (Tues.) of the National 
Conference of Christians and Jews. 
Speech was aired as a simulcast 
by NBC . . Chrysler Dealers of 
N. Y. named Bermingham, Castle- 
man & Pierce as thejr ad agency 
for TV in the metropolitan area. 

Embassy cigarets picked up its 
option with NBC for another 13- 
week ride on the Bob (Elliott) & 
Ray (Goulding) “Embassy Club,” 
aired Tuesday nights from 10:30 to 
10:45 . . . Martin Kosleck, usually 
cast as a Nazi or other villain, has 
his first sympathetic role this week 
as star of WABD’s “One Man’s Ex- 
perience,” broadcast cross-the 
board from 11:45 a.m. to noon . . 
Sam Goldwyn, now east in connec- 
tion with the preem of his “Hans 
Christian Andersen” film, trying 
to influence Ed Sullivan to orig- 
inate his “Sam Goldwyn Story” via 
CBS-TV’s “Toast of the Town” 
from Hollywood . . . Bermingham, 
Castleman & Pierce set as agency 
for Chrysler Dealers of N. Y. for 
their TV .activities, which includes 
sponsorship of “Leave It to the 
Girls” via WNBT . . . Legit-TV 
actor Ivan MacDonald back fron/ 
the Army and making the TV cast- 
ing office rounds. 

Dorothy B. McCann leaves for 
the Coast Monday (17) to super- 
vise filming on commercials for 
“Death Valley Days”; due back 
Thanksgiving . . . ABC-TV launches 
a new “brandy and cigars” gab 
program, “Perspective,” tomorrow 
(Thurs.) at 9 p.m., with UN as- 
sembly prez Lester I^earson, Dean 
Rusk and Bethuel M. Webster 
participating . . . Edith Barstow, ill 
with a virus, couldn’t do her cus- 
tomary choreographic chores for 


Warren started as a regular on 
NBC’s Winchell-Mahoney show 
Monday night (10) . .Actor Robert 
Christopher set for a role on Du 
Mont’s “Plainclothesman” Sunday 
night (16). 


controversial topics . . . William 
Winter and the News parting com- 
pany with Jenkel-Davidson after 
two years of sponsorship. Winter 
picks up new KPIX sponsor; Jen- 
kel-Davidson negotiating for new 
show . Local scribes skying to 
Hollywood for CBS Television City 
premiere . , . New KPIX local 
shows: Wilma .Wright as “Your 
Glamour Counsel”; Gordon Ham- 
mett and Wanda Wirth co-hosting 
“The Descowear Show.” a variety 
affair mixing music with food . . . 
Carol Levene giving six “Behind 
the Scenes in TV” lectures at Ben- 
jamin Franklin Adult School . . . 
Wanda Ramey hosting a new “Art 
Is Fun” segment on Jay Grill’s 
“Fun Matinee,” Tuesdays. 


Shades of Orson 


Hollywood 

Dorothy Pearson returned to 
Coast after winding up TV writ- 
ing commitments in Gotham . . . 
Prexy Don Fedderson of Television 
Broadcasters of Southern Califor- 
nia received award on behalf of 
group from Goodwill Industries in 
recognition of public service for 
physically handicapped . . . Milt 
Rosner joined Warner Taub at In- 
dependent Artists Agency to han- 
dle TV and AM contacts . . . Patti 
Moore and Ben Lessy and the 
Bell Sisters inked for Donald 
O'Connor show on Colgate Com- 
edy Hour on NBC-TV Nov. 16 . . . 
KLAC-TV to cover world preem of 
Arch Oboler’s “Bwana Devil” .at 
Hollywood Paramount, Nov. 26, 
with Barbara Britton, Nigel Bruce 
and Robert Stack, in cast of three- 
dimensional film, to be on telecast 
. . . “You Asked For It” renewed 
for 52 weeks on ABC-TV by Skippy 
Peanut Butter . . . Mercedes Mc- 
Cambridge leaves this week for 
N. Y. where she will make her 
home with her hubby, Fletcher 
Markle, and her son, John . . . 
“Space Patrol” time slot shifted 
Saturdays on KECA-TV, from 6:30 
p.m. Coast time to 11 a.m. Coast 
time . . . A1 Jarvis and spouse re- 
turned from vacash . . . California 
Teachers Association, Southern 
Section, named Groucho Marx TV 
ehairman, and Eve Arden and 
Phyllis Kirk pix chairmen for anni 
observance of American Education 
Week . . . ABC-TV grabbed video 
rights to Olympic Auditorium 
wrestling, with telecasts to start 
in December for 11 western states; 
two-hour weekly program is al- 
ready sold out . . . Claude McCue, 
exec secretary on coast of Ameri- 
can Federation of Television and 
Radio Artists, to N. Y. to partici- 
pate in network negotiations. 

San Francisco 

“I Love Lucy” topped both Tele- 
pulse and ARB-Teleque polls for 
this area . '. . Lucille Bliss cele- 
brated second birthday of her 
"Happy Birthday” show with local 
columnists, headed by* Ted Friend, 
interviewing moppets for a change 
of pace and laughs . . . Dr. Lloyd 
Luckman’s “Gold Label Round 
Table,” previously devoted to po- 
litical issues, switched format after 
the election, began new series on 



Chicago 

Jack Drees debuted a weekly in- 
terview sports show Monday nights 
on WENR-TV, with Grover J. Al- 
len directing , . . Frank Hogan 
handling the p.a. bookings for 
Johnny Coons, who’s racking up 
big ratings as host of WNBQ’s 
“Noontime Comics” . . . Russ Reed 
and Jim Green currently in NBC- 
TV’s “Hawkins Falls” . . .Joe Wil- 
son grabbed of the assignment to 
call the Black Hawk hockey Sun- 
day night telecasts when they bow 
the first of the year „via WBKB 
. . . Burr Tillstrom and his “Kukla, 
Fran & Ollie” entourage trekked 
up to Milwaukee Friday (7) for the 
annual p.a. at Gimbel’s department 
store. Troupe is mulling a Cali- 
fornia junket in January. 

Canada Dry is spotting “Terry 
and the Pirates” vidpix alternate 
weeks on WGN-TV, starting Dec. 6 
, , . Sun-Times columnist Irv Kup- 
cinet’s nightly stint on WBKB 
stays bankrolled, with Sandra 
Motors taking over from Manhat- 
tan Motors . . . Cowkick Bob 
Atcher preems a new video rodeo 
display Saturday morning (15) 
on WENR-TV . . . Dolpli Nelson 
and Jack Payne have taken over 
as co-hosts on WGN-TV’s “Hi 
Ladies,” with regular emcee Tom 
Moore off on his annual Florida 
junket . . . Paul Harvey resumes 
his ABC-TV commentating Sunday 
(16), with Burton-Dixie hoisting 
the tab . . . Daily News scribe 
Tony Weitzel and frau Dorothy 
“working a new Sunday afternoon 
half-hour on WBKB for Style 
Crest Furniture . . . Douglas Fair- 
banks telepix series bows on WGN- 
TV Dec. 16 under Phillips Petro- 
leum auspices . . . Oxydol picked 
up a new Ulmer Turner five-min- 
ute newscast on WBKB. 


London 

Sir John Barbirolli will intro- 
duce the Halle Orchestra in “The 
Conductor Speaks”. Nov. 20. . .Rob- 
ert Atkins and Mary Kerridge will 
head the cast in “The Merry Wives 
of Windsor” Sunday (16), which 
Julian Amyes will stage . . . Last of 
the series of “This is Show Busi- 
ness,” presented by Vic Oliver 
Nov. 22, will include Phyllis Cal- 
vert, Jack Watling, Natasha Litvin 
and Richard Dimbleby Winston 
Clewes’ “It’s An 111 Wind” will be 
produced by Dennis Vance next 
Tuesday (18), with Dodo Watts, Vi 
Stevens, Gwen Cherrill and Basil 
Appleby . . . “Florentine Bronze" 
will be featured in the children’s 
program Nov. 20, when John Slater 
and David Spenser will top the 
cast ... “Toppers About Town,” 
produced by Richard Afton Nov. 
21, will be telecast from the Baga 
telle Restaurant, with Nancy Dono- 
van as star. 


Lag in Educ’l TV 


^Continued from page 57 


all stations in this 
richest market. 

Let it sell your product effectively, 
economically. 

Write for information. 


•figure! releoted Augim I9S2 
by U. S Dopt. of Commerce. 

i ; 


AoprtJtnforf by 


ROBERT MEEKER ASSOCIATES 

New York Chicago Los Angeles San Francisco 


non-commercial educational appli 
cants, he said. 

If permits are granted, however, 
and construction of the non-com- 
mercial TV station is not started 
within 60 days because of lack of 
funds or other reasons, prospective 
commercial station promoters have 
the privilege to come in and ask 
that the permit be forfeited and 
awarded to them, and unless spe- 
cial circumstances warrant an ex- 
tension such procedure is likely, he 
pointed out. 

Minderman and other speakers 
urged that the non-commercial ed- 
ucational TV interests get the ball 
rolling with their plans as speed- 
ily as possible. 

Devoted to discussions of prob- 
lems and procedures in connection 
with non-commercial educational 
TV and radio reports on institu- 
ions with TV construction -permits 
md educational TV projects in the 
banning stage, the convention had 
‘S speakers, in addition to Minder- 
nan, FCC chairman Walker; G. H. 
Griffiths, director of Mass Media 
•'und for Adult Educational; Syd- 
ney Roslow, Pulse director; Ralph 


Unusual script on ABC-TV’s “Tales of Tomorrow” Friday (71, 
which simulated a mysterious technical mishap in which an “ac- 
tual” drama “disrupted” production of the telecast, resulted in 
150 calls jamming the web’s N. Y. switchboard. Handling was so 
realistic that WCPO-TV, Cincy, not informed about the stunt and 
thinking that there actually was a technical failure, threw in a 
standby slide for a period while it checked the network by phone. 

Script, by Frank P. De Felitta, started out with a typical “Tales” 
science fiction yearn, which lasted two minutes and was then in- 
terrupted by a picture taken through a window in which a hus- 
band, his wife and her lover were talking. Scene then cut to the 
studio, where producer Mort Abrams, ABC eastern technical op- 
erations manager, actor Roger De Koven, floor manager Jim Walsh, 
director Don Medford, cameramen and technicians were shown 
trying to figure out the mysterious signal and get their own show 
back on the air. Mystery pickup showed the husband being mur- 
dered, and the phone calls came from viewers, many of whom 
thought the stunt was on the level and a crime had really been 
committed. 

Kreisler watchbands, alternate-week sponsor, of “Tales,” got its 
commercial in during the time when the web was supposed to 
have temporarily gotten its signal back on the air. 


Steele, And others. Burton Palu, 
NAEB secretary, presided. 

Discussions revealed that the big 
problem is raising of necessary 
funds for construction and mainte- 
nance of non-commercial educa- 
tional TV stations through legisla- 
tive appropriations or otherwise. 


Mutual Lops 

Continued from page 23 


several alternative courses open, 
according to MGMRA topper Ber- 
tram Lebhar, Jr. One possibility is 
for the Loew’s, Inc., outfit to go 
back into the syndication field, in 
which it was for a couple of years 
prior to making the MBS deal In 
the summer of 1951. (Mutual paid 
$2,000,000 for the package for the 
two-season run.) Another course is 
setting another "contract with an- 
other network, in which eventuality 
it would probably add fresh mate- 
rial. Another potential is for Metro 
to get out of the transcription field 
entirely, selling its platters to a 
transcription company which ped- 
dles open-end shows. 

The Paula Stone show, which 
MGM produced and sold on its 
own to two sponsors, Pequot Mills 
(Naumkeag Steam Cotton) and 
Amana Refrigerator, will continue. 
Show, beamed Monday-Friday at 
10:15 a.m. (with a repeat at 2:30 
p.m,), has a firm 52-week contract 
with Pequot, which backs the Tues- 
day and Thursday segments, and 
Amana is expected to hold on to 
the other three days. This series 
is also carried on the Loew’s N. Y. 
outlet, WMGM. 

Julius* Seebach, MBS program 
v.p., is currently wrapping up de- 
tails on the new properties, which 
start Dec. 29. 


Milwaukee — Blaine Walsh has 
joined the announcing staff of 
WTMJ and WTMJ-TV. He former- 
ly served as news director at 
WDUZ, Green Bay, Wis., and an- 
nouncer and program director at 
WJPG, Green Bay. 


WNBC’s ‘Ain’t We Devils’ 
Promotional Bally To 
Herald Rayburn Shift 

With Gene Rayburn shifting 
from his long tenure at WNEW, 
N.Y. radio indie, to NBC’s flagship, 
WNBC, starting Monday (17). the 
WNBC promotion staffers have 
lined up a series of unique bally- 
hoo stunts to herald the event to 
both the public and agencies. Most 
of the campaign will be pegged to 
the line that “Rayburn Returns to 
NBC,” since the disk jockey start- 
ed his career at that network as 
a page boy. 

Hoopla opens with a cocktailery 
tomorrow (Thurs.) at the Rainbow 
Room, N.Y., which is being tagged 
as a “record shower” so diskery 
execs can bring their latest press- 
ings to Rayburn for use on his new 
show. Tying in with the page boy 
motif, WNBC will have all cur- 
rent NBC pages “fall out” in 
honor of Rayburn in Rockefeller 
Centre that day, with other pages 
who have subsequently won repu- 
tations serving as an honor guard. 
For the agencies, a group of men 
with crew haircuts a la Rayburn 
will parade around the agency of- 
fices bearing sandwich signs say- 
ing that “Rayburn returns to 
NBC.” 

' As the clincher, the station has 
arranged to buy up most of the 
N. Y. Times and Herald Tribune 
editions next Monday from all the 
newsstands in suburban West- 
chester and Connecticut. Inserts 
plugging Rayburn’s show will be 
stuffed in the papers and they’ll 
then be handed out for free to 
commuters on the railroad, on the 
basis that most agency execs com- 
mute on that line. 


Detroit — The national and Michi- 
gan offices of the Veterans of For- 
eign Wars have recognized WJR’s 
outstanding sendee to veterans 
with an unusual dual presentation 
of citations at the annual VFW 
fall convention. 


Profitable TV Audience 
exclusive with 

WGALTV 


LANCASTER. PENNA 


Only TV station m — only TV 
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Represented by 

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New York Los Angeteft San Francisco Chicago 









Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


P'K^FEff 


63 



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In the first three-quarters of 1952, more 1 advertisers bought more time 
on WCAU-TV than on any other Philadelphia TV station.* 

• MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS 

• MORE PARTICIPATIONS 

• MORE SPONSORED UNITS 

• MORE NATIONAL, SPOT ADVERTISERS 

• MORE TOTAL. ADVERTISERS 


p/£ 




• WCAU-TV CARRIES 8 OF THE TOP 10 

PROGRAMS IN THE PHILADELPHIA MARKET.** 


SPEAKING FOR FREEDOM 



WCAU-TV 


*Rorabaugh **ARI S«pt., 1952 


the PHILADELPHIA BULLETIN TELEVISION STATION • CBS AFFILIATE • REPRESENTED BY CBS TELEVISION SPOT SALES 


64 


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f^SzTSrr 


Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


Television Reviews 


Continued from page 25 


surefire attention-grabber with this 
Saturday morning show pegged at 
aviation-minded youngsters. As a 
matter of fact, “Jet Pilot” looks 
potent enough to win votes from 
a lot of dads, too. 

It’s obvious that JHeinemann got 
plenty of financial backing from 
his superiors on this project. Show 
is laid out in a realistically trim- 
med hangar office and had the ap- 
pearance of being a three-camera 
job. Working the program are pro 
thesps Jerry Garvey, who plays the 
air-minded teenager, ana George 
Cisar, as Spike the airport me- 
chanic. Lt. Cmdr. Robert Horder, 
commander of a Navy jet squad- 
ron at the Glenview Air Base, has 
the big task as the airport man- 
ager. 0 

The youngster wandered into the 
office and struck up a conversation 
with the commander and the 
grease monkey, who decided it 
would b? fun to teach the lad how 
to fh\ First off, Spike established 
some of the history of flight by 
showing Jerry a batch of Leonardo 
da Vinci sketches. Then Com- 
mander Horder took over, and us- 
ing an excellently integrated com- 
bination of film and blackboard 
drawings, explained the funda- 
mental principles of aerodynamics. 
Session finaled with the first of a 
series of plane identifications, 
again using charts and models. 

The really complicated produc- 
tion came off clean as a whistle 
and the trio romped through the 
affair with a fine degree of ease 
and naturalness. Considering his 
tyro status. Commander Horder 
handled the assignment in great 
style. 

This is commercial* teevee at its 
educational best — expertly paced 
and with full use of the medium's 
visual values. The series may well 
me 7,51 consideration for n» f '~ork 
display. Dare. 


GADGET GALLERY 

With Bob Isaacson, Z. R. Segal 

Producer: Isaacson 

15 Mins.; Tues. and Fri., 5:45 p.m. 

Particroaling 

WOR-TV, N. Y. 

While the makeup and operation 
of gadgets obviously are vastly in- 
teresting to almost everyone, 
“Gadget Gallery” succeeds in mak- 
ing thorn vastly disinteresting. For 
the preem of this 15-minute, twice- 
weekly show 1 on WOR-TV, N. Y., 
Friday (7) was marred with banal 
dialog, awkward continuity and 
long blurbs for the sponsor. 

Producer Bob Isaacson, who 
conducts the show with Z. R. Segal, 
muffed the name of his bankroller 
and frequently was at loss for 
words. Segal was no better. For- 
mat called for them to be seated 


HARPO MARX 

NBC -TV 
RCA-VICTOR 

Mgt.: GUMMO MARX 


at a table and demonstrate such 
I gadgets as a paint sprayer, closet 
; Ught and a knitting device. 

If intelligently ""presented-, - the 
use of gadgets could command a 
! wide viewer audience. But few 
set-owners will stay on channel 9 
merely to watch two guys sit at a 
table and make with the small talk 
for the entire 15 minutes. Show 
of this nature calls for movement, 
better continuity and more practi- 
cal demonstrations of the product. 
Jamaica Stove & Furniture picks 
up the tab on Fridays, Allen Car- 
pet Shop on Tuesdays. Gilb. 

YOUR GRAB BAG SHOW 
With Wally Sherwin. Cindy Urban 
Producer: Sherwin 
Director: George Vieira 
30 Mins.; Sat., 5:3.0 -p.m. 

CREST FURNITURE 
KECA-TV, Hollywood 
• This new quiz show is reminis- 
cent of the dinosaur era of televi- 
sion, when programs were aimed 
1 not as entertainment, but* to fill 
! a timeslot at the lowest possible 
cost. The giveaway show is over- 
loaded with commercials not only 
for the sponsor, but for each firm 
giving away a gift 

Priducer-emcee Wally Sherwin 
and his assistant, Cindy Urban, 
show stills of silent pix stars, and 
trick is for the viewer to identify 
the star of yesterday, thereby win- 
ning a present. Background music 
(canned) is the only entertainment 
in the 30 minutes. 

Not much can be said for this 
throwback to the stone age of TV. 
George Vieira is credited as direc- 
tor. which, it’s assumed, means he 
directed the commercials. Crest 
Furniture angels. Daku. 

FINAL DECISION 
With John A. Eckler, host; Murray 
Lockhard, announcer, panel of 
lawyers. 

Producer-director: John Haldi. 
Writer: Huntington Carlisle, John 
Brown, John Mitchell. 

30 Mins., alt. Tues., 8:30 p.m. 
WBNS-TV, . Columbus. 

This panel show puts the lawyers 
on the spot. It was cooked up by 
the station in cooperation with the 
Columbus Bar Assn., which sup- 
plies the questions and a panel of 
three attorneys. John Eckler, a 
telegenic law partner of Sen. John 
Bricker, is the host and briefly 
presents an actual case to the panel 
— all except the decision. The 
lawyers are given two minutes to 
arrive at their own ruling and af- 
ter they do, an offstage Voice of* 
Legal Authority gives the real de- 
cision, the reasons therefore and 
cites the court which delivered it. 

Cases are selected with an eye to 
variety and range all over the le- 
gal landscape from those involving 
wills and marriage agreements to 
crimes and misdemeanors. 

Near the end of the show the 
panel is given a set of clues and 
asked to identify from these a fa- 
mous or infamous person involved 
in the courts. Recently the clues 
were all puns: a herring for Goer- 
ipg, a ribbon for Ribbentrop and 
Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer for 


Hess, all of which led to the Num- 
f berg Trials and Robert Jackson, the 
. chief prosecutor. 

j The show usually winds up with 
; each lawyer relating an unusual 
law that exists somewhere. 

“Final Decision” is tricked out 
with some neat production ideas. 
When the Voice of Authority ren- 

i ders the rea l decision, a copy of 

f Themis (Blind "Ju stice) - -is- shown 
i tipping the scales to proper level. 

1 The “mystery guest” is outlined in 
I light sitting in a chair, and the 
i three clues to him are shown the 
i TV audience at the beginning of 
, the program. 

Snow is high in I.Q., which seems 
the only way to pitch when you’re 
opposite Berle. It is highly inter- 
esting and should appeal to the in- 
quisitive jyid curious-minded. In 
the firmament of panels this places 
high in the upper third. Dean. 


From the Production Centres 


Continued from page 26 


Due to a Reorganization We 

Must Lose the Services of a Competent,, 

Superbly-qualified Administrator ... 


EXECUTIVE PRODUCER-DIRECTOR 


* • • , who is a Vice-president and 

member of our management team. 

We are anxious to find the right spot for this man. He is a 
Skilled recording director, has dealt with top talent of all 
kinds both here and abroad. He is a fine musician, producer, 
director— and an excellent administrator — he heads his own 
department. Extensive experience in radio and TV. Excellent 
budget-sense, has dealt with unions, is an asset to any or- 
ganization in the entertainment or allied fields. We will be 
proud to put you in touch with him. 

• % 

Write Box V-0177 

0 

Variety, 154 W. 46th Street 
New York 36, N. Y. 


VIC PERRY 

Director: Bill Taylor 

15 Mins.; Mon.-thru-Fri., 10 p.m. 

COLE-FINDER 

WBKB, Chicago 

( Rocklin-Irving ) 

Former film actor Vic Perry has 
taken over the curbstone duties 
held down for nearly four years 
by Ernie Simon on this WBKB 
man - on - the - Streeter. On show 
caught (5), the bearded emcee evi- 
denced that he still hasn't got the 
“feel” for this sort of an off-the- 
cuff free wheeler. Even by infor- 
mal standards, this particular ses- 
sion was a prett; ragged affair. 

Most of the stanza this time was 
an unveiling of Perry’s prediction 
of the election outcome, which had 
been written down before the vot- 
ing started and sealed lip by an 
armed messenger service. Armed 
guards in an armored truck re- 
turned the prediction on the post- 
election program. It was revealed 
that Perry had guessed that Gen- 
eral Eisenhower would win with 
a popular tally of 31,895,000 votes 
and a electoral vote of 450. Guess 
was amazingly accurate. It was a 
good topical gadget but “over-pro- 
duced.” 

Regular interviews with the Loop 
nightlifers got a fast shuffle and 
added up to little excitement for 
the home viewers. Dave. 


the U. S. Junior Chamber of Commerce , . . WWDC sportscaster Bob 
Wolff currently raising, a $2,400 fund to send a local junior football 
team to the “Santa Claus Bowl,” annual moppet grid classic in Lake- 
land, Ha, . j. . Gunnar Back, WMAL^ABC newsman, was guest modera- 
tor for fourth ' time - orf Web’s ' “America’s- Town Meeting of the Air” 
on Armistice Day . . . Bob Raiford, U. of South Carolina student, has 
joined WTOP-CBS staff of radio announcers . . . Boh Addie, local sports 
writer, and his wife, the former Pauline Betz, tennis champ, have 
teed off a new husband-wife sports show over WMAL-TV. 

IN PITTSBURGH . .’. 

Mary Lou Tardio, secretary of the Pittsburgh Radio & Television 
Club, has resigned from the Cavanaugh-Morris advertising agency to 
join the Whitman-Shoop outfit . . . Sam Levenson will be the toast- 
master for the Bonds to Israel dinner at the Schenley Hotel Nov. 19 
. . . Dale Jackson of KDKA has taken over Vickie Corey's, radio writ- 
ing classes at the U. of Pittsburgh while she’s touring Africa . . . 
Jerry Lee, cameraman at WDTV, has been upped to a director’s .berth 
. . . Hilary Bogden, WPAS newscaster and disk jockey, has joined the 
Pittsburgh Opera chorus again and is* now busy rehearsing “Car- 
men” . . . Mildred Eisler is chief engineer Ray Rodgers' new Girl Fri- 
day at Channel 3- She replaces Virginia Rix, who resigned to marry 
Rodgers’ assistant. Bob Markle . . . Engineer Mike Sedore celebrating 
his 12th anniversary with KQV this month . . . Olga Thomson and 
Helen Reagan have just been added to the WDTV accounting depart- 
ment . . . Carl Dozer, sales manager of WCAE, has been elected Chief 
Barker of the ‘Variety Club here for 1953 . . . Gimbels department 
store reported to be preparing to file for one of the three UHF chan- 
nels allocated to Pittsburgh. 

US PHILADELPHIA . . . 

Plans roi a local non-commercial TV station will be revealed Fri- 
day (3 4. at educators meetings in Franklin Institute ... “I Love Lucy” 
led the local poll ratings for October ... TV and radio stars will fea- 
l turo Giabels Thanksgiving Day Parade. Taking part will be Hop- 
along Cassidy (William Boyd), Tom Corbett and his Space Cadets, Den- 
! nis James “Cliuckwagon" Pete Boyle, Willie the Worm, Patches the 
Clown, Gene Crane, Clarabelle, Chief Half town and McGuire . . . 
RCA Victor Division, RCA, will honor 129 men and 29 women. wHo have 
achieved 25 years ot service with the company The ceremonies held 
at plant locations will culminate with a banquet in Philadelphia (22), 
at which 1,100 new aucl old members of the 25-year-club will be hon- 
ored . . . WKDN, Camden, N. J., has put out a column written by Jim 
Nadline, about PhiLv and South Jersey radio ancl TV doings, to be (lis- 
! tributed Tree to weekues in South Jersey. 


RUSSELL SAGE COLLEGE 
30 Mins.; Mon., 11 a.m. 

Sustaining 

WRGB, Schenectady 

Russell Sage College tees off 
the second year in WRGB’s “Com- 
munity Campus” series, embracing 
three area institutions whose fac- 
ulty members and students dis- 
cuss subjects covered in the cur- 
riculum, Dr. Justin Emerson, of 
the English department at Troy, 
an assistant, and several women 
students considered the United 
Nations and UNESCO on the first 
half-hour viewed. Dr. Isabelle 
Taylor and five girls in her psy- 
chology class analyzed fortune- 
telling on the second program. 

The latter probably hit a high 
water mark in popular appeal of 
the topics so far agendaed on cam- 
pus' originations. It may encour- 
age participating colleges to sched- 
ule other subjects which have a 
wide interest to the television au- 
dience. Block was rather well han- 
dled, despite at start slowness and 
other minor flaws. 

Sage College scored a reason- 
ably creditable mark in the new 
medium last year. There are rea- 
sons to believe it will show steady, 
if not spectacular, progress this 
season, as bright, earnest, attrac-’ 
tive girls and knowing professors 
collaborate. Jaco. 


Radio-TV’s Election Bows 


Continued from page 21 


T* 


Vitapix 

Continued from page 21 


Toomey and Sara Haden and 
“Trail Blazers.” Broidy is a vee- 
pee of Vitapix. e 

Firm also announced it had ac- 
quired rights to more than 100 
Tele-disks, three minute films syn- 
chronized with platters. 

Robert H. Wormhoudt, prexy of 
the firm, will direct operations and 
i sales. Other officers, in addition to 
j Broidy, are Don G. Campbell, 
| L.A. electronics supplier, veepee 
i and treasurer; and directors in- 
clude* John E. Fetzer," prexy of 
Michigan’s WKZO-AM-TV and 
WJEF; C. Howard Lane, prexy of 
KOIN, Portland, Ore., and KJR, 
Seattle and part owner of KFBI, 
Wichita; Harry C. Wilder, who re- 
tired a month ago as president and 
director of WSYR-AM-FM-TV, 
Syracuse, N.Y.; Richard A. Borel, 
general manager of WBNS-TM-TV, 
Columbus; and attorney Horace L. 
Lohnes. 


broadcast station spots aggregated 
nearly 3,000 hours of time. 

While many other organizations 
joined in the campaign, NARTB 
i points out, the Foundation depend- 
ed on local broadcasters for lead- 
ership at the “grass roots” level. 
Stations made their facilities avail- 
able to various community groups, 
aided, in furnishing transportation 
of citizens to the polls, provided 
baby-sitter service, helped election 
officials in preparing for the heavy 
turnout, and performed many other 
services. 

Calling the drive the most suc- 
cessful “sales campaign” in broad- 
casting history* NARTB prexy Har- 
old Fellows declared in extending 
congratulations to the industry for 
its support to the “register- and 
vote” appeal: 

“There are three particularly 
heart-warming aspects to this story. 
First, the listeners and viewers of 
America have demonstrated in con- 
vincing fashion their loyalty to- 
ward reliance upon radio and tele- 
vision. Second, broadcasting has 
added a ne^v chapter to its 30-year 
record of public’-spirited good citi- 
zenship. And third, one cannot 
help ‘but feel that the unparalleled 
coverage given to the conventions, 
the campaign, and the issues by TV 
and radio have created in the citi- 
zen a new feeling of closeness to 
political decisions and a more ac- 
tive desire to have a part in them.” 

NARTB gave considerable assist- 
ance to stations (members as well 
as nonmembers) in the campaign. 
The Association furnished kits 
containing suggested spot an- 
nouncements, ideas for programs, 


tie-in appeals for use with local 
merchants and community organi- 
zations, etc. ‘ 

Participation in the campaign 
was voted at the NARTB conven- 
tion in Chicago last March which 
resulted in formation of a commit- 
tee headed by John Patt, prexy of 
the Richards stations. Robert K. 
Richards, assistant to Fellow's, and 
John H. Smith, Jr„ directed the 
program at the staff level. 


Reading, Pa. — Divid J. Miller, 
Jr., ex-WPTZ, Pliilly, and ABC 
network, named technical opera- 
tions director for WEEU (AM & 
TV). 





Eileen BARTON 

AMERICAN MUSIC HALL and 
U.S. COAST GUARD SHOW 

EVERY SUNDAY.' ABC, RADIO 
CBS - TV 

CORAL RECORDS Dir.: MCA 


Syracuse— Promotions at WSYR 
(AM & TV) include James McDon- 
ald to supervisor of TV program 
operations; A. I. Marshall, Jr., to 
radio sales manager, and William 
R. Alford to AM-TV sales director. 


STARRING 



MARTIN KOSLECK 


In 

‘Strange Confession’ 

CHANNEL 5 — WABD 
A On* Man Performance 

Monday-Friday 
11:45-12:00 
November 70-14 incl. 






•+ 




Flock of Top-Name Concert Packages 
Getting B.O. Rebuff in Booking Jam 


Billy Eckstine, who pulls into* 
Carnegie Hall, N. Y., Saturday 
(15) for a two-concert -engagement 
on the last leg of his 67-date tour 
with George Shearing and Count 
Basie, claims that the flock of 
packages now in the works may 
develop into a detrimental factor 
in the concert biz picture. 

According to Eckstine, agencies 
and indie promoters are slapping 
together packages and sending 
them out on the road haphazardly 
so they can get in on the concert 
field’s fast buck. Plethora of pack- 
ages now travelling are raising 
promoter squawks since they’re 
jamming up in certain areas and 
in some instances cutting down on 
overall take. 

Eckstine, who’s on his third an- 
nual concert hop, believes situa- 
tion can be alleviated if agencies 
would work together in routing 
their packages. Since Sept. 9, when 
his current tour teed off in Los 
Angeles, Eckstine has come across 
towns loaded with two or three 
musical packages in the same 
week. “Coordinated planning,” he 
added, “with a two or three weeks 
separating each attraction would 
raise the b.o. and insure a black 
ledger entry for the promoter.” 

Small town promoters are being 
hurt the most by the package jam 
and its b.o. effect in the big cities 
also is becoming evident Most re- 
cent example is booking of a Duke 
Ellingtoh package into Carnegie 
Hall for a two-concert date on 
Friday (14), night preceding the 
Eckstine-Shearing-Basie entry. 

Eckstine, who will wind his tour 
in Washington Nov. 23, expects to 
top last year’s gross take of $500,- 
000 for 62 dates. The package will 
reorganize in March for a '45-date ‘ 
tick through the south. Eckstine 
also is prepping a concert tour of 
Europe which Will tee - off after' 
his London Palladium engagement 
sometime in May. It’ll be his in- 
itial European assignment. 

Among the packages which have 
been hitting the concert route since 
September are Norman Granz’s 
perennial “Jazz At The Philhar- 
monic,” “The Biggest ‘ Show of 
1952,” starring ’ Nat (King) Cole, 
Sarah Vaughan ahd Stan Kenton; 
Woody Herman’s “CaVavan ' of 
Stars,” a Jan Garber 1 unit and a 
Dinah Washington unit. 


Promotion, Not Payola, 
Wins PbillvD. J.Snins, 
Indie Disker Asserts 


Philadelphia. 

Editor , Variety: 

As one of the country’s largeit 
independent record manufacturers,, 
I must take exception to the allega-, 
tion that independent labels get' 
plays in Philadelphia only because' 
of payolas. 

I am very close to the Philadel- 
phia situation, because I have a 
branch there with a livewire man- 
ager. My promotion manager is 
a former Philadelphia deejay who 
gets wonderful cooperation in 
Philly and -elsewhere, built up 
through years of friendship and 
being a right guy. 


Goodman Likely to Set 
New Sextet for 1 -Niter 

. Benny Goodman, who has been 
riding high on disks as a result of 
Columbia Records’ album packag- 
ing of 1937-38 recordings, will 
probably form a new instrumental 
sextet for one-niter dates to cash 
in on his new popularity on wax. 

Goodman recently has been play- 
ing solo longhair dates and his sex- 
tet will likely be launched early 
next year. 


LPs Big Abroad 
Despite Top Price, 
Wallichs Reveals 

Long play 33 rpm disks, which 
were introduced overseas during 
the past year, are taking Europe 
by storm, according to Glenn E. 
Wallichs, Capitol Records prexy 
who just returned to the U. S. af- 
ter an eight-week o.o. of his com- 
pany’s Continental branches. Wal- 
lichs was accompanied by interna- 
tional manager Alec Forges after 
installing Bob Weiss, newly ap- 
pointed Continental rep for Capi- 
tol, in his Paris headquarters. Wal- 
lichs planed to the Coast last night 
(Tues.). 

Wallichs asserted that the 33 
disks were selling at a spectacular 
rate abroad despite the high prices 
■ranging up to $10 in U. S. currency. 
The LP’s are going best in Paris, 
Hamburg, England and Italy. At 
the present time, the 45 rpm disks 
are popular only in Norway, with 
few in circulation in France and 
Italy and none in Germany. 

The Capitol prez said his com- 
pany was in a particularly strong 
position in Europe because it was 
the only diskery, aside from 
Mi-G-M, which uses its U. S. trade- 
mark overseas and which operates 
with wholly-owned companies in 
Europe. (RCA Victor is distributed 
under the HMV label, Columbia 
under the Phillips label and U. S. 
Decca under the British Decca and 
Brunswick labels.) 

Wallichs reported that M-G-M is 
doing an exceptionally good job in 
Europe with its film soundtrack 
sets. M-G-M distributes only 78 
rpm disks in Europe fit present. 


ECKSTINE PACKAGE 
PULLS 10G IN PITT 

Pittsburgh, Nov. 11. 

Billy Eckstine-George Shearing- 
Count Basie package packed Syria 
Mosque for its one-nighter last 
Thursday (6), doing better than 

$10,000. Concert drew more than 
4,100, and that included 250 who 
bought standing room, and 100 in 
extra chairs in the pit. There 
weren’t any extra seats on the 
stage because Basie’s big band 
needed the space. 


We have found that the Phila- 
delphia deejays are a bunch of 
boys who take great pride in their 
ehoson profession and are always 
on the alert for material which 
has hit possibilities, regardless of 
label or artist. All the payolas in 
the world couldn’t make national 
hit records like- A1 Martino’s 
"Here In My Heart,” The Hill- 
toppers, “Trying,” Slim Whit- 
man’s, “Indian Love Call,” Four 
Aces’, “Sin,” and Del Wood’s 
'Down Yonder.” 

I would advise the major o6m- 
pany executive who contemplates 
buying Philadelphia deejays, to 
save his money. It- can- be- put to 
better use in intelligent,- -coopera- 
tive contact and promotion work. 

Jerry Blaine 
(Pres., Jubilee Records) 


Originally two performances 
were planned, but at last minute it 
was decided to do only one. 


Richmond Picks Up 

South American Hit 

In line with the publishing com- 
panies’ current global prowl for 
new melodies, Howie Richmond 
reached down into South America 
last week to acquire U. S. rights 
to the Latino click, “India.” Tune, 
which was penned by Jose Asun- 
cion Flores and Manuel Ortiz Guer- 
" jro, will be pushed initially in the 
.U. S. market as as an instrumental., 

Richmond acquired the rights 
through the Brazilian firm, Ferma- 
to Do Brasil. He has not yet as- 
. signed it to any of his subsids. 



Some Orch Leaders Upsetting Band Biz 
Price Pattern by 50-50 One-Niter Splits 


Sparked by charges Inade by the 
American Society of Composers, 
Authors & Publishers in its fight 
for licensing deals with indie TV 
outlets, the Dept, of Justice has 
opened an investigation of the 
Broadcast Music, Inc., ^etup. As 
far as it’s known, it’s the first time 
that the Government has turned 
the attention of its antitrust divi- 
sion towards BMI since the ASCAP 
consent decree several years ago. 

The probe is not regarded as a 
possible forerunner to an antitrust 
suit aimed at BMI. It’s aimed, 
rather, at establishing whether 
ASCAP’s plea for an amended con- 
sent decree is justified. 

It’s understood that the Govern- 
ment is focusing its probe on 
ASCAP’s charges that it is under 
a handicap in its competition with 
BMI due to the fact that the latter 
is owned by the broadcasters. In 
its petition to the N. Y. Federal 
Court, which is arbitrating the 
ASCAP-TV dispute, ASCAP stated 
that “the broadcasting companies 
almost without exception have 
blanket licenses from BMI which 
permit them to use any composi- 
tion in the BMI repertory in any 
program for a fee based on total 
receipts, without any charge for 
each use. With the Society’s 
(ASCAP) license on a “per pro- 
gram” basis, broadcasters have an 
interest in preferring the use of 
BMI music on particular programs 
instead of music composed by the 
Society’s members, irrespective of 
the merits of the music or its Ap- 
propriateness for the program.” 

ASCAP said it will produce evi- 
(Continued on page 72) 


NEW PITCH FOR 
COPYRIGHT 
REVISION 

With an eye to the new Con- 
gressional setup in Washington fol- 
lowing last week’s election, the 
standard publishers will tee off an- 
other pitch for a revision of the 
Copyright Law at the monthly 
meeting of the Music Publishers 
Assn, at the Hotel Warwick, N. Y., 
today (Wed.). According to the 
proposed agenda, the standard 
pubs will initially discuss general 
objectives with regard to the Copy- 
right Law, and wili lead up to spe- 
cific proposals at later meetings. 

Efforts of the pop publisher^ and 
the American Society of Compos- 
ers, Authors & Publishers to effect 
a change in the Copyright Law 
with respect to getting perform- 
ance coin from jukeboxes were de- 
feated last summer in the House 
Rules Committee. It’s 1 expected, 
however, that another attempt will 
be made to get the jukebox amend- 
ment through at the next Con- 
gressional session. ''Senator Estes 
Kefauver from Tennessee is one 
of the chief supporters of the bill. 


PLUGGERS SET TALKS 
FOR NEW MPCE PACT 

With its current pact with the 
music publishers expiring Dec. 31, 
the Musjc Publishers Contact Em- 
ployes is lining up a series of con- 
fabs with the pubs to negotiate a 
new contract. Notice was sent to 
all the pubs as well as the Ameri- 
can Society of Composers, Authors 
and Publishers and Broadcast Mu- 
sic, Inc., that meets will be set up 
during the next couple of weeks. 

According to Bob Miller, MPCE 
prez, union will suggest several 
contractual changes and additions 
in the upcoming talks. Current pact 
was negotiated in 1948. 


M. G. M. Records waxing an al- 
bum, “Marguerite Piazza Favor- 
ites,” this month. 


‘Biggest Shew’ Grosses 
$13,700 in Mpls. 1-Niter 

Minneapolis, Nov. 11. 

“Biggest Show of 1952,” with Nat 
(King) Cole, Stan Kenton and 
Sarah Vaughan, grossed a huge 
$13,7Q0 for Sunday night (9) one- 
nighter in the 9,400-seater audi- 
torium main hall at a $3 top. 

It was show’s. second annual ap- 
pearance here. 


Cut DancehaD 
Price as Lure 

For Teeners 

✓ 

In a move to attract a new gen- 
eration of teenagers to live-music 
dances, Ralph Flanagan orch is 
slashing admission prices to 50c 
a head at a special engagement at 
Levittown Hall, Levittown, L. I., 
Sunday (16) afternoon. Dance is 
being held under the sponsorship 
of the Beat the High Cost of Living 
Assn., which was set up by Flan- 
agan and his managers, Herb 
Hendler and Bernie Woods, for 
this date. 

The 50c tab represents a drastic 
slice from the usual $1.75 to $3 ad- 
mission price at dancehalls. Flan- 
agan has been fighting against the 
high tabs which, he claims, is one 
of the chief reasons the business 
went sour in the postwar period. 
Flanagan’s theory is that the band 
biz has to adjust itself to a profit 
based on volume rather than high 
prices. Only a few big money- 
making bands, according to Flana- 
gan, profit from the high prices, 
with the medium bands suffering 
from the fact that the kids don’t 
have enough money to patronize 
dancehalls regularly under, these 
conditions. 

Since no 1 promoter has cottoned 
to Flanagan’s ideas, the bandleader 
decided to experiment with the 
price-cutting on his own hook. 
Flanagan believes that it’ll be 
tough to make a profit at the 50c 
admission level but believes that 
$1 or $1.25 tabs are more realistic 
in that they would get a large 
segment of the dancing public out 
to the ballrooms again. 


COL DISTRIB REVAMP; 
SOUTHARD NAT’L MGR. 

Columbia Records has revamped 
its distribution setup with the 
naming of Terry Southard, former- 
ly east coast division manager, as 
national sales itianager. Southard, 
who fills a post vacant for the past 
three years, will work under Paul 
Wexler, Columbia’s viceprexy over 
sales. 

In other sales department 
switches, Stan Kavan has been 
upped from merchandise manager 
for the pop and folk division to 
general merchandise manager. Bill 
Nielsen was promoted to sales 
manager for Okeh Records, Col’s 
blues and rhythm subsid, while 
Doug Duer was named merchan- 
dise manager for the children’s 
record division. George Hayes, who 
was assisting Wexler, was uppe 
fo chief of the Philadelphia area 
while Dan Stevens was appoints 
district manager In Cleveland un- 
der division manager Forrest Price. 


AMP Expands 

Associated Music Publishers, 
longhair publishing wing of Broad- 
cast Music, Inc., is expanding its 
operation with the opening of new 
offices in Hollywood. 

Carl Post, concert artist, will be 
in charge of AMP’s Coast operation 
under prexy Charles A. Wall in 
New York. 


Disturbing new wrinkle seen de- 
veloping in the band biz is practice 
of some orch leaders to undercut 
the competition by making special 
50-50 deals with ballroom opera- 
tors and one-nite^, promoters. The 
deals, thus far, are being made 
only by a . few name leaders but 
band managers are squawking that 
it’s having a harmful effect on the^ 
biz by interfering with the ortho- 
dox buying and selling agreements. 

The ops naturally approve these 
special deals since it takes them 
off the guarantee hook and assures 
them some coin for the date. It’s 
a hazardous practice for the orchs, 
however, since they’ve got to shell 
out a specified musician’s union 
rate to their sidemen and allot 
double rate for themselves as a 
leader whether the* orch pulls in 
enough coin to meet the nut or not. 
In instances when the nut isn’t 
met, the leader generally shells out 
from his own pocket. 

The union, however, frowns on 
this practice, and the leader is run- 
ning the risk of bringing about 
union interference to halt this 
special arrangement despite its le- 
gality. 

General practice in band book- 
ings is for the operator to give the 
orch a guarantee against a percent- 
age. The guarantee and percent- 
age deals vary with the orch’s 
drawing power and the b.o. poten- 
tial of the spot being played. In 
some instances a band will accept 
a lower guarantee to gamble on 
higher percentage payoff but in all 
cases the orchs arrange for a guar- 
antee that will at least allow them 
to break even on the date. 

Johnnie Ray Sued For 
‘Appropriating’ Tunes; 
Pulls $4,300 in Portland 

Portland, Ore., Nov. 11,. 

Johnnie Ray brought his variety 
revue to his hometown for a one- 
niter at the Civic Auditorium Sat- 
urday night (8) and was served 

with an order to appear in court 
here Friday (14). He is on the re- 
ceiving end of a $40,000 civil suit 
filed for James W. Johnson, who 
alleges the singer appropriated 
several musical manuscripts and 
arrangements belonging to John- 
son. Johnson is a 25-year-old 
polio victim who composes pop 
tunes in his spare time. * . 

When Ray’s manager was in 
town several days ahead of Ray, 
incidentally, he made commit- 
ments galore for the singer. Only 
singing appearance was set for the 
Star Furniture Co.’s “Stars of To- 
morrow” radio show. This pro- 
gram has been going for 25 years 
and Ray was supposed to renew 
old acquaintances on the program 
he sang on when a kid. Furniture 
outfit spent coin on ads, papers 
carried the story and ABC station 
KEX was loaded with people wait- 
ing for the local boy. He failed 
to show. 

* Ray racked up a $4,300 gross at 
the Civic Auditorium. This is the 
first date that Ray has played here 
since his rise to fame. 

Promoter Van Tonkiq. also pre- 
sented The Hot Shots (2), Four 
Lads, Tucker Trio, Gary Morton 
and a 15-piece band. The 3,5Q0 
seat spot was scaled at $3.60 top. 


Berkowitz Heads 

Music Box Society 

Sidney BerkOwitz has been 
named prez of the recently formed 
Music Box Society of America, org 
devoted to the collation of info on 
music making machines of the 18th 
and 19th century. Also appointed 
to exec posts were Sidney Feisberg, 
veepee; George Richard Brown, 
secretary, and Madeleine Brown, 
corresponding secretary. 

Society is currently lining up 
museums,* community centres and 
retail stores for displays of the 
i oldie machines. 


OKCHKSTKAS'MrrSIC 


66 


Jocks, Jukes and Disks 

HERM SCHOENFELP ■ ■„ lll . l n.n , ■ , , 


Georgia Gibbs: “A Moth And A 
Flame”-“The Photograph On The 
Piano” (Mercury). Georgia Gibbs 
has a clock followup to her “Kiss 

of Fire” etching in “A Moth and 
A Flame.” Latter is another driv- 
ing number with a Latin beat 
mixed with an Hebraic melodic 
strain. Miss Gibbs belts it over 
stylishly, backed by a lush orches- 
tral arrangement. Flip is a cute 
Dixieland item which is also due 
for considerable Jock and juke 
spins. 

Doris Day-Johnnie Ray: “Ma 
Says, Pa Says”-” A Full Time Job” 
(Columbia). * Johnnie Ray's change 
of pace on these light, cry-proof 
items should help lift him high on 
the bestseller lists again. He gets, 
of course.’ a major assist from 
Doris Day, who sells these sides 
with her flawless rhythm attack. 
“JVla Says,” another item from 


Josef Marais' South African Veld 
repertory, which has been hitting 
on wax recently, has a big hit po- 
tential. Reverse is another happy 
slice which- will stir some noise. 

Margaret Whiting: “Gome Back 
To Me, Johnny”-“Why Don’t You 
Believe Me” (Capitol). Margaret 
Whiting gets her best material in 
some time on these sides* "John- 
ny” is a lovely ballad which she 
projects with simplicity and 
warmth. “Believe Me” is a bigger 
production . which Miss Whiting 
also projects for maximum impact. 
Lou Busch orch furnishes excellent 
backing. 

Don Cherry: “From Your Lips 
Only-“I Don't Want To Set The 
World On Fire” (Decca). “Lips” is 
a strong ballad entry which gets 
topflight showcasing via this vocal 
from Don Cherry. Cherry hits 
strongly without straining ’for those 
special belting sounds so prevalent 
with other male singers currently. 
Cherry also gives a fine rendition 
to the superlative oldie on the flip. 

Mantovani: “La Cumparsita”- 
“Tango Della Luna” (London). 
Mantovani’s rich instrumental styl- 
ing is evident in its best form on 
“La Cumparsita.” The Latin 
standard is worked over in a taste- 
ful symphonic arrangement which 
is likely to make a strong dent in 
the pop. market. Reverse is in . a 
similar groove, with Mantovani 
giving out with the brand of or- 
chestral coloring that has ranked 


him among the top instrumental 
crews in the business. 

Jo Staff ord-Frankie Laine: 
“Chow, Willy”-“Christmas Roses” 
(Columbia). “Chow, Willy” is still 
another Marais veld number de- 
livered by the high-riding Stafford- 
Laine team. It’s a tuneful, rhyth- 
mic number due for the mid-hit 
bracket, "Christmas Roses” has a 
stronger potential. It’s a country- 
styled item with a clever lyric de- 
livered in top form by this duet. 
Although pdgged for the Christ- 
mas season, it avoids the cliche 
flavor of most of the seasonal songs. 

Don Estes: “All Day Singin’ and 
Dinner On the Ground”-“One Kiss” 
(Victor). Don Estes is one of Vic- 
tor’s more promising young vocal- 
ists who’s due to break through 
with the right material. “Dinner 
On The Ground” is a lively item 
in the. folksy groove. It’s possible 
that there have been too many of 


these numbers for it to step out 
very far. “One Kiss” is another in- 
teresting side, also folk-styled but 
in a waltz tempo. 

Lucy Ann Simms: “It’s The End 
of the Line”-“Red Is For Roses” 
(Columbia). “End of the Line” is 
a finely written torch number 
which rates spins. Lucy Ann Simms 
pipes the standout lyric with a del- 
icate blues shading. This side 
stands up under repeated spins 
and could build slowly into an im- 
portant pop item. “Roses” is an-, 
other melancholy number deliv- 
ered in excellent style by Miss 
Simms. Percy Faith batons with 
usual tastefulness. 

Album Review* 

“Christmas With Eddie Fisher” 
(Victor). With Eddie Fisher remain- 
ing consistently on top of the hit 
lists for the past year, this set of 
Christmas tunes will be a click sea- 
sonal package. Fisher handles the 
assignment in fine voice and with' 
good taste. The album’s, repertory 
is varied, mixing up standards like 
“Silent Night” and “Come All Ye 
Faithful” with Irving Berlin's 
“White Christmas.” Other numbers 
include “You’re All X Want For 
Christmas,” “Christmas Day,” 
“That’s What Christmas Means To 
Me,” “Here Comes Santa Claus” 
and. “Jingle Bells.” Hugo Winter- 
halter orch and chorus supply fine 
backgrounds. 

Nelson Eddy: “Oklahoma” (Co- 


lumbia). Latest in the series of 
wax version of Broadway musicals 
produced by Columbia exec vice- 
prexy Goddard Lieberson, “Okla- 
homa!” is another standout addi- 
tion to the label’s legituner reper- 
tory. The 10-year old Rodgers & 
Hammerstein score still registers 
with melodic freshness and lyric 
cleverness despite its familiarity. 
In the lead role, Nelson Eddy pro- 
jects his baritone with unusual 
flexibility and carries the main 
burden of this set with superlative 
vocals of “Oh, What A Beautiful 
Mornin’,” “The Surrey With A 
Fringe on Top” and “People Will 
Say We’re In Love” with Virginia 
Haskins and Portia Nelson, “F’ore 
Jud Is Dead” with Lee Cass and 
“The Farmer' and The Cowman” 
with the rest of the company. 

Miss Haskins also scores with her 
lucid soprano pipes as the roman- 
tic femme lead while Miss Nelson 
delivers the “Kansas City” number 
with Wilton Clary in appropriately 
strident epmedy style. Kaye Ballard 
hits as Ado Annie on “I Cain’t Say 
No” wihle David Morris handles 
“It’s A Scandal! It’s An Outrage” 
with dramatic punch as does Lee 
Cass on “Lonely Room.” David 
Atkinson also contributes topflight 
support. 

Lehman Engel, who has batoned 
the previous Columbia legituner 
albums, gives this set rich orches- 
tral aftd choral backing. 

Platter Pointer* 

Burl Ives has packaged a first- 
rate album of Christmas folk songs 
for Decca ... In a straight pop 
vein, the Three Suns also hit with 
a flock of Xmas, seasonal instru- 
mentals for Victor . . . Decca has 
come- up with an interesting collec- 
tion in Victor Young's “Love 
Themes From the Motion Pictures” 

. . . Vicente Gomez’s superlative 
guitar is showcased on the musical 
themes from the United Artists pic, 
“The Fighter” (Decca) . . . Steve 
Lawrence hits on “Tango Of 
Roses,” another big ballad in the 
Latin genre (King) . . . Dolores 
Gray's version of “I Don’t Care” 
is a straight carbon of Damita Jo’s 
slice for Victor . . . Paul Weston 
orch, with Charles Nelson vocal- 
ling, has a good side In “The Com- 
mandments of Love” (Columbia) 

. . . On the same label, Sammy 
KS»ye has two fine sides in “Sailin’ 
Along the Ohio” and “Forget Me 
Not” . . . Anita O'Day scores strong- 
ly on “The Lady is A Tramp” with 
good rhythmic backing (Mercury) 

. . . Count Basie is spotlighted 
on a jive organ in “Paradise Squat” 
with Eddie Davis on sax for a solid 
side -(Mercury) . . Savannah 
Churchill has a fine slice in “Walk- 
ing By The River” (Victor) . . . 
Guy Lombardo has One of his top 
dance arrangements on “Because 
You're Mine”. with Kenny Martin 
vocalling (Decca). . . _ 

Standout folk, western, religious, 
blues, rhythm, etc.: Jimmie Davis, 
“Please, Please” (Decca) . . . Loyd 
Weaver, “One Wheel Draggin’” 
(Coral). . . AI Britt, “Wishing Ring” 
(M-G-M). . .Jimmy Ballard, “The 
Creek's Gone Muddy” (King) . . . 
Ahmad Jamal’s Three Strings, “A 
Gal In’ Calico” (Okeh). . .The Swal- 
lows, “Where Do I Go From Here” 
(King) . . . Red Rodney Sextet, 
“Honeysuckle Rose” (Okeh). 


Best Bets 

• 

GEORGIA GIBBS “A MOTH AND A FLAME” 

Mercury “The Photograph on the Piano" 

DORIS DAY-JOHNNIE RAY “MA SAYS, PA SAYS” 

Columbia • “A Full Time Job " 

MARGARET WHITING “COME BAClfc TO ME, JOHNNIE” 

Capitol ‘ “Why Don’t You Believe Me" 

DON CHERRY “FROM YOUR LIPS ONLY” 

Decca “I Don’t Want To Set the World On Fire " 



RETAIL SHEET BEST SELLER! 





'J 

S 




MOT 

PSkTSTy 

Survey of retail sheet music 
sales based on reports obtained 
from, leading stores r in 12 cities 
and showing comparative sales 
rating for this and last week. 


New York, M.D.S. 

Chicago, Carl Fischer • 

e 

* 

E 

4) 

l 

-8 

o 

s 

Vi 

4) 

— 

ft 

A 

< 

8 

►4 

jBoston, H. N. Homeyer , 

Philadelphia, Chas. DuMont 

Kansas City, Jenkins Music Co. 

Minneapolis, Schmitt Mus. Co. 

I 

St. Louis, St Louis Music Supply 

o* 

O 

o 

9 

S. 

o 

&■ 

C3 

< 

6 
• N 

P 

8 

p 

< 

9 

CO 

■ ■ i 

Seattle, Capitol Music Co. 

Rochester, Neisner Bros. 

w 

* 

a 

0 

1 
a> 

Pn 

jS 

i 

ox 

a 

a 

J3 

a 

M 

T 

O 

T 

A 

L 

P 

0 

1 

N 

T 

S 

National W06k EndlllCJ 

Nov. 8 

I This Last 

1 wk. wk. Title and Publisher 


1 

1 

You Belong to Me (Ridgeway) . 

• » / 


1 

3 

1 

3 

1 

2 

1 

1- 

2 

1. 

3 

111 


2 

2 

I Went to Your Wedding (Hill-R). 

1 

2 

4 

2 

5 

3 

7 

2 

2 

1 

3 

,4 

96 


3 

3 

Jambalaya (Acuff-R) 

« « • 

3 

3 

2 

4 

1 

2 

* • 

3 

3 

4 

6 

• 

79 


4 

Kj 

Because You're Mine (Feist) . . 

• • • 

6 

6 

7 

7 


6 


6 

4 

• * 

• 

1 

49 

0 

5 

5 

Half As Much (Acuff-R) 

• • « 

7 

• » 

1 

3 

4 

5 

• « 

8 

6 

10 

• • 

• t • 

44 


19 

4 

Wish You Were Here (Chappell) . . 

• • 

7 

10 

• 

• » 

4 

3 

4 

5 

• 

Hi 

n 



7 

9 

Glow Worm (Marks) 

• • • 

5 

10 

• 

• 

8 

10 

n 



mm 





19 

7 

Somewhere Along Way (United). . 

• » 

4 

8 

6 


7 

10 

7 

10 

8 

• • 

10 

29 


9 

8 

Meet Mr. Callaghan (Leeds) . . . 

» « • 

• » 

» * 

• • • 

5 


8 

4 

• • 

7 

9 

« • 

8 

25 

■ wm 

7 

Auf Wiederseh'n (Hill-R) 

« • • 

• » 

ft. 

6, 

, 


9 

• i 

• « 

8 

5 

« • 

6 

23 

•11 

11 

Outside of Heaven (B.V.C.) . . . 

« t » 

8 

5 

• • 

10 


• • 

• • 

10 


• • 

2 

• i 

20 

12 

10 

Takes Two to Tango (Harman) 

• » • 

9 

* • 

• • 

• ■ 


• • 

6 

• « 


3 

10 

• • 

16 

13 

l l 2 

Trying (Randy Smith) 

• < « 

4 

• 

* » 

8 

6 

« « 

« • 

■ • 


• » 

• • 

« • 

15 

14 

• • 

Lady of Spain (Fox) 

• * • 

• • 

♦ • 

v • 

» • 

• 

• • 

• • 

• • 


mm 

4 

4 4 

12 

15 

• 

Don't You Believe Me (Brandom) , 

• 

• 

* « 

• « 

2 

« ♦ 

• • 

• • 


« • 

• » 

m • 

9 


Wednesday, N6vcml>er 12, 1952 


Longhair Disk Review 


Verdi: H Trovatore (RCA Vic- 
tor, 2 LPs, $11.14). A topflight de- 
finitive recording of the reliable 
old operatic workhorse, full of 
spirit, dramatic drive and distin- 
guished singing. Zinka Milanov 
brings lyric beauty and expressive- 
ness to the Leonora role; Fedora 
Barbieri is an impressive, richly- 
voiced contralto as Azucena; Jussi 
Bjoerfing a manly, musical Man- 
rico and Leonard Warren a power- 
ful Duke. Robert Shaw Chorale 
and RCA Orchestra lend fine as- 
sists, under Renato Cellini’s au- 
thoritative baton. 

Mozart: Serenade No. 7 in D 

(Decca, LP, $5.85). So-called “Haff- 
ner” Serenade is very long (no less 
than eight movements). Actually 
part-symph, part-concerto, it's a 
pleasant, melodious work, well re- 
corded - and performed here by a 
leading German ensemble, the 
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, un- 
der Ferdinand Leitner. Denes Zo- 
igmondy plays solo violin passages 
ably. 

Mahler: Symphony No. 9 in D 
Minor (Vox, 2 LPs, $11.90). Mah- 
ler’s last (and rarely-recorded) 
symphony is overlong (like so much 
else he wrote), but it is a profound, 
melodic work, hailed by some as 
his finest composition. Here it 
gets a full-bodied, sympathetic 
treatment by the Vienna Symphony 
Orchestra, under Jascha Horen- 
stein, for attractive results. Bron. 1 


‘Andersen/ ‘Beanstalk' Pix 
Te Get Major Brit. Hypo 
Via Music Exploitation 

London, Nov. 4 

Major exploitation campaigns 
for two upcoming Hollywood pi* 
are to be directed via the music 
publishing business, with tieups 
covering distribution of sheet mu- 
sic and the waxing of disks. 

As part of the promotion for 
Samuel Goldwyn’s “Hans Chris- 
tian Andersen,” RKO Radio Lon- 
don h.q. have set recordings for 
eight of the Frank Loesser songs 
featured in the film, and platters 
will be marketed within a few 
weeks. Recordings are also be- 
ing made of the ballet music, and 
special albums of Hans Christian 
Anderson music, as well as regu- 
lar sheet music, are being prepped 
for national distribution. 

• *Harms-Connelly, who have pub- 
lished five of the songs in “Jack 
and the Beanstalk,” the Abbott & 
Costello tinter, have cpllaborated 
with Warner Bros, in the produc- 
tion of a booklet which includes 
the sheet music, pages of stills 
and a synopsis of the story. 

Special efforts are being made 
by the publishers and WB to get 
the songs featured in “Jack 
and the Beanstalk” pantomimes 
throughout the country, and have 
already set a deal for the Empress 
Hall ice production, which stars 
Belita. 


Songs With Largest Radio Audience 

The top 30 songs of week (more in case of ties), based on 
copyrighted Audience Coverage Index & Audience Trend Index. 
Published by Office of Research, Inc., Dr. John Gray Peatman , 
Director. Alphabetically listed. 


Survey Week of October 31-November 6 


’Anywhere I Wander • Frank 

Because You’re Mine — t“Because You’re Mine” Feist 

Dance of Destiny Spinlan 

Glow Worm Marks 

Half As Much Acuff-R 

High Noon — t"High Noon" Feist 

I Went To Your Wedding St. Louis 

If’n Disney 

I’m Never Satisfied Simon H 

Jambalaya Acuff-R 

Keep It a Secret Shapiro-B 

Lady of Spain ..." ' Fox 

Lazy River ’ Southern 

Live Oak Tree ..Burvan 

Lover ..Famous 

My ' Favorite Song . Gold 

Outside Of Heaven Bregman-V-C 

Punky Punkin , ; Paxton 

Ruby and the Pearl Famous 

Sleepytime Gal Miller 

Somewhere Along Way United 

Stay Where You Are BMI 

Takes Two to Tango » Harman 

That's a- Why , Santly-J 

To Know You (Is To Love You) Roncom 

Voters on Parade Morris 

Walkin’ My Baby Back Home DeSylva-B, H 

Whisp’ring Serenade Chappell 

Wish You Were Here — *“Wish You Were Here” .... Chappell 

You Belong To Me Ridgeway 

Yours Marks 


Second Group 

A Shoulder to Weep On Laurel 

Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart . v Hill & R 

Caravan Amer Aca 

Cherries Dartmouth 

Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes Four-Star 

Down by the O-hi-o Forster 

Everything I Have Is Yours > Robbins 

Forget Me Not ' Weiss-B 

Forgetting You .' DeSyJva-B, H 

Love of My Life Chappell 

Meet Mr. Callaghan Leeds 

Mood Indigo Mills 

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Nicholas 

Sophisticated Lady Mills 

String Along Regent 

Take Me In Your Arms and Hold Me Hill & R 

Thanks to You . Paramount 

When I Fall In Love Young 

Who Kissed Me Last Night Roger 

Why Don't You Believe Me Brandon 

Zing a Little Zong-T-t“Just For You” Burvan 


Top 10 Songs On TV 


Because You’re Mine 

Glow Worm 

High Noon , 

Lady of Spain 

No Two People 

Sleepytime Gal 

Thumbalina 

Wish You Were Here— 1 *“Wisli 

You Belong to Me 

You’ll Never Get Away 




You Were Here” 


. , . . Feist - 
. . Marks 
. . , . Feist 
. . . . Fox 
. . . Frank 
....Miller 
. . . . Frank 
.... Chappell 
. . . . Ridgeway 
. . . . Bourne 


FIVE TOP STANDARDS 

illues in the Night 

Gypsy in My Soul !!!!!*,!!.’ 

Ma, He’s Making Eyes at Me 

Slaughter on Tenth Avenue 

St. Louis Blues . . . 


Remick 

Robbins 

Mills 

Chappell 

Handy 


t Filmuslcal. •* Legit musical.' 


I 













Wednesday November 12, 1953, 


MSRlBrf 


ORCHESTRA-MUSIC 


67 





Scoreboard 

OF 



Dailey Yanks Gibbs in Time-Clock Row 


TOP TALENT AND TUNES 


Compiled from Statistical Reports of Distribution 

* * 

Encompassing the Three Major Outlets 

Coin Machines Retail Disks Retail Sheet Music 

as Published in the Current Issue 

for 

=====— WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 8 - 

NOTE: The current comparative sales strength of the Artists and Tunes listed hereunder is 
arrived at tinder a statistical system comprising each of the three major sales outlets enu- 
merated above. These findings are correlated with data from wider sources, which are exclusive 
with Variety. The positions resulting from these findings denote the OVERALL IMPACT de- 
veloped from the ratio of points scored : two ways in the case of talent (disks, coin machines) 
and three ways m the case of tunes (disks, coin machines , sheet music). 


POSITIONS 
This Last 

week. week. 

1 1 

2 2 

3 3 

4 4 

5 5 

6 8 

7 7 

8 6 

9 10 

10 


TALENT 


ARTIST AND LABEL 

JO STAFFORD (Columbia) 

PATTI PAGE (Mercury) * 

MILLS BROS. (Decca) 

EDDIE FISHER (Victor) 

HILLTOPPERS (Dot) 

JONI JAMES (MGM) ; 

LES PAUL-MARY FORD (Capitol) 

PEARL BAILEY (Coral) . . 

JOHNNY STANDLEY (Capitol) . . . 
MARIO LANZA (Victor) 


TUNE 

tYou Belong to Me 
') Jambalaya 

i I Went to Your Wedding 
) You Belong to Me 

Glow Worm 

[Wish You Were Here 
-I Lady of Spain 
[Outside of Heaven 
. Trying 

, Why Don’t You Believe Me 
(Lady of Spain 
')Meet Mr. Callaghan 

Takes Two to Tango 
. It’s in the Book 
, Because You’re Mine 


TUNES 

POSITIONS 
This Last 

week. week. TUNE PUBLISHER 

1 1 I WENT TO YOUR WEDDING St. Louis 

2 2 YOU BELONG TO ME Ridgeway 

3 3 JAMBALAYA Acuff-R 

4 4 GLOWWORM E. B. Marks 

5 6 TRYING . Randy Smith 

6 5 WISH YOU WERE HERE Chappell 

7 8 MEET MR. CALLAGHAN * Leeds 

8 9 BECAUSE YOU’RE MINE Peist 

9 WHY DON’T YOU BELIEVE ME Brandom 

10 7 TAKES TWO TO TANGO Harman 


■mswT i(| Best Sellers on Coin-Machines 

♦ ♦♦♦♦♦ 4 44 44 

1. I WENT TO YOUR WEDDING (9) (St. Louis) Patti Page 


Week of Nov. 8 

4- 4 44 444 44 444444 

Mercury 1 


;; 2. YOU BELONG TO ME (11) (Ridegway) 

:: 3. JAMBALAYA (10) (Acuff-R) 

;; 4. TRYING (5) (Randy Smith) 

y 5. GLOW WORM (6) (Marks) 

- 6. MEET MR. CALLAGHAN (7) (Leeds) 

:: 7. WISH YOU WERE HERE (13) (Chappell) 

:: 8. LADY OF SPAIN (11) Fox) 

;; 9. IT’S IN THE BOOK (1) (Chas. Hanson) 

- 10. WHY DON’T YOU BELIEVE ME (2) (Brandon) 


( Jo Stafford 

( Dean Martin 

Jo Stafford 

Hilltoppers 

Mills Bros 

Les Paul-Mary Ford.., 

Eddie Fisher 

Eddie Fisher 

Johnny Standley 

Joni James 


Columbia * ' 

. . Capitol V. 

Columbia * ' 

Dot 4,4 

* ► 

. . Decca 1 - * 
. . Capitol . [ 
. . . Victor . l *• 
....Victor; 
..Capitol *> 
:: 




Second Group 

TAKES TWO TO TANGO (3) (Harman) 

I LAUGHED AT LOVE (Redd Evans) 

BLUES IN ADVANCE (Hollis) 

BECAUSE YOU’RE MINE (2) (Feist) 

HIGH NOON (9) (Feist) 

HALF AS MUCH (8) (Acuff-R) 

SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY (8) (United) 

MY FAVORITE SONG (Shapiro-B) 

INDIAN LOVE CALL (Harms) 

OUTSIDE OF HEAVEN (B.V.C.) 

COMES ALONG A-LOVE (Shapiro-B) 

AUF WIEDERSEH’N (17) (Hill-R) 


Pearl Bailey . . . 
Sunny Gale .... 
Dinah Shore 

I Nat (King) Cole 
} Mario Lanza. . . . 


. . Coral < ► 
.Victor 
. Victor 4 * 

* b 

Capitol 

.Victor 


(Frankie Laine Columbia . -- 

| Bill Hayes MGM / 

Rosemary Clooney .... Columbia 4 4 

j Nat (King) Cole Capitol /.". 

) Tony Bennett Columbia -- 


Georgia Gibbs..,. Mercury 

Slim Whitman Imperial 


Eddie Fisher Victor -f 


Kay Starr 


Capitol I 


l Vera Lynn London 

l Eddy Howard Mercury y 


EARLY AUTUMN (Cromwell).. Jo Sta ff°~ d : Columbia 

STRING ALONG (Regent) ...... Ames Btos Coral 

MY LOVE AND DEVOTION (Shapiro-B) Perry Como Victor 

YOU’ll NEVER GET AWAY (Bourne) Comell-T. Brewer ....Coral 

LUNA ROSSA (BVC) Alan Dean MGM 

1*. I Figures in parentheses indicate number oj weeks song has been m the lop 101 

UHHMIUHMMH 4 44 44-4 H M 4 4 444 44444;44444 +4-4-4- 44 4 • 4 4 V 4 44-4-4 4- 


Best British Sheet Sellers 


♦ Continuing hassles between pro- 
moters and disk artists is develop- 
ing into an agency headache. 


(Week Ending Nov. 1) 
London, Nov. 4. 

Here in My Heart Mellin 

Isle of Innisfree. ... .Maurice 

Half as Much Robbins 

Homing Waltz Reine 

Walkin' My Baby .... Victoria 

Sugarbush Chappell 

High Noon Robbins 

Forget-Me-Not Reine 

Meet Mr. Callaghan Toff 

Feet Up Cinephonic 

Somewhere Along Way. Magna 
Blue Tango Mills 

Second 12 

I’m Yours . Mellin 

Auf Wiederseh’n . . . .Maurice 
Zing a Little Zong .... Maddox 

Kiss of Fire Duchess 

Day of Jubilo Connelly 

You Belong to Me . . . Chappell 

Walkin’ to Missouri Dash 

Rock of Gibraltar Dash 

Trust in Me Wright, 

Faith Hit Songs 

When You’re in Love . Connelly 
Botch-a-Me Kassner 


Turning Out Hits 
Is Just Applied 

Psychology: Miller 

Robert Rice, who is gathering 
material on Mitch Miller, chief of 
a. & r. at Columbia Records, for a 
New Yorker mag profile, hafe- 
been asking around on what makes 
the bearded maestro-showman 

tick and click on disks. Variety 
also had occasion to ask Miller 
that and he says that he’s only 
“applying the applied psychology 
I studied at School to the modern 
idiom.” 

He feels t£at tastes are basically 
the same; it’s merely that the 
treatment varies. One era it may 
be “all in the ‘Alexander’s Ragtime 
Band’ idiom, then comes the more 
leisurely Victor Herbert or Sig- 
mund Romberg period, and right 
now we’re is ‘a* more staccato and 
vibrant mood, and we must learn 
to attack our. s/png treatments dif- 
ferently,” in his opinion. 

Flanked Jbyf Columbia Records 
prexy James R. Conkling and ex- 
ecutive veepee* Goddard Lieber- 
son, Miller states that his “100% 
freedom — the carte blanche I en- 
joy is- truly unique in any artistic- 
creative business” — is the key. 
“You’ll find’’ that theoretically 
they’ll say^Tll leave you alone,’ 
but that i fe%f' ‘suggestion* that 
crops up dissipates that complete 
freedom of action which I have at 
Columbia,” he adds. “Nor are 
there any .postmortems when my 
average bogs' down, and it does 
and must.” 

Conkling and Lieberson attested 
to the great teamwork, including 
Paul W«xler, the general sales 
manager, who. doesnjt care about 
“covering” hits; he lsjnows that he 
'mayj get $200,000 or 3(J0,0QD by 
j“cqveri'njg”fspriie surprise pop, but , 
iif ’ Miller ringg the bell 4 with aii ( 
iunique treatment it means more 
when they’re out front in the field 
with a L000, 000-copy bestseller. 
It’s just a case of “having a way 
with a song.” 


Taylor to Bourne 

As ABC Pro Mgr. 

Larry Taylor resigned his post as 
professional manager of General 
Music to join ABC Music in the 
same capacity. 

The ABC firm is a Bourne sub- 
sid. 


Weston's 1,000th Disk 
Paul Weston, Columbia Records’ 
Coast t recording chief, cut his 
l.OOQtH - side last week at a Holly- 
wood session. It’s estimated that 
Weston has sold 50,000,000 disks 
over a 10-year, period under both 
the Columbia and ' Capitol labels, 
with which he was formerly as- 
sociated. 

Weston’s top disks have been 
collaborations with his wife, Jo 
Stafford, currently Col’s bestsell- 
ing artist. 


Latest rhubarb' between Georgia 1 
Gibbs . and Frank Dailey, operator . 
of the Meadowbrook, Cedar Grove, 
N. J., follows on the heels of Al 

Martino’s cancellation out of Blin- 
strub’s, Boston, after his crack that 
“nine out of 10 openings are flops 
and this is one.” 

Dailey cancelled Miss Gibbs out 
of her last performance Nov. 2 for 
allegedly showing up 80 minutes 
late. According to Miss Gibbs, 
however, she only arrived a few 
minutes late due to the difficulty in 
travelling from New York to the 
Meadowbrook. Dailey claims that 
she came too late to perform for a 
big party of tablers and said there 
was no point in singing that night. 
Miss Gibbs was in for a three-day 
date at $500 per performance (one 
show Friday and two each Satur- 
day and Sunday). Dailey paid her 
the full $2,000 but Miss Gibbs 
claims she had to squawk first to 
the American Guild of Variety Art- 
ists to get the full amount, 

Martino ‘Depressed’? 

Martino, who disappeared after 
the Boston fiasco last Monday (3), 
was picked up Sunday (9^ near a 
breakdown in the Manchester, 
N. H., railroad station after a miss- 
ing persons alarm had been sent 
out. It was reported that Martino 
was depressed over the Blinstrub 
incident. He’s currently recuper- 
ating in St. Mary’s Hospital, Ho- 
boken. 

Joseph Piccola, Martino’s man- . 
ager, claimed that Blinstrub had 
tried to cancel Martino two weeks 
prior to the opening. Martino’s 
opening night blast, according to 
Piccola, was provoked by the re- 
fusal of the emcee to introduce 
him. 

— i 

Band Biz Solid 
For Early 1953 

Chicago, Nov. 11. 

A check of the major booking 
offices the past week shows the 
consensus to be that the band busi- 
ness is continuing on its way tip. 
In line with the heavy promotion 
aroundv Chicago - , the whole 0 mid- 
Wes Vis taking on rehewed vigor. A 
o.o. of the booking sheets revealed 
that location dates have been inked 
in heavily for March, April and 
May. Moneywise, there has been 
no falloff for the major orchestras; 
in fact, in several -return spots pay- 
off is greater than before. 

Also surprising is the one-night- 
er situation, which has improved 
considerably. Dates have been 
blocked in very well into Febru- 
ary. Defepse installations, along 
with colleges and regular ball- 
rooms, have been using orchestras 
on a more regular basis. 

< . 

Supreme Court Rejects 
AFM Request to Enter 
Featherbedding Suit 

Washington, Novell. 

Supreme court yesterday (10) 
rejected the request of Local 24, 
American FeHeration of Musicians, 
to intervene in the suit brought 
by National Labor Relations Board 
against Gamble Enterprises. 

Case, which involves the feather- 
bedding ban in the Taft-Hartley 
Act, will be argued before the High 
Court Thursday or Friday of next 
week. Local 24 refused to sign a 
contract with the Palace Theatre of 
Akron, unless house agreed to keep 
the pit musicians working when 
name stage bands played. The 
union argued that its men would 
not be featherbedding, since they 
would play during intermissions 
and also play at the end of the 
show. Gamble Enterprises replied 
they didn’t want or need the pit 
orch at such times and that this 
was featherbedding as prohibited 
by the Taft-Hartley act. NLRB 
supported the union position, but 
was reversed by the Federal courts. 
NLRB then took the case on appeal 
to the Supreine Court,' 


Wednesday, November 12, 1952 




















































































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TO OECMKSTttASUMUSIC 

Inside Orchestras— Music 

Henri Rene and Merv Griffin, who generally etch on the RCA Victor 
label, cut a “private" waxing several weeks ago for airing at a Coast 
party given for Rene before he left for a permanent assignment at 
Victor’s New York headquarters. Lyric, which bemoans the state of 
the industry through the squawks of publishers and artist & repertory 
men, is set against Harold J. Borpe’s clicko melody, “Wish You Were 
Here.” Griffin delivers in standout deadpan vocal style. " 

They're not writing- songs as good this year. Ain't got a hit 
Whether Robbins or Chappell or'J->arry Spier, Ain't got a hit 
Even Maggie or Tony Bavaar, And the brains at a. & r. 

Just wait and sit, so mad they could spit. Ain't got a hit 
Whether ASCAP or BMI, no foolin'. Ain't got a hit. 

Such experts as Acuff-Rose or Julian, Ain't got a hit 
They're under an awful spell. 

Even the Brill Building's starting to smell, 

It's not legit. Ain't got a hit ° 

Even 14 guitars on triple track can't make a hit 
It's nothing short of a jinx. 

The whole goldarn business stinx. 

It's not legit, Ain't got a hit 


Frank Loesser became a music biz triple threat man with the re- 
lease this week of a kidisk package via the M-G-M label. Set, which 
includes the tunes “Inch Worm,” “Ugly Duckling” and “The Yting’s 
New Clothes,” were penned by Loesser for the forthcoming Samuel 
Goldwyn pic, “Hans Christian Andersen,” and are sung by Loesser (with 
an assist from his wife, Lynn, on “Inch Worm”) and also are published 
by him via his firm, Frank Music. 

Perry Como’s RCA Victor waxing, “One Little Candle,” has been 
picked by the National Tuberculosis Assn, as the Xmas Seal song for 
1952. Como has dubbed a pitch for Xmas Seals on to the original 
Victor release for disk jockey distribution around the country. Seal’s 
design this year is “one little candle.” 


Joe Mooney, blind organist who was one of M-G-M Records’ best- 
sellers several years ago when he worked with an instrumental quartet, 
has received a new break via RCA Victor in his teamup with the newly 
organized Sauter-Finnegan band. Mooney is being used as vocalist 
on some of the band’s etchings, his first being “Nina Never Knew,” 
which was cut in New York last week. 


Chappell Music’s tune “Wish You Were Here,” from the Broadway 
legituner of the same, is currently the only song from a Broadway 
musical riding the hit lists. It was inadvertently omitted from 
Variety's disk jockey chart last week (5) where it earned fourth po- 
sition. 


Muggsy Spanier Set . 

For 40 Europe Dates 

Chicago, Nov. 11. 

Muggsy Spanier, currently at 
the Blue Note here, is set for a 
four-month concert deal through- 
out Europe beginning Feb. 1 at 
Berne, Switzerland. Dixieland group 
will do 40, or possibly more, con- 
certs with a heavy schedule in 
France, Germany, Belgium, in ad- 
dition to a series in Sweden and 


Finland. Joe Glaser, head of As- 
sociated Booking, set the deal. 
Spanier will also do some dates in 
Great Britain if the British musi- 
cian union nix against Americans 
can be worked out, 

Combination goes into the Yan- 
kee Inn, Akron, Nov. 22 for two 
frames and follows with three 
weeks at the Mahogany. Hall, Bos- 
ton. After the holidays Spanier 
goes into Toronto for his sixth re- 
peat in two years just before he 
sails for Europe. Leader just re- 
pacted with ABC for another year. 



BILLY ECKSTINE 


SINGS 


BE FAIR 

MOM 11351 
K 11351 


COME TO THE 
MARDI GRAS 

78 RPM 
45 RPM 


M'G'M RECORDS 



* 

P$a&mrr . Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


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f^AtelETY 

Survey of retail disk best 
sellers based on reports ob- 
tained from leading stores in 
12 cities and showing com- 
parative sales gating for this 
and last week . 

' 

5 

s 

w 

to 

W) 

o> 

> 

»*. 

01 

t/1 

O 

Oh 

a 

O 

o 

A 

m 

OT 

■St 

3 

OT 

r-< 

(U 

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0) 

6 

O • 

o 

•pH 

CO 

G 

3 

r* 

A. Williams Co. 

Indianapolis— (Pearsons) 

Minneapolis — (Don Leary) 

o 

W 

ci 

NM 

CO 

3 

3 

w 

% 

a 

CJ 

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w 

5 

3 

0 

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6 

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to 

3 

T3 

O 


Week Ending 

National UTavv O 

Rating HOVb 0 

This Last 

wk. wk. Artist, Label, Title 



New York — (Da 

C/2 

•a 

S 

^y 

i 

« 

o 

«,* 

A 

O 

w 

^y 

i 

u 

i— * 

j 

Boston — (Bostoi 

w 

I 

•W 

•s 

fH 

0) 

■a 

CM 

•m* 

£ 

'O 

3 

l 

mm 

3 

O 

•J 

-M 

m 

Kansas City — (J 

Seattle — (Sherm 

< 

'I 

IH 

3 

o 

•M 

G 

< 

G 

to 

cn 

■ 

Cleveland — (Kec 

1 

1 

PATTI PAGE (Mercury) 
“I Went to Your Wedding 

» 

• 

• • • 4 

3 

2 

1 

6 

4 

6 

2 

10 

2 


5 

2 

5 

84 

2 

2 

MILLS BROS. (Decca) 
“Glow Worm” ' 

• • 

« • V • 

1 

8 

2 

4 

2 

5 

7 

5 

4 4 

4 

8 

2 

4 

• • 

70 

3 

4 

JO STAFFORD (Columbia) 
“Jambalaya” 

• • • 4 

2 

♦ * 

• • 

8 

6 

4 


• ♦ 

4 

6 

I 

7 

3 

6 

53 

4 

3 

JO STAFFORD (Columbia) 
“You Belong to Me” 

4 * 4 

4 

5 

• * 


5 

2 


• • 


1 



1 

8 

51 

v 5 

9 

JONI JAMES (MGM) 

“Why Don’t You Believe Me” 

» • • 

7 

1 

• 4 

1 

1 

10 


8 


• • 



• • 

1 

48 

6 

8 

HILL TOPPERS (Dot) 
“Trying” 

• • 

» * * » 

8 

3 

• 9 

2 

10 

3 



2 

4 



10 




46 

7 

5 

PEARL BAILEY (Coral) 
“Takes Two to Tango” . . . . 

• • 

• • « 

6 

7 

7 

7 

7 

8 


* • 

5 

% 

3 


• • 

38 

8 

7 

JOHNNY STANDLEY (Capitol) 
“It’s in the Book” 

* • 

10 


5 

• ■ 

• • 


1 

1 

• 9 



6 

4 w 

32 

9 

6 

EDDIE FISHER (Victor) 
“Wish You Were Here”. . . 

• • 

• • • • 

10 

• » 

8 


• « 

» • 

t 

3 

3 


5 

5 

* 4 

31 

10 

9 

LES PAUL (Capitol) 
“Meet Mr. Callaghan”. . . . 

• • 

• • • • 

» • 

6 

• ♦ 


• • 

* ♦ 


• • 

7 

* • 

l 

1 

7 

4 4 

20 

11 

13 

MARIO LANZA (Victor) 
“Because Your Mine” 

« ♦ • 

4 4*4 

5 

4 

• • 


• • 

• • 


• • 

8 

• • 


9 

ft 

• 4 

19 

12 

14 

VERA LYNN (London) 
“Yours” 

• • • 

4 4 4 4 

* 9 

9 

• 4 


3 

• • 


• 4 

• » 

• • 


• 


4 

17 

13 

* • 

DINAH SHORE (Victor) 
“Blues in Advance” 

• • • 

*4*4 

4 4 

• 4 

• • 



4 * 


—p 

5 

« • 

• • 



4 4 

3 

14 

14 

13 

EDDIE FISHER (Victor) 
“Outside of Heaven” 

• • • 

4 4 4 9 

4 4 

9 9 

• • 


8 

4 4 


4 

9 

• • 


• 

4 * 

♦ • 

12 

15 A 

12 

ROSEMARY CLOONEY (Col) 
“Half As Much” 

4 4 9 9 

* 9 

9 4 

10 


• » 

9 9 


• « 

6 

9 

4 

» 

9 

• • 

10 

15B 

11 

FRANKIE LAINE (Columbia) 
“High Noon” 

9 9 

9 9 

4 4 


4 4 

1 


• » 

• • 

• • 

4 

• 

• 4 

4 * 

10 

15C 

14 

- DEAN MARTIN (Capitol) 
“You Belong to Me” 

« • * 

9*94 

4 4 

9 9 

4 4 


4 * 

• • 


• ♦ 

• • 

• » 


l 

9 4 


10 

16A 

• » 

NAT (KING) COLE (Capitol) 
‘‘Somewhere Along Way” . . ^ 

4 4 4 9 

9 9 

4 9 

5 


4 4 

» • 


• • 

• * 

8 

• 


4 • 

t • 

9 

16B 

• • 

LES PAUL (Capitol) 
“Lady of Spain” 

• » t 

4 9 4 9 

4 4 

9 4 

6 


4 4 

9 

9 

9 4 

• 4 

• 


« • 

• • 

9 

16C 


PATTI PAGE (Mercury) 
“Conauest” 
















o 

Q 











1 * 










FIVE TOP 

ALBUMS 

i 

WISH YOU WERE 

HERE 

Bway Cast 
Victor 
LOC-1007 
OC-1007 

2 

LIBERACI 

Columbia 

CL-6217 

B-308 

C-308 

3 

NEW FACES OF 
1952 

Bway Cast 
Victor 

OC-1008 

WOC-1008 

LOC-1008 

4 

BIO BAND BASH 
Billy May 
Capitol 
KCF-329 
DCN-329 
L-329 

5 

THE MERRY WIDOW 
Hollywood Cast 
M-G-M 
M-G-M-157 
K-157 

E-157 


Alexander Loses Plea 
To Amend ASCAP Decree 

Petition filed by publisher Perry 
Alexander in N. Y. Federal District 
Court last May in an attempt to 
divorce film company-owned music 
publishers from the American So- 
ciety « of Composers, Authors & 
Publishers was dismissed last week 
by Judge Henry W. Goddard. Alex- 
ander, an ASCAP publisher, had 
asked that the Government’s 1950 
antitrust consent decree be amend- 
ed but failed to present to the 
Department of Justice reason that 
the decree should be amended. 

Case was dismissed upon sugges- 
tion of Harold Lasser, special as- 
sistant U. S. attorney. Frederick 
E. M. Ballon repped Alexander in 
the action. 


AMFs 234G Net 

AMI, Inc., one of the leading 
jukebox manufacturers, has re- 
ported a net income of $234,000 
for the first nine months of this 
year, ending Sept. 30. Earnings, 
after taxes, are equivalent to $1.06 
per share on the 220,870 shares of 
common stock outstanding. 

AMl’s board declared a third- 
quarter dividend of 15c per share 
payable Dec. 5 to stockholders of 
record as of Nov, 8. 


Vauglin Monroe will appear at 
the State Armory in Albany Nov. 
29, doing his Camel show over CBS. 


WANTED 

Tdvtrn pinna player; permanent horn*; 
jfasfhampton Hotel, L, |. $tato a a# 
and Experience, etc. Write Joieph Lerie, 
Frep., East Hampton, long laland. 

O • . I 


Band Review 


DEL COURTNEY ORCH (12) 

Mark Hopkins Hotel, S. F. 

This versatile outfit, which hews 
to solid, commercial handling of 
itsc chores, holds its eyes bn the 
terpers by providing a judicious 
mixing of pops and oldies, with 
seasoning via an occasional rhum- 
ba, samba and some novelties. 
Courtney’s attractive troupe has 
no set formula but ranges as far 
and wide as it can, playing any- 
thing that’s playable if it’s.tuney. 
Style ranges from sweet to brash 
depending on the mood of the 
customers. 



piano, bass and drums give Court- 
ney everything he needs to pace 
his troupe using his hefty library 
of arrangements. Courtney is a 
bandstand favorite with patrons, 
obliging with requests and other- 
wise. 

Vocals by Tommy Page and Bob 
Wellman, aided by Bob Moonan 
doubling from the piano, offer a 
lively interplay. 

„ J , 0 l m s°n orch opened in 
Fort Worth last week (7) for an 
extended engagement at the Key- 
stone Room of the Hotel Texas. 
He follows Tommy Cunningham in- 
to the spot. 


■MILLS MI'S 1C Presents 





0 


America's - Fastest 

*= Selling -Records! 










Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


P^SiEtt 


OH€0ESTEAS4f€SI€ 


71 



New York 


Lionel Hampton orch playing a 
one-niter at the Municipal Aud, 
San Antonio, today (Wed.). . . . Joe 
Allegro opened at the Pecos Club, 

wowark yesterday (Tues.) . . . 
Ky Alamo, recent M-G-M Rec- 
ords pactee, on a disk jockey trek 
through Philly and Washington. 
1 Howard Roseff, Seeco Records 
vpeDee, engaged to Evelyn Krau- 
flnmer . . . Nat (King) Cole begins 
a two-week engagement at the Chi- 
cago Theatre, Chi, Nov. 21 . . . 
Bifly May orch one-nitmg through 
southwest for two weeks, then into 
midwest until Xmas . . . Johnny 
Desmond guesting on CBS-TV’s 
“This Is Show Business" Nov. 23 
Joe Morris-Lowell Fulson 
'package plays a one-niter at the 
Belmont Club, Toledo, Nov. 19 . . . 
Mark Schreck, professional man- 
ager of Southern Music and Peer 
International, into hospital for 
major surgery . . . Jim Landay, 
formerly with London Records, 
back in town after a two-year hitch 
in the Army . . . Jack Newman, 
Canadian rep for Peer Internation- 
al in town last week for confabs 
| . Jackie Gleason will plug his 


initial Capitol Records album 
"Music For Lovers Only,” *>n local 
disk jockey shows Nov. ' 17 
Frankie Lohmann handling disk 
jockey promotion fop Frank Cam- 
| pana, Jubilee Records pactee . . 

1 Jan Arden into Meadowbrook, Ce- 
! dar Grove, N. J., Friday U4) for 
10 days. 


the shawl collar 
tuxedo that’s making 
style news! 



the original 

tony martin 

TUXEDO 

The slender Skinner satin 
lapels make you look 
Jj^Uer, slimmer, trimmer, 
the 2-ply imported 
worsted in midnite blue 
J 8 lightweight enough for 
year round wear l Look 
. the Tony Martin 
signature on the label. 

i 

At Better 

dealers Everywhere 


Chicago 

Ernie Rudy goes down to Pappy’s 
Showland, Dallas for two weeks 
starting Nov. 14 before going into 
Peabody, Memphis, Dec. 1 for two 
more frames . . . J** Ann Jordan 
Trio plays its firs' hicago date 
with four-week . .nd at Old 
Heildeberg Dec. 4 . . . Norm Dygon 
returns to Club Lido, South Bend, 
Nov. 14 for two weeks . . . Bob 
Vincent and the New Moods in 
for a week at Chanute Air Base, 
111., Nov. 11 . . . Tobin Duo inked 
for Lorraine Hotel, Madison, Wise., 
for an indefinite Stay , . . Sax 
Maillard starts a run at Nob Hill 
Nov. 12 . . . Max Miller Trio cur- 
rently at the Brass Rail. 

Larry Faith does 21 days at 
Melody Mill beginning Nov. 26 
with Ralph Marterie following Dec. 
17 through Jan. 4 . . . Ralph Ster- 
ling takes over the Monday and 
Tuesday orch duties at Porterhouse 
Room as well as doing two days at 
j the Balinese Room, Blackstone 
1 Hotel. 


Eckstine N. Y. Concert . 
Set for Global Airing 

Voice of America has lined up 
the Billy Eckstine-George Shear- 
ing-Count Basie orch, jazz concert 
at Carnegie Hall, N. Y., Saturday 
<15) for global airing. 

Broadcast will be narrated by 
j jazz critic Leonard Feather. 

45 EP's in Nip Bow 

■ Tokyo, Nov. 4. 

RCA "extended play" records 
will be introduced in Japan this 
week (6) at a concert sponsored 
by Richard A. May, distributor for 
RCA in Japan, and Record Music 
Magazine. *. , 

Concert will follow presentation 
of RCA prizes to winners, of essay 
contest based on record listening. 


Decca’s New Subsid 

Decca Records has formed an- 
other music publishing firm, Cham- 
pion Music, which will handle some 

of the unpublished tunes waxed by 
the diskery. Decca also operates 
another pubbery, Northern Music,' 
as a subsidiary. 

Directors of the new company, 
according to incorporation papers 
filed in Albany, are prexy Milton 
R. Rackmil, exec vice*-prexy Leon- 
ard Schneider and treasurer Sam- 
uel Yamin. 




Kansas City 

Harry James to the Pla-Mor Ball- 
room for a one-nighter Nov. 15 . . . 
Len Harris orch follows Leo Peeper 
into Terrace Grill of Hotel Muehle- 
bach opening Nov. 12. Peeper out- 
fit does some one nighters in the 
Iowa-Illinois territory and works 
back into Chi . . . Don Roth Trio’s 
time extended' through balance of 
the year in the Drum Room of 
Hotel President, and outfit will go 
to the Officers Club, Maxwell Field, 
Ala., early in 1953 , . . Tony Carac- 
ci’s Trio currently. in new Zephyr 
Room of the Hotel Bellerive. 


Omaha 

Wayne King canceled show at 
Paramount for Monday (10) be- 
cause of TV commitments . . . 
Mischa Elman set for concert at 
Blackstone Hotel December 7 . . . 
Harry James in at Peony Park 
Dec. 7 following Skippy Anderson 
and Bobby Mills . . . radio singer 
Lucile Cummings featured . at 
Nebraska Symphony Orchestra’s 
fall concert in Lincoln (9) . . . 
Jose Vera 88ing at Ron-d-voo Room 
of Hill Hotel. 


Kaye in D.C. Stand 

Sammy Kaye has been signed 
for a two-week date at the Statler 
Hotel, Washington, starting Jan. 
12. He’ll be there during the 
inauguration of President-elect 
Eisenhower. 

It’s Kaye's first date at that 
stand. 


Walker on M-G-M Tour 

Frank B. Walker, M-G-M Records 
topper, headed out last week on a 
tour of the diskery’s distrib setup 
in the south and mjdWrSk. , . , ... 


T. Arthur Evans has been named 
exec secretary of the Society for 
Advancement of Canadian Music. 
Evans was formerly secretary- 
treasurer of the Canadian Assn, of 
Broadcasters. 


Slow Speed Platters 

Introduced in Italy 

Genoa, Nov. 4. 

First Italian-made slow speed 
records are currently being re- 
leased by Columbia, His Raster's 
Voice and Pathe. Platters are in 
both the 33 and 45 rpm cate- 
gories. First batch of 30 releases 
are all in the classical or semi- 
classic groove, with companies 
planning a later release of jazz 
disks. 

Release of the locally-manufac- 
tured platters will help alleviate 
shortages and uncertainties previ- 
ously encountered by stores in 
dealing with imported disks, both 
legally and illegally introduced 
into the country, as well as help- 
ing'-to stabilize market and prices. 



Pittsburgh 

Ted Weems comes to Vogue Ter- 
race Monday (17) for a week’s en- 
gagement . . . Pat Donny Trio into 
Bill Green’s cocktail lounge, follow- 
ing Zany-Acs, who have moved to 
the Blue Moon . . . Clare Nelson, 
Tommy Tucker’s vocalist, , was 
home for several days last week 
to huddle with deejays in promot- 
ing the first two M-G-M sides she 
made with Tucker. Gal's right 
name is Clare Lippart and she was 
"Miss Pennsylvania” in the* 1951 1 
Atlantic City beauty pageant . . . 
Jimmy Confer, Baron Elliott's 
singer, signed to warble the pro- 
duction numbers for George 
Arnold's ice show at Stanley The- 
atre week of Nov. 20 . . . Art Far- 
rar’s orch plays a one-night stand 
on stage of WB’s big nabe house 
in East Liberty, the Enright, to- 
morrow (Thurs.) . . . Walter Gable 
band will get two months off after 
first of year when Ankara shuts 
down to increase capacity and in- 
stall permanent’ ice rink, which 
will slide under the bandstand . . . 
Hugh Tully Trio had option picked 
up again at Carlton' House Lounge 
. . . Ink Spots got a quick week’s 
booking at the Twin Coaches, 
where they opened Monday (10) 

. , . Ralph DeStephanp has taken 
over the band at the Carousel with 
Herman Middleman's retirement. 


Starting in 1949 -r- Billboard Said: 

‘THE BISGEST CHRISTMAS NOVELTY OF ALL TIME’ 

RUDOLPH 

THE RED-NOSED REINDEER 

By JOHNNY MARKS 

38-GREAT RECORDINGS— 38 
3 Years-On “YOUR HIT PARADE”— 3 Years 
Featured in a Max Fleischer Technicolor Short 

Being Shown in 

6000 — T H E AT RES -6000 
★ ★ 

And NOW in 1952 


ROSEMARY CLOONEY and GENE AUTRY 

(Columbia) 



as Picked by Variety, Billboard, 

Cash Box, Radio Daily and Walter Winched 

W 0 Proudly Present 

M yinuT 

Nlull I 

BEFORE CHRISTMAS 



* vVA- -v 

. i; , ' . * 

... * ... • * 

Adapted by JOHNNY MARKS 


RUSS MORGAN 

(Decca) 

EILEEN BARTON BIG JON ARTHUR 

(Coral) (Decca) 

DOLLY DAWN (RCA Thesaurus.) and more to follow 


ST. YorVc^ ' 

tA 9 Breads 

6 9 »f M«r. *-* h# tt°UY* ood 
Jetty Pr ° f ‘ Chl«>9 0 a; 


% ♦ a • 




OttCHESTRAS-^flJSIC 


PS&rffr? 


Wednesday* November 12, 1952 


Frank Kelton setting up Mason 
& Dixon Publications (BMI) m ad- 
dition to his other firms. New 
firm will be especially for sacred 
material. Kelton liopes to have 
firm in ■. operation before leaving 
Nashville on Nov. 510 for a_promo-; 
tional trip to the west Coast. 

Annie Lou and Danny Dill have 
a daughter, born Nov. 3, while Ida 
and Sherman Collins now have a 
son, who arrived Nov. 8. Annie 
Lou and Danny have been a 
“Grand Ole Opry” duet for over 
six years. Sherman Collins is gui- 
tar man with the Ray Price band. 

Columbia’s Don Law arrived in 
Nashville Saturday (8) for a week’s 
work with label’s country talent. 

Capitol oatsinger, Faron Young, 
reports to the Nashville Army In- 
duction Center on Nov. 18 for 
draft examinations. 

LaCroix Sisters have been re- 
placed by Peggy Potts in Roy 
Acuff’s Smoky Mountain troupe 
due to the inability of the sisters 
to make many of Acuff’s out of 
town performances. 

Country Chatter . 

Tom Parker setting 1953 dates 
for Eddy Arnold with January 
dates in New York City and Buf- 
falo; February p.a.’s in Chicago 
and Denver; Feb. 4-15 as head- 
liner at Houston Fat Stock Show, 
and a March San Francisco stand 
already slated. All except the 
Houston bill are ior radio bank- 
roller, Ralston Purina Co. Arnold's 
showings also include The Okla- 
homa Wranglers, Hank Garland, 
Roy Wiggins and the Dickens Sis- 
ters* fl 

Smiley Burnette will close his 
1952 professional activities with 
Gene Autry in New Orleans on 
Dec. 7 and return to his San Fer- 
nando Valley home for the rest of 
the year. 

George Biggar, WLS,\ Chicago, 
artist foreman, reports very little 
booking activity of WLS talent 
due to heavy daily commercial 
broadcast schedules. This week 
only two appearances were sched- 
uled with Captain Stubby and the 
Buccaneers in Rochester, Ind., 
Nov. 10, and John Dolce doing a 


show in Wilmetter, 111., Nov. 14. 

Eddie Zack’s Saturday night 
NBC’er moved to new 10 p.m. 
(ESTl spot just following Grand 
Ole Opry” . . . Eddy Arnold coin- 
ing in for guest appearance on 
Perry Como’s Chesterfield TV or 
on Dec. 3 . . . Elton Britt doing 
two week’s at Detroit’s Roosevelt 
Lounge. 

Joe Nixon, who has a top five 
hours each day with rsporite and 
chatter on Fort Worth s NCUL, 
guest appearing on KWlviis 
“Louisiana Hayride” *ln Shreve- 
port Nov. 15 . . . Slim Bryant re- 
turns to NBC after Christmas with 
a KDKA, Pittsburgh, pickup. 

Johnny Arizona now handling 13 
hours a week on KXOC in Chico, 
Calif., with rural records and his 
own song interpretations . . .* Banjo 
comedian Jimmy James returned 
to WLS “National Barn Dance 
last Saturday night (8) after sev- 
eral weeks recuperation from auto 
accident. 

Zeb Carver begins his second 
year at NYC’s Village Barn on 
Armistice Day where he is doing 
three Mutual net shots per week 

. . The 101 Ranch Boys at WSBA, 
in York, Pa., beginning their fifth 
year on ABC network . . . RCA 
Victor’s recording duo. The Beaver. 
Valley Sweethearts (Colleen and 
Donna Wilson), celebrated their 
second anniversary as WLS Na- 
tional Barn Dance entertainers 
Nov. 8. 

Folk singer-emcee Bob Atcher 
preems his third regular tele show 
on WENR-TV, Chicago, when j 
“Junior Rodeo” bows Saturday 
C15). Jimmy James, banjo plunker 
and comedian on WLS’ National 
Barn Dance, back on the show 
after recovering from injuries suf- 
fered in an auto smashup. 

Fiddler Sleepy Marlin came up 
last week from WHAS, Louisville, 
for ‘a guest shot on the WLS Sat- 
urday night barn display. 

Beaver Valley Sweethearts 
notched their second anni with 
WLS and RCA Victor. 

Texas Rhythm Boys, featured 
over WPTR, are playing for square 
dancing Saturday nights in the Rip 
Van Dam Hotel, Saratoga Springs. 



“HIGH 

VOLTAGE’* 

PICK 


•’eXCELLENT" 


EARNS 

FAVOR 


••SLEEPER 
OF THE 
WEEK" 

"BEST 

•ET" 


•’BULLSEYE" 


••OKAY" 


"POTENTIAL" 


4 GREYHOUND (Aladdin) — Buddy Morrow (Vio.) lands a 
Billboard ’'PICK" for "a wild performance" of the 
exciting rhythm ditty, sparked by a solid read- 
ing of the tune by Frankie Lester . Cash Box likes 
the Ella Mae Morse (Dec,) version and Variety 
calls Ella's "a high-voltage platter." Vic Damone 
(Mer, ) waxing will also hypo the tune, 

^ ^ ^ ^ 

4 DON’T ROB ANOTHER MAN*S CASTLE (Hill & Range) — 
Once a smash hit in the folk fie ^d» this ditty 
comes to life via a new Guy Mitcheyl-Mitch Miller 
' (Col.) disk. Billboard rates it "excellent." Tune 
and rendition are equally praiseworthy. 

^ 'A* ^ 

4 SENTIMENTAL SERENADE ( Johnstone-Montei) — Ever- 
dependable Tommy Dorsey (Dec.) earns Billboard 
favor with this "good side." Marv Hudson does the 
chanting as "a slow beat pac'SkthiS fine reading. 
it ★ ★ "Ar ★ 

4 I (Sherwin) [nM cxc/uirbeWn-r^'" A sensational piece of wax 

in a lovely ba on 
nell's (Coral) latapv.RaturaTiy , it sa Sleeper . 
of the Week." BiifbM&G aLU H a; "top-notch disk 

effort." ’’‘I 

★ ★ ★ * * 

4 BOOMERANG ( Sheldon )inon-ex<iuuutBMi \ — Lisa Kirk (Vic.) 
lands a Variety "BEST BET" for a tune that has 
strong, driving impact . . . the kind of excitement 
that’s pegged for clicko returns." 

^ ^ ^ 

1 4 A CRAZY WALTZ (Ridgeway) — Pee Wee King and Redd 

Stewart (Vic.) have penned another moneymaker. 
Cash Box names it "Bullseye of the Week. " Billboard 
reports: "another strong effort." Meanwhile 
Helen O' Connell and Giselle Mackenzie (Cap.) team 
up on a pop Version with "more than a few chuckles 
in the grooves." 

it it ★ "k 'k 

" 4 | WILL STILL LOVE YOU (Garlock-Scherer) — Dorothy 

Collins and Snooky Lanson (Dec.) in a novelty 
ditty of which Variety says, "an okay dueting Job." 
The team may click with this. 

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

4 CLOSE YOUR DREAMY EYES (Eastern)— Variety reports: 
"Sandy Solo (Barry) has a breakaway potential. * 
Billboard finds "Solo's intimate 3tyle is full of 
warmth • • • should rack up a lot of spins." 


;Disk Companies’ Best Sellers u+, 

CAPITOL ARTIST 

1. IT’S IN THE BOOK (2 Parts) Johnny Standley 

2. LADY OF SPAIN ’ Les Paul-Mary Ford 

MY BABY’S COMING HOME 

3. MEET MR. CALLAGHAN 1 Les Paul-Mary Ford 

' .TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS AND HOLD ME 

4. TENNESSEE TANGO Molly .Bee 

THE KIDS WHO PAY 

5. WATER CAN’T QUENCH LOVE Helen O’Connell 

A CRAZY WALTZ Gisele MacKenzie 

COLUMBIA 

1. KEEP IT A SECRET Jo Stafford 

OJNCE TO EVERY HEART 

2. JAMBALAYA Stafford 

EARLY AUTUMN 

3. THE THREE BELLS Les Compagnons De La Chason 

WHIRL 1VIND 

4. WALKIN’ TO MISSOURI Sammy Kaye 

ONE FOR THE WONDER 

5. I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS Jimmy Boyd 

THUMBELINA 


CORAL 

1. i Don Cornell 

BE FAIR 

2. TAKES TWO TO TANGO Pearl Bailey 

LET THERE BE LOVE 

3. YOU’LL NEVER GET AWAY Don Cornell-Teresa Brewer 

THE HOOKEY SONG 

4. STRING ALONG Ames Bros. 

ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER 

5. HOLD ME, THRILL ME, KISS ME. ...... . .Karen Chandler 

ONE DREAM 

DECCA 

1. GLOW WORM Mills Bros. 

AFTER ALL 

2. JUST SQUEEZE ME Four Aces 

HEART AND SOUL 

3. TAKES TWO TO TANGO Louis Armstrong 

I LAUGHED AT LOVE 

4. BLUE TANGO Leroy Anderson 

BELLE OF THE BALL 

5. TRYING Ella Fitzgerald 

MY BONNIE LIES OVER THE * OCEAN 

$ 

MERCURY 

1. I WENT TO YOUR WEDDING Patti Page 

YOU BELONG TO ME 

2. IT’S WORTH ANY PRICE YOU PAY Eddy Howard 

KENTUCKY BABE 

3. FORGETTING YOU* ......Richard Hayes 

FORGIVE AND FORGET 

4. WHY DON’T YOU BELIEVE ME Patti Page 

CONQUEST 

5. MY FAVORITE SONG Georgia Gibbs 

SINNER OR SAINT 


M-G-M 

1. WHY DON’T YOU BELIEVE ME Joni James ; 

PURPLE SHADES 

2. LAZY RIVER • Art Mooney 1 

HONESTLY 

3. YOU WIN AGAIN Tommy Edwards • 

SINNER OR SAINT 

4. MAGIC MUSIC BOX David Rose 

FLAVIA 

5. JAMBALAYA Hank Williams 

WINDOW SHOPPING 


RCA VICTOR 

1. CHRISTMAS DAY .Eddie Fisher 

THAT’S WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME 

2. BECAUSE YOU’RE MINE .Mario Lanza 

THE SONG THE ANGELS SING 

3. WISH YOU WERE HERE Eddie Fisher 

THE HAND OF FATE 

4. EVERYTHING I HAVE IS YOURS Eddie Fisher < 

HOLD ME < 

5. LADY OF SPAIN Eddie Fisher' 

OUTSIDE. OF HEAVEN ' Eisner, 


ASCAP Sparks 

; Continued from page 65 


Dick Charles Diskery 


ASCAP Record 

• - Continued from page 1 — — 

the first eight months of the 
year ending Aug. 31. 

At the same rate, ASCAP j s 
likely to hit the $15,000,000 marker 
for the year instead of the $ 14 - 
000,000 originally calculated. Most 
of th« increase over last year’s 
$12,000,000 income is coming from 
television, which will probably 
contribute well over $6,000,000 in 
performance fees. 

Bernstein reported that ASCAP’s 
expenses for the period amounted 
to $2,092,000, with $1,000,000 of 
that total going for the salaries. 
Another positive feature of the 
financial report was Bernstein’s 
statement that the Society had re- 
duced its cut for administrative 
expenses from the usual 20% to 
19% for this year to date, leaving 
81% to .be distributed among 
writers and publishers. 

The BMI problem, however, was 
highlighted in the speeches of 
prexy Otto A. Harbach and other 
ASCAP execs who made a plea 
for loyalty to the Society. The 
ASCAP execs conceded that BMI 
had an advantag-e in its ability to 
subsidize publishers and writers, a 
procedure which is precluded by 
ASCAP’s setup. Writers and pub- 
lishers, however, were urged to 
stick by the Society for the long- 
range benefits. 

The ASCAP jmeeting was note- 
worthy for its lack of fireworks 
from the floor. In place of the 
beefs against ASCAP’s payoff 
plan, which was the main target in 
past meetings, the ASCAP mem- 
bership displayed an unusual at- 
titude of unity with the ASCAP 
administration. 

King Inks Snow 

Songstress Valaida ' Snow has 
been inked to a longterm pact by 
King Records. Thrush formerly 
waxed on the Derby and Apollo 
labels. 

Her initial King releases are due 
in January. 


‘SILVER RIVER 1 

Recorded by 

DUSTY WALKER 

on Columbia Records 

\ 

Backed by - 

‘Some Day You’ll Dry’ 

Dusty Walker 

Heard on KNBH Monday through 
Friday and Nightly at Hoot Gib- 
ton’* "Silver Spur" In the San 
Fernando Valley, California. 

Bellamy Music — ascap 
Allan Case Ralph Pierce 
RCA Bldg., Hollywood 

“SOME DA¥~ 

YOU’LL cur 

Recorded by 

DUSTY WALKER 

on Columbia Records 


dence that the broadcasters have 
been urging advertisers to use BMI 
rather than ASCAP tunes where 
per program licenses have been in 
effect. ASCAP also asserted that 
BMI has been urging broadcasters 
to obtain per program licenses 

from ASCAP in place of blanket 
licenses though BMI licenses are 
on a blanket basis. 

Examination of BMI’s operation 
by the Dept, of Justice is being 
made, it’s believed, along the lines 
of the above ASCAP allegations, 
ASCAP is seeking an amendment 
to the antitrust decree under which 
it will not be compelled to issue 
per program licenses to any broad- 
caster which has a blanket license 
from BMI. ASCAP is also seeking 
a cut from spot announcements ad- 
jacent to programs using ASCAP 
music in per program situations. 


Dick Charles, former ABC pro- 
ducer-director, and chirper Peggy 
Anne Ellis have formed a record 

company, Charles Records, with 
Charles cleffing the tunes and Miss 
Ellis vocalizing. Four sides have 
been cut, with Glenn Osser, ABC 
music director, batoning the orch. 

Songs were published by Hartley 
Music. 

M-G-M Pacts Peeper 

Lee Peeper orch, Kansas City 
outfit, .has been parted to wax 
several sides for M-G-M Records. 

Initial Peeper release is coupling 
of “With All My Heart” and “Little 
Honey Bee.” 

Billy May To Texas 
Beaumont, Tex., Nov. 11. 

Billy May band has been sched- 
uled for a series of one nighters 
in the Texas area. 

He opens here Wednesday night 
(12) at the Harvest Club. 


Backed by 

“Silver River” 

Vier Publications —bmi 
Allan Case Ralph Pierce 
RCA Bldg., Hollywood 


It's Music by 


JESSE GREER 

Program Today Yesterday'* 

JUST YOU 
JUST ME 


ROBBINS 


A . . i. 



Wednesday, November 12, 1952 



Henie Abandons Arena-Style Biaders; 
May Play N.Y. Roxy in War With Wirtz 


Sonja Henie, following comple- 
tion of her stand last we^k at the 
Armory, Washington, announced 
her intention to abandon the arena- 
tv pe presentation in favor of a 
small show that can play theatres 
and television. Miss Henie is re- 
ported to have° sustained some 
heavy losses during her current 
tour and hopes to recoup in other 
media. 

Skater left Washington yester- 
day (Tues.) for Boston to confer 
with officials of the Boston Opera 
Bouse for a Nov. 20 opening there. 
She’s also after a date at the Roxy. 
N.Y. In preparation for the new 
type of presentation, she signed 
with the William Morris Agency 
for all fields except arena tours. 

Originally, Miss Henie had ex- 
pressed herself as against the Roxy 
idea, but it now looks like she’ll go 



DARVAS and JULIA 

Opened MOCAMBO 
Hollywood 
(November 11 ) 


COMEDY MATERIAL 

For All Branches of Theatricals 

G LA SON'S FUN-MASTER 

THE ORIGINAL SHOW BIZ GAG HIS 
(The Service of the Stars) 

35 ISSUES $25 

First 13 Files $7.00. All 35 issues $25.00 
Singly: $1.05 Each IN SEQUENCE Only 
(Beginning with No. 1 — No Skipping) 

#~~3~ Bks. PARODIES per book $10 • 

• MINSTREL BUDGET $25 • 

• 4 BLACKOUT BKS., ea. bk. $25 • 
HOW TO MASTER THE CEREMONIES 

(reissue), $3.00 

GIANT CLASSIFIED ENCYCLOPEDIA 
OF GAGS, $300. Worth over a thousand 
NO C.O.D.'S 
HILLY GLASON 

200 W. 54 St.. New York 1 9 Dept. V 
Circle 7-1130 


WHEN IN BOSTON 

It's the 

HOTEL AVERY 

Avery A Washington Sts. 

The Home of Show Folk 



Press: LARRY GORE Assoc. 

Agency: GERBER A WEISS 
1697 Broadway; tfew’ York 


into the house around Jan. 14, if 
negotiations jell. That would be 
just one day before Arthur M. 
Wirtz’s “Hollywood Ice Revue” 
opens at Madison Square Garden. 

Miss Henie’s appearance at the 
Roxy in competition with Wirtz 
would present some interesting as- 
pects. In the first place, her name 
plus a film at pop prices will prob- 
ably dent the Garden boxoffice 
tremendously. But at the same 
time, it’s possible that once having 
been seen at the lower tariffs, it 
would be difficult at another time 
to sell herself for $6 top in an 
armory or the Garden should the 
latter ever become available to her. 

Another factor to be considered 
in the event of a- Roxy date lies irt 
Miss Henie’s ability to* do four 
shows or more daily. 

Completion of negotiations for 
Miss Henie at the Roxy may cause 
complications from another quar- 
ter. Talks were originally insti- 
tuted by Dick Henry, who left that 
office two months ago and opened 
his own agency. Henry says he 
started the Roxy deal before the 
skater signed with Morris. 

OMAHA SETS PLANS 
FOR ’54 CENTENNIAL 

Omaha, Nov. 11. 

Plans for Omaha’s centennial 
celebration in 1954 are afoot, with 
ad exec Morris E. Jacobs heading 
the committee. 

Sets are a year-long series of his* 
torical events, including pageants, 
parades, concerts, speeches and 
fireworks; frontier village, with eye 
to amusement park; civic improve- 
ment projects; and exhibs of Ne- 
braska farm and industrial prod- 
ucts. 

No announcement as yet on en- 
tertainment side, although name 
bands and vaude acts are first up 
on the agenda. 

Richman for Gleason TV, 
Then Wonderbar, MontT 

Harry Richman, who recently 
played a date at the Cafe de Paris, 
London, has been pacted for the 
Wonderbar, Montreal, Dec. 1. 

Singer will come into New York 
Nov. 29 to play the Jackie Gleason 
tele show. 




Olympia, Miami, Sets Bill I 
After 8-Month Hiatus 

Miami, Nov. 11. 

Florida . State Theatres will re- 
turn vaude to the Olympia here 
Dec. 10, after an absence of eight 
months. House took off on first- 
run pictures when patron-drawing 
topliners began asking too much 
for the house budget to carry. 

According to George Hoover, 
head of the chain, first bill is in 
process of being set via Harry 
Levine and the Paramount offices 
in New York. Olympia was for 
years the only vauder in south | 
Florida and returns to that status i 
next month. I 


VAUDEVILLE 


Liquor Score: Drys Win in Key Jersey 
Towns, Affecting Philly; Oregon Cafe 
Gain Ter Drink’ Status; Miami 'Saved’ 


Miami’s Chapter . 
& Verse on ‘Torso 


' Miami, Nov. 11. 

Despite protests from some 
nitery operators, Miami city com- j 
mission passed this week, on first 
reading, an ordinance strapping 
stripperies to rigid rulings on 
what the unveilers can reveal. 
With it was added a paragraph to 
clarify references to “vulgarity” 
and definition of “lower torso.” 

Ordinance was introduced by 
Commissioner Perrine Palmer, Jr., 
a familiar figure around the better 
cafes. As amended, it forbids a 
stripper to unclad to the point 
where her “torso is revealed below 
the hip line.” References to “vul- 
garity” were also revised when 
Lee Mason, rep of American Guild 
of Variety Artists, protested the 
wording. Rewriting brought in 
“obscene and indecent” on acts to 
be banned. 

State Liquor Board joined in 
the action with hearing in Talla- 
hassee yesterday (Mon.) on case of 
Gaiety Club here, which faces loss 
j of liquor license on claim of of- 
ficials that state law was violated 
by the strip spot in not serving 
foods with the liquids dispensed. 

Miami statute calls for a suspen- 
sion of license for as long as six 
months on proof that any operator 
| allowed a performer .to breach the 
1 provisions of the law. Matter 
I comes up for second reading next 
I Monday (17). 


, \ l 

v 


> 

?i v . 


THE CHORDS 

Instrumentalists without Instruments 

WEEK NOV. 13 TO NOV. 19 
Club Dates 

Louisville and Atlanta 
Dir.: GENERAL ARTISTS CORP. 
Club Date Bookings by 
HARRY GREBEN NAT DJJNN 

203 N. Wabash Ave. 1650 B’way 

Chicago, III. New York 


"Convulsed Everybody 
Present !" 

WILL 

JORDAN 

Just Concluded 
SMASH ENGAGEMENT 


CHEZ PAREE 

Montreal 

Personal Management: 
MILTON H. BIACKSTONE 
565 Fifth Avenue, New York 

EL 5-1540 


Choristers Blackout 
Their Choppers And 
This Producer Sees Red j 

Patrons of the Holiday Theatre, 
N. Y., got an unexpected laugh 
last week. During the finale of one 
of the shows at that house, the 
customers were watching a se- 
•quenee that showed off the beauty 
of the costumes that producer 
Michael Rose provided. The line was 
parading nicely in front of some 
lush sets and then the girls 
smiled. Six showgirls had blacked 
out their teeth. 

Rose didn’t think it was funny. 
He brought the girls up on 
charges before the American Guild 
of Variety Artists. At first the 
c'. orus denied the charges, but 
later four confessed they blotted 
out their cuspids as a gag. The 
union didn’t ride along with the 
gag either. Two girls, who main- 
tained their denial, were let off 
and the four were given a 10-day 
suspension. Two girls who were 
acquitted, Joyce Quinlan and Bea 
Norman, .were subsequently let 
out by Rose. These femmes main- 
tain that they were signed for 
four weeks and had only worked 
two. They've filed countercharges 
with the union asking for two I 
weeks’ pay. 

Capitol, Scranton, Vaude 

Scranton, Nov. 11. 

The Capitol Theatre here will 
open as a three-day vaude stand 
starting Nov. 20. Initial bill is still 
to be set by the Feinberg Agency, 
New York. * 

House is part of the Comerford 
circuit which has the Penn, Wilkes- 
Barre, on three-day vaude; Capi- 
tol, Williamsport, and Capitol, 
Binghamton, both two days. 


Philadelphia, Nov. 11. I 

The entertainment business here J 
received an unexpected jolt with 
a victory by dry forces in Glou- 
cester Township, New Jersey, in a 
^referendum on the Presidential 
ballots last Tuesday (4). 

Tied up with a hassle concern- 
ing increased wages for the police, 
the drys squeezed through a law 
which shutters cafes and taprooms 
in Gloucester City and Gloucester 
Heights at rqidnight Saturday and 
all day Sunday. Gloucester, which 
lies south of Camden, N. J., is one 
of the first stops in the “Jersey 
Free State” for thirsty Philadel- 
phians fleeing the bone-dry Penn- 
sylvania Sabbath. 

Since a large and profitable part 
of the South Jersey cafe trade de- 
pends on this weekend business, 
there is speculation here on the 
new law’s ultimate effect on such 
entertainment spots as Andy’s Log 
Cabin, Nicholson’s Tavern, the 
Twin' Bar and Lou Palma’s Cafe, 

The Sunday closing ban went 
into effect immediately. It marked 
*the worst setback cafe business 
I has received across-the-Delaware 
since Pennsauken Township, N. J., 
passed law forbidding women to 
sit at the bar, four years ago. 

Bookers and acts see possibili- 
ties that all four big cafes might 
slough entertainment and music, 
under the new restrictions. Other 
local reverberations were expected 
among Philly cafe owners, cur- 
rently engrossed in an . all-out 
drive to extend Pennsylvania’s 
Saturday closing hour from mid- 
night to 2 a.m. Sunday. 

A similar referendum in' Somers 
Point, N. J., mainland resort which 
adjoins the traditionally dry vaca- 
tion spot of Ocean City, N. J., was 
turned down by the voters, 2 to 1. 
As a result, the 18 taverns and 
cafes in Somers Point will con- 
tinue to remain open Saturday 
night until 3 a.m. and reopen Sun- 
days after church services have 
finished. Three-quarters of the 
Ocean City and Somers Point va- 
cation population is comprised of 
Philadelphians. 


which prohibited the sale of lfquor 
by the drink in this state. For the 
last few years nitery owners have 
had the repeal on the ballot but 
never came close. This year they 
went all-out and won by a big mar- 
gin. 

When the Oregoii Legislature 
convenes in January, it will be 
forced to repeal the law and set up 
a new deal whereby liquor can be 
sold by the glass. Oregon was one 
of the few states where cafe pa- 
trons and cocktail customers had 
to go to a State Liquor Store, pur- 
chase a bottle of liquor and carry 
it to the spot. 

The people of Portland also voted 
(Continued on page 74) 


Repeal Wagner Act 
Portland, Ore., Nov. 11. 
The people of Oregon went to 
the polls last week and repealed 
the long-standing Wagner Act 


LEW 


BLACK 

and 

PAT 

DUNDEE 

(Beauty and 
the Least ) 

A new note In 
Glamor Comedy 

GERBER-WEIS8 

AGENCY 

1697 Broadway.N.Y. 
Club Dates 
NAT DUNN 




JERRY 

BERGEN 

Back Home After 
4 Months in Europe 

201 West 49th Street 

New York 19, N. Y. 

PLAZA 7-1145 




AND HIS ORCHESTRAL 

with all his famous STARS 
Currently at Chicago's 
EDGEWATER BEACH HOTEL 


TANYA 

AND 

BIAGI 

Dance Satirists 

• 

Currently 
Blue Room 

Shoreham Hotel 

Washington, D. C. 

• 

Contact-MARCUS GLASER 
CHA5. HOGAN Agency, Chicago 


DANCERS OF DISTINCTION 




NELLE FI5HEfc a " d JERRY ROSSI 

Management Associates JACK VAUGHAN— PEGGIE GATES 7 East 55th Street, New York COlumbus S-0232 


ARTHUR MURRAY 
PARTY 
DUMONT-TV 
SUNDAY, NOV. 16 




74 VA1TPEVHULB . 

Copa City, Miami Sets Preem Show, 1tt ^E y 7 L 
Inspiring’ %ers; M&L for 2d Bill? sh*^ 

* 53> fU , ? . ' lies' 1 cut a fancy $87,200 for seven 

The major question mark of the commitments in that period. Copa performances up to last night 

Florida rafe season Copa City City has also pacted Harry Mimmo. (Mon.) at Cincinnati Garden. Show 
Florida cate. reason, copa j cop a has started -book- is playing jit a. $3 top. Attendance 

Miami Beach, made known its < ng talent agen cies will probably so far has been clocked at 39,500. 
plans to open either Jan. 23, 24 concentrate on Florida sales. Un- ' Troupe stays until Sunday (16) 
or 25. til now, it wasn't known whether at this stand. 

Mnrrav Weincer one of the op- that nitery would even open. Un- 

w as m n/w ESSANESS CHAIN TAKES 

York last week and pacted Jack se ^ ac |- s into clubs in that area. — - — — »«- ~ 

Carter, Ames Bros, and the Szonys Hitherto, the major agency ac- 
for the preem show. tion had been for the Clover Club 

Heavy barrage of names will and the Beach hotels, 
start with the second show for — — 

which Martin & Lewis are tenta- pnfrnHpl* Fltlflll7P<£ 
tively slated. Deal is okay with ElUIdLlW I lUall/>C9 

the comics, but they have to clear P I £ ¥¥• P Qf nplr 

with the Coast on possible picture udltt Ul JLHo IsUjJa OlULh ? 


Wednesday* November, 12, 1952 


the comics, but they have to clear 
with the Coast on possible picture 


Thanks to 

VAUGHN MONROE 


CAMEL CIGARETTES 

For Past Two Years 
With Camel Caravan 

JAY 

KIRK 

HUMOR A LA CARTE 

Comedy , Songs, Dance 
and Acrobatics 

Mgr.: WILLARD ALEXANDER. Inc/ 
30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York 








THAT 

FABULOUS 

FOURSOME 


Currently at 

THE ADOLPHUS HOTEL 
Dallas 

Direct from 

THE SHAMROCK HOTEL 
Houston 

William Morris Agtncy 
Chicago, III. 

Management: 

Harry W. Lawrence 
New York, N. Y. 


OVER TWO CHI CAFES 

Chicago, Nov. 11. 

In an unusual deal last week the 
Essaness Theatre circuit found it- 
self taking ever the management 
of Jwo niteries. Circuit, headed 
by Eddie Silverman, took over the 
# Brass Rail and Bandbox, both for- 

S'PftmCf Affc ftfMP Vpora^ merly run by A1 Greenfield. Both 
■JCIUllg fiUMUI fUgaa spots are in the Woods Theatre 

Jack Entratter finalized his bow- Bldg., which Essaness owns. One is 
out from the Copacabana by dis- on street level and the other in 
posing of his 30% interest in Jules basement. 

Podell’s Copacabana, N.Y. nitery, Ralph Smitha, general manager 
! in order to devote himself exclu- of the film house circuit, is presi- 
sively to the new Sands Hotel, dent of one of the new corpora- 
Las Vegas, wherein he is inter- tions, but Harry Rich, former man- 
ested. It meant foregoing almost ager for Greenfield, continues as 
$5,000 in salary until the end of host at the cafes, 
the year but Entratter has been Brass Rail uses jazz units, cur- 
anxious for the change, primarily rently headlining the Max Miller 
because of the dry Nevada climate group, while the Bandbox is on a 
and' its beneficial effect on • his k vaude . policy, with accent, on 
arthritis. This leaves Podell in femmes. In the past, it played name 
100% control of the click Copa, orchs, but not in recent years. 

with George Frazier as his gen- ? — 

eral aide and p.a. J oe Jansley, Sister (Mrs. 

Danny Thomas tees off the new T rv* W7„i, A 

Sands Dec. 15 for 3!£ weeks' at Loyal) Die Week Apart 

$12,500 per, followed by Edith The Jansley family, a long-estab- 
Piaf Jan. 8, then Billy Eckstine lished circus name, whose members 
and Patti Page. have long done novelty acts, lost 

In light of the current scramble two members within a week. Joe 
for names, Entratter’s idea is to Jansley, who worked the risley act 
build new cafe attractions such as (The Jansley s); and his sister, Mrs. 
an “I Love Lucy" package with Alf Loyal, widow of the trainer of 
Lucille' Ball and Desi Arnaz; Joan Loyal's Dogs, both died within a 
Davis; possibly Ethel Merman week of each other. 

(who hasn’t played saloons' since Jansley died last Wednesday (5) 
becoming a Broadway and Holly- in New York and his sister in Fan- 
wood star), et al. wood, N. J., Oct. 29. Both had been 

Entratter has set his ballyhoo for some time, 

plans for his new operation by A brother, Alphonse Jansley, 
getting Budd Granoff <to send hm who . now operates Loyal’s Dogs 
Al Freeman to Vegas for on-the- furyiyes. ma £ ne< * to agent 

site advance-campaigning, work- Althoff. Joe Jansley s daugh- 

ing with the Hollywood firm of | s Nana Wilfred (Wilfred s 
Foladare, Greed & Bock. * Harold Do ^ s * 

Dobrow, formerly of the William -. T . . , _ . . 

Morris Agency, has been named N.Y. Hungaria S Petition 
assistant to Entratter. Zimmerman’s Hungaria, one of 

The Sands has 200 rooms and the oldest niteries in New York, 
on Jan. 2 plans adding 160 more, has filed a petition for arrange- 
■ ment in N. Y. Federal Court. 

Sophie Tucker has been signed Spot listed liabilities of $131,- 
for the Cave Club, Vancouver, for 211 and assets of $15,900. 
a week starting March 9. - / 

? 1 nniiNiml uq,,r sc ° re I 

■ E N#%rLill I ~~ Continued from page 73 . r - 


KAYE’S SOCK 47G, 48G 
IN SEATTLE, PORTLAND 

. Seattle, Nov. 11. 

A terrific $47,000 was scored by 
the Danny Kaye show at the Para- 
mount Theatre here. Layout 
started slowly with a $4,500 take j 
the opening session Wednesday 
(5), but built tremendously to a 
strong $10,000 for the closing night 
Sunday (9). Scale was $2.50 to 
$4.30. 

- Kaye worked the Paramount 
Theatre, Portland, for $48,000 in 
four days starting Nov. 1. He 
opens today (Tues. ) at the Georgia 
Auditorium, Vancouver, for two 
days. 

Kaye Picks Palace 
After Nixing Warner, 
Shubert 2-a-Day Deals 

Deal for Danny Kaye to reopen 
the Palace Theatre, N. Y., two-a- 
day policy *has been completed. 
Comedian .will start some -time in 
January with the 20th most likely. 
It’s not yet known how long he 
will remain. 

Inking of the Palace deal marks 
the climax of some close in-fight- 
ing among three houses. Warner 
Bros, was also interested in signing 
Kaye for the now closed Warner 
Theatre on Broadway and the Shu- 
bert office would have liked him 
for the Winter Garden. 

Kaye’s last N. Y. vaude appear- 
ance was at the Roxy Theatre two 
years ago. 

Comic will pay for the sur- 
rounding talent, which will be 
pacted by the William Morris 
Agency, with Kaye having the 
right to approve the other acts. 

Although terms of Kaye’s Pal- 
ace deal haven’t been divulged, it’s 
known that he’ll go in on a per- 
centage deal which will permit 
him to take out more than the the- 
atre will keep. There had been 
reports that Kaye will get 70% of 
the* take with the house keeping 
30%. At this figure, it’s likely that 
the comic will share in advertising 
costs. It’s also known that the 
Palace had to come up from its 
original offer because of the War- 
ner and Shubert competition. 


Gingold to N.Y. Waldorf? 

Deal is in the works for Her- 
mione Gingold to play the Empire 
Room of Hotel Waldorf-Astoria, 
N. Y. 

Music Corp. of America is 
handling the British comedienne 
for a U. S. tour to begin late next 
month. 


Tex. State Fair’s 
Mo 361G Net 

Dallas. Nov. 11 . 

The State Faij* of - Texas, in its 
16-day run, JOct. 4-19, made a r, es- 
timated net profit of $361,000, expo 
prez R. L. Thornton revealed to the 
48-man directors’ board Friday < 7 i. 
Net from the 1951 fair was $320,* 
000. Not only did profits for ’52 
increase, despite heavier expenses, 
Thornton said, but this year’s rec- 
ord 2,387,240 attendanse was 67.000 
greater than in 1951. 

Boff net take from the ’52 expo 
caused the directors’ board to vole 
two more payments on Cotton Bowl 
bonds, which are already paid 
through January, 1956. 


t= 


Chicago's 

NEW LAWRENCE 

i&s* HOTEL 


7.V 


Swlmmln* Psal— X 

Restaurant — C»ck- Y|l|l|ll 

tall L*un«*— 400 Yf^-J 

Madam Kitehenatta X 

Apts, and Sl«ap- fc| 

Ini Roams (all with I I 
Tub' and Shower) {hJ X 

—Modern Appoint- JW-r; 

■nik ments — (JverUokln* U 

^ T V Lake and Park. / X 

profeIsio C nal 

Lawrence A Kenmora Avenuas at Sheridan Road 
Chicase 40, Jlllatla LOnibaach 1-2100 



TURCHE 1 TI 

ULTRA-SONIC GUITARIST 


Grant's Riviera 

RESTAURANT AND BAR 

1 58 W. 44 St.. New York LU 2-4488 

WHERE SHOWBUSINESS MEETS 

* TALENT CONTEST * 
MONDAY NIGHTS 

Prize: Professional Engagement 
Duplicate PrUes Awarded In the Casa ol Ties 


Montreal • New York • Chicago 

PETER J. STEELE 


London 


Hollywood 

• Paris • 


Brussels 1 1 


and Raya Sisters 

"DANCING DOLL-USIONS" 

Nov. 15 

SPADE COOLEY 

T.V. Hollywood 
Nov. 13 

Two Weeks — SAHARA HOTEL 
, LAS VEGAS 

Personal Management 41 

THE WILSON AGENCY j 
Phil GRAE — Phil COSCIA ■ 

1501 Broadway, N. Y. C. 


ROGER 

CARNE 

and CANASTA the Cat 

Currently Resident’ Season 

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE 

Johannesburg, South Africa 

I Direction 

WM. MORRIS AGENCY 


ANDY MAYO’S 

Original “PANSY THE HORSE” 


18 Months on CAMEL CARAVAN 

Just concluded: CHICAGO THEATRE 

Opening Nov* 20 for 4 weeks: 
JACK CARSON TY SHOW 

Available after the middle of January 
; HARRY ROMM, MCA, New York 


out Mayor Dorothy McCullough 
Lee. The lady mayor -did a neat 
job of cleaning up the city the last 
four years. City Commissioner Pe- 
terson was elected to run the city 
for the next four years on a pro- 
gram of opening up the town, more 
or less. 

With a more liberal mayor and 
liquor by the drink in effect, it’s 
anticipated that tourists will* again 
frequent this state and plush spots 
will mushroom. 

Dade Curfew Nixed 

Miami, Nov. 11. 

Attempts by Dade County Com- 
mission and some reform elements 
to institute early uniform closing 
hours for bars, cafes apd hotels 
was abandoned this week. Meeting 
scheduled for yesterday (Mon.) 
with reps of municipalities was can- 
celled. 

Original proposal several weeks 
ago to shut all liquor-dispensing 
establishments at midnight (bars) 
and at 2 a.m. (night clubs) brought 
a storm of protest from such cities 
as Miami Beach, Hialeah, Miami 
1 Shores and other communities 
which make up the greater Miami 
area, largest concentration of popu- 
lation in the county. Miami Beach 
councilmen wer* especially vigor- 
I ous in turning down the commis- 
! sion’s proposal. 

j If' law had been passed, it was 
agreed, it would have put every 
big night spot eventually out of 
i business and badly hurt hotels, 


JAY MARSHALL 


Houst Comic 
Closes Today 

RADIO CITY 
MUSIC HALL 

Mgt.: 

MARK LEDDY 


FOSTER AGENCY, LONDON, 

pr«f«nts 








I 


JACK DENTON 

World's Greatest Comedian 
(Patent fending) 


Currently 

TOURING ENGLAND 

A T*l, C c a , n .?.*L, WM ' MORRIS AGENCY 
TAVEL-MAROUANI AGENCY. PARIS 


Lucille and Eddie 

ROBERTS. 

Currently Appearmfl 

CLUB Zl » 


BEST WISHES 
TO CBS 


Dir Action 

MANAGEMENT- ASSOCIATES 
7 East 55th Street New York 


HARBERS 


5TH WEEK 
CLUB R1GAT 
BARCELONA, SPAIN 


and DALE 


COMEDIANTATORS! 
COMICS! DISC JOCKEYS! 
ENTERTAINERS! 

This Can Happen to You! 

One of our subscribers informs us: 
"Your flies have been responsible for 
bringing me from RADIO In (local 
town) through STAGE, SCREEN and 
TELEVISION in California. I am very 
grateful for your help!" 

FUN-MASTER GAG FILES, $1.05 Each 

First 13 Issues $7 - ALL 35 Issues $25 
NO C.O.D.'s 

BILLY GLASON 

200 W. 54th 5t., New York 19, N. Y. 
Dept. V 


"BEST COMEDY BITS" 

5 Acts of Comedy for TV, Vodvll and 
Night Club Entertainers Containing 
Monologues, Sketches S> Pantomlmicry. 

Price Five Dollars 

A. GUY VISK WRITING ENTERPRISES 

12 Liberty Street Troy, N. 

(The Mlrthplace of Show Bli) 


®_CA LL/r/Gt ALL Jf 

ASk G 

SB comedy caravan 

W- by RORERT ORIEN 
{ —a 55 page printed 
* book containing 10/4 
one-line gags routine.d into 45 sock bit*- 
Only $1 including a ( ree . S? 1 t , a ,l oq T ^ J’ pkI 
book*. 




|||U U »IVV • — • — . . . 

Send to: LOUIS TAN 






(Who Mod* tho World-Famous Columbia Rocord: "THE THREE BELLS" 


Opening November 14th 

WONDERBAR, MONTREAL 

Followed by: 

• HOLLENDEN HOTEL, cM..d 

• PALMER HOUSE HOTEL, cH«,go 

• THUNDERBIRD HOTEL, i„, Vegai 

• RIVERSIDE HOTEL, Reno 

• AMBASSADOR HOTEL, Los Angeles 



Personal Manager 
In Europe 

&UIS BARRIER. 


Exclusive Direction 

LEW & LESLIE GRADE, LTD., INC 

250 West 57th Street, New York 19 


C < £ i C c £ 


Personal Manager 
in America 

EDDIE LEWIS 



76 


NIGHT CLUB IDE VIEWS 


French Casino* N. Y» 

M. N. Martini presentation of 
u Amours de Paris” directed by 
Helene Martini, with Sugar Ray 
Robinson (2), Dominique, Ginette 
Wander, Jane Laste, Rudy Car- 
denas, Paulette Sisters (4), Jean 
Dubois, Evy Lynn & David, Irene 
& Leopold, Line, Corps de Ballet, 
Can Can Girls ; $4-5 minimum. 

With blit slight-revisions, M. N. f 
Martini continues the revue with 
which he took hold of the former 
Diamond Horseshoe in the under- 
ground of* the Paramount Hotel 
last July. Having hurdled the 
sweltering summer, he is now well 
into the regular season. 

Many of the Broadway wiseacres 
didn’t rate -him much of a chance 
to come this far with his leasehold. 
Should the Gallic impresario man- 
age to click through the ’Winter, 
he will undoubtedly have jumped 
the most strategic hurdle in his 
attempt to . set up shop perma- 
nently. 

The large cafe cannot help but 
swing a lot of the town’s coin its 
way during the incumbency of 
middleweight champ Sugar Ray 
Robinson (New Acts), who made his 
nilery lebut last Friday (7) to a 
pair of jampacked houses. There 
was considerable trade from Har- 
lem as well, and if Robinson can 
maintain the pace or nearly so, 
the spot can turn over a profit. 
Perhaps of greater importance, the 
personable fighter’s presence on 
the bill figures to bring a horde of 
non-regulars. 

Robinson, who is assisted in his 
act by another Negro called Scot- 
ty, is spotted three times. There 
is also an overabundance of parade 
numbers between regular acts. 
Lavout was two hours in the un- 
folding opening night. This may 
be a lot of show but it’s poor show- 
manship. The- costumes show evi- 
dence of over-use. ^ 

There’s some fine talent m the 
lineup. Aside from Robinson, a 
high ooint is the 20-minute magic 
and pickpocket turn of Dominique. 
The lad puts the mob in a frenzy 
with his thefting antics- on stage 
and audience floor. He’s a mas- 
terful performer. New in th's edi- 
tion is Rudy Cardenas, with a wide 
juggling repertoire that scores. 

In the chirping section, Ginette 
Wander adds a rich Gallic flavor 
to the bill both solo and in pairing 
with Jean Dubois. Jane Laste is 
a sizzling ballerina in rapid-fire 
whirls and twirls. The can-can 
number is hot but overlong. ' The 
Paulette Sisters (4) do three or 
four pops okay but seem lost in 
the show. 

In an item built around “An 
American at Pigalle’s” there’s 
good Apache work by Evy Lynn & 
David and a corking modified strip 
on toes by Irene (& Leopold) in 
which the shedding has an 1890 
costume as starting point. Sauciest 
of the ensemble motifs is “An Eve- 
ning with King Louis XV.” It’s 
Minsky in elaboration. 

The big hero is Vincent Travers, 
who batons the orch expertly in 
this marathon. All this bill needs 
for improvement is discipline plus 
a stopwatch. The ingredients are 
there. Trau. 


“Nothing for Nothing” and “Cabin 
in the Sky,” then back to the orig- 
inal comedy, pattern for the rest 
of the show, including hit tunes 
like “The Laziest Girl in Town” 
and “Something Better Than Love.” 

The Felix King combo provide 
background music in their regular 
confident manner and alternate for 
the dance music with the Don 
Carlos orch. Myro. 


5 OXIock* Miami ITch 

Miami* Beach, Nov. 8. 
Martha Raye, fluts Bros. (3), 
Ted Wills Quartet, Alf Carlson, 
Len Dawson Orch; $2.75 & $4.75 


minimum. 


Martha Raye is virtually a natiye 
here now and with it, her cafe in. 
the heart of the plush hotel line 
has become a must-see for tourists. 
It’s one of the most consistent cafe 
money-makers in this area. 

Her return from the N. Y. TV 
wars solidly proved the point, with 
turnaway biz since reopening, at 
both sessions. Miss Raye has plenty 
of material to, choose from, but 
sticks to the standard act she has 
been presenting; and from 'the 
manner in which the aud reacts, 
it’s a wise blueprinting. ' 

Miss Rayp’s mixture of frenetic 
waggery and zany version of a 
Calypso tune, rhythm items and 
change of tempo to that still sock 
handling of a ballad such as “Black 
Magic” or “Love For Sale,” holds 
them all the way. Her lampooning 
of “La Vie En Rose” is a topper. 
For the payoff, there’s a return for 
the slapstick carryings-on with the 
Ted Wills Quartet, complete to 
blacked-out teeth. 

Supporting show is a stout one. 
Teeoff slot is an aud-attention get- 
balanber Alf Carlson. 


Pfistn&fr 

Sahara* Las Vegas 


Las Vegas, Nov. 6. 
Jan Murray , Quintetto Allegro 
(5), Beverlee Dennis, 7 Ashtons, 
Gene Nash, Sa-Harem Dancers 
(12 ),Cee Davidson Orch (12); no 
cover or minimum. 


Wednesday* Noveralrer 12 * 1952 


Although bowing in on Nov. 4, 
this new Sahara chapter didn’t get 
off the ground until two days later 
when comedian Jan Murray flew 
out from Gotham to take over as 
headliner. Originally, new import 
act, Quintetto Allegro, was booked 
as a sleeper to topline, but combo 
did nothing for the room and vice 
versa, so producer Stan Irwin— put 
in a call for Murray. Quintetto 
stays on, but with the good Las 
Vegas rep of Jan Murray, biz 
should skip upward and onward. 

Dimensions of the room are such 
that a standup comic must fight 
every inch of the way for attention. 
Distance is great from ‘back tiers 
to stage, which is why sight acts 
will always go over better here. 
But a smart comedian needn’t be 
thrown by this nitery — and Jan 
-Murray isn’t. He begins punching 
the moment he hits centre, and lets 
the good ones trail rapidly along 
until the yocks pile up good and 
stay there. 

Murray keeps the room in an 
uproar through* his opener with 
Beverlee Dennis, a quickie “How 
Could You Believe Me?”, and his 
honey based on Mother Goose. 
Stops and starts of “Laugh, Clown, 
Laugh” register fair, but narration 
about gal he married whams into 
climax for begoff. 

Qtfinetto Allegro has offbeat 
Continental touch with humor and 
combined musicianship, but seem 
better suited for a posh intime 
cocktail lounge. Dressed up to 


ter with 

Work on Low and high stands is . „ ^ . 

built carefully and in showmanly | here — white tie and all— combo be- 

. » 1 « J i _ L«f AM 04* A1 Mil r O 


style, for heavy mitts. 

The Ted Wills group has re- 
placed the Yost singers. Personnel 
is composed of ex-members of the 
Guardsmen and with switch to their 
own act they’ve discarded the Shu- 
bert road company type of costum- 
ing for black and white, with idea 
marking them a click (see New 
Acts). 

Male comedy portion of the line- 
up is handled by the Nuts Bros. 
They’re new hereabouts and earn 
themselves a score with session of 
laughs via screwballisms. Mixture 
has special vocals by the trio. They 
work to recordings with a “Figaro” 
mouthing a top howler via manipu- 
lation of the platter for vocal 
growl and slide effects, and le^it 
takeoff on Laine and Johnnie Ray. 
Bowoff bit has the trio in striped 
blazers and straws to hoofery and 
mugging on “Oh You Beautiful 
Doll.” Turn is well received. 

Len Dawson orch is adept as the 
Raye’s accompanist, handles her 
stylings with skill and participates 
in the act via some barbs she tosses 
at him. Lary. 

Gray’s Band Box* L* A. 

Los Angeles, Nov. 4. 

Mickey Freeman, Wilder Bros., 
Alice Tyrell & Dick Winslow, Lar- 
ry Green, Bill Howe ; $2.50 mini- 
mum. 


Tolony & Astor 

London, Nov. 5. 

Pearl Bailey, Felix King Orch, 
Don Carlos and Sid Philips Bands; 
Colony: $5 minimum; Astor: $3 
minimum to 11 p.m., $3 cover 
thereafter. 


lief in a lighter vein -than he uses. 
However, he makes the maximum 
impact on this house. 

Lucille & Eddie Roberts never 
fail to amaze audiences. Their 
mentajist act is one of the slicker 
bits of business. The boy migrates 
into the audience picking up ob- 
jects which the blindfolded femme 
identifies. It’s done so well that 
the act provides a source of won- 


Peggy Lee races across the des- 
ert sands at approximately tlie 
same gait she used for “Lover” 

v..w —v .for almost her entire repertoii-P 

der that generates plenty applause. LExcept for one short “walk ” th* 

■DaKoH-c rmi*»ted the D3- -5«« nnllnn^n i ’ . 


The Roberts even quieted the pa 
tronage at the bar during their 
turn and made it easier for Sav- 
age who followed. 

Completing the act lineup is 
Joan Kayne (New Acts). The 
George James orch does the show- 
backing^ .ose. 

Hoi el C hase, Si. Louis 

(CHASE CLUB) 

St. Louis, Nov. 5. 

Paul Gilbert, The Asia Boys (3), 
The Sliowtimers (3), Eddie O’Neal 
. Orch (12); $1-$1.50 cover, no mini- 
mum. 


Pearl Bailey has lost about 30 
pounds in weight' but has gained 
correspondingly in stature since 
her last cabaret appearance in 
London. The svelte outline is 
definitely mpre becoming and in 
the slimming process she has lost 
none of the- vitality and vivacity 
for which she is noted. She is far 
more agile and enhances her act 
■with fancy bits of not too intricate 
storming. 

The Negro singer plans an indef 
sky in Europe and has been lined 
uo for a new musical production. 
She is a lively performer and rep- 
resents one of the more attractive 
packages to come over from the 
U.S. since the European recovery 
program began. There will certain- 
ly be plenty of work for her in the 
Paris niteries even though the field 
in London may be restricted. 

With a strong comedy note pre- 
dominating, Miss Bailey glides 
through a swift 30-minute routine, 

• with frequent asides to garner an 
ex Ira chuckle. A packed room at 
the Colony (where act was caught) 
forced her to a begoff situation 
w’.lh vociferous applause accorded 
each number. A skilled entertainer 
with a wealth of experience, she 
has the savvy to make her patter 
an integral part of the show, using 
it effectively to intro new tunes. 

Miss Bailey tees off in sparkling 
sl\lo with “A Hussy for My Hus- 
band" and keeps the pitch with her 
second offering. “They’re Good 

SW/tbh 1 to- * a* double 

A r 


of balladfc, 


Comics that pass in the night 
at this nocturnal assembly of the 
fast set must know the temper of 
the room to get over the hump. 
Those who have gone before the 
current booking, have been fast 
of lip, gamey with their monolog 
and with a smattering of a dialect 
savored . by this trade. ’ Mickey 
Freeman measures up -to most of 
the requisites but his material 
needs .sharpening. 

‘ He’s put! of the Catskills and new 
to the west, which should cue him 
to' a changed repertoire of jokes. 
{'Oiffin'es and situations that fall in- 
to* the Hollywood idiom. Diminu- 
tive and a hard worker, his gags 
have more of a resort flavor than 
the racy, innuendo demanded of 
these tab-lifters. He’s in for two 
weeks, as is the rest of the bill, 
to keep the stage warm for the 
return of Billy Gray, Patti Moore 
and Ben Lessy, who’ll hold over 
through the holidays and keep the 
waiters hopping. ✓ 

Alice Tyrell, a forthright mimic, 
is reunited with Dick Winslow, 
her piano thumper, and the act 
comes off as a triumph for the 
femme member, who should be 
scouted for television. She knows 
how to handle comedy and her 
spoof of the singing greats is bril- 
liant caricature. Winslow lacks 
the warmth to enhance her 
comedies. 

Wilder 3ros. start as a singing 
trio and then have mad fun with 
novel instrumentals and a takeoff 
on the Hoppy craze with boots 
strapped to their knees. They’re 
pleasantly acceptable in these sur- 
roundings. 

Larry Green and Bill Howe keep 
the room in tune with their pian- 
ology and co-owner Sammy Lewis 
makes himself useful by shifting 
.props, but strictly as a gag. 

ielm. 


gin by converging on the Steinway 
all at once to pound out “Prelude 
in C Sharp Minor.” Sharp drop is 
felt after this intrd to funny busi- 
ness, when they veer into “La Vie 
en Rose,” with the singer flat most 
of the way, and his clarinet ob- 
bligato in slightly different key. 
Rest of Quintetto wander ringside 
playing fiddles and guitars. 

“Passing of the Regiment” could 
only be an idea of Continentals, 
with each musician beginning soft- 
ly and fiddles and drums leadmg 
into forte as the regiment passes 
by. Something about “Zsa Zsa,” 
sung offkey in many languages — 
and obviously not about the screen 
actress— is a complete puzzle and 
should be buried at the most con- 
venient and nearest musical crypt. 

Beverlee Dennis, a diminutive 
lass with a resounding voice, puts 
touches of .comedy into her deuce 
spot. Lets go with “Gotta Have An 
Opening Song,” to establish her. 
The tune does just that, and fol- 
lowup lament of a chorus girl is 
well defined, but her Sophie 
Tucker receives the best mitts of 
the entire spot. 

Seven Ashtons,, with their risley 
and balancing to start off every- 
thing, ij a gem of an act. Speed is 
terrific as the six guys • and one 
femme toss each other by footwork. 
Flash closer with merry-go-round 
pole manipulated by understander’s 
feet, and two members hanging on 
the whirl, grabs salvos. 

Gene Nash acts as emcee, but 
has his moments of smooth terping 
with the Sa-Harem Dancers mid- 
way. Gals add color to opening by i 
theming wall murals and carvings 
in the Congo Room, pounding out 
a Watusi tribal terp. 

Cee Davidson was spelled at 
shbw caught by relief musicrew 
headed by Benny Short, with good 
results noted. Will. 


New faces and new routines fea- 
ture the current bill at this swank 
west end spot. With the efferves- 
cent and personable Paul Gilbert 
doubling as emcee, a fast pace is 
maintained throughout the 45 min- 
utes. Gilbert’s rapid-fire chatter 
touching on the casino activities 
at Las Vegas, his trials and tribu- 
lations with traffic laws, his interp 
of a surgeon in full operating re- 
galia delivering a radio lesson, and 
his hilarious antics of pulling on 
a^ pair of rubber gloves are sock. 

Gilbert also does a swell drunk 
bit while warbling “My Wife Has 
Gone And Left Me,” adapted 
from an old folk ditty and a por- 
tion of “The Bone Song.” To show 
his versatility, he then joins two 
of the 'Asia Boys for a strong-man 
bit. 

The Orientals, undersized and 
agile, work atop a table to click 
with series of acro-contortion rou- 
tines. that cop a mitt. Act is one of 
the best of its kind to be presented 
in this room* 

The Showtimers, one gal and 
two young lads, warble, dance, 
clown and present some comedy 
sketches that are rewarded with 
solid pounding from the customers. 
Sandwiched in are their individual 
or group work on “1, 2. 3, Smile, 

— A..... DIkak “Pirnne” *3 Y3 


Limehouse Blues,” “Circus” and 
“The Gay ’90s.” The femme, a 
blonde looker, and one of the boys 
in a softshoe routine, uncover 
some new steps that score solidly. 
Eddie O’Neal’s tooters back up the 
proceedings in an acceptable man 
ner> „ Sahu. 


El Rancho, Las Vegas 

Las Vegas, Nov. 5. 
Jerry Lester, Mary Small, Vic 
Mizzy, El Rancho Girls (8), Ted 
Fio Rito Orch (10); no cover or 
minimum. 


New Golden* Reno 

» T * rr t ? eno * Nov. 5. 
Peggy Ue, Hal LeRoy, Martelh 
& Mignon (4), Golden Girl* 
° rch > ™ corcr o; 


minimum. 


l y'-'l 


) 1 


!•* S 




Chez Zi-Zi, N. Y. 

Bob Savage, Lucille & Eddie 
Roberts, Joan Kayne, George 
James Orch; $4 minimum. 

Monte Gardner is now partnered 
with Bob Monroe in the operation 
of this club which was previously 
the Torch and the Parisian Frolics, 
among other tags. There’s little 
change in the decor of the room 
as instituted during the brief 
term when It functioned as Jack 
Eigen’s Guest Room based on a 
disk jockey presentation. The pres- 
ent attempt as the Chez Zi-Zi 
shapes as the most likely to suc- 
ceed. The operators have as- 
sembled some talented acts who 
can gq£ across in this room. 

There are two turns here that 
arrest major attention. Bob Sav- 
age, who debuted in New York 
recently at Cafe Society Down- 
town, and Lucille & Eddie Rob- 
erts, who have worked some of the.} his tunes in top form, 
top hotel spots locally. 

Savage has a well-produced 
turn. His songs are well-arranged, 
are dramatically projected and 
get audience attention. Savage’ is 
a big, well-built citizen and pulls 
a lot of femme attention. He de- 
lineates “Love, Your Magic Spell 
Is Everywhere,” “Through With 


Coming along with election week 
hullabaloo, this Jerry Lester com 
edv spree and Mary Small war- 
bling jubilee will do okay in spite 
of stay-aj^-homes. 

Lester finds himself face to face 
with a -medium he hasn’f had much 
to do with for over two years. He 
made the transition smoothly after 
some hard work for the few shows 
i Then, all of a sudden, his old sure- 
I fire formula was working and in 
clicko style. lie retains his spon- 
taneity throughout, with his 
“what’ll-we-do-next” manner. For 
solid structure he maintains his 
standbys — opener, “Beanbag” and 
segue into “Orange-Colored Sky,’ 
his poems ^nd quips while holding 
a trombone and sequel of funny 
“Old Man River” blasts. Tosses in 
“Africa” for a good closer. 

In the interim, Lester inserts a 
funny piece of biz, the reading of a 
special verse supposedly written 
by boniface Beldon Katleman. En- 
titled (and what else?) “El Rancho 
Vegas,” the contents are a slight 
Ogden Nash nightmare, but good 
and yockful. 

Mary Small makes her hegira to 
this Baghdad on the Desert with 
plenty of fire and sparkle. She 
goes over very well with casino 
customers who haunt the theatre 
restaurant before attending * to 
more serious matters. Accomped 
by spouse-conductor-composer-pi 
anist Vic Mizzy, Miss Small strikes 
into a big voice or purr as she 
chooses, opening with “Learn to 
Lose,” and following with “WJish 
You Were Here,” “You Belong To 
Me,” “Only For Americans,” and 
“You Can Have Him, I Don’t Want 
Him.” Her main portion is demoted 
to songs by Mizzy, and she sellS all 


gal is galloping very . becomingly 
most of tlie time. 

Singer has packed four instru- 
mentalists — bass, trumpet, drums 
and piano— -wlio start the assault 
While they’re off to a mambo on 
her intro, she glides on and takes 
over the lead of the legion with 
“Frotn This Moment On.” The ad- 
venture contains the interestin'* 
background, of the racing instru- 
ments while she casually reins in 
for an easy relaxed voicing in 
front. 

Only time the four instruments 
slow down with her is in second 
number^ “Getting to Know You” 
which she breathes and sighs for 
exquisite delivery. With this out 
of the way, the race is on again. 

Benny' Goodman background 
theme gives Miss Lee a chance to 
explain her first big break with 
BG, “Why Don’t You Do Right.” 
and she picks up a fast rhythm for 
a knockout style which she used 
to popularize Jhe number at the 
start of World War II. While in 
the mood for the oldies and her 
trademarked s.ongs, she trots out 
“Manana”' for big response. 

Quartet' sets a honkytonk scene 
for the delightful, sequinned Miss 
Lee wh6 Swivels on stage to chirp 
“Louisville Lou” real hot and 
bluesy. She eVen. throws in a few 
subtle bumps to color this up. 
Foursome winds up with mambo 
backdrop again and she goes into 
“I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” 
“Lady Is a Tramp” follows in up 
tempo and then she pulls out all 
the stops for “Lover.” This goes 
practically note for note with her 
disclick, but with chirper building 
up emotionally via music, impact 
is even greater. Kudos demand an 
encore here, but without fitting 
followup, she keeps building on 
“Lover” for'three more choruses. 

Songstress is stunning as silver 
blonde and in tasteful bare shoul- 
der ballerinas. Clever use of eyes 
pour sex and meaning into songs. 
Whole stint is exciting. 

Hal LeRoy pulls tough duty in 
Reno’s 4,500-foot elevation and 
finds the going rough midway in 
stint. With three shows nightly, 
hoofer will have to cut down time 
on deck. Long legs ramble grace- 
fully through sharp tapography 
and soft-shoe. Bill Robinson copy 
of “Melody* in F” is not familiar 
enough for payees to know wheth- 
er interpretation is authentic, but 
it goes for okay response. Se- 
quence of four rhythms while sit- 
ting down — with feet and drum- 
sticks — is a- little vv«eak. Chariest bn 
with some comic steps is bright 
windup. 

Altitude is especially rough on 
Martells & Mignon, three men and 
a girl.’ The. trio tosses the femme 
around iri a sensash manner. How- 
ever, low ceiling also limits act 
and at times makes it appear lu- 
dicrous when strong men push girl 
halfway out of sight in the light 
recess over the stage. When they 
toss her, she sometimes disappears 
entirely.'?* The group still manages 
some smash aero with all the hand- 
icaps and ends the job with a to^s 
of the femme clear across stage, 
to be caught in the small of the 
back on the putstretched arm of 
the third. Mark. 


IIolH Nicollot. Mpls. 

(MINN. TERRACE) 

Minneapolis. Nov. 8. 
Beachcombers (4), Cecil Golly 
Orch (8) with Mildred Stanley; 
$2.50 minimum. 


El Rancho Dancers waltz around 
for their first routine, then don 
“devil” flame and sequins for a 
mid-turn before comedies of Les- 
ter. Gals are eyefuls, but in the 
terp department, little is accom- 
plished. Ted Fio Rito, when not 
drumming the 88s as maestro of 
his orch. makes a very funny 


singer 


Love,” “Lonesome Old Town”, and j stooge .for ~ ester, .grabbing many. 

other torch les. He’heeds more te-iyocks in his owti i'i&hl. Will. 1 chores clicko.* 

• M ' 1 1 i - k * < /».; :u!., >];>') cn yj 


This is the Beachcombers’ second 
visit to this smart room and their 
brand of lively, melodic entertain- 
ment again meets approval. The 
three boys and the tiny, vivacious 
Hawaiian miss once more cut fancy 
stepping capers, make merry gen- 
erally and embroider their vocaliz- 
ing with plenty of nifty business. 
Net result is that each of then* 
numbers takes on production values 
and rises well above par, so that 
the act, also helped by top-drawer 
lighting and dressing, emerges as 
considerably more than a straight 
singing presentation. . 

There’s plenty of fire, dash ana 
dramatics and a boff blending ol 
voices as the quartet gives out wiin 
effective arrangements of i 

Help Loving That Man,’ Island 
Chant,” “You’ll Never Walk 
Alone,” “Skip to My Lou and 
“Hawaiian War Chant.” Routining 
is an example of smart showman-* 
ship as ballads alternate wim 
snappy stuff. Iive 

Cecil Golly’s orch and at iaclne 
Mildred Stanley 


i < « 



76 


NIGHT CMJV REVIEWS 


WfedncBday,: November 12, 1952 


FreneSi Casino 9 N. Y. 

M. N. Martini presentation of 
* Amours de Paris ,” directed by 
Helene Martini, with Sugar Ray 
Robinson (2), Dominique , Ginette 
Wander* Jane Laste, Rudy Car- 
denas, Paulette Sisters (4), Jean 
Dubois, Evy Lynn & David , Irene 
& Leopold, Line, Corps de Ballet , 
Can Can Girls; $4-5 minimum. 

With but slight revisions, M, N, 
Martini continues the revue with 
which he took hold of the former 
Diamond Horseshoe in the unden- 
ground of the Paramount Hotel 
last July. Having hurdled the 
sweltering ..summer, he is now well 
into the regular season. 

Many of the. Broadway wiseacres 
didn’t rate him much of a chance 
to come this far with his leasehold. 
Should the Gallic impresario man- 
age to click through the winter, 
he will undoubtedly have jumped 
the most strategic hurdle in his 
attempt to set up shop perma- 
nently. 

The large cafe cannot help but 
swing a lot of the town’s coin its 
way during the incumbency of 
middleweight champ Sugar Ray 
Robinson (New Acts), who made his 
niLery lebut last Friday (7)' to a 
pair of jampacked houses. There 
was considerable trade from Har- 
lem as well, and if Robinson* can 
maintain the pace or nearly so, 
the spot can turn over a profit. 
Perhaps of greater importance, the 
personable fighter’s presence on 
the bill figures to bring a horde of 
non-regulars. 

Robinson, who Is assisted in his 
act by andther Negro called Scot- 
ty, is spotted three times. There 
is also an overabundance of parade 
numbers between regular acts. 
Layout was two hours in the un- 
folding opening night. This may 
be a lot of show but it’s poor show- 
manship. The costumes show evi- 
dence of over-use.- 

There’s some fine talent in the 
linnip. Aside from Robinson, a 
hi^h point is the 20-minute magic 
and pickpocket turn of Dominique. 
The lad puts the mob in a frenzy 
with his thefting antics* on stage 
and audience floor. He’s a mas- 
terful performer. New in this edi- 
tion is Rudy Cardenas, with a wide 
juggling repertoire that scores. 

In the chirping section, Ginette 
Wander adds a rich Gallic flavor 
to the bill both solo and in pairing 
with Jean Dubois. Jane Laste is 
a sizzling ballerina in rapid-fire 
whirls and twirls. The can-can 
number is hot but overlong. The 
Paulette Sisters (4) do three or 
four pops okay but seem lost in 
the show. 

In an item built qround “An 
American at Pigalle’s” there’s 
good Apache work by Evy Lynn & 
David and a corking modified strip 
on toss by Irene (& Leopold) in 
which the shedding has an. 1890 
costume as starting point. Sauciest 
of the ensemble motifs is “An Eve- 
ning * with King. Louis XV.” It’s 
Minsky in elaboration. 

The big hero is Vincent Travers, 
who batons the orch expertly in 
this marathon. All this bill needs 
for improvement is discipline plus 
a stopwatch. The ingredients are 
there: " Trait . 


“Nothing for Nothing” and “Cabin I 
in the Sky,” then back to the orig- f 
inal comedy pattern for the rest 
of the show, including hit tunes 
like "The Laziest Girl in Town” 
and “Something Better Than Love.” 

The Felix King combo provide 
background music in their regular 
confident manner and alternate for 
the dance music with the Don 
Carlos orch. Myro. 

5 O’clock, Miami 'B’eli 

- Miami Beach, Nov. 8. 

Martha Raye, Nuts Bros , (3), 
Ted Wills Quartet, Alf Carlson, 
Len Dawson Orch ; $2.75 & $4.75 
minimum. 


Martha Raye is virtually a native 
here now and with it, her cafe in 
the heart of the plush hotel line 
has become a must-see for tourists. 
It’s one of the most consistent cafe 
money-makers in this area. 

Her return from the N. Y. TV 
wars solidly proved the point, with 
turnaway biz since reopening, at 
both sessions. Miss Raye has plenty 
of material to choose from, but 
sticks to the standard act she has 
been presenting; and from the 
manner in which* the aud reacts, 
it’s a wise blueprinting. 

Miss Raye’s mixture of frenetic 
waggery and zany version of a 
Calypso tune, rhythm items and 
change of tempo to that still sock 
handling of a ballad such as “Black 
Magic” or “Love For Sale,” holds 
them all the way. Her lampooning 
of “La Vie En Rose” is a topper. 
For the payoff, there’s a return for 
the slapstick carryings-on with the 
Ted Wills Quartet, complete to 
blacked-out teeth. 

Supporting show is a stout one. 
Teeoff ^ot is an aud-attention get- 
ter with balancer Alf Carlson. 
Work on Low and high stands is 
built carefully and in showmanly 
style, for heavy mitts. 

The Ted Wills group has re- 
placed the Yost* singers. Personnel 
is composed of ex-members of the 
Guardsmen and with switch to their 
own act they’ve discarded the Shu- 
bert road company type of costum- 
ing for black and white, with idea 
marking them a click (see New 
Acts). 

Male comedy portion of the line- 
up is handled by the Nuts Bros. 
They’re new hereabouts and earn 
themselves a score with session of 
laughs via serewballisms. Mixture 
has special vocals by the trio. They 
work to recordings with, a “Figaro’ 
mouthing a tcip howler via manipu- 
lation of the platter for vocal 
growl and slide effects, and legit 
takeoff on Laine and Johnnie I^ay. 
Bowoff bit has the trip in striped 
blazers and Straws tp • hoofery and 
mugging on ' “Oh You Beautiful 
Doll.” Turn is. well received. 

Len Dawson orch Is adept as the 
Raye’s accompanist, handles her* 
stylings with skill, and -participates 
in the act via some barbs she ‘tosses 
at him. Lary. 


Las Vegas, Nov. 6. 
Jan Murray, Quintetto Allegro 
(5), Beverlee Dennis, 7 Ashtons, 
Gene Nash, Sa-Harem Dancers 
(12),Cee Davidson Orch 1 12 ) ; no 
cover or minimum. 


Colony & Astoi* 

London, Nov. 5. 

Pearl Bailey, Felix King Orch, 
Don Carlos and' Sid Philips Bands; 
Colony : $5 minimum; Astor: $3 j 
minimum to 11 p.m., $3 cover 
thereafter. 


€» ray’s Band Box, L. A. 

Los Angeles, Nov. 4. 
Mickey Freeman u • Wilder Bros., 
Alice Tyrell & Dick' Winslow, Lar- 
ry Green, Bill Howe; $2.50 mini- 
mum. . * 


Pearl Bailey has lost about 30 
pounds in weight but has gained 
correspondingly in stature since 
her last cabaret appearance in 
London. The svelte outline is 
definitely more becoming and in 
the slimming process she has lost 
none of the vitality and vivacity 
for which she is noted. She is far 
more agile and enhances her att 
with fancy bits of not too intricate 
stepping. 

The Negro singer plans an indcf 
stay in Europe and has been lined 
up for a new musical production. 
She is a lively performer and rep- 
resents one of the more attractive 
packages to come over from the 
U.S. since the European recover^ 
program began. There will certain- 
ly be plenty of work for her in the 
Paris niteries even though the field 
in London may be restricted. 

With a strong comedy note pre- 
dominating, Miss Bailey glides 
through a swift 30-minute routine, 
with frequent asides to garner an 
extra Chuckle. A packed room at 
the Colony (where act was caught) 
forced her to a begoff situation 
with vociferous applause accorded 
each number. A skilled entertainer 
with a wealth of experience, she 
has the savvy to make her patter 
an ihtegral part of the show, using 
it effectively to intro new tunes. 

Miss Bailey tees off in sparkling 
style with “A Hussy for My Hus- 
band” and keeps the pitch with her 
* second offering, “They’re Good 
••Enough For Me.” Follows mth a 
•switch * tn‘ a couple * ot* ballhdsj 
.v.S'v 


Comics that pass in the night 
at this nocturnal assembly of the 
fast set must know the temper of 
the room to get over the hump. 
Those who have gone before the 
current booking, have been fast 
of lip, gamey with their monolog 
and with a smattering of a dialect 
savored by this trade. Mickey 
Freeman measures up to most of 
the requisites but his material 
needs sharpening. 

.* He’s opt' of the Catskills and new 
to tpe ^est, which, should cue him 
to * a Clihnged repertoire of jokes, 
routines’ ana situations that fall 'in- 
to* the Hollywood idiom. Diminu- 
tive and a hard worker, his gags 
have more of a resort flavor than 
the racy innuendo demanded of 
these tab-lifters. He’s in for two 
weeks, as is the rest of the bill, 
to keep the stage warm for the 
return of Billy Grajf, Patti Moore 
and Ben Lessy, who’ll hold over 
through the holidays and keep the 
waiters hopping. 

Alice Tyrell, a forthright mimic, 
is reunited with Dick Winslow, 
her piano thumper, and the act 
comes off as a triumph for the 
femme member, who should be 
scouted for television. She knows 
how ’ to handle comedy, and her 
spoof of the singing greats is bril- 
liant caricature. * Winslow hicks 
the warmth to enhance her 
comedies. t 

Wilder 3ros. start as a singing 
trio and then have mad fun with 
novel instrumentals' and a takeoff 
on the Hoppy craze with boots 
strapped to their knees. They’re 
pleasantly acceptable in these sur- 
roundings. 

Larry Green and Bill Howe keep 
the room in tune with their pen- 
ology and co-owner Sammy Lewis 
makes himself useful by shifting 
,t>,rops, bgt sfylqtly ■ 

> ■ f'V'v e*-> -• > ■») •> V ' * 


Although bowing in on Nov. 4, 
this new Sahara chapter didn’t get 
off the grou nd Until two days later 
when comedian • Jan' Murray~f(ew 
out from Gotham to take over as 
headliner. Originally, new import 
act, Quintetto Allegro, was booked 
as a sleeper to topline, but combo 
did nothing for the room and vice I 
versa, so producer Stan Irwin put 
in a call for Murray. Quintetto 
stays on, but with the good Las 
Vegas rep of ’Jan Murray, biz 
should skip upward and onward. 

Dimensions of the room are such 
that a standup comic must fight 
every inch of the way for attention. 
Distance is great from back tiers 
to stage, which is why sight acts 
will always go over better here. 
But a smart comedian needn’t be 
thrown by this nitery — and Jan 
Murray isn’t. He begins punching 
the moment he‘ hits centre, and lets 
the good ones trail rapidly along 
until the yocks pile up good and 
stay there. 

Murray keeps the room in an 
uproar through^, his opener with 
Beverlee Dennis, a quickie “How 
Could You Believe Me?”, and his 
honey based on Mother Goose. 
Stops and starts of “Laugh, Clown, 
Laugh” register fair, but narration 
about gal he married whams into 
climax for begoff. q 

Quinetto Allegro has. offbeat 
Continental touch with (humor and 
combined musicianship, but seem 
better suited for a posh intime 
cocktail lounge. Dressed up to 
here — white tie and all — combo be- 
gin by converging on the Steinway 
all at once to pound out “Prelude 
in C Sharp Minor.” Sharp drop* is 
felt after this intro to funny busi- 
ness, when they veer into “La Vie 
en Rose,’- with the singer flat most 
of the way, and his clarinet ob- 
bligato in slightly different key. 
Rest of Quintetto wander ringside 
playing fiddles and guitars. 

“Passing of the Regimdnt” could 
only be an idea of Continentals, 
with each musician beginning soft- 
ly and fiddles and drums leading 
into forte as the regiment passes 
by. Something about “Zsa Zsa,” 
sung offkey in many languages — 
and obviously not about the screen 
actress — is a complete puzzle and 
should be buried at the most con- 
venient and nearest musical crypt. 

Beverlee Dennis, a diminutive 
lass with a resounding voice, puts 
touches, of comedy into her deuce 
spot. Lets go with “Gotta Have An 
Opening Song,” to establish her. 
The tune does just that, and fol 
lowup lament of a chorus girl is 
well defined/ but her Sophie 
Tucker receives the best mitts of 
the entire spot. 

Seven Ashtons, with their risley 
and balancing to start off every- 
thing, ia a gem of an act. Speed is 
terrific as the six guys and one 
femme toss each other by footwork. 
Flash closer with merry-go-round 
pole manipulated by understander’s 
feet, and two members^hanging bn 
the whirl, grabs salVos. 

Gene Nash acts as emcee, but 
has his moments of smooth terping 
with the Sa-Harem Dancers mid- 
way. Gals add color to opening by 
theming wall mux*als and carvings 
in the Congo Room, pounding out 
a Watusi tribal terp. 

Cee Davidson was spelled at 
show caught by relief musicrew 
headed by Benny Short, with good 
results noted. Will. 


lief In a lighter vein than he uses. 
H^owbve^ Ji^'make^'^he maximum 
impact on this house. 

Lucille Sc Eddie Roberts never 
fail to amaze audiences. Their 
mentalist act is one of the slicker 
bits of business. The boy migrates 
into the audience picking up ob- 
jects which the blindfolded femme 
identifies. It’s done so well that 
the act provides a source of won- 
der that generates plenty applause. 
The Ttbberts even ' quieted--the pa- 
tronage at the bar during their 
turn gnd made it easier for Sav- 
age who followed. 

Completing the act lineup is 
Joan Kayne (New Acts). The 
George James orch does the show- 
backing. • Jose. 

J 

Hotel Chase, SI- Louis 
(CHASE CLUB) 

St. LouiS; Nov. 5. 
Paul Gilbert, The Asia Boys (3), 
The Showtimers (3), Eddie O’Neal 
Orch U2); $1-$1.50 cover, no mini- 
mum. 


New faces and new routines fea-r 
ture the current bill at this swank 
west end spot. With the efferyes- 
cept and personable’ Paul Gilbert 
doubling as emcee, a fast pace isr 
maintained throughoflt the 45 min- 
utes. Gilbert’s rapid-fire chatter 
touching on the. casino activities 
at Las. Vegas, his trials and tribu- 
lations with traffic laws, his interp 
of a surgeon in full operating re- 
galia delivering a radib* lesson, and 
his hilarious antics of pulling, on 
a pair of rubber gloves are sock. 

Gilbert also does a swell drunk 
bit while warbling “My Wife Has 
Gone And Left Me,” adapted 
from an old folk ditty and a por- 
tion of “The Bone Song.” To show 
his versatility, he then* joins two 
of the Asia Boys for a strong-man 
bit. 

The Orientals, undersized and 
agile, work atop a table to click 
with series of acro-contortion rou* 
tines that cop a mitt. Act is one of 
the best of its kind to be presented 
in this room. 

The Showtimers, one gal and 
two young lads, warble, dance, 
clown and present some comedy 
sketches that are rewarded with 
solid pounding from the customers. 
Sandwiched in are their individual 
or group work on “1, 2, 3, Smile,” 
“Limehouse Blues,” “Circus” and 
“The G&y ’90s.” The femme, a 
blonde looker, and one of the boys 
in a softshoe routine, uncover 
some- new steps that score solidly. 
Eddie O’Neal’s tooters back up the 
proceedings in an acceptable man- 
ner. SalvU. 


El Rancho,, Las Vegas 

Las Vegas, Nov. 5. 
Jerry Lester, Mary Small, Vic 
Migzy, El Rancho Girls (8), Ted 
Fio" Rito Orch (10); no cover or 
minimum. 


Chez Zi-Zi- X- Y. 

Bob .Savage, Lucille & Eddie 
Roberts, Joan Kayne, George 
James Orch; $4 minimum. 

Monte Gardner is now partnered 
with Bob Monroe in the operation 
of this club which was previously 
the Torch and the Parisian Frolics 
among other tags. There’s little 
change in the decor of the room 
as instituted during the brief 
term when it functioned as Jack 
Eigen’s Guest Room based on a 
disk jockey presentation. The pres- 
ent attempt as the Chez Zi-Zi 
shapes as the most likely to suc- 
ceed. The operators have as- 
sembled some talented acts who 
can get across in this room. 

There are two turns here that 
arrest major attention. Bob Sav- 
age, who debuted in New York 
recently at Cafe Society Down- 
town, and Lucille & Eddie Rob- 
erts, who have worked some of the 
top hotel spots locally. 

Savage, has a well-produced 
turn. His songs are well-arranged, 
are dramatically projected and 
get audience attention. Savage is 
1 a big, well-built citizen and pulls 
a lot oif femme attention. He de- 
lineates “Love, Your Magic Spell 
Is Everywhere,” “Through With 
Love,” ‘‘Lonesome Qld Town” and 
’Hher^Wcmes. 3 ^' tibetfi* mote 


Coming along with election week 
hullabaloo, this Jerry Lester com- 
edv sDree and Mary Small war- 
bling jubilee will do okay in spite 
of stay-at-homes. 

Lester finds himself face to tace 
with a medium he hasn't had much 
to do with for over two years. He 
made the transition smoothly after 
some hard work for the few shows. 
Then, all of a sudden, his old sure- 
fire formula was working and in 
clicko style. He retains his spon- 
taneity throughout, with his 
“what’ll-we-do-next” manner. For 
solid structure he maintains his 
standbys — opener. “Beanbag” and 
segue into “Orange-Colored Sky,” 
his poems md quips while holding 
a trombone and sequel of funny 
“Old Man Riv^r” blasts. Tosses in 
“Africa” for a good closer. 

In the interim, Lester inserts a 
funny piece of biz, the reading of a 
special verse supposedly written 
by boniface Beldop Katleman. En- 
titled (and what else?) “El Rancho 
Vegas,” the contents are a slight 
Ogden Nash nightmare, but good 
and yockful." 

Mary Small makes her hegira to 
this Baghdad on the Desert with 
plenty of fire and sparkle. She 
goes over very well with casino 
customers who haunt the theatre 
restaurant before attending to 
more serious matters. Accomped 
by spouse-conductor-composer-pi 
anist Vic Mizzy, Miss Small strikes 
into a ‘ big voice or purr as she 
chooses, opening with “Learn to 
Lose,” and following with “Wish 
Yqu Were Here,” “You Belong To 
Me,” “Only For- Americans,” and 
“You Can Have Him, I Don’t Want 
Him.” Her main portion is dej£oted 
to songs by Mizzy, and she selfe all 
his tunes in top form. 

El Rancho Dancers waltz around 
for their first routine, then don 
“devil” flame and sequins for a 
mid-turn before comedies* of Les- 
ter. Gals are eyefufs, but in the 
terp department, little is accom- 
plished. Ted Fio Rito, when not 
drumming the 88s as maestro of 
his orch, makes a very funny 
stooge for ’ ester, grabbing many 
tj } ocks in His owii fight. * Will. 

► J • » *•»,.! Vr I * 


New Boldest, X&eito 

Reno, Nov. * 5. " 
Peggy Lee, Hal LeRoy, Ma rtells 
& Mignon (4), Golden Girls, 
Sterling Young Orch; no cover or 
minimum. 


Peggy Lee races across the des- 
ert sands at- approximately the 
same gait she used for “Lover” 
for - almost her entire repertoire. 
Ex{r -pt for one short “walk,” the 
gai^~"gallopirrg"TnEry-beTOxiringry 
most of the time. 

Singer has packed four instru- 
mentalists — bass, trumpet drums 
and piano — who start the assault. 
While they’re off to a mambo on 
her intro, she glides on and takes 
over the lead of the legion with 
“From This Moment On. The ad- 
venture contains the interesting 
background of the racing instru- 
ments while she casually reins in 
for an easy relaxed voicing in 
front. 

Only time the four instruments 
slow down ’with her is in second 
number, “Getting to Know You,” 
which she breathes and sighs for 
exquisite delivery. With this out 
of the way, the race is on again. 

Benny Goodman background 
theme gives Miss Lee a chance to 
explain her first big break with 
BG, “Why Dori’t You Do Right,” 
and she picks up a fast rhythm for 
a knockout style which she used 
to popularize the number at the 
start of World War II. While in 
the mood for the oldies and her 
trademarked songs, she trots out 
“Manana” for big response. 

Quartet sets a honkytonk scene 
for the delightful, sequinned Miss 
Lee who swivels on stage to chirp 
“Louisville Lou” real hot and 
bluesy. She even throws in a few 
subtle bumps to colut* this up. 
Foursome winds up with mambo 
backdrop again and she goes into 
“I’ve Got You- Under My Skin.” 
“Lady Is a Tramp” follows in up 
tempo and then she, . pulls’ out all 
the stops for “Lover.” This goes 
practically note for note with her 
disclick, but with chirper building 
up emotionally via music, impact 
is even greater. Kudos demand an 
encore here, but without fitting 
followup, she keeps., building on 
“Lover” for three, ipore choruses. 

Songstress is stunning as silver 
blonde and in tasteful bare shoul- 
der ballerinas. Clever tuse of eyes 
pour sex and medning into songs. 
Whole stint is exciting. 

Hal LeRoy pulls *tough duty in 
Reno’s 4,500-foot elevation and 
finds the going rough midway in 
stint. With three shows nightly, 
hoofer will have to cut down time 
on deck. Bong legs ramble grace- 
fully through sharp tapography 
and soft-shoe. Bill Robinson copy 
of “Melody in F” is not familiar 
enough for payees to khow wheth- 
er interpretation is authentic, but 
it goes for okay response. Se- 
quence of four rhythms while sit- 
ting down — with feet and drum- 
sticks — is a little weak. Charleston 
with some comic steps is bright 
windup. 

, Altitude is especially rough on 
| Martells.& Mignon,. three men and 
a girl. The trio tosses the femme 
around in a sensash manner. How- 
ever, low ceiling also* limits act 
and at times makes it appear lu- 
dicrous when strong men push girl 
halfway out of sight in the light 
recess over the stage. When they 
toss her, she sometimes disappears 
entirely. The group still manages 
some smash a'cro with* all the hand- 
icaps and ends the job with a toss 
of the femme clear across stage, 
to be caught in the small of the 
back on the outstretched arm of 
the third. Mark. 

Hold Nicollet* Mpls. 

~ (MINN. TERRACE) 

Minneapolis, Nov. 8. 

Beachcombers (4), Cecil Golly 
Orch (8) until Mildred Stanley; 
$2.50 minimum. . 


This is the Beachcombers’ second 
visit to this smart room and their 
brand of lively, melodic entertain- 
ment again meets approval. The 
three boys and the tiny, vivacious 
Hawaiian miss once more cut fancy 
stepping capers, make merry gen- 
erally and embroider their* vocaliz- 
ing with plenty of nifty business. 
Net result is that each of their 
numbers takes on production values 
and rises well above par, so that 
the act, also helped by top-drawer 
lighting and dressing, emerges as 
considerably more than a straight 
singing presentation. 

There’s plenty of fire, dash and 
dramatics and a boff blending of 
voices as the quartet gives out with 
effective arrangements of “Can’t 
Help Loving That Man,” “Island 
Chant,” “You’ll Never Whlk 
Alone,” “Skip to My Lou” and 
“Hawaiian War Chant.” Routining 
is an example of smart showman- 
ship as ballads alternate with 
snappy stuff. 

Cecil Golly’s orclf and attractive 
singer Mildred Stanley fill their 
chores clicko. , Rees', 

i; » U i * W .»■ J A > J. v. v > - •> 




Wednesday November 12, 1952 


NIGHT CLUB HIE VIEWS 


j* * • 


P5&Rfi$Tf 


on show-paclcing f or * dansapa- 
tion Is in top shape. Ted. 


uoierjiionielepie, 

(SWAN ROOM) 


XI m V« 


H»£ft£eXle? 4LoKd«a 

London, Nov. 4, 
Nancy Donovan, Arnold Bailey 
Band; Santiago & Latin American 
Orch ; $5 minimum. 


On her London debut at this 
cafe last year Nancy Donovan be- 
came a firmly established fave 
mainly on the basis of one out- 
standing quality. The warmth that 
-she- -projected-from-tha .floor per-, 
meated the room and she always 
had the customers with her. A 
typically British clientele could 
not, for example, resist her de- 
mand to join in the chorus of a 
popular ditty. 

It was as a result of the suc- 
cesses scored on her two dates last 
year that operator Harry Levene 
was prompted to bring her bach 
for a new season. The generous 
and enthusiastic response of the 
opening night audience suggests 
that this was a shrewd decision 
-which should pay off handsomely. 
The titian-haired thrush has made 
many friends and has a useful lo- 
cal following often denied other 
artists in her category. 

With a completely new routine 
Miss Donovan steps up the quality 
of her act and includes some spe- 
cial material admirably suited to 
her style and personality. On her 
first night she responded too read- 
ily to die public clamor for more 
and was tempted to do a little too 
much. But there is nothing wrong 
with her show which the deletion 
of a couple of numbers won’t put 
right. For 30 minutes or so she’s 
a cinch and. the act needs to be 
trimmed to fit into this timetable. 

Making a striking impression 
with an attractive gown, the chan- 
teuse has left nothing to chance 
and her show has the trademark 
of detailed preparation. She has a 
varied repertoire blending pops 
with ballads and standards with 
originals. She uses the mike 
freely although revealing she 
could quite easily dispense with 
it. Plus credits go to the effective 
way in which she renders “I’ll Get 
By” and “I Went to Your Wed- 
ding.” Among her special lyrics, 
“Shoppin' Around” is good but 
not as bright as “Monotonous,” 
which is a neat merger of charm 
and satire. Her standout hit, 
however, is scored by her “Calypso 
Blues” with a drum as the only 
accompaniment. This number de- 
serves the hefty palm mitting it 
receives. Other tunes, including 
“September Song,” “Galway Bay,” 
and "Auf Wiederseh’n Sweet- 
heart” neatly provide the balance. 

Mqsic backgrounding is skill- 
fully handled by the Arnold Bail- 
ey combo. Rhythm music is sup- 
plied for the first time by Santi- 
ago's Latin American Orch which 
has taken over the Edmundo Ros 
spot. - Myro . 


Mark Hopkins, S. F. 

(PEACOCK COURT) 
Alexander Bros . (2), Ben Light, 
Del Courtney Orch ( 12 ) ; $2 cover. 


This sleeper booking, in a room 
that has almost exclusively played 
names, is evidence that talent can 
pay' off without traditional pre- 
hoopla. With the added handicap 
of an opener on election night, 
this brace of breezy songmen and 
a click 88’er wraps up an evening 
which leaves everyone well fed. A 
case of straightaway material, it 
holds up solid* throughout with a 
big mitt and encore requests as 
rewards. 

Alexander Bros, are a couple of 
genial guys with a catchy sense of 
song values who play it safe by 
sticking to their last, which is hit- 
ting the tunes with savvy selling. 
They have voices that take the 
range in stride, handle the ballads 
with understanding and move 
along with a sure and varied tempo. 

Their opener, “From This Mo- 
ment On,” is a neat howdy and 
they toss in “September Song” and 
“Jambalaya’\ with considerable im- 
pact. Their highlight, a medley 
from “Guys and Dolls,” is pleasing 
stuff that draws a bid for their 
encore, “We’re Brothers,” a payoff 
novelty which pays off. Appear- 
ance of bays is smooth and stage 
presence ingratiating. 

Ben Light, at the washboard, 
does about everything with 88 keys 
in the pop vein. With uncanny 
dexterity, his digits pound out a 
lot of piano for the money and 
all of it is easy to take. His Jerome 
Kern medley, including “All The 
Things You Are” and “Smoke Gets 
In Your Eyes,” is a quick winner 
that sets him for his other copy, 
which is equally solid, and a rhum- 
ba assortment consisting of “Sib- 
oney,” “Mama Inez,” and “Mama 
Quiero,” his recent Capitol record- 
ing. Encores, “The Very Thought 
of You” and “12th Street Rag,” 
liiHi out to top advantage. 

This is a big room and it’s to 
considerable credit of both Alex- 
ander Bros, and Ben Light that 
they hold the customers from start 
to begoff. 

Music by l^el Courtney troupe 


Mt. Royal Hotel, Mont 9 ! 

I (NORMANDIE ROOM) 

I Montreal, Nov. 7, 

Betty Jane Watson & Jerry Aus- 
ten, Gerri Gale , Max Chamitov 
Orch (8) with Norma Hutton , 
Bill Moodie Trio ; $1-$1.50 cover. 

Brightest and-most- personalized 
of the song teams to play Montreal 
in recent months is the duo of 
Betty Jane Watson & Jerry Aus- 
ten. As in a previous appearance 
in this room, Austen tees off in 
breezy barjtone with the offstage 
piping of his wife and partner, 
Betty Jane Watson, joining in on 
.the last chorus. Austen makes 
necessary intros to payees and 
then femme half of outfit solos 
with “Somewhere Along the Way” 
for plau'dits. 

Joining "-forces again, they re- 
prise a Gershwin medley which 
registers solidly and then the 
femme scores with an item from 
the late musicomedy, “Texas Li’l 
Darling,” in neat fashion. Team 
has a nice, casual manner without’ 
going overboard and the femme’s 
inherent sense of comedy comes 
through at all times.' 

A large party of celebrants 
didn’t give couple much of a 
chance on night caught until they 
broke their routining, to pipe a 
few requests, but once they satis- 
fied the hecklers they could’ve 
gone on for another 20 minutes. 
As both singers were in “Okla- 
homa” at one time, their obvious 
windup is a group from this classic 
and they beg off to salvos. 

Terpster Gerri Gale leads off 
the ^how. This trimly-built blonde 
is a cinch for a class spot such as 
this. Gal shows plenty of ballet 
training and has adapted the more 
elementary toe routines to the 
nitery trade. Two straight hoof- 
ing sets get her offering away to 
a good start and then she does a 
production number called “Soli- 
taire” using a recorded voice as 
background and miming the busi- 
ness of a gal getting ready for a 
big date and the aftermath when 
it’s cancelled. A number in rhum- 
ba tempo done on her toes makes 
a fine clincher and she gets off to 
okay mitting. 

Music is under the steady baton 
of Max Chamitov with Norma Hut- 
ton warbling during dance sets. 

Newt. 


Last Frontier, Las Vegas 

Las Vegas, Nov. 4. 

Dorothy Shay „ Dave Barry, Russ 
Black, Buddy Bryan, Dolores Fraz - 
zini, Eddie Gallagher, Jean Dev - 
lyn Revue (12), Garwood Van 
Orch (10); no cover or minimum. 


Back to tHe rock-ribbed Ramona 
Room comes the chantosey of 
backwoods and cactus tunes, Dor- 
othy Shay, and reception is result- 
ing in capacity biz. 

Easy manner, sliced with in- 
formal gab about her “relatives,” 
and homespun intros heighten Miss 
Shay’s term. She plies her trade- 
mark tunes effectively, beginning 
with “Sagebrush Sadie,” and wend- 
ing through a more or less familiar 
routing to include “If’n It Wasn’t 
For Yore Father,” “Television is 
Tough on Love,” “Doin’ All Right 
for a Mountain Gal,” “Little West- 
ern Town Called Beverly Hills,” 
“Uncle Fud,” and the always 
included and muchly requested 
“Feudin,’ Fightin,’ Fussin’.” 

Dave Barry’s fortunes as a Las 
Vegas staple in the comedy depart- 
ment came about during the Jose- 
phine Baker fortnight in the spring 
of this year, and at same nitery. 
His session had be cut, spliced and 
pretty well chopped up, but to 
many, wishing more comedy instead 
of the Baker fashion parade, Barry 
was tops. 

He returns with all new material 
conceived in collaboration with 
Phil Shuken. Results most of the 
way are very good. At least, he’s 
socking over tunes and bits of busi- 
ness gloved for himself, and not a 
patchwork of odds and ends. He 
works over the femmes thoroughly 
in “Women, We Love You,” taking 
them apart, putting them together 
and making them like it. In “Amaz- 
ing America” and “I Like Sounds,” 
he makes full use of his ability to 
re-create sound effects via tongue 
and larynx. 

Stage is filled fore and aft with 
the dozen Devlyn pretties, aug- 
mented by terps of Buddy Bryan, 
Eddy Gallagher and Dolores Fraz- 
zini. Two distinctive routines are 
exercised, the opening “Kerry 
Dance,” in kilties, and a “Holly- 
wood Barn Dance” to punctuate 
Miss Shay’s previous hillbilly- 
plaints. 

Garwood Van not only twirls his 
baton over a thorough musicrew, 
but skippers the show along in 
casual style befitting the room. 
Steps down for the knowing 88ing 
and conducting of Russ Ble* 1 * ‘‘nr 
Miss Sliay. Will. , 


New Orleans, Nov. 7. 
Billy Vine, Jody Miller, Piersal 
Thai Orch (7); $2 minimum. 


Sparked by the mirth of rotund 
Billy Vine, the current layout in 
this plush spot is socko throughout. 

The 225-pound Vine is a genuine- 
ly funny guy with material spiced 
with ad” IIbs~nrar"fir^errecfTy ^ Into 
the audience mood. Quickwitted, 
he’s able to gag his way into as 
well as out of a situation to take 
care of the little diversions that 
constantly crop up. 

Vine gets close to his audience 
quickly and * holds them through- 
out. 

Overstuffed funster has an easy- 
going manner and material is 
loaded with a nonstop flow of guf- 
faw-provoking stories and situa- 
tions. Comic also dispenses sure- 
fire mimicry and then enters into 
hilarious magical note with a ciga- 
ret turn to the tune of “Smoke 
Rings.” 

High spot is Vine’s impression 
,of a drunk sobbing over “that old 
gang of s mine,” which rocks the 
room. Another character bit enthu- 
siastically received, is his poignant 
portrayal of an old actor who lives 
with his memories. As attested by 
the opening night success, Vine 
and the Swan Room fit like a 
glove. . 

Meriting strong applause is 
songstress Jody Miller, a lovely 
brunet thrush with a delicate, in- 
timate ballad style. Most of the 
time Miss Miller skirts the ring- 
side tables with a portable mike, 
putting a personal touch into her 
delivery and exhibiting schooled 
charm as she warbles “Just Shop- 
pin’ Around,” “So Nice To Have 
A Man Around The House” and 
other tunes. 

Gal’s simple delivery and careful 
choice of songs, plus her fresh 
looks,, combine to win a nice mitt. 

Pierson Thai, his piano and his 
orch share honors with the acts 
and draw tableholders to the floor 
for the dance sessions. Liuz. 


Mapes Skyroom, Reno 

„ , Reno, Nov. 6. 

Arthur Lee Simpkins, Ruth Cos- 
tello' & Igor Dega, Billy Barty, 
Mapes Skylettes, Eddie Fitzpatrick 
Orch; no cover or minimum. 


Arthur Lee Simpkins held on 
for 45 minutes opening show, and 
local devotees will assure good biz 
for the versatile singer for the two 
frames. Singer progresses slowly 
but surely, building to peak re- 
sponse in gradual process. “Marie” 
gets him started snappily and he 
steps from that into “Loveliest 
Night of the Year.” Simpkins next 
takes up “Begin the Beguine” and 
“Tenderly,’’ with rippling piano 
background receiving rapt atten- 
tion and honest kudos. 

Idea of always winding up num- 
bers in big smile while last few 
notes fall out in effortless clarity, 
is pleasant. With tongue in cheek, 
Simpkins handles “Dear Old Done- 
gal” iri an authentic Irish lilt. “Bless 
the House,” a hymn, gets ‘.‘bravos” 
on aria from “Pagliacci” top re- 
ception. Among others of his arias 
from night to night are “La Tosca,” 
“Marta” and “Aida.” 

For a well-chosen climax, Simp- 
kins swings into “It’s Later Than 
You Think,” with short explana- 
tions of each verse. Nice person- 
ality is displayed and aud joins in 
on chorus. Encore stint includes 
“Diane,” “Danny Boy” and “Sep- 
tember Song.” This is singer’s 
fourth engagement in this spot 

Ruth Costello & Igor Dega lose 
about 50% of their proficiency in 
their strenuous dance turns at this 
altitude. The poise of Dega in eve- 
ning dress is lost almost complete- 
ly by the end of the first few rou- 
tines. Miss Costello is sexy blonde 
well dressed in various helpings of 
black for each number. When they 
have their wind, couple looks 
graceful and smooth. Some unique 
aero gets appreciation — a unique 
whirl with arms interlocked, and 
another toss in with Costello ver- 
tical and upside-down presents a 
clicko picture. After this, Dega is 
obviously worn^ 

Miss Costello does a “Blues in 
the Night” sequence with a talk- 
song intro which is almost mean- 
ingless. Out of breath anyhow, she 
cannot tell the story properly and 
the buildup is unnecessary. The 
couple needs no chatter. 

The wear of this altitude even 
tells on singers, so strenuous rou- 
tines account for sub-par perform- 
ances until artists get their wind 
back. 

Billy Barty Is a 3-foot-ll com- 
edian and impersonator who works 
from a platform and gets lost im- 
mediately when he jumps to the 
floor for a closing dance. Impresh- 
es are of Frankie Laine, Billy Eck- 
stine and Jimmy Durante, and ex- 
cept for Durante, it’s a good thing 
he says in advance what they. ate. 

Mark . J 


Sans kernel Revne 

(FLAMINGO, LAS VEGAS) 

Las Vegas, Nov. 4. 

“Sans Souci • Revue,” with Olga 
Chaviano. Skippy, Miguelito Val- 
des, Roclo & Antonio, Nancy & 
Rudy, Cacha, Jorge Martinez, Rob- 
erto Argas, Mana T. Del Valle, 
Mercedes Valdes, Natalia Herrera, 
Carmen Chasco, Xiomara Alfaro, 
Olga Gonzales Farouk; Bata Drum- 
mers, Trinidad Torregxosa, Julio 
Besabe, Candiodo Rensoli, Raul 
Diaz; Miguelito Valdes Orch (12); 
Sans Souci Ballet Corps 8 femmes, 
8 males. Production by Cesar Al- 
onso; costumes, Juan Perez; light- 
ing, Phil Rynn; musical arranger 
ments, Rafael, Ortega; co-producer, 
Hector Del Villar ; no cover or 
minimum . 


The first' authentic Cuban carni- 
val to play Las Vegas, “Sans Souci 
Revue” makes a good impression 
with its hour of Latin wares, 
rhythmic cadences, and alm'ost un- I 
broken exhibition of terps; From ! 
the al fresco nitery of the same 
name in Havana, the large cast was | 
flown directly here for stateside 
preem of the novel production. 
Booked for one month, “Sans 
Souci” can hold excellent audi- 
ences and will do even better biz 
as word-of-mouth travels along 
the Strip grapevine. 

To producer Cesar Alonso credit 
should be given for the minute 
care in the mounting of the revue, 
the selecting from the cane fields 
and surrounding plantations of 
Cuba, from the dock dives, the 
upper-strata cafes, and even into 
Cuban motion pix for his talent. 
The potpourri was trained and for 
eight months at the Sans Souci 
in Havana. 

Boniface Norman Rothman has 
several units to fit into his Havana 
cafe, and also touring South 
America. Basing decision upon 
success of current revue at the 
Flamingo, Rothman may send 
more authentic Latin flavorings 
into the States. 

Dinner and supper shows are 
entirely different, but both are 
colorful and go the limit with pro- 
duction choreography, brilliant 
costuming and sparkling pace. The 
early show climaxes with “Sun Sun 
Dambae,” an abridged version of 
a voodoo ritual, during which the 
only non-Latin . in the troupe, 
Skippy, performs the role of a 
Havana tourist transfixed and com- 
pletely berserk with the pounding 
of drums and the highly sexual 
rhythmics. 

In the late-show climax, Skippy 
— who is considered one of the 
finest exponents of Latin dancing 
in Cuban cafes — displays her terrif 
technique with rhumba, mambo, 
and ritual dancing with the ^eight 
males of the ballet. This curve- 
some, platinum blonde just three 
years ago was one of the line mem- 
bers of the Carlyle Dancers, which 
opened Hotel Thunc^erbird. 

One of the most vlyid impres- 
sions is made by the Latin screen 
beauty, Olga Chaviano. Her basic 
movements capture the Cuban 
spirit, and her well-stacked frame, 
set off at first with expensive 
gowns, apd then peeled for view 
of rounded gams, gets in motion 
and never slows down. Her piping 
is relatively unimportant, but the 
sexy tones captivate and hum the 
libido. Of Chinese, Negro, Mexi- 
can, Indian, and Cuban descent, 
Miss Chaviano’s looks and fire are 
striking. * 

Rocio & Antonio pound out full 
Spanish effects with heel and toe, 
castanets clicking, and with assists 
from the Ballet Corp.s. Both are 
exponents of the true Iberian mode 
of terpology, and moods engen- 
dered are outstanding. 

Breaking up the headlong drive 
of various rhythms in dancing, 
Miguelito Valdes steps from his 
podium to win big rounds of ap- 
plause for the warbling of his dis- 
clicks, “Bim Bam Bum,” “Babalu,” 
“Rhumba Rhapsody” and ‘Cuban- 
chero,” with latter self-accomped 
on the big Congo drum. Nancy & 
Rudy are a pair of youngsters, 
fleet in their legwork of mambo 
and various offshoots of Cuban 
rhythms. 

Full accolades should be directed 
toward the ballet group, with each 
presentation a full spectrum of 
color and action. Entire stage 
overflows with patterns of terps 
in dinner show curtain-raiser, 
“Munecade ' Plxe,” a Brazilian 
dance featuring, along with the 
ballet, Cacha, • Jorge Martinez, 
Roberto Argas, Maria T. Del Valle, 
and thrushing by Mercedes Valdes, 
the brilliant voodoo' ceremonial is 
filled with kinetic flow, as the 
Bata Drummers,’ Trinidad Torre- 
grosa, Julio Besabe, Candido Ren- 
soli, and Paul Diaz pound out the 
throbbing messages to^each dancer. 
Response grows wilder as singers 
Natalia Herrera, Mercedes Valdes, 
and Xiomira Alfaro' chant the 
Creole cadences, and featured 


dance soloists, Carmen Chasco, 
Cacha, Farouk, and Skippy 
heighten the excitement into a 
feverish and orgiastic tempo. 

Supper show has the ballet in a 
mambo party for its opening terps, 
with soloists Olga Gonzalez, Jorge 
IMThtin'Szr Robert a Argas, and Mit- 
cedes Valdez. Finale to this late 
round is a "Mardi Gras in Havana,” 
with, a procession leading in 
through the room and up to stage, 
carrying -the tall torchlights, ana 
the background rhythms by the 
Bata Drummers supplying the beat 
for Skippy and the ballet. 

Although the choreography was 
developed into its present form by 
Cesar Alonso, the originator of 
most Sans Souci terps was by a 
Havanan named Roderieo Neira, or 
simply known as Rodney on the 
island. One of the best-known 
choreographers in Cuba, Rodney, 
almost paralyzed from arthritis, 
nevertheless shaped the dances as 
a hired hand on the Sans Souci, 
at $35 per week, into glowing 
rhythmic revels. 

Costuming is richly supplied, 
and the purse wasn’t spared by 
Havana’s Juan Perez. The same 
goes for the reputed $50,000 ward- 
robe of Olga Chaviano created by 
Pepito. Will. 

International Revne 

(DESERT INN, LAS VEGAS) 
Las Vegas, Nbv. 4. 

“International Revue,” jvith 
Ming & Ling , Buddy Hackett; 
Vieras (2) with Tippy & Cobina; 
Clark Bros. (?), Ruth Chio, Buck' 
Young, International Lovelies (12), 
Carlton Hayes Orch (11); no cover 
or minimum. 


This packet was mobilized for 
action by Tom Ball ana Frank 
Sennes as replacement for the an- 
nual junket of “China Doll Revue.” 
With lack of Oriental talent avail- 
able for full revue, ^“International” 
tab was introduced to widen fields 
for obtaining acts, As a Desert Inn 
lure, cliances are better than okay 
for full month’s solid lineup at 
the ropes. However, production in 
entirety doesn’t match previous 
Minsky melange. 

A thinly contrived thread lays 
down the hackneyed theme of a 
producer on shipboard touting tal- 
ent for a show. After a while, the 
whole cloth is dropped in favor of 
bringing on the acts in regular 
vaude formation. 

Buddy Hackett ambles on In 
closing section, taking a standup 
sesh in front of steamer cabin, 
painted scrim and railing set 
pieces. The TOtund lisper from 
either the Bronx or Brooklyn set- 
tles into easy chatter line, • but 
loaded with boomerangs in his 
first Vegas stand. Many of his one 
and two-liners are sneakers, with 
punches coming out of “mother” 
routine switcheroo. Several gags 
on dinner show caught were ques- 
tionable. He edges over half of 
his stuff in blue, but isn’t sup- 
posed to be firing into a kinder- 
garten squad, so let ’em fall where 
they may without apology. Best is 
closer, Chinese waiter serving six 
people at a table with menu mixup 
and chop-chop dialect emerging 
for big yocks. 

Ming & Ling use the same one- 
two-three as in previous sorties 
here. Impression conveyed builds 
into chuckles, although Ling’s 
mimicry of Laine, Como, and Ray 
does not excite much furore. Best 
is Ink Spots with Ming’s antics 
breaking in. Rest of turn is non- 
sense gab, added to slapstick 
sight gags and the like. Pair bow 
off to good mitts. 

Tippy & Cobina are always sure 
bets for laughs. The simian pair, 
handled expertly by trainers, the 
Vieras, mugg and cavort through 
several didoes. Play maracas' and 
miniature timbalis, undergo a 
banana-eating contest, and check 
out with sock “People Will Say 
We’re In Love,” bonged on the 
electric organ by Tippy and ba- 
toned by a somewhat harried Mrs. 
Viera. j, 

. Clark Bros, are show-toppers 
here in prime spot with their zest- 
ful legmania. Working in smoking 
Harlem tempo most of the way, 
the two sepia lads bring on the 
boffo mitts easily with challenge 
hoofery and difficult parquetting. 

Ruth Chio is viewed briefly 
while flashing through line terps 
of International Lovelies. The 
eight .hoofers and four showgals 
aren’t too positive as to directions 
essayed, but somehow everything 
seems to 5 come out all right. 

.Revue was staged by Babe 
Pierce, with Pony Sheril and Phil 
Moody cleffing original music and 
lyrics, “Here We Are In Amer- 
ica,” “Louisiana Lucy” and “Wait 
’Til Paris Secs Us,” warbled by 
the good pipes of Buck Young. 
Nothing sensational about the 
melodies, but they serve to bring 
bright- rhythm to line numbers, 
' Will. 


-*.\r 


ns* 


7 





I C * ' V * * t » ‘ ^ !\ t 

Wednesday, November 12, 1952 





Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


PBSzmff 


HOUSE REVIEWS 


79 


Paramount, N. Y.‘ . ( 

The 4 Aces, Sunny Gale, Charlie 
Barnet Orch <16), Jay Lawrence, 
LaZ Bros. (2); "Operation Se- 
rret ” ( WB ), reviewed in Variety 
Oct 15, ’52. 


There’s plenty of fodder for disk 
enthusiasts on tap at this Para- 
mount session. Although the pack- 
age is musically overloaded, it 
should pull in the fans, especially 
at the matinees. Platter draw is 
headed up by the Four Aces (Dec- 
ca; and Sunny Gale (Victor) adds 


extra lure. 

The Aces, currently of the shel- 
lac select, don’t disappoint in their 
songalog. Response from howling 
femmes augurs a couple more en- 
cores, but the boys give all in their 
five-song set and beg off big. 
Group’s harmonizing technique fol- 

J ows the frenetic p.attern set by the 
urrent crop of waxers and they 
»elt out each selection with plenty 
of energy. Staging of the songs, 
\ vhich attempts to capture in mo- 
( ion what they convey vocally, is a 
t lit erratic and at tfmes confusing, 
iut on jthe whole it sprinkles set 
zith lots of spirit. 

Combo,, with tenor A1 Alberts in 
he key vocal spot, score easily 
i/ith disclicks “Perfidia,” “Squeeze 
tfe” and “Should I.” Offer neat 
hange of pace with “Begin the 
SBeguine” and in windup, “My 

,|v II V 

Jflero. 


Miss Gale, who hit the bigtime 
ifter her “Wheel of Fortune’’ on 
he indie Derby label last year, 
jets her second crack at the Par 
mowd on this bill and wins again. 
Temme packs a lot of power in her 
pipings and works over each num- 
ber with a solid rhythmic punch: 
3he opens with a fast paced “Please 
Don’t Talk About Me When I’m 
Done” and after sliding through 
he now familiar “Fortune,” takes 
ibver with a standout rendition of 
* ‘I Laughed At Love.” rt's her 
s trongest entry. Encores “You Be- 
1 ong To Me” in okay style. 

Jay Lawrence starts off slowly, 
ii y the trey, with some convention- 
a 1 carbons of Gable, Grant and 
( !ooper. Yocks begin rolling in 
v ith his 'etching of a BBC broad- 
c ast via shortwave and he wins 
b ig reception with parody of fight 
b roadcast a la Clem McCarthy and 
I ill Corum. Lawrence is aq amia- 
ble laugh-getter and gets the most 
f rom his material via slick deliv- 
ery. Closes pleasantly with a car- 
bon of Nat (King) Cole warbling 
'♦That’s My Girl.” 


The Lane Bros, tee off with a 
series of comic acro-terp stunts 
; that get the pewholders off their 
hands. Their serious aero work, 
which includes some amazing rope- 
skipping from the prone position, 
builds for big reception. ° 
Charlie Barnet’s orch (three 
rhythm, six reed and seven brass) 
opens with a bright rendition of 
“Cherokee” and comes in at mid- 
; show for a rendition of the mae- 
stro’s composition, “Skyliner.” It’s 
a breezy number which gives Bar- 
. net opportunity to show off his 
I fancy reed work. Orch backs bill 
I excellently. Gros . • 


Chicago, Chi 

Chicago, Nov. 7. 
Frankie Laine with Carl Fischer; 
Jeri Southern, Professor Back - 
[words, Gilbert St Russell, Louis 
'nasil Orch; “Iron Mistress ” (WB). 


I] 


This bill is a welcome relief 
fter the last several offerings. It 
asr a potent headliner in Frankie 
aine and the rest of the revue is 
pod support. Booking of Jeri 
outhern may not seem well-bal- 
nced on paper, but the styles of 
tihe two singers contrast. ' 

Laine, recently returned front a 
uropean trip, • shows the latter- 
ay “big voice” pipers what a real 
'■pcallst can do. In fact, he seems 
IS> have gathered more polish and 
t«sonance since the throat trouble 
t^rly this, summer which forced 
m to take time off for a few 
eks. ' There’s also more assur- 
er .in delivery. 

Laine starts off with a beat tune 
at gets the holdover femmes 
■streaming, and then bangs across 
•one of his big hits, “That’s My De- 
sire, ’ which seems as potent as 
ever. He has to talk to the first- 
r ?i W j rs t0 calm thenudown, but it’s 
all done in a good-natured Way to 
rate chuckles from rest of • audi- 
ence. “Jezebel,” with its sexy in- 
registers strongly. “Rock 
Df Gibraltar,” with double-mean- 
ng lyrics, is the least successful 
f his whole book. 

Jeri Southern is a young miss 
who has clicked with her soft, 
sexy vocalizing on records. How- 
, ever the fresh debutante look of 
'-this blonde belies that reputation. 
» . i * P ro P er lighting, her turn 
■, ould ; be more effective. She starts 
^et’s Fall In Love,” 'follows 

nliu /‘, When 1 • F.all in -Love.” 
£*?!+ tairly well received. She does 
. better »with “You Better „Go Now.” 
Lven stronger is “Something I 


Dreamed Last Night,” done in a 
soft spot. AJ 

Professor Backwards gets laughs 
with his fast quips, some old, some 
fairly new. But he should drop 
his political jokes some of them 
cutting, for recent election has 
made them oldhat and awkward. 
Some are also slightly tinged, but 
the comedian doesn’t dig into the 
filth too much. He wheels out a 
blackboard and starts his name 
game, reeling off front-and-back 
spelling in a flash. He’s quick on 
the rejoinders from seatholders 
and receives a nifty reception. 

Gilbert & Russell, youthful 
terp team, open show in bright 
fashion. There are several short 
dances before male jumps on a 
small, round platform to click 
with fast “Drum Bolero,” alter 
which duo join up again for hectic 
jive session which payees like. 
Louis Basil wraps things up nicely 
with his baton work. Zabe. 


Missouri, K. C. 

Kansas City, Nov. 7. 
Phil Spitalny & Hour of Charm 
Orch, with Evelyn, Linda, Roberto 
& Aida; “Golden Hawk ” (Col). 


After many months of straight 
screen fare, RKO is brightening 
the stage of the big Missouri for 
a week of vaudfilm. For the one- 
shot, house took Phil Spitalny and 
his all-girl orch in a week’s stop 
as they trek westward. It's been 
many years since outfit has ap- 
peared in a film house here, and 
with its rep and accomplished 
crew proves good billing and good 
biz. With admission upped from 
75c to 90c top, a fine gross is in- 
dicated, and with it the possibility 
that some other attractions might 
make it go here likewise. 

a polished contralto on “Hallelu- 
jah!” and “Can’t Help Lovin’ That 
Man.” Back to the instrumental 
displays Louise in a brief piano 
concert from Liszt. Choir then 
backs featured singers Maxine, 
Rose Maria and Dorothea in a 
roundup of western tunes. Pace is 
changed with Roberto & Aida con- 
tributing a pair of their authentic 
Spanish dances and giving the 
show a delightful highlight. 

Evelyn brings her “magic violin” 
to the mike for round . of gypsy 
airs, and goes to the pop lists for 
“I Went to Your Wedding,” ably 
abetted by Jeanie with her sky- 
high soprano and « guitar strum- 
ming. She’s backed by string sec- 
tion for an unusual new number. 
“Laughing Violin.” Four-year-old 
Linda provides an enjoyable in- 
terlude in vocal duo with her 
mama, Elyse. Finale . has choir 
and orch in “Stars and Stripes Foi> 
ever” with President-elect Eisen- 
hower projected on scrim to a. 
rousing hand for a timely piece of 
showmanship. Pace is swift, show 
compact and entertainment value 
high throughout. Quinn. 


Seville, Montreal 

Montreal, Nov. 7. 

. Mar jane ( with Walter Eiger), 
Georgia Tapps, Harmonica-air es 
(2), Los Robertos (3), Jimmy 
Cameron , Len Howard House 
Orch (7); “Lady Takes a" Chance” 
(RKO). 


Following two years of playing 
Anglo-American topliners on the 

vaude circuit, Archie Laurie, new’ 
manager of the* Seville, comes up 
with the rather obvious (for this 
town) but never-before-tried busi- 
ness of introducing a French chan- 
teuse into the lineup. 

Currently the choice is Marjane 
and attractive bilingual chirper 
scores heavily with all patrons 
from every angle. Her husky pip- 
ing is clear, carries into all corners 
of the theatre, and nifty stage 
presence plus socko wardrobe 
make this gal a cinch for any the- 
atre stint. 

In the spot before her, Georgie 
Tapps wins over a doubtful audi- 
ence with his subtle interpretations, 
of terping at its best. . At times the 
guy goes overboard, for a house 
such as this, with’ his dance panto, 
but by getting back into lowdown 
version of “Birth of the Blues,” he 
is home free. Windup is an elab- 
orate soft-shoe routine that can’t 
possibly miss. 

The Los Robertos, two gals and 
a guy, open bill with a nifty dis- 
play of Indian club patterns and 
juggling. Concentration on the 
part of the two main performers 
has tendency to take edge off gen- 
eral effect, but act is slick and fast, 
ideal as a teeoff for this type show. 

The Harmonica-aires, always • a 
natural in this town, pick up a 
rousing reception for their reed- 
ing. Boys lift the instrument out 
of the usual groove and offer a 
collection of pops and semi-clas- 
sics that sell heavily. 

Emcee Jimmy Cameron is affable 
and Len Howard’s band backs show 
with authority. Newt. 


Roxy, N. Y. 

Frances Langford, Borrah Mine- 
vitch Harmonica Rascals (5) with 
Johnny Puleo; Blackburn Twins & 
Marion Colby; Maurice Rocco, 
Bob Boucher Orch; “Way of a 
Gaucho ” (20th), reviewed in 
Variety Oct. 8, ’52. 


Following the run of this lay- 
out, the Roxy will stage one more 
vaude show before converting into 
pne suited .strictly for the ice pol- 
icy. House manager Dave Katz 
has been handicapped in setting a 
show of this kind inasmuch as 
the usual ice and stage production 
are missing. He’s had to build a 
vaudeville show for a clientele 
which has been accustomed to 
fairly lush production with masses 
of cheesecake. Until the eye gets 
used to the paucity of people on 
this massive stage, it will be ex- 
tremely difficult to get truly* sat- 
isfactory results with four acts. 

In the current bill, there’s an 
overabundance of singing. With 
the exception of the Borrah Mine- 
vitch Harmonica Rascals featuring 
Johnny Puleo, all other acts have 
vocal focal points. It gives pro- 
ceedings too much accent in that 
department. 

The opening bit is by Maurice 
Rocco, the standup pianist-singer. 
Sepia performer works in an un- 
inhibited manner and provides 
warmth at the start via his particu- 
lar-brand of rhythmics. He’s good 
at the ivories handing out some 
exciting boogie woogie. His chirp- 
ing ties in well with piano back- 
ground and incidental terping to 
get him a handsome mitting. 

The good pace of the show is 
.continued by the Harmonica Ras- 
cals. They are spotted too early 
for maximum results, but their 
slot still provides high entertain- 
ment. Little Johnny Puleo sparks 
the troupe to a top reception. The 
comedies as well as the instrumen- 
tal side are of top order. They get 
a boffola. 

It’s difficult for Frances Lang- 
ford to continue this hot pace. 
Miss Langford is grooved in a quiet 
vein and there seems to be a uni- 
form tinge to her effgrts. Her 
tunes are from the ranks of the 
standards. She .makes a pleasing 
impression but, unfortunately, suf- 
fers from her slotting. 

The Blackburn Twins with 
Marion Colby, a new partner, are 
reviewed under New Acts. The 
house orch directed by Bob Bou- 
cher backs the show nicely. Ar- 
thur Knorr’s sets dress up the dis- 
play. Jose. 


Capitol, Wash* 

Washington, Nov 9. 


Patti Page, Frank Fontaine, 
Dick Brown, The •Carnevales ( 2 ) ; 
Sam Jack Kaufman House Orch 
(18);“ Sons of Ali Baba ” (U). 


The Patti Page name is paying 
off at the b. o. with best session 
here in several months. Lure is 
wrapped up completely in the 
blonde pop chantoosey, though 
package she headlines is unusually 
solid and fast. ‘ 

Miss Page’s top spot on the best- 
selling. disk list presells her to 
her jukebox and TV fans. She gets 
a rousing reception from the 
minute she comes to the foot- 
lights, sparkling in a blue mari- 
bou gown at show caught. Gal’s 
bright smile, her washed-behind- 
ihe-ears wholesomeness, and her 
natural manner are as much a part 
of her style as her husky voice and 
clear lyrics. Payees embrace her 
before, she strikes the first note 
and whoop it up until she begs off. 
Chirper repays them with a long 
and varied routine and an enthusi- 
asm for her work to match theirs. 
Therein may well lie the secret of 
the peculiar brand of charm Miss 
Page dispenses, for there’s more, 
warmth and appeal than real music 
in her valuable pipes. 

Preceding headliner is comic- 
impressionist Frank Fontaine, fea- 
tured on her TV show. The Fon- 
taine technique consists of a rapid- 
fire succession of takeoffs on sure- 
fire personalities. After a brief 
warm-up, goes through special 
trademarks to Arthur Godfrey, 
Amos ’n’ Andy, Cary Grant, 
Charles Boyer, among others, 
winding up with a serious version 
of the FDR charm. Steady cus- 
tomer appreciation cheers him on. 
Best bet is a novel version oL 
“Home on the Range” with each 
line sung in style of various pop 
singers. Payees roar with' delight 
at his windup, a bit from . “John 
L.,” the lovable imbecile Fontaine 
has created in video. 

Capable Dick Brown, singing 
topper of “Stop the Music,” has an 
attractive personality to match his 
pleasant voice, but crowd is keyed 
up with anticipation of Page warb- 
ling. He warms them up, but never 
gets all-out response for a routine 
of romantic tunes, including 
“Walkin’ My Baby Back Home,” 
“It’s Almost Like Being in Love,” 
“Wild Stories” (a new tune), “I 


Hear a Rhapsody” and “Baby 
Face.” Last named, sung sans title 
line, in “Stop the Music” style, 
shapes as best bet. More of the’ 
same, perhaps ; with a request 
angle, would speed up act. 

Ralph & Mary Carnevale make 
up unusually solid curtain-raiser. 
Accenting comedy, team terps 
around stage with some chatter 
adding to act. They do a jitterbug 
number, and a' rib-tickling Charles- 
ton, complete with vintage cos- 
tume. Walk off to almost show- 
stopping mitt action. Lowe. 


Apollo, X. Y. 

Josh White Family (3), “Hot 
Lips ” Page & Band (12), Stuffy 
Bryant, Chuck Brown & Rita, Pig- 
meat & Co. (4), Zephyrs (2); 
“Waco” (Mono). 


Flanked by his young son and 
daughter, folk singer Josh White 
heads the current layout at Har- 
lem’s vaude flagship. Always a 
click at cafes and in numerous 
concert appearances, White also 
registers big with Apollo clientele. 
He evinces savvy showmanship in 
employing his offspring for the 
vaude turns and handles them in 
an unobtrusive, kindly manner 
which carries over for sock audi- 
ence reception. 

White scores handily with three 
solo numbers before bringing on 
Josh, Jr., a handsome, wide-eyed 
youngster who complements his 
father’s pro approach with appeal- 
ing naivete. 

Lad strums the guitar expertly 
and earns a solid mitt with his vo- 
calizing of “One Meat Ball.” Bev- 
erly White, although she has a 
small voice, knows how to handle 
such items as “Half as Much” and 
“I’ve Got Nothing But the Blues.” 
The three combine for a rousing 
closer . with “The Green Grass 
Grew All Around.” 

Stuffy Bryant gets the sesh off 
to a good start with some tricky 
tapping. Coast lad, making his 
Apollo debut, works from a drum- 
like platform and wins the crowd 
.with his slides and jumps from the 
elevated position. 

Chuck Brown & Rita, a comedy 
gymnastic bar act, are in the deuce 
spot. Brown does most of the 
work with his femme partner 
merely a foil for unfunny comedy 
involving a semi-strip routine. 
Brown shows possibilities with his 
opening pantomime terp turns, but 
is considerably better on the bars. 

The Zephyrs are a competent 
tap duo, but show bad taste in an 
interpretive number, perhaps aim- 
ing for a comedy effect, by em- 
ploying such stereotype props as a 
razor and a pair of dice. Pigmeat 
& Co. offer their standard bur- 
lesque blackout. 

The “Hot Lips” Page crew (four 
reed, four brass, three rhythym, 
with maestro on- trumpet) backs 
the show neatly and earns the 
spotlight in renditions of “Casa- 
nova Cricket” and “Honey Loving 
Arms.” Holl. 


Earle, Philly 


Philadelphia, Nov. 8. 
Larry Steele's “Smart Affairs of 
1953,” with. Steele, 3 Chocolateers, 
Butterbeans 8c Susie, 5 Keys, 2 
Earls,- Olivette Miller, Conrad 8c 
Estelle, Line. (12), Paul Bacomb 
Orch (14); “Models, Inc.” (Indie). 


Larry Steele, veteran entre- 
preneur at Atlantic City’s Club 
Harlem, know? how to package a 
show. His current array at the 
Earle is a new reshuffling of such 
standard ingredients as fast hoof- 
ing, acro-interludes, goodlooking 
chorines who really move, belly- 
laugh comedy, jumpy orchestral 
backing and flashy . production 
numbers. For good measure Steele 
brings along the Five Keys, hit 
recording group who tilth/ but to 
be six, four vocalists, a. pianist and 
mandolinist. This is a sound ad- 
dition for the Earle audience and 
the Keys garner the heaviest ap- 
plause of the evening with such 
lilts as “Hold Me,” “I Went to 
Your Wedding” and “7-Up 
Around.” 

Steele, who produces and directs 
and even does some of the writ- 
ing, is a genial and experienced 
emcee. ^ 

There is a variety of associate 
talent. The Three Chocolateers, 
with one dressed in femme garb, 
offer high-speed comedy dancing. 
Butterbeans 8 c Susie, veteran com- 
edy duo, announce 35 years _ in 
matrimony and show biz, as a 
springboard for their amusing do- 
mestic bickering. Olivette Miller, 
jazz harpist, is heard in “Two for 
Two’ and . even makes the instru- 
ment of the angels develop a sexy 
tang with her version “Old Black 
Magic.” Also 'good are the Two 
Earls, comedy acros whose finale is 
a showy fight routine that entails 
plenty gymnastic skill and boffo 
timing. Paul Bascomb’s band is 
mounted on stage and backs up 
the. revue with fast and ^"^sy 

music. Gagh. 

* 


Palace, X. Y. 

Woodie <& Lorraine, Beau Jen? 
kins, Danny Shaw, De Santus Trio, 
Jackie Bright , Monica Lind Dane - 
ers (8), Ken Whitmer, Trampo 
Looneys (2), Jo Lombardi House 
Orch; “Montana Belle” (RKO), 
reviewed in Variety Oct. 29, ’52. 


Though there are a couple of 
turns which bring some lifts to 
this eight-act affair, Palace show 
this week is somewhat offish. 
Vaude ingredients, comedy, song 
and dance, add up to only mod- 
erate fare and aud gets little op- 
portunity for mitt work. 

Big winner, this *sesh, is Jackie 
Bright, in fifth spot, with his zany 
auctioneering bit and comedy aud- 
participation routine. His rapid- 
fire gabbing and his slick stage 
demeanor win house approval from 
start and warms it up neatly for 
the participation stuff that follows. 
Gets a trio of customers for some 
question-answer gab and then 
calls for five males .to participate 
in a hat-switching game. It’s a 
silly bit that doesn’t seem to em- 
barrass the nonpros, so Bright 
milks it for all it’s worth. Ahd 
it’s worth plenty. House is with 
him most of the way. Act’s 18- 
minute running time, however, 
could be trimmed for sharper re- 
sults. 

Negro tapster Beau Jenkins 
pleases in the second slotting. 
Opens with late Bill Robinson 
takeoff for good response and 
segues into some action-packed 
acro-terpery which clicks. Pipes 
a chorus of “When You’re Smil- 
ing” and again displays his nim- 
ble footwork for closer. 

Comedian Danny Shaw follows 
with a blending of patter and prat- 
falls that miss. His falls are better 
than his gab, which could use a 
rewrite. Gets off nicely, however, 
with a panto carbon of a bus rider 
seated above the rear wheel. 

De Santos Trio, in the fourth 
niche, supply a Latino flavor with 
a mixture of chile terping and deft 
aero work. Two guys and a femme 
work smoothly through the seven- 
minute set with guys hoofing in 
ballet fashion and getting across 
the aero bits with good throws and 
catches. Gal does little more than 
offer .eye appeal. 

Ken Whitmer, comic instrumen- 
talist, is an okay entry in the next- 
to*closing. After a zany opening 
tooting on fifes resembling a cigar 
and an umbrella, he gets off' good 
impreshes of Goodman (clarinet), 
Dorsey (trombone),, and Clyde Mc- 
Coy and Harry James' (trumpet). 
Whitmer also works in pit on piano 
and drums. He’s assisted by an 
unbilled looker who brings him his 
instruments. 

The two Trampo Looneys score * 
in the closing spot with their acro- 
comedy. Boys work the trampoline 
to a fair-thee-well. Deft somer- 
saults and t body twists aren’t dis- 
sipated by the comedy intrusions. 

Woodie & Lorraine, skating turn, 
and the Monica Lind Dancers are 
reviewed under New Acts. Jo Lom- 
bardi backs all acts with care. 

. . Gros. 

Lyric, Indplff. . 

Indianapolis, Nov. 9. t 

Tommy Dorsey Orch, ,wi th Man - 
etta Knox, Marvin Hudson, Sam 
Donahue, Doug Gilbert; Mickey, 
Sharp, Lottie Brunn, Bobby Clark; 

“ Rose Bowl Story ” (Mono). 


Band shows make a strong re- 
entry at Lyric here this stanza, . 
with Tommy Dorsey’s music spark- 
ing a good -variety bill. But it 
proves theatergoers here will have 
to be re-educated to combo policy 
after a two-year lapse, as attend- 
ance was good nights only. 

Orch takes over at start, getting 
big results with it* special arrange- 
ments of “Opus 1,” featuring Sam 
Donahue on tenor sax, and “Boogie 
Woogie,” with a lot of Doug Gil- 
bert’s piano. Vocalist Marvin Hud- 
son impresses with his stylish han- 
dling of such cleffings as “Wish You 
Were Here” and “Old Black Mag- 
ic.” Marietta Knox adds a nifty 
touch of blonde ginger with “Sun- 
ny Side of The Street” and “Jam- 
balaya.” Dorsey ruris show smooth- 
ly and gets in some good licks on 
the trombone, especially in his old 
standard, ''Song of India.” 

Comic Mickey Sharp, in closing 
spot, keeps aud in guffaws with his 
sharp line of radio gags and take- 
offs. His President Truman, v^ith 
disarming foreword that swerves 
focus to lighter side of politics, is 
the topper. 

Lottie Brunn, a cute trick, 
scores with an assorted bag of jug- 
gling feats that couple speed and 
skill. Her finale in which she 
claims to be only femme juggling 
eight hoops is a bit of anticlimax, 
however, as she doesn't keep them 
in air long enough to be impres- 
sive. ' 

Bobby Clark has a smart mari- 
onet specialty, featuring four var- 
ied hip-high dolls in lively rou- 
tines. Corb, 


LEGITIMATE 


Variety 


Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


Barn Hassles Prompt Morris Agency 
To Quit Major Strawhat Activity 


William Morris, the only majors 
talent agency still active in the 
strawhat field, has decided to dis- 
continue that department, except 
on a grealy reduced scale. Hillard 
Elkins, who has been in charge of 
the work, will concentrate on tele- 
vision and regular legit. 

According to Morris executives, 
the agenting of the barn circuit has 
not only been unprofitable finan- 
cially but ‘ has involved constant 
turmoil with producers who resent 
the firm’s efforts to get top terms 
for its clients, and dissatisfaction 
among the clients themselves. The 
latter, it’s explained, have tended 
to be influenced by and echo mana- 
gerial squawks. 

Also, stars frequently fail to ap- 
preciate the amount of detail work 
necessary in booking and managing 
a silo tour. In addition to the con- 
tractual work involved for the 
agency’s legal staff, there are 
countless arrangements to be made 
about transportation, lodging, local 
production details, etc. Morris 
execs say they have provided this 
representation in the past chiefly 
as a service to their clients. But 
when it merely brings complaints, 
there’s no point in continuing, it’s 
claimed. 

Under its proposed new setup, 
Morris plans to offer limited repre- 
sentation to those of its leading 
clients asking for strawhat book- 
ings. Any such deals will be on a 
spot basis, however, and no attempt 
will be made to juggle dates and 
locations to work out continuous 
tours. Also, no package shows will 
be produced or booked by the 
agency. 

With Morris withdrawing from 
major activity in the barn field, it’s 
expected that various smaller agen- 
cies and package .producers will 
move to take over the booking of 
unit productions and the represen- 
tation of top names for silo tours. 
This may largely fill, the gap for 
strawhat managers who build their 
summer seasons with package 
shows and with top names that 
Morris has submitted in the past. 

However, a few local manage- 
ments who don’t use few high- 
bracket stars or book packages,- but 
try to produce their own shows and 
emphasize resident companies, 
may actually welcome the Morris 
exit. These producers generally 
do their own talent scouting, rather 
than merely cull lists of available 
names submitted by agents, and 
they rarely pay the top fees that 
Morris, in particular, has de- 
manded. 


Little Orchestra Group 
Sets 3 Carnegie Operas 

.The Little Orchestra Society, 
conducted by Thomas Scherman, 
will present three operas in concert 
form at Carnegie Hall, N. Y., Dec. 
15, Jan. 13 and Feb. 16. Operas 

will be “L’Enfance du Christ,” by 
Berlioz; “The Pearl Fishers,” by 
Bizet, and “Euryanthe,” by Weber. 

Leads for “L’Enfance du Christ” 
will be Martial Singher, Leopold 
Simoneau, Donald Gramm, Mary 
Davenport, plus the Choral Art 
Society Chorus. Cast for “Euryan- 
the” includes Margaret Harshaw, 
David Garen, Carol Smith, Luis 
Pichardo, Kenneth Smith, and the 
Westminster Choir. “The Pearl 
Fishers” will have Martial Singher, 
Rhea Jackson, Kenneth Smith, Da- 
vis Cunningham, and the Westmin- 
ster Choir. 


9 


N.Y. City Ballet Off t6 Boff 
Fall Season Start After 
Return From Europe Tour 

The N. Y. City Ballet, still 
flushed from the successes of its 
five-month European tour last sum- 
mer, made a sock bow last Tuesday 
(4) at City Center* N. Y., to start 
off a six-week fall season. Troupe 
isn’t completely intact. Leads 
Diana Adams and Hugh Laing are 
still in Europe, working in the 
Gene Kelly film, “Invitation to the 
Dance,” but will be back in the 
company in two weeks. Dancer 
Nora Kayfe has joined Bette Davis’ 
“Two’s Company” legiter, but will 
be available Sunday nights when, 
the revue reaches Broadway. 
Choreographer Jerome Robbins, as- 
sistant artistic director, has also 
been away with “Two’s Company.” 

Melissa Hayden has stepped into 
Miss Kaye’s role in the controver- 
sial “The Cage” and into Miss 
Adams’ role in “Picnic at Tintagel” 
(in neither case, quite successfully), 
but otherwise troupe’s dance 
roster is still so strong, and its 
repertoire so varied, that the ab- 
sences aren’t strongly felt or -cali- 
bre of troupe affected. Brilliant 
dancing by Maria Tallchief (“Swan 
Lake”), Miss Hayden (“The Duel”), 
T^naquil LeClerq, Andre Eglevsky, 
Patricia Wilde, Yvonne Mounsey, 
Janet Reed and other leads, and by 
a finely-trained corps de ballet, has 
been the feature since last week’s 
bow. 

Troupe has skedded two pre- 
mieres during the fall season, both 
choreographed by George Balan- 
chine. One, “Scotch Symphony,” 
to Mendelssohn’s music, was due to 
bow last night (Tues.). The other, 
“Metamorphoses.’’ originally sked- 
ded to preem next Tuesday (18), 
has been put over to Nov. 25. 

Bron. 


Heflin ‘Shrike 
May Come to N.Y. 

On the basis of the rave reviews 
and sock grosses being garnered 
by “The Shrike” on tour, Kermit 
Bloomgarden may bring the pro- 
duction to New York for a return 
engagement next spring. It is ten- 
tatively booked through March 14 
in Chicago, but would be available 
thereafter. 

Particularly satisfying to Bloom- 
garden are the critical raves for 

Van Heflin in the star part played 
on Broadway last season by Jose 
Ferrer. In some cases the road 
critics have compared the Holly- 
wood star’s performance favorably 
with that of Ferrer, whom they 
saw in the role during its original 
run at the Cort, N. Y. 

For its two weeks in Boston, 
the touring production grossed 
$19,000 and $24,600, respectively, 
and added a strong $20,500 last 
week in Baltimore. At that rate, 
the venture will probably recoup 
its $30,000 investment in a few 
more weeks, after which a group 
of road theatre manager-backers 
will receive two-thirds of the 
profits and Bloomgarden will get 
the remainder. 

A possible hitch to a return 
Broadway engagement for the show 
may be a reported film commitment 
for Heflin. However, it’s assumed 
that he would be able\to arrange 
to have that assignment postponed 
if necessary. ^ . 


Albany Stock Co. Prep&. 
Preem in New House 

Albany, Nov. 1\. 

The new Colonial Playhouse 
stock company reported Monday 
afternoon (10) to begin rehearsals 
in “Affairs of State” for the pre- 
miere Nov. 19. Appearing in the 
production, to run two weeks, will 
be Melanie York, Charles Camp- 
bell, William Tregoe, Paul Ander- 
son, Alton Wilkes, Michael St. 
John, Malcolm Atterbury and Ellen 
Hardies (Mrs. Atterbury). Atter- 
bury, who with his wife operate 
the uptown theatre, will direct the 
opener. Wilkes conducts the Lake 
Regions Theatre, Guilford, N. H., 
during the summer. 

Second play will be “An Inspec- 
tor Calls.” The third has not yet 
been selected, while the fourth 
probably will be a musical, holding 
the boards for three weeks. Ten 
productions are scheduled in a sea- 
son extending 21 or 22 weeks. This 
season, performances will be given 
Wednesday through Saturday, with 
matinee on the latter day. 

This is the Atterbury’s sixth sea- 
son of stock in Albany. 

H. L. (Jack) Garren, managing 
director. of the R.P.I. Field House 
in Troy, N.Y., bought seats, switch- 
board, masking and spotlights used 
by Malcolm Atterbury at the Al- 
bany, N.Y., Playhouse. The latter 
is to be demolished for a parking 
lot. Atterbury switching operations 
t.o the Colonial Playhouse, in Al- 
Dany. 


Young Preps Revise 
On ‘The Big People’ 

Stanley Young, whose “Mr. Pick- 
wick” closed last Saturday (8) at 
the Golden, N. Y.,' leaves this week 
for Florida. During his four-week 
stay he will work on revisions of 
“The Big People,” which was tried 
out in Philly by Theatre, Inc., in 
1947, with Ernest Truex as star. 
Play was regarded as*having con- 
siderable merit, but needed revi- 
sion for Broadway. 

It’s assumed that Roger L. Stev- 
ens, who produced “Pickwick” 
under Playwrights Co. auspices, 
will get first refusal of the new 
version of “Big People.” 


Inside M-Legit 


Sloane-Stone 


Bicycle Act 


With two shows on tour and an- 
other in preparation, producers 
Paula Stone and Mike Sloane will 1 
have a complicated commuting 
schedule the next couple of months 
between New York. Chicago and j 
Hollywood. Miss Stone is currently 
in New York, where she tape-rec- 
ords a daily comment-interview ra- 
dio series for local broadcast in 
various cities. Her producer-hus- 
band is on the Coast supervising 
forthcoming musical, “Carnival.” 

Couple meet Nov. 20 in Chicagq 
for the local opening of their “Top 
Banana” production at the Great 
Northern. Miss Stone then returns 
to New York and Sloane goes back 
to the Coast. They’ll both be back 
Dec. 1 in Chicago for the local 
opening of their touring edition of 
“Country Girl.” They’ll come to 
New York for Thanksgiving with 
their two children, then return to 
Chicago for the local opening Dec. 

1 of their touring edition of “Coun- 
try Girl.” * 

Pair next return to New York 
and after a couple of weeks take 
their children to Chicago for 
Christmas, then go to the Coast 
for New Year’s Eve with Miss 
Stone’s parents, actor Fred Stone 
and his wife. They’re due back in 
New York for the Jan. 5 scheduled 
start of “Carnival” rehearsals. 

Sometime during the producers’ 
various visits to New York they’ll 
hold “Carnival” backer auditions, 
using tape recordings of the score 
made on the Coast. Meanwhile, 
George Oppenh# imer, who adapted 
the show’s book from the French 
film, “Carnival in Flanders,” has 
just come east and will be joined 
shortly by composer Jimmy Van 
Heusen, lyricist Johnny Burke and 
overall -director Bretaigne Windust. 
Associate producer Julian Claman 
is already in New York. 


Backers of “Paint Your Wagon,” the John Yorke-Wolfe Kaufman 
touring production of last * season’s Broadway musical, include Lee 
Shubert, $7,200; Yorke, $3,600; Kaufman, $2,000; Gabe Rubin, managelr 
of the Nixon, Pittsburgh, $1,600; Dan R. Hanna, Cleveland, $1,60(1‘ 
Ernest Rawley, of the Royal Alexandra, Toronto, $1,600; John G. Cellat 
of the American, St. Louis, $1,600; Mrs. Yorke and Geoffrey DL 
Yorke, the co-producer’s wife and son, $800 each; James Nederlanderl 
of the Lyceum, Minneapolis, $800; theatrical accountant J. C. Koritzer] 
$800; Mrs. Edward Kook, wife of the Century Lighting head, $800*1 
Richard T. Kemper, of the Erlanger, Buffalo, $800; actress-singer Nola 
Fairbanks, who was in the show on Broadway, $800; actress Amelia 
Corley, $800; theatrical insurance agent David Davidson, $800; Robert 
Boda, of the Hartman, Columbus, $800; Mrs. Harry Schumer, wife of 
the theatrical hauling executive, $400; former producer Lee Posner, 
$400; James Stroock, president of Brooks Costume, $400, and Mrs! 
Harold Friedlander, wife of the theatrical printer, $400. The venture 
is capitalized at $40,000, with provision for 10% overcall. 

Ad submitted by Sylvia Siegler for her Preview Play Club and in 
tended for publication in the N. Y. Times amusement section Sunda 
(9) was refused by the newspaper because the copy listed ‘several un] 
proven Broadway shows as J'hits.” The sheet’s ^ad copy editor n 
portedly objected to the claimed “hit^” in the case of “Children’ls 
Hour,” which isn’t slated to open until mid-December, and “Berna 
dine,” “Time of the Cuckoo” and “Deep Blue S<sa,” on ground th 
they aren’t proven successes. The proposed ad listed the four show, 
under a heading, “Preview Play Club Wins Again.” 

Odd angle of the situation is that the Times occasionally permit] 
in its ads descriptions of shows that are matters of opinion aside fro 
the usual critical quotes. For example, in the amusement sectio 
Sunday (9) the ABC ad for “My Darlin’ Aida,” billed it as a “speef 
tacular musical triumph.” 



Howard S. Cullman, board chairman of the N. Y. Port Authority! 
co-owner of the Alvin Theatre, N. Y., and a prolific legit investor, wa 
inadvertently omitted last week from a list of backers of the nev 
Broadway hit, “Dial ‘M’ for Murder.” Matter is noted in a letter fron 
Cullman’s investment adviser, John Byram, eastern play representative 
for Paramount Pictures. Byram writes, “Another lucky fellow wh( 
dialed 'M' for mbney with Maurice Evans was Cullman. There are 
12,500 Cullman dollars, Eisenhower, l^uman and even Confederate 
riding on the murder shenanigans at the Plymouth. I am sure you 
know tills, but probably through oversight, Howard’s name was omitted 
He belongs between Lee Shubert and Gilbert Miller in the list. Luck 
Pedro?” 


Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn, who have been doing e'xtremelj 
well boxoffice wise at the Blackstone, Chicago, with “Fourposter,” hav^ 
taken on another role — as teachers. For the past six weeks at leaslt 
one university department of speech or drama has taken over mosft 
of the balcony each Friday. After the show they descend and firf 
questions at Miss Tandy and Cronyn, who talk for at least an houfr 
and as long as three to the youngsters. Not only about questions elf 
stagecraft of the one-setter, but also on any subject relating to tjjle 
theatre. Youths number at least 50 to 75, with some groups going sis 
high as 150. It’s not only Chi local schools, either, but college groupfs 
have been coming in from Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin. ' 


Clare Powers, staff writer for the Chicago Stagebill, took a paid aid 
in the current issue of that theatgregoers’ magazine to deny being au- 
thor of a story under her byline in the November issue of Commerce 
magazine. Commerce carried a yarn titled “So You Want to Be an 
Angel,” with Miss Powers’ signature, which she claims contains heavy- 
handed arguments against investing in the theatre. 

Miss Powers said she wrote and submitted a straight factual article 
on play costs, but the Commerce story which appeared is definitely no 
hers. And she said that unless she gets a correction from Commerce 
she’ll follow up with stringent action. 


Legit Bits 


Why Not Opera? 

Prof. Douglas Moore, MacDowell 
Professor of Music at Columbia U., 
will discuss “Opera in America — 
Why and Why Not,” in the fourth of 
a series of lectures at Barnard Col- 
lege tonight (Wed.). ^ 

Professor Moore has composed 
three operas, including “The Devil 
and Daniel Webster” and the Pu- 
litzer Prize winner, “Giants in the 1 
Earth.” 


High Finance 

One of the strangest fiscal 
deals in the. history of the 
American theatre is that in- 
volving the one-night perform- 
ance of “Room Service” at the 
Lambs Club, N. Y., on Mon- 
day night (10). 

The revival, which was pre- 
sented and acted exclusively 
by Lambs at free admish, in- 
cluded the following investors: 
Arthur Ashley, $2 (gasoline to 
get tne moosehead used in the 
play); William Gaxton, $10, for 
postcard announcements; John 
Effrat, 20c, for simulated stage 
food; Russ Brown; 64c, for 
phone calls (including tax); 
George Feinberg and Emil 
Friedlander of Dazian’s, for 
donated groundcloth; Walter 
Vincent, two suits of clothes 
(which had gotten too small 
for him); Mickey Alpert, 18c, 
for six 3c stamps. 

Production was budgeted at 
$25, with the privilege of a $7 
overcall. Total expenses added 
up to $13.02, which probably 
made it the only play in 
American theatrical history to 
have a 50% profit before it 
even opened. 


Philip Barry, Jr., busy with 
plans for the Broadway production 
of “Seacoast of Bohemia,” by Lor- 
enzo Semple, Jr., will not be asso- 
ciated this winter with the Palm 
Beach Playhouse, but will be suc- 
ceeded by Paul Crabtree as stager 
and co-producer. Crabtree is also 
working on plans for the Broad- 
way production, in partnership 
with Frank J. Hale, of “Lily,” by 
Vina Delmar . . . Steffen Zacharias 
plans a spring production of Lee 
Marion’s “Wine of Astonishment’ V 
. . . Eddie Dowling will produce, di- 
rect and costar with film actress 
Margaret O’Brien in Edwin Bren- 
ner’s “The Intruder ..Sidney 
Kingsley expects a late-winter pro- 
duction on his untitled new play, 
which is nearing completion. 

Elmer Rice is working on a new 
script, which he expects to have 
ready early in January. . .“Uncle 
Sam in Israel,” Yiddish musical 
current at the Public, N.Y., is be- 
ing translated into English by Wil- 
liam W. Brickman and will switch 
languages Thanksgiving night and 
continue in the new version at the 
same house thereafter . . . H i 1 d y 
Parks will play the femme lead in 
the new Reginald Denham-Mary 
Orr comedy, “Be Your Age,” to.be 
produced by Alexander H.. Cohen 
and Joseph Kipness, in association 
with Morris K. Bauer . . . George 
Schaefer, executive producer of 
the N.Y. City> Center drama sea- 
son, lectured yesterday (Tues.) at 
Lafayette U — When “The Shrike” 
plays Washington next week, Van 
Heflin’s brother, Marty Heflin, 
will heave a party for him at the 
National Press Club. 

J. Myles Putnam will be 'produc- 
tion stage manager for “Maggie,” 
the musical version of “What Every 
Woman Knows” . . . Gabe Rubin, 
manager of the Nixon, Pittsburgh, 
was in town lgst week to line up 
future bookings, particularly some- 
thing for the Christmas-New Year 
week . . . Producer - composer Jule 
Styne will supply the score for 
Paramount’s forthcoming “Martin 
& Lewis in Paris” . . . European 
play scout George Banyai in town 


for several days en route to the 
Coast . . ■ Kermit Bloomgarden’s 
production of Irving Ravetch’s 
“Where Late the Sweet Birds 
Sang,” to be directed by Daniel 
Mann, is being financed at $60,000 
. . Bill Butler is directing the new 
Princeton Triangle Club show, 
“Ham ’n Legs,” with Bill Powers 
coaching the chorus and Earle 
Moss orchestrating the music. 

Richard Reich, stage doorman a 
the Broadhurst, N. Y., has writte 
a play, “House Without Windows, 
which Charles Adams plans ti 
produce this season . . . Richari 
Maney, who regularly pressagen 
Lillian Heilman’s shows, will ha 
his usual assignment with Ke 
Bloomgarden’s revival of the pla 
wright’s “Children’s Hour,” wifih 
Jose Vega slated to be stage marf 
ager . . . Because Barbara B»1 
Geddes is due for motherhooJi, 
there has been an indefinite post- 
ponement of the London produc- 
tion of “Moon Is Blue,” in whi®’h 
she is to costar with Donald CoI>k 
and Barry Nelson . . . Josephime 
Hull will star in Robert Fine ri’s 
“Whistler’s Grandmother,” whi ch 
has replaced “Air-Conditior ed 
Jungle” on Anthony Parella’s 
schedule for the President, N. y. 

Former stage manager Tommy 
Ward will make his bow as a pro- 
ducer with George Groskritz’s 
“Genesis 1952,” for which Herbert 
L. Kncetcr will be general man- 
ager and David Lipsky pressagent 
. . . Company manager Paul Groll 
sailed Saturday (8) q,n a two- 
month vacation in Europe ... 
Barnet Biro has joined the touring 
“Mister Roberts” as assistant stag! 
manager. 

Gertrude Berg planning a plaj 
for presentation by the Theatre 
Guild next season. It won’t havek 
anything to do with her radio-TV, 
Goldbergs clan . . . Richard Skin*, 
ner left N. Y. Sunday (9), to bee 
company manager for the touring 
Dancers of Bali, which will be out 
till Xmas ... the 28-year-old 
Houston Little Theatre plans to 
close its 1952-53 season Nov. 20, 
due to financial losses. 




81 


Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


Duncan Pacting as Equity Em Sec 
Seen Easing Tension Among Staffers 


Anuointment of Angus Duncan* 
is permanent executive secretary' 
nf Actors Equity is expected to 
pice tension among the union's 
officers and staff. Situation has 
S een seething for many months, 
S nce the crisis culminating m 
Christopher O’Brien’s "resignation” 
as Coast representative -and Louis 
ill Simon’s subsequent exit as ex- 
ecutive secretary. 

Council reportedly ignored the 
recommendation of its personnel 
committee in giving Duncan the 
full exec-sec post, which he had 
been holding on an interim basis. 
The committee, headed by Donald 
Cook, is understood to have made 
a three-part recommendation call- 
ing for the appointment of John 
Effrat as exec-sec, Newbold Morris 
as special assistant to president 
Ralph Bellamy and the "elimina- 
tion” of an undisclosed staff posi- 

^ The turndown of the committee 
recommendation, besides constitut- 
ing a vote of confidence for Dun- 
can, apparently represents a defeat 
for Bellamy as well as the commit- 
tee. The union president is under- 
stood to have strongly favored 
naming Morris as his special 
assistant on a permanent basis and 
to have proposed Effrat for the 
exec-sec post. However, Bellamy 
left 'on vacation last Friday (7), so 
was not present at the special 
council meeting Monday (10) when 
the Duncan appointment was 
voted. 

Payroll Problem 
The committee’s recommenda- 
tion that Morris be made special 
assistant to the president, coupled 
with the proposed "elimination” of 
one executive post, was offered as 
a move to streamline Ithe union 
staff. However, it would probably 
(Continued on page 84) 


Golden, Cullman in Clash 
On Legit’s Ills; Producer 
Decries Fault-Finding 

Howard Cullman and John 
Golden disagree with each other 
on the ills of legit in the letter-bag 
of last week’s (8) issue of Saturday 
Review. Answering producer 
Golden’s previously-stated argu- 
ment that what the theatre prima- 
rily needs is good plays, theatre 
owner Cullman says: 

"There are many factors influ- 
encing people away instead of to 
the theatre. One factor is the un- 
availability of tickets in good loca- 
tions at boxoffice prices which 
somehow or other have found their 
way into black markets. Why are 
not good locations available at box- 
office prices, and what excuse is 
there for any theatre owner to take 
for his own account 20,000 house 
seats a year for his so-called 
friends? 

"I do not believe producers 
should pay for central ticket offices. 
As one interested in operating the 
Alvin Theatre, I would be glad, 
with the other theatre owners in 
New York, to underwrite $5,000 a 
y ?ar for the more equitable and 
fciir distribution of theatre tickets 
t(f i^e general public, which I think 
could be accomplished without in 
any way hurting the legitimate 
brokers who serve a useful purpose 
for both visiting firemen and 
others. 

u Tenement House 
. ‘The privilege of smoking except 
m the auditorium and having bars 
|s a factor which, in my opinion, 
hap helped the London theatre. 
Where comfort of the patrons has 
(Continued on page 84) 

MIDWEST SMALL TOWN 
LEGIT CIRCUIT MAPPED 

Minneapolis, Nov. 11. 

James Nederlander, manager of 
the Lyceum, local legit house, is 
organizing a circuit of the terri- 
orys small towns to play touring 
shows for the first time, 
included so far are Duluth, 


"Dn t — AWJL ttJLC juuiuui, 

Rochester and Bemidji, Minn., and 
„ 5 r T osse ' Wis - In Duluth, Bemidji 
l LaCrosse the attractions will 
° use( * * n Lhfc In£h school audi- 
tvm 1 »? s ‘ In Rochester they’ll play 
■Mayo Civic Auditorium. 

all in Clr ,® uit wi H available for 

save v ra ^ ctl ? ns care to play it, 
^ Nederlander, who believes the 

aW° nal M tlme for the legit here- 

ceS Wl i 1 im P r °ve his own Ly- 
ceum s outlook. 


Julie Wilson Scores As 
Martin Lopdon ‘SP’ Sub 

London, Nov. 11. 

Singer Julie Wilson took over 
Mary Martin’s lead role in "South 
Pacific” at the Drury Lane here 
Monday night (10), to get an ova- 
tion from an SRO celebrity-filled 
audience and kudos from most of 
the critics. "There’s hardly a thin 
dime to choose between Miss Wil- 
son and Miss Martin,” said the 
News Chronicle. Daily Telegraph 
pbinted out that Miss Wilson didn’t 
try to ape Miss Martin, but relied 
On her own "tactful blend of grace 
and charm.” 

Miss Martin, who played the Nel- 
lie Forbush part here for about a 
year since the show preemed, is 
returning to the U. S. tomorrow 
(Wed.). 


Odd Union Status 
On ‘Ladies’ Tour 


*"Good Nite, Ladies,” Jules Pfeif- 
fer-Dan Goldberg touring comedy 
production, reportedly has a novel 
status in relation to stage unions. 
Show has an Equity cast, but uses 
union stagehands and musicians in 
only some of its engagements, and 
has no union company manager or 
pressagent. 

Situation has been the subject 
of several discussions at meetings 
of the Fact Finding Committee of 
the various craft unions. However, 
the union reps have been unable to 
figure any way to bring the show 
under full union status, so it’s con- 
tinuing without interference. It’s 
understood that the stagehands’ 
union permits the production to 
use non-union grips in non-union 
audioriums, halls, etc., but requires 
the employment of IATSE mem- 
bers for stands at regular legit 
houses. 

Although the cast of the show is 
said to be full Equity, the thespers’ 
union hasn’t been officially notified 
of reports that actors are doubling 
as stagehands in some locations, 
and is taking no formal notice of 
that aspect of the situation. Equity 
officials apparently figure that the 
operation is working on such a slim 
margin that strict enforcement of 
union regulations might force it to 
fold. 

Meanwhile, the production travels 
by bus and truck, thereby elimi- 
nating transfer charges and the 
need for employing union labor at 
various stops. Pfeiffer and Gold- 
berg reportedly handle the com- 
pany manager and pressagent as- 
signments themselves. 


K.C. STARLIGHT PREPS 
10-PLAY ’53 SEASON 

Kansas City, Nov. 11. 

Starlight Theatre Assn, will kick 
off the 1953 al fresco season (its 
third) in Swope Park with a 10- 
play series beginning June 22: 
Opener will be "The Student 
Prince,” and schedule tentatively 
includes "Wizard of Oz,” "The 
Merry Widow,” "Bloomer Girl,” 
"On Your Toes,” "Up in Central 
Park,” "New Moon,” "Kiss Me 
Kate,” "Blossom Time” and "Annie 
Get Your Gun.” Last play will 
run two weeks, with one week each 
for the others. 

Herbert H. Wilson, president of 
the Emery Bird Thayer Co. (de- 
partment store), was elected presi- 
dent . of the association. He suc- 
ceeds John A. Moore, realtor, who 
headed the organization for its first 
two years. 

Other officers include Henry J. 
Massman, Sr., and William N. Dera- 
mus, vice-presidents; Crosby Kem- 
pex\ re-elected treasurer, and Cliff 
Jones, Jr., re-elected secretary. 
Richard H. Brger again will be pro- 
duction director for his third 
straight year. 

William M. Symon, business 
manager, said total attendance for 
the 1952 season was 440,000, about 
75% of the theatre's seating ca- 
pacity (7,500 seats). The organi- 
zation acquired a surplus of $35,- 
000 by putting aside 5c on each 
seat sold, and this will be used as a 
fund for maintenance and improve- 
ments. 


Ballet Theatre Set For 
7-Month Europe Tour 

Ballet Theatre, last in Europe 
two years ago, will return for a 
seven-month engagement in spring, 
summer and fall of 1953. 

Troupe will open at San Carlo 
. Opera House, Naples, May 4. It 
! will lour Europe till late Novem- 
. bcr. U. S. Slate Dept, is expected 
to help sponsor the tour, as it did 
in 1950. Troupe of 60 will appear 
■ in London, Paris, Zurich, Rome 
, and in festival appearances in Ed- 
j inburgh, Holland, Florence, Venice 
and Berlin. 


'Sin Sub for Vye 
To Get Equity 0.0. 

New Haven, Nov. 11. 

Circumstances surrounding the 
replacement of Murvyn Vye two 
days before the opening of "Rise 
By Sin” at the Shubert here last 
week indicate a hassle that, pre- 
sumably, will require Equity a^ 
tion for settlement. 

A statement from the play’s pro- 
ducers, Trudi Michel and Her- 
bert L. Berger, implies that Vye 
was not well enough to continue 
with rehearsals and in order to 
protect their investors, as well as 
other members of the cast, it was 
necessary to replace the actor so 
that the play could open as sched- 
uled. 

Producers claim they offered a 
settlement to Vye, who has a run- 
of-play contract, but that the offer 
was rejected. 

Vye was in the audience at 
Thursday night’s (6) premiere and 
whep approached for a statement 
on his version of the incident re- 
marked that he had no comment 
to make until the matter comes up 
before Equity. 

• Stephen Elliott, who took over 
at short notice, got up in the part 
in time for the preem and drew 
considerable favorable comment 
on the accomplishment. 

There were no boxoffice requests 
for refunds as a result of the cast 
change. 


Case of Too Many Wills 
As Conn. Court Unwinds 
Estate of Playwright 

Washington, Conn,, Nov. 11. 

Although playwright Leroy Cle- 
mens assertedly wrote three wills, 
none was valid, according to a de- 
cision handed down in Probate 
Court here. Ruling terminated a 
hot contest over which will, if any, 
should be admitted to probate. 
Hearings on the case began Feb. 28. 
Estate is believed to have a value 
of about $100,000. 

Clemens, who wrote such plays 
as "Aloma of the South Seas” and 
“Alias the Deacon,” died in St. Pe- 
tersburg, Fla., Dec. 18, 1951, at the 
age of 63. His legal' residence was 
New Preston, Conn., where he 
lived on a farm. Letters of admin- 
istration were granted Burl R. 
Vestal last Feb. 14 by the local 
Probate Court. But a week later 
Elizabeth Miele, play producer and 
television writer, filed a paper pur- 
porting to be Clemens’ last will. 

Document submitted by Miss 
Miele allegedly was drawn up on 
Oct. 1, 1944, at Coleman’s Station, 
N. Y. She was beneficiary to the 
extent of a cash bequest of $5,000. 
Vestal, through attorney Jerome F. 
P. Tobin, contended that will was 
not valid since Clemens made a 
later will at Hot Springs, Ark., on 
April 28, 1947. However, this in- 
strument was revoked when Cle- 
mens executed still another will 
April 28, 1949, at New Preston. 

Curiously, the New Preston will 
could not be admitted to probate 
(Continued on page 84) 

New 'Ear’ Road Edition 
Propped for Coast Bow 

Hollywood, Nov. 11. 

Jack Present will produce on the 
Coast a road edition of "Lend an 
Ear,” bowing here around the first 
of the year. Revue originally de- 
buted here, and ran 29 weeks at 
the 400-seat Las Palmas before go- 
ing to Broadway. 

Deal for a new company, which 
may feature some members of the 
original cast, was finalized over the 
weekend between author Charles 
Gaynor and Harry Zevin, Present’s 
associate in the east 


LEGITIMATE 

J) ■■ ■ ■ ■ II I 


Equity Pressuring Mgrs. on Rule 
Vs. Blacklisting; Matter Up in Air 


Hurok Dinner-Concert 
To Aid Israeli Fund | 

Spyros P. Skouras is heading a 
list of sponsors as chairman for a 
dinner-concert to be given at the 
Waldorf, N. Y., Jan. 8, in honor 
of impresario Sol Hurok. Event 
will be a benefit for the American 
Fund for Israel Institutions. 

Artists participating will include 
Ezio Pinza, Roberta Peters, Jan 
Peerce, Tamara Toumanova, and 
the Philadelphia Orchestra under 
Leonard Bernstein. (Several of the 
above artists took part in the re- 
cently-filmed biog of Hurok, "To- 
night We Sing,” which 20th-Fox 
will release). 


Settle ‘Broadway’ 
Plagiarism Suit 

Plagiarism suit brought by 
George Abbott and Philip Dun- 
ning, authors of the legit play, 

"Broadway,” against radio pack- 
age producer Himan Brown and 
WOR-Mutual over a broadcast 
titled "Time Step” on the "Inter- 
national Airport” series has been 
settled out of court on payment 
of $4,000 to the plaintiffs. Case 
was to have been heard before 
Judge Vincent Leibell in N. Y. 
Federal Court. 

The authors claimed that the 
radio script, written by Ed Adam- 
son, was an almost exact para- 
phrase of their play, a Broadway 
hit of 1926-27. Suit charged that 
the basic idea, principal characters, 
background and setting, general 
plot, complications, sequence of 
events and even incidental details 
were identical, with merely the 
names of characters changed. De- 
fendants denied the allegations, 
Adamson asserting his script was 
original and that he had never 
seen or read "Broadway.” 

When the radio show was first 
done in 1949 over the Mutual net- 
work, Abbott and Dunning didn’t 
hear it, but were subsequently told 
by various friends of its remark- 
able similarity to their legit play. 
They made a point of listening to 
the rebroadcast a few days later 
on WOR, New York, and arrang- 
ing to have it recorded off the air. 
An angle of the resultant plagiar- 
ism action was that the bonding 
company that insured the network 
refused to defend Brown or Adam- 
son, on the ground that they were 
independent contractors and were 
not covered by the policy. How- 
ever, they brought action as part 
of .the Abbott-Dunning suit to 
force the company to cover them. 

Under the 1909 copyright law 
the damages might have been mul- 
tiplied by the number -of stations 
carrying the program, but also 
might have been limited to as 
little as $250. For that reason and 
to establish the rights in the case, 
Abbott and Dunning accepted the 
$4,000 settlement. 

Edward E. Colton was the law- 
yer for the plaintiffs, and- Coudert 
Bros, represented WOR-Mutual and 
Brown. 


‘WAGON’ YAMPING EAST 
WHILE WAITING CHI BID 

With no suitable theatre avail- 
able in Chicago for the immediate 
future, the touring edition of 
"Paint Your Wagon,” with Burl 
Ives as star, has been booked into 
key eastern cities through next 
Jan. 3. Producers John Yorke and 
Wolfe Kaufman hope that by that 
time the situation will have cleared 
up in Chicago so they can ipove 
the Alan Jay Lerner-Frederick 
Loewe musical there. 

The show, currently playing the ; 
Taft, Cincinnati, goes next week 
to the Nixon, Pittsburgh, then has 
two-week stands at the Gayety- 
Shubert, Washington; the Forrest, 
Philly, and probably the Colonial, 
Boston. The latter two engage- 
ments are repeats, as the tuner 
played both towns during its origi-* 
nal tryout tour last fall. 


Under the goading of repeated 
resolutions of its membership, Ac- 
tors Equity has been pressuring 
the League of N. Y. Theatres for 
a stiff rule against blacklisting in 
legit casting, but has been unable- 
to resolve its own problem of word- 
ing a statement on the question. 
Entire matter remains indecisive. 

Although the League has en- 
dorsed the idea of condemning 
blacklisting on political grounds 
and, in fact, made the original 
proposal that a joint producer- 
union statement be adopted on the 
subject, its representatives have 
refused Equity’s demand for an 
enforceable rule on the matter. 
They claim that few, if any, actual 
cases of blacklisting could be 
proved. Also, they argue that pro- 
ducers should not be forced to 
engage anyone actually guilty of 
subversive activity. 

For example, one prominent 
League official says that he would 
willingly hire any actor presuma- 
bly innocent of disloyalty charges 
and would favor joint League- 
Equity action to support anyone 
blacklisted on unproven accusa- 
tions. But he asserts tflat he 
would personally not hire anyone 
who had defied a Congressional 
committee or an authorized Gov- 
ernment agency, and he would 
never agree to any rule requiring 
other producers to do so. 

On the matter of wording a 
statement against blacklisting, the 
Equity council is understood to 
have, been stalling a decision 
pending the outcome of the recent 
Presidential election, in the hope 
that the vote might indicate the 
direction of public sentiment on 
the question. However, the union’s 
governing body is believed to dis- 
approve in general of the latest 
resolution passed at a recent mem- 
bership meeting. 

That statement not only con- 
demned blacklisting in general but 
criticised the tactics and conclu- 
sions of Congressional committees 
in Royalty investigations. That res- 
olution was stronger than several 
previous ones adopted at member- 
ship meetings but not subsequent- 
ly approved by council. 

Although blacklisting is re- 
portedly extensive and steadily In- 
creasing in television-radio and 
pictures, there have been no overt 
instances in legit as yet. There 
have been several rumored cases, 
however, and some instances of 
picketing shows with which sus- 
pected leftist figures were associ- 
ated. On the other hand, as far as 
is known, no actor who has refused 
to answer Congressional commit- 
tee questions has subsequently 
been engaged for a Broadway or 
touring production. 

B’way Mgrs. Mull Nixing 
Election Night Showings 
Due to Sad ’52 Boxoffice 

On the basis of very poor at- 
tendance on Broadway last Tues- 
day night (4), legit producers are 
mulling the idea of cancelling that 
performance in favor of a Sunday 
night show on Election Day four 
years hence. The unusual intensity 
of the Presidential race, plus the 
fact that television was a major 
factor In the campaign for the 
first time, fs blamed for the ter- 
rible Election Night business this 
year. 

According to managers, boxoffice 
men and brokers, receipts- that 
night were the worst in many 
years, even Including that for the 
record-breaking blizzard the night 
after Christmas in 1947. In the 
cases of several established hits, 
blocks of tickets were given to 
service men to obtain large enough 
audiences to giye acceptable per- 
formances. Only shows with the- 
atre parties and/or large advance 
sales had sellout or even near-sell- 
out houses. 

However, "My Darlin* Alda,” 
which had cancelled the Election 
Night performance, substituted a 
soldout theatre party the previous 
Sunday night (2), and thereby 
cleaned up on the arrangement. 
So other managements are already 
figuring on making a similar 
switch for next Presidential elec- 
tion, in 1950. It’s figured that the 
off-year elections before then will 
have relatively little effect on the 
b.o. 



82 


xjRcarroiATB 


PSxsffift 


.Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


Plays Out of Town 


Time Out lor Ginger 

Wilmington, Nov. 7. 


gives him no yocks; however, 
payees listen and laugh at his 
throwaways and asides. 

Capable support is given by re- 
turnees from Theatre '51. Edwin 


Plays on Broadway 


having an affair with Ben Gaunt, -------- w . n „ • MlWaHv 

powerful political bigwig whom Whitner as King Willy is suitably 

Shepard Trau^be and" Gordon PoUock Julie, unknown to Ives, was using ^^"^5 e ^ is tr^ rd countess^ ^ Olga! 
fln association with Don Hcrshey) pro- to further her husband’s career, upon nls mistress, ^ounyess wiga, 
duction of comedy in three acts, (four Arhinllv for vears Julie had played by Norma Winters, a tavor- 

procur/devery upward step of her s e iToTeV sports 

and lighting, Eldon Eider; costume con- husband by the familiar practice of Mary Dell Kooerts, a looiter, spores 
sultant, Virginia Volland. At Playhouse, UpiAg familiar with the right con- coiffure and low-cut gowns on a 
Sr 8lon '. N< ;r'.. 6 ’.:“?: SMsrpont UcS? asulXonof whfch Ives was neat chassis as Gloria former film 
Agnes Carol ............. Polly Rowles unaware. XQar .^ es 

Howard Carol Meiyyn Douglas q«t, m takes an unexpected turn Charles Braswell, as the People s 

wh S en tU Adam'Bannertre shadmv. Party leader, Stro^; Norman How- 

Ginger Nancy Malone fgHg for Julie and, by threatening ard, as the archbishop, ana Jo»m 

Eddie Davis ..Conrad Janis . exnose' her to her husband, Munson, as the court marshal, 

i!irTn S on '::::::::::::. L T„U ob ^o3 MaSfls her into an affaff with capably’ handle dialog bits. New- 

Ed Johnson Philip Loeb him. comer George Russell, as U. &. 

. . Julie connives to have Gaunt ambassador, adds dignity and pol- 

Constructed for laugmng pur- m ake Ives the next attorney gen- ish to a role revealmg his love for 
poses only, this new comedy by era j ( but before the election takes liquor and jive times. x 

Ronald Alexander succeeds pleas- p i aC e t Banner demands that Julie To cavil about author Connell’s 
antly in its mission. With the aid divorce Ives and marry him. From effort would be to question his re- 
of an ingratiating cast, ^ Ginger a political angle, the situation be- dundancies in using American 
should do okay on Broadway and co mes untenable with Gaunt and slang. Too often his lines prove he 
shapes up as Ideal material for be attempts to brush Banner out isn’t hep t Disregarding such dialog 
films. , of the picture. It doesn’t work and frailties, his script is amusing 

The play starts slowly but builds an overall showdown discloses the throughout 
through several hilarious scenes to rea l status to Ives. Single relav setting is eleeantlv 

one of th(>se gay but lump-in-the- After leaving Julie; Ives at- f urn ifhed, until Joey takes 8 over 

tempts, unsuccessfully, to kill and it becomes a modem biz office, 
a flair for sparkling dialog, while Banner but later returns to his Costuming by Dale Clement, of 
his characters emerge as likeable w if e f or a reconciliation. In a both king’s servants and ca'st in 
individuals rather than stage pup- desperate attempt to step aside for mo dem dress, is authentic and col- 
pets. , . Ives’ benefit, Julie phones Banner Bark 

- The plot has to do with the pro- an d offers to go to him. Overhear- 
gressive-minded father of three i n g the conversation, Ives mis- 

attractive teenagers. His difficul- interprets her motive and strangles HI aid lit th© Ozarks 

ties start when he makes a speech ber. Curtain finds Julie dead, Ives Philadelphia Nov 3. 

at school on manners, subscribing indicted for her murder, and John Ken iey production of drama in 
to the theory that everyone should Banner about to be bumped off by three acts by Claire Parrish, stars Bert 
have complete freedom of _ choice a mobster whose hatred he had I'^adeipWa. Nov. 3 %% $2 

m doing or not doing things. The aroused. top. 

students take the advice literally, Louise Allbritton makes a capital Gram Calhoun . Kay Hart 

with the result his tomboy daugh- juii e . Featuring the feminine Mohawk lhoun * T a es»e P Cutier 

ter, Ginger, decides to try out for qualities that make her appeal to Bart Calvert * ‘ *.’.**. *.*. Brad oison 

the football team. men believable, she adds to this Lydia Tolliver .•••— An n _ Sor £ 

The complications arising from physical asset an acting skill that Fr^clfs Quiver .' .* . Ann Vaughn 

her screwball sports career and its a mply fills the bill. Opposite her, cypress Young Bert Wheeler 

effect on her family ' comprise the Stephen Elliott, replacing Murvyn Amy Young Jen Jones 

rest of the play. However the in- Vye two days befdre opening, does Mi„ y Bieacker ' * .* .' .' .* .' .’ .' ,* Duicfe Cooper 

dividual scenes nng the bell and an outstanding job as Banner, hav- 

give this one the lift needed to i n g completely caught the spirit of philly had never seen this much- 
overcome plot limitations. • the role in unusually short time. publicized theatrical item until it 

■ produc^rs-hfiv© provided, fl- • Bobcrt ■C&rr^ll bouEW8d iistfr town &r a. two 

blue-ribbon cast, directed with a terpretation of Ives and Lawrence weeks’ stay with a pop-priced scale 
good sense, of timing by Shepard Fletcher adds considerable thesp- ($2 top) at the indie Erlanger. 
Traube, the latter also one of the ing ability as the political boss. Lawrence Shubert Lawrence and 
producers. The role of the modern Kem Dibbs, as Fletcher’s mobster william Goldman, who control the 
father fits Melvyn Douglas like the bodyguard, is effective in a minor house, did very well back in early 
proverbial glove and he responds role. . , September with another quickie — 

with a delightful performance. His with action - shifting back and “Good Nite Ladies” — which turned 
second act recital of his daughter forth between a dead end street on i n a neatly profitable four weeks’ 
scoring a touchdown is a comedy the East Riyer and the Ives home, trick in what amounted to its third 
gem. Tolly Rowles is a perfect foil two atmospheric sets point up i 0C al appearance, 
for the star as the patient, under- these locales in good fashion. “Maid in th* nr»rkc ” nev^r c P p n 

Standing wife who can hold fcer Play’s title is taken from the her f b e fore but mSch talked abou? 
own in the repartee division. v lines “Some rise by sin, some by 

Additional cast interest is pro- virtue fall,” from Shakespeare's YJJ lives evervIndStion of doing 
rqfWWm “Measure for^Measure.” Bone. 

g£Ht “ witfvem* Her Goodbye, Your Majesty for an additional week or two. 
transition from tombov to normal Dallas, Nov. 4. No matter how you look at it, 

U Theatre *52 production of comedy in this Claire Parrish hillbillv ram- 

girlhood IS both graceful and three acts (slx Scenes) by Vivian Connell. ™1S S* ai J. e , 

touching. Features Rex Everhart. Directed by Ram- page IS Strictly Corn and if it IS 

ivrnrv Hartitf and Lois Smith sey Burch. Technical direction. James not, as some critics remarked, “the 

mary xiareis «nu juu^a oiiulii p lnJ?lc . S(Jt and costumes, Dale Clement. w ’ t „i flV in th*» wftr id ” it ieemc 

artrav the other sisters, the latter At *>w>. Nov a. * 5 2 : * 2.50 worst piay m tne worm, _ it seems 


The Deeji Blue Sea 

Alfred de Liagre, Jr., and John C. 
Wilson production of drama In three 
acts by Terence Rattigan. 
garet Sullavan; features Alan Webb, 
James Hanley. Herbert Berghof. Di- 
rected by Frith Banbury; scenery and 
lighting, Charles Elson. At Morocco, 
N. Y.,Nov. 5. '52; $4.80 top ($0 Friday. 
Saturlay nights; 57.20 opening). 

Mrf'EUon 11 ^" V.^eUy S S incla2 

M?" Miller Herbe Il«^ e ^bb 

William CoUyer V nluv 

Frederick Page James Hanley 

Jackie Jackson., Felix Deebanx 


close to it. The only angle that is 


_ . if .i7 rrmKiv set »uu uuotumco, vagiuvui.. 

portray the other sistca^, the latter At Theatre '52, Dallas, Nov. 3 , '52; $ 2.50 

especially scoring as a stagestruck top. _ . . ., . . i. - .. 

kid. Laura Plerpont brings acting W‘Uy ln E SL"rie7 o «" to be considered is the unexpected 

authority to the part of family v.fet . . . .' a?bo" addition of Bert Wheeler, as star, 

maid and Philip Loeb has two Baron Slick Bob MuUen playing the role of the lecherous 

amusing scenes a? the banker boss, — o- ^ ypress Yoreng. A fine trouper 

Roland Wood is effective in a brief Prime MinSter Dick Eweii always, Wheeler does a grand job, 

aDDearance as an outraged school Countess oiga Norma winters and for good measure and* since 

principal, and Conrad Janis and §*$“ g2w*pJ , itSS5 actual running time of _the play 

Larry Robinson as effervescent strog Charles Braswell t®. skimpy, he does a 10-minute 

tppn-n^erf round out the fine cast u. s. Ambassador George Russeu stint at the end of the evening 

1 Eldon EIder ? s single UvTng- *SSSS& . Nor 1fi? S, 0 ^ whi S h “fs a lot of U. familiar 

room setting is in excellent taste Helene Lita Brunstein vaude routines and is immensely 

and Virginia Volland rates a nod funny, especially when he sapi 


for the costuming. 


Klep. 


Rise by Sin 

New Haven, Nov. 0. 


Margo Jones, opening her sev- ently remarks that this play (“Maid 
enth season of .theatre-ih-the-round in the Ozarks”" will never get on 
in Dallas, bears out her promise television. 

of better ‘ scripts for Theatre ’52. Producer John Keniey, who was 
„ a. a , t. Staging of “Goodbye, Your Maj- induced into this managerial ven- 
prTductior? C of el dr*ama esty” new three-Rct comedy by ^f n *>y.}he success it achieved I in 
scenes) by Scott Michei; Feati^es Lodise Insh-English author Vivian Con- Barnesville, Pa., as a strawhatter 
Allbritton, Stephen Elliott, Robert Car- n ell, whose “Throng. O’Scarlet” last summer, has done well enough 

bSt'Brodkfm ^ttira.' r cSSSl u«h?S was a preem hit here^at Theatre by « to casting all the way along 
by Paul Morrison. At Shubert, New ’47; is a hefty crowd pleaser. If un- the line, although the rest of the 
Haven, Nov. 6, '52; $ 3.00 top. rigged play is in for three weeks boys and girls don’t stack up be- 

m • successful new SO- Side areal artist Uke Wheeler. On 

Julie Ives : .. Louise Allbritton week season for Miss Jones. right side of the ledger are 

Ben Gaunt Lawrence Fletcher A„nrinti* dir^rtor Ramsev Bureh Ahn Sor £ and Ann Vaughn as the 

Sn ? ith — Ken v Dlbba tai^3 S sdjli^cast^ throifgh^a romp Tolliver sisters and Wally Perkins 

This new drama by Scott Michel, in the tiny, mythical European u£?nh?Mtedc^ 
product of a year and a half of kingdom of Balkonia, outdated and uninhibited Calhoun boys. 

scrivening labor, has a number of dependent upon Marshall Plan enically the production is 
things to recommend it. Trouble money for present-day livelihood, (and admittedly) sketchy but that 
is, the recommendations add up Comedy’s plot concerns bachelor aoesnt make any difference in a 
merely to good, not standout, stage king Willy, Who leans on tradi- raucous contraption 

fare and maybe that just won't be tional pomp, has a mistress and a like this. The important factor to 
enough. fear of horses. In royal parades his be considered is that “Maid in the 

Story is interesting, cast is good, double, Captain Zoltan,. fills the £? zar ks’ had its audience at the 
staging offers some tense scenes— saddle. Latter is killed by an anar- first night howlmg and has been 
but overall impression is of an chist. J™ n i|. a sheckles in at the 

extended one-tacter rather than a King Willy has to go into hiding, boxoffice ever since. Waters. 

full-length play. Another 15 min- Brother Joey, 20-year-old fat boy, 
iutes, on a quality par with what becomes king. Indolent, sloppily <np Q i.:x;> iw--;™. 

vast dressed, and with a fetish for pep- I &Hltl Jr P6V16W U61l6lit 


For Composers League 


is displayed, could make a 

difference here. permints, jazz and Hollywood pix, 

Author has shown a talent for .Joey reverses form. Sans crown 
writing, and director has shown a and royal robes, Joey utilizes mod- The League of Composers is 
talent for staging, taut scenes, em biz machines in putting his presenting a benefit preview of 
Perhaps one of the things that subjects to work. In three months Leonard Bernstein’s short opera, 
propels this one through to an he has a hew People’s Party tilling “Trouble in Tahiti,” Friday night 
early curtain is the jet speed of royal acreage, and sets up a self- (14) at home of Mr. and Mrs. Carle- 
much of its dialog and action, supporting kingdom. .ton Palmer River House N Y 

There s rapid-fire wordage punc- Disregarding protocol in meting Opus is getting its air Dreem Sun 
tuatmg this script and little time out affairs of state, Joey shares his day / 16) g bv f he NBC P TV m One?n 
is wasted m lost motion. bourbon and boogie waxings with T he nt re nnd 

Built around the theme of a the U. S. ambassador in promoting w } 1 \ par 7 

woman whose ambition for her a huge loan for hydroelectric plants 7r, cip , ■^ r ^ a y * with Bernstein at 
husband’s success ultimately leads for Bhlkonia, and also arranges , 9* 

to the destruction of three people, for a king to marry a commoner. Work had a stage presentation, 
story opens with Anthony Ives, up- Rex Everhart, as Joey,- scores * n world preem, last spring at 
ajid-coming lawyer, hiring an heavily ih his debut here. His tim- the Brandeis U. Arts Festival at 
amateur private eye to track down ing, confident delivery and stage Waltham, Mass. Opera has been 
a rumor that his wife, Julie, was presence rate attention. Script slightly revised since then. 


This is turning into another sea- 
son of notable femme perform- 
ances. Latest to join the distin- 
guished ' p'arade is Margaret Sulla- 
van, returning to the Broadway 
stage for the first time since “The 
Voice of the Turtle,” in 1943-44. 

“Deep Blue Sea” turns out to be 
fairly heavy going. A drama of 
feminine, character, it seems a bit 
static and weighty for widespread 
popularity, although it should have 
some femme appeal. Its intensive 
theatre party bookings and a re- 
portedly large advance sale should 
carry it for a couple of months or 
so, but after that it is likely to 
depend on Miss Sullavan’s personal 
draw. 

This is another Rattigan play 
somewhat suggestive of Pinero, not 
only in its careful, knowing con- 
struction- as a “well-made” play, 
but in its apparent artificiality and 
emotional flavor. It is a drama 
about a woman with a romantic 
obsession about love. Its heroine 
is unable or unwilling to compro- 
mise with love; a woman whose de- 
termination to have what she wants 
has become virtually a fixation. 

Married to a successful but 
middle-aged peer who failed to 
meet her romantic standard, she 
has left him to live with a care- 
free, intellectually and emotionally 
adolescent young ex-RAF flyer and 
test pilot. At the opening' curtain, 
he has also failed to satisfy her 
ideas of passionate devotion, and 
she has * attempted suicide. 

The rest of the fairly perceptive 
and intense but somewhat slow 
drama shows her futile attempts 
to hold her irresponsible lover, her 
repeated refusals to return to her 
husband and, at the final curtain, 
her apparent acceptance of the 
possibility of living not necessarily 
on her own terms. 

Miss Sullavan, made up to look 
older, rather plain and in a couple 
of scenes positively dowdy, still 
seems a bit attractive for the role 
of an unwanted dame. But she 
gives a smouldering performance 
that has conviction and style (with 
few of the familiar Sullavan man- 
nerisms), that builds to an impres- 
sive, sti>ring peak. 

London actor Alan Webb, who 
has previously scored in New York 
in such diverse parts as the in- 
domitable father in Rattigan’s ex- 
cellent “Winslow Boy” and the 
hilarious spouse in the dismal 
“Nina,” gives such credibility and 
dimension to the role of the de- 
serted husband that he makes the 
heroine’s illicit affair seem just a 
little unbelievable. British film- 
legit actor James Hanley makes 
the lightweight lover something 
of a perennial juvenile. 

Herbert Berghof is plausible and 
moving as a de-licensed doctor who 
has learned to “live without hope.” 
There are also acceptable support- 
portrayals by Betty Sinclair as a 
kindly landlady, John Merlvale as 
a pompous neighbor, Stella An- 
drew as his worried wife and Felix 
Deebank as the young lover’s em- 
barrassed friend. 

Frith Banbury, who directed the 
original . London production star- 
ring Peggy Ashcroft, has repeated 
the somewhat studied treatment 
here and Charles Elson has sup- 

mi.n d f SSi effect ! vel y dingy apart 
ment setting. Hobe, 

The Climate of Eden 

H yntan Sc Bernard Hart 
hv d M Ct on u o( . comedy-drama in two acts 
by Moss Hart, based on Edgar Mittel- 
i? ov . e l» "Shadows Move Among 
t> ^ ea * ures _ J ohn Cromwell, Isobol 
Elsom, Penelope Munday, Lee Montague, 
Rosemary Harris. Directed by Hart: 

RnSh , Frcd ° rIck Fox; lighting. Jean 
Rosenthal; costumes, Kenn Barr; inci- 

BeoV 1 v C ‘ £ rudC o Bataan. At Martin 

Sh?.\, N c T” ^ Nov * , 6 ‘ 52; t4 - Q0 to P <* 6 

nnv«o y ' Saturda F nights; $7.20 opening). 
Siv7 ia Penelope Munday 

S armson .....John Cromwell 

Mrs. Harmston Isobel Elsom 

rnrviw Rosehiary Harris 

r I2fS ry Hawke Lee Montague 

£?£ an Earle Hyman, 

Jano White 

KoJ?®# Leon Moore 

» a ive* : Tom Torrbsl. Charles Gordon. 

.Tamara Thompson. 
MUlie Daniels. Sheila Davis. 

Jackson en: CharlynJ0 w r’£ht, Michael 


topher Blake,” but not exactly a 
playgoer’s lark, either. 

The new play, based on Edgar 
Mittleholzer s novel, “Shadows 
Move Among Them,” seems likely 
to leave most audiences unsatis- 
fied; but may find a few ardent 
enthusiasts who will go Into rap- 
tures over it. With its obviously 
heavy, operating cost, lack of star 
draw and limited popular appeal 
it doesn’t seem long for the show- 
me world of Broadway. However 
there’s perhaps the basis for an 
unusual picture in it. 

“The Climate of Eden” is a 
sort of parable about the power of 
innocence and love. As a sinister 
character from the cynical outside 
world remarks during the course 
of his salvation under the benign 
influence, the purity of this happy 
family and un-selfconscious com- 
munity amounts to a kind of cli- 
mate of Eden. 

In the sort of psychiatric idiom 
in which Hart revels, the homi- 
cidal maniac visitor with a hate 
fixation achieves recovery in the 
angelic atmosphere of this amoral 
missionary family in the British 
Guiana jungle. Despite some color- 
ful and ingratiating scenes, the 
piece seems .to go around and 
around without quite focusing into 
coherent drama. 

But “Climate of Eden” contains 
some beautifully written parts 
which are eloquently played. John 
Cromwell has a beguiling simpli- 
city and honesty as the eccentric, 
wise and saintly missionary al- 
though his performance could 
stand more style and forcefulness. 
There is a striking portrayal by 
British actress Penelope Munday 
in the difficult role of a discon- 
certingly perceptive, talkative 
teenager, a part not dissimilar to 
young Frankie in “Member of the 
Wedding” (and Miss Munday is 
reminiscent of Julie Harris in ap- 
pearance, voice and manner). An- 
other young English import, Rose- 
mary Harris, is a stunning looker 
who makes the most of an ap- 
pealing role. . 

Isobel Elsom is persuasive as a 
tranquil mother, Ray Stricklyn is 
acceptable as a teenage son and 
Jane White brings definition to 
the part of a native servant, but 
Ken Walken seems stilted as a 
self-conscious moppet. Lee Monta- 
gue, imported from London for 
the role of the crazed visitor with 
the irresistible fascination for the 
daughters of the household, seems 
miscast and stiff. 

Frederick Fox has designed a 
magnificently atmospheric multi- 
ple setting including a dining 
room, porch steps, two upstains 
bedrooms, a church interior andja 
village street. Kenn Barr’s cos - 
tumes are appropriate, Jean Rosen- 
thal has admirably arranged the 
difficult lighting and Trude RittJ- 
man’s incidental music supplied 
proper mood. 

In fact, nearly everything about 
“Climate of Eden” is outstanding, 
yet the net effect is somehow dis- 
appointing. Hobe, 

Iolantlie 

S. M. Chartock presentation of musical 
in two acts, libretto by W. S. -Gilbert, 
music by Arthur Sullivan. Features 
Martyn Green, Ella Halman, Frank 
Rogier, Joseph Macaulay. Staged by Char- 
tock. Musical director. Lehman Engel; 
sets Ralph Alswang; costumes Peggy 
Morrison; production consultant. Green. 
At Mark Hellinger Theatre, N. Y., N >v. 
10, '52. 

Leila Mary Roche 

Celia Audrey Dearc len 

Fleta : Eileen Mofan 

Fairy Queen Ella Halirtan 

Iolanthe Glynn Hill 

Strephon Frank Rogicr 

Phyllis Lillian Murphy 

Lord Chancellor Martyn Green 

Earl of Tolloler Earl William 

Earl of Mount Ararat .. Joseph Macaulay 

Private Willis Robert Eckles 

Fairies: Mary Louise Bcatie, ' Dolores 
DePuglia. Helen Dodyo, Grace Lang. 
Sheila Matthews, Shirley Pringle. Rita 
Schoen, Catherine Currie, Bonnie Gre- 
vatt, -Jan Newby, Athena Pappas, Gloria 
Sacks, Jeanne Schlcgcl, Helen Whit- 
field. 

Peers: Anthony- Ceraml, Vincent Henry. 
Don LaMon, Ray Morrissoy, Michael 
Rich. Ken Smith, Feodore Tedick, John 
Dorrin, Herbert Estrow, Radley Flynn, 
Roger Franklin, Irl Mowery, Bill Nuss, 
Stanley Propper, Chase Willard, Robert 
Driscoll. 


Moss Hart is being serious again. 
The author of “Lady In the Dark” 
and a string of hit Collaborations 
with George S. Kaufman has 
gone deadpan; not as solemn as in 
the case of the unfortunate “Chris- 


For the final offering in its four- 
week .repertory, the S. M. Chartock 
company of Savoyards is pre- 
senting a gay, lilting version of 
“Iolanthe.” The G Sc S tomp 
through fairyland and the British 
peerage is given a fine comic read- 
ing by- Martyn Green ana his well- 
cast aides. It’s an excellent bowout 
for the Chartock crew and augurs 
repeat repertory in this or future 
seasons. 1 

Green’s characterization of the 
wily Lord Chancellor sparks the 
production and though he domi- 
nates the stage, there’s plenty or 
opportunity for the other players 
to show to advantage. Glynn Hub 
for example, is properly poignant 
in the title role and' Ella Halman 
is effective as the stern but warm- 
hearted fairy queen. And Frank 
(Continued on page 84) 


^cJnes^ay? November 12, 1952 

Election Nips Chi Boxoffice; 

Dolls’ $37,900, ‘Poster’ $25,400 


PtlS&fflff 


UECIITDUTI 


83 


Chicago, Nov. 11. 

Theatres here .were sloughed 
net Monday and Tuesday by the 
ISrtion but started getting back 
W normal Wednesday. "Guys and 
Dolls” closed a 38-week run at the 
chnbert with a strong take. t*igi 
ooened Wednesday # (5) to good 
notices and good tosmess. “Four- 
ier” wasn’t affected by the elec- 
SSn grinding out. another sock 
week. “Stalag 17” is showing fine 
staving power. 

“Tree Grows in Brooklyn” opens 
at the Shubert today (Tues.), and 
the N Y. City Opera at the Opera 
•House starts a three-week run to- 
morrow Next entry will be “Top 
Hanana” at the Great Northern, 
Nov 24. "Country Girl" is due 
Dec 1 and “The Constant Wife” 
Dec* 26. Schedule for January is 
heavv with “Point of No Return,” 
“Call Me M^dam” and “The Male 
Animal” all inked for .theatres 

thCn Estimates for Last Week 

“Fourposter,” Blackstone (7th 
wk> '$4.20; 1,534). Solid $25,400 
for the week. 

“Gigi,” Harris ($4.40; 1,000). 

Bright $12,000 for first five per- 
formances. 

“Guys and Dolls,” Shubert (38th 
wk) '$6; 2.100). Closed Saturday 
(8) with fair $37,900. 

“Stalag 17,” Erlanger (11th wk) 
($4.40; 1,334). Doing well with 
$14,100. , 

‘COMPANY' POOR 14G; 
‘ROBERTS’ 20G, DETROIT 

Detroit,. Nov. 11. 

“Two’s Company,” starring 
Bette Davis, grossed a very poor 
$14,000 irt its third and final week 
at the Shubert here. Current at- 
traction is “Call Me Madam,” in 
for three weeks. 

The Cass grossed $20,000 with 
“Mr. Roberts.” Cass now is dark 
for two weeks, reopening Nov. 24 
with Katharine Cornell in “Con- 
stant Wife.” 


■f* 


‘Don Juan’ Smash $41,800 
For 7 in Four Dates 

Washington, Nov. 11. 

“Don Juan in Hell” shrugged off 
the election last week with a smash 
$41,800 gross for a seven-perform- 
ance split of four dates. String 
started Sunday (2) at the Music 
Hall, Detroit, and included the 
High School Auditorium, Kalma- 
zoo; University Auditorium, Ann 
Arbor, and Constitution Hall hfere. 
Take was a record $20,551 for the 
two shows here. 

Shaw piece, costarring Charles 
Boyer, Vincent Price, Cedric Hard- 
wire and Agnes Moorehead, is 
splitting this week between Balti- 
more. Richmond, Philadelphia and 
Allentown. 


‘Affairs’ $13,600 in Sixth; 
‘Farfel Follies’ 17G, LA. 

Los Angeles, Nov. 11, 
Weekend biz helped offset elec- 
tion time inroads last week and 
the town’s two offerings continued 
to register okay tallies. “Affairs 
of State” hit around $13,600 in its 
Slx i \ the Carthay Circle 

J™ . Fa . rfel Follies” grabbed $17,- 
000 in its third at the Biltmore. 
gaiter s stay was extended one 
e ® n and will end Saturday (15). 
, The Web and the Rock,” which 
Xif* d l ast , Tue sday (4) after a fort- 
K 11 at the 400-seat Las Palmas, 
ost around $2,500. Production 
grossed only $1,800 for the two 
weeks. 


‘Shrike’ 20i Balto 

rn,„ , Baltimore, Nov. 11. 

hi cT turned out for legit in a 

VaVxj^- 101 ’ 6 a &ain last week with 

inJ 1 i. n ln “The Shrike” mount- 

i m ^ ro . bust $ 20 >500 at Ford’s at 
a 3>«J.50 top, • 

Nnn 01 oT s ^ ow an °ther lapse until 
in Henry Fonda is due 

im? K°ci n , of , No Return,” and noth- 
n g listed after that. 

GirP 3- Way $9,900 for 6 

T n „ ■ °es Moines, Nov. .11. 
Girl ” g Production of “Country 
D an ’ ^starring Robert Young, 

coiddn'i^ ark and Nancy Kelly, 
teres/ 1 ^ c u m pcte with election in- 
w.ith a „ week and wound up 
Perfnwv, gross $9,900 in a six- 
Metrnmf? ce spread between the 
Then? r P o 0htan ’ , Seattle; Omaha 

Tl'Mlre' b?,” ' a “ d th ® ICRNT 

a Po?Is, W this a weeb LyCeUm * 

' ‘♦.l l \ 


Current Road Shows 

(Nov. 10-22) 

"Anonymous Lover” (Larry 
Parks, Betty Garrett) — Aud., Roch- 
ester (13-15); Her Majesty’s, Mont- 
real (17-22). 

“Bell, Book and Candle” (Joan 
Bennett, Zachary Scott) — Civic, 
New Orleans (8-15); Paramount, 
Baton Rouge <17-18); Robinson, 
Aud., Little Rock (19-20); Aud.„ 
Memphis (21-22). 

“Call Me Madam” — Shubert, 
Detroit (10-12), 

“Constant Wife” (Catharine Cor- 
nell, Robert Flemyng, John Emery) 
— Her Majesty’s, Montreal (10-15); 
Royale Alexandra, Toronto (17-22), 

“Country Girl” (Robert Young, 
Dane Clark, Nancy Kelly) — Lyce- 
um, Minneapolis <10-15); Davidson, 
Milwaukee (17-22). 

“Don Juan' In Hell” (Charles 
Boyer, Vincent Price, Cedric Hard- 
wickej Agnes Moorehead) — Lyric, 
Baltimore (10); Mosque, Richmond 
<11); Academy of Music, Phila- 
delphia (12-14); Rockne Hall, Allen- 
town, Pa. (15); Keith’s, White 
Plains, N. Y. (17); Rensselaer Poly- 
tech, Troy, N. Y. (18); Muny Aud., 
Springfield, Mass. (19); Shubert, 
New Haven (20-22). 

“Fourposter” (Jessica Tandy, 
Hume Cronyn) — Blackstone, Chi 
( 10 - 22 ). 

. “Gigi” (Audrey Hepburn) — 
Selwyn, Chi (10-15); Harris, Chi 
(17-22). 

Gilbert & Sullivan (American 
Savoyards) — Court Square, Spring- 
field, Mass. (10-11); Alumnae Hall, 
Wellesley, Mass. (12); - McCarter, 
Princeton (13); Mary Washington 
College, Fredricksburg, Va. (14); 
College Theatre, Greenville, N. C. 
(17); Armory, Charlotte (18); Me- 
morial Aud., Spartanburg, S. C. 

(19) ; Field House; Clemson, S. C. 

(20) ; Civic Aud., Kingsport, Tenn. 
(22). 

Gilbert & Sullivan (Chartock) — 
Shubert, Phila. (17-22). 

“Good Nite Ladies” — Majestic, 
Boston (17-22), 

“Guys and Dolls” — Wisconsin, 
Milwaukee (10-22). 

“I Am a Camera” (Julie Harris) 
— American, St. Louis (10-15); 
Orpheum, Davenport (17); Iowa, 
Cedar Rapids (18); Paramount, 
Omaha (19); KRNT Theatre, Des 
Moines (20); Capitol, Salt Lake City 
(22). 

“I’ve Got Sixpence” — Shubert, 
New Haven (13-15); Walnut, Phila. 
(17-22). 

“Jane” (Edna Best, John Loder, 
Howard St. John)— Royal Alexan- 
dra, Toronto (10-15); Erlanger, 
Buffalo (17-19); Hartman, Colum- 
bus ‘(20-22). 

“Maid in the Ozarks” (Bert 
Wheeler) — Erlanger, Phila. (10-15); 
Lyric, Allentown, Pa. (17-18); Read- 
ing, Pa. (19-20); Auditorium, Roch- 
ester (21-22). 

“Mister Roberts” (Tod Andrews) 
— Palace, Rockford, 111. (10-11); 

Rialto, Joliet (12); Davidson, Mil- 
waukee (13-16); Oshkosh, Oshkosh, 
Wis. (17); Orpheum, Greenbay, Wis. 
(18-19); Capitol, Manitowoc, Wis. 
(20); Parkway, Madison (21-22). 

“Nina” (Edward Everett Horton) 
— United National, S. F. (10-15). 

“Oklahoma” — Capitol, Regina 
(10-12); Capitol, Saskatoon (13-15); 
Grand, Calgary (17-22). 

“Paint Your Wagon” (Burl Ives) 
— Taft, Cincy (10-15); Nixon, Pitt. 
(17-22). 

“Paris ’90” (Cornelia Otis Skin- 
ner) — Ryman Aud., Nashville (10); 
Tower, Atlanta (11-13); Lanier 
Aud., Montgomery (14); Murphy 
H. S. Aud., Mobile (15); Civic, New 
Orleans (17-22). 

“Rise By Sin” — Shubert, Wash. 
(10-15). 

“See the Jaguar” (Arthur Ken- 
nedy) — Parsons, Hartford (13-15); 
Forrest, Phil. (16-22). 

“Seven Year Itch” (Tom Ewell, 
Vanessa Brown) — Wilbur, Boston 
(10-15). 

“Shrike” (Van Heflin)— Commu- 
nity, Hershey, Pa. (10-11); Play- 
house, Wilmington ( 12-15}; Na- 
tional, Wash. (17-22). 

“South Pacific” (Janet Blair, 
Webb Tilton) — Aud., Denver (10); 
Orpheum, Kansas City (12-22). 

“Stalag 17”— Erlanger, Chi GO- 
22 ). 

“Time Out for Ginger” (Melvyn 
Douglas) — 'Locust, Phila. (10-15); 
Shubert, Wash. (17-22). ■ 

“Top Banana'' (Phil Silvers) — 
National, Wash. (10-15); Taft, 
Cincy. (16-22). T 

“Tree Grows m Brooklyn” (Joan 
Blondell, Robert Shackleton) — 
Shubert, Chi (11-221 

“Two’s Cahipany (Bette Davis) — 
Nixon, Pitt. (10-15); Shubert, 
Boston (17-22)* ■ 


Jose Greco Fair $17,000 ; 
‘Nina’ Thin $7,000, Frisco 

San Francisco, Nov. 11. 

A sudden booking of “Farfel 
Follies” will relight the Curran 
Theatre, “Follies” has been set 
for five days, to open Wednesday, 
Nov. 19. 

Estimates for Last Week 

“Nina,” Alcazar i5th wk) (C- 
$3.60; 1,157) (Edward Everett Hor- 
ton, Martha Linden, Christopher 
Plummer). A thin $7,000 (previous 
week, $9,000). 

Jose Greco Spanish Dance Co., 
Curran (2d wk) (R-$4.20; 1,758). 
A fair $17,000 (previous week, 
$15,000). 

‘Ladies’ $13* 
M 14y 2 G Hub 

Boston, Nov. 11. 

Lone newcomer this week is 
“The Temptation of Maggie fiag- 
gerty,” which relights the Brattle, 
shuttered since windup of straw- 
hat season. Comedy preems to- 
night (11). “Seven Year’s Itch” 
continues to build in second frame, 
with favorable crix and customer 
reaction helping. “Good Nite 
Ladies” continues in fourth week 
at Majestic. “Two’s Company,” 
bowing into the Shubert next Mon- 
day (17), should result in a sell- 
out during the two-week stint due 
to fact that star Bette Davis is 
local gal making her first legit ap- 
pearance here in many years. 
Estimates for Last Week 
“Good Nite Ladies,” Majestic 
(3d wk) ($3.60-1,100). Not bad at 
$13,500. 

“Seven Year’s Itch,” Wilbur (1st 
wk) ($3.60); 1,200). Nice $14,500. 
with second week shaping stronger. 


Election Biffs B’way; Upturn Due; 
Sullivan $23,600 (7), ‘Eden $5,200 (4), 
Evans Dials $24,300, Booth $24,200 


RALI DANCERS END NX 
7-WEEK STAY WITH 140G 

Dancers of Bali wound up a two- 
week extra engagement at the Ful- 
ton, N. Y., Saturday (8), with a 
capacity $42,000 take on the fort- 
night. Together with a previous 
five-week run in N. Y. this fall, 
Balinese troupe garnered a sock 
$140,000 on the seven-week run. 

In between the two Manhattan 
engagements, Oct. 20-27, troupe 
was out of town on a string of one- 
nighters along the east coast, tak- 
ing in $34,000 on six performances, 
and in addition doing a benefit in 
D. C. for the Indonesian govern- 
ment. 

Troupe opened its regular tour 
in Cleveland Monday (10). 


Skinner-‘Paris’ $10,200 
In Three-City Stand 

Memphis, Nov. 11. 

Cornelia Otis Skinner just about 
managed to keep up with the po- 
litical tide last week, getting a 
total of $10,200 in an eight-per- 
formance run in her one-woman 
musical, “Paris ’90.” Star drew 
$3,000 in four performances Mon- 
day-Wednesday (3-5) at the Hart- 
man, Columbus, added $3,200 for 
a one-nighter Thursday (6) at the 
Auditorium, Louisville, and finaled 
with $4,000 in three shows Friday- 
Saturday (7-8) at the Auditorium, 
Memphis. 

Show is splitting this week be- 
tween Atlanta, Montgomery and 
Mobile. 


‘Jenny Kissed Me’ $11,000 
For Week in St. Louis 

St. Louis, Nov/ 11. 

Although it had the local legit 
field to itself for the second con- 
secutive week, interest in the Pre- 
sidential election slowed down b.o. 
activity at the Ansell Bros, mid- 
town Empress. “Jenny Kissed 
Me,” with Ruth Saville and Bren- 
non Moore of the original New 
York cast, wound up a week’s 
frame Sunday (9) with an estimated 
$11,000 at $2.60 top. Eva Gabor 
and Ken McEwen in “Happy 
Time” tee off a week's frame at 
the Empress tonight (Tues.). 

After being dark for a fortnight, 
the American relighted last night 
(Mon.) with “I Am A Camera” for 
a one-week stand. Julie Harris and 
Charles Cooper have top roles. 
House is scaled to $3.66. 


‘Wagon’ $22,400, Cleve. 

Cleveland, Nov. 11. 

“Paint Your Wagon” had some 
of its paint . chipped off by the 
election-week furore, but came 
through surprisingly well here. 
Musical headed by Burl Ives rolled 
up $22,400 in eight performances 
at $4.95 top at the Hanna. 

House’s next booking is “Bagels 

and Yox,” Nov* 24* 


Hit by Election eve aind Election 
night public apathy,' BTUacIwa! 
grosses took another big drop last 
week. With television keeping po- 
litical-minded patrorts at home, at- 
tendance varied from offish (in the 
case of shows with theatre parties 
or solid advance sales) to misera- 
ble on Monday and Tuesday nights 
(3-4), but perked quickly thereafter 
and reached boom proportion by 
Friday night and Saturday (7-8). 
Business, was much better Sunday 
and Monday nights (9-10) of this 
week. 

Of the new openings, “Deep Blue 
Sea” drew mixed reviews, but got 
heavy attendance, presumably on 
the strength of its party bookings, 
mail order advance and Margaret 
Sullavan’s personal draw. “Cli- 
mate of E.den” also got a split 
press, but started tepidly at the b.o. 

Estimates for Last Week 

Keys: C (Comedy), D (Drama), 
CD (Comedy-Drama) , R (Revue), 
MC ( Musical Comedy), MD (Musi- 
cal Drama), O (Operetta). 

Other parenthetic designations 
refer , • respectively , to top prices; 
number of seats, capacity gross and 
stars. Price includes 20% amuse- 
ment tax, but grosses are net: i.e., 
exclusive, of tax. 

“Bernardine,” Playhouse, (4th 
wk) <C-$4.80; 999; $21,500). Nearly 
$15,900 (previous week, $16,100). 

“Climate of Eden,” Beck (1st wk) 
(D-$6-$4.80; 1,214; $31,000). Opened 
Thursday night M6) to two favor- 
able notices (Chapman, News; 
Watts, Post) and five pans (Atkin- 
son, Times; Coleman, Mirror; Haw- 
kins, World-Telegram & Sun; Kerr, 
Herald Tribune; McClain, Journal- 
American); first four performances 
drew about $5,200. 

“Deep Blue Sea,” Morosco (1st 
wk) (D-$6-$4.80; 912; $26,000) (Mar- 
garet Sullavan). Opened Wednes- 
day night (5) to two favorable no- 
tices (Coleman, Mirror; McClain, 
Journal-American), four pans 
(Chapman, News; Hawkins, World- 
Telegram & Sun; Kerr, Herald 
Tribune; Watts, Post) and one yes- 
and-no (Atkinson, Times); drew 
capacity $23,600 for first five per- 
formances and two paid previews. 

“Dial ‘M’ for Murder,” Plymouth 
(2d wk) (D-$4.80; 1,063; $30,000) 
(Maurice Evans). Just missed solid 
sellout at $28,600 (previous week, 
$24,300 for first five performances 
and two previews). 

“Evening; With Beatrice Lillie,” 
Booth (6th wk) (R-$6; 900; $24,500) 
(Beatrice Lillie, Reginald Gard- 
ner). About $23,000 (previous 
week, $24,500). 

“Fourposter,” Barrymore (55th 
wk) (C-$4.80; 1,060; $24,996) (Betty 
Field, Burgess Meredith). Almost 
$13,000 (previous week; $13,700). 

Gilbert & Sullivan, Hellinger 
(3d wk) (C-$4.80; 1,507; $40,113). 
“Pinafore” and “Trial by Jury” 
double-bill drew $22,200 (previous 
week, “Pirates of Penzance” got 
$16,000); “Iolanthe” is current and 
the engagement ends next Saturday 
(15) for tour. 

“Guys and Dolls,” 46th St. (103d 
wk) (MC-$6.60; 1,319; $43,904). 

Reached $38,000 (previous week, 
$44,006). 

“In Any Language,” ,Cort <5th 
wk) (C-$4.80; 1,056; $27,700) ! (Uf$ 
Hagen). Nearly $10,300 ‘(previous 
week, $9,600); closing next Satur- 
day night (15). ’ 

“King and I,” Sf:. James' (#5th 
wk) (MD-$7.2b; 1,571; $51,717MYul 
Brynner). Almost $44,900 (previous 
week, $51,000). 

“Male Animal,” Music Box (28th 
wk) (C-$4.80; 1,012; $25,903) (Elliott 
•Nugent, Martha Scott, Robert 
Preston). Nearly $13,000 (previous 
week, $14,400). 

“Millionairess,” Shubert (4th wk) 
(C-$6-$4.80; 1,361; $39,000) (Katha- 
rine Hepburn). Went clean again, 
with party commissions limiting 
the take to $38,700 (previous week, 
$38,800). 

“Moon Is Blue,” Miller (88th wk) 
(C-$4.80; 920; $21,586) (Donald 

Cook, Barry Nelson, Janet Riley). 
About $9,600 (previous week, 
$ 11 , 000 ). 

“Mr. Pickwick,” Golden (8th wk) 
(CD-$4.80; 769; $19,195). Under 
$7,000 (previous week, $4,600); 
closed Saturday night (8) after 61 
perttormanees, at a loss of about 
$95,000. 

“Mrs. McThing,” 48th Street (31st 
wk) (C-$4.80; 925; $22,927) (Helen 
Hayes). Nearly. $16,000 (previous 
week at the Morosco, $21,200). 

“My Darlin’ Aida,” Winter Gar- 
den (2d wk) (0-$7.20-$6.60; 1,519; 
($51,881). Almost $44,400 (previous 
week, $45,700). 

“New Faces,” Royald* (26th wk) 
(R-$6; 1,035; $30,600). • Neajsly 


$23,500 (previous week, $27,200). 

“Pat Joey,^ Broatfftiirst r45th 
Wk) <MC-$6.60; 1,160; $39,602) 

(Vivienne Segal, Harold Lang). 
Almost $31,000 (previous week, 
$36,000). 

“Point of No Return,” Alvin (43d 
wk) ( D-$4.80-$6; 1,331; $37,924) 

(Henry Fonda). Over $17,900 
(previous week, $20,200); closing 
Nov. 22, to tour. 

“South Pacific,” Majestic (186th 
wkHMC-$6; 1,659; $50,186) (Martha 
Wright, George Britton). Nearly 
$35,200 (previous week, $40,100). 

“Time of the Cuckoo,” Empire 
(4th wk) (D-$6-$4.80; 1,082; $25,- 
056) (Shirley Booth). Went clean 
all times, with commissions cutting 
the gross to $24,200 (previous week, 
$24,400). 

“Wish You Were Here,” Imperial 
(20th wk) (MC-$7.20; 1,400; $52,- 
080). Still the town’s top grosser 
at nearly $49,800 (previous week, 
$52,000). 

OPENING THIS WEEK 

French Repertory, Ziegfeld (C- 
$4.80; 1,628; $40,000) (Madeleine 
Renaud, Jean Louis Barrault). Sol 
Hurok presents the Parisian troupe, 
opening tonight (Wed.) with “Les 
Fausses Confidences” and “Bap- 
tiste.” 


‘JANE’ POOR $11,400 
IN MONTREAL STANZA 

Montreal, Nov. 11. 

“Jane,” with Edna Best in the 
lead, did a ’poor $11,400 at Her 
Majesty’s Theatre last week, with 
the 1,704-seater scaled to $3.38. 
The Theatre Guild production 
folds next Saturday (15) at the 
Royal Alexandra, Toronto. 

Katharine Cornell is current in 
“Constant Wife” and biz is good. 
Iff 1 a season not overloaded with 
good legit offerings, the idea of 
presenting two Somerset Maugham 
plays in subsequent weeks back-' 
fired. Given the choice of two 
plays by the same author, the pub- 
lic did the obvious. They side- 
stepped “Jane” and waited for 
“Constant Wife.” 


‘Sin’ Slim $4,600 For 
Four Shows in New Haven 

New Haven, Nov. 11. 

Crime didn’t pay at the Shubert 
boxoffice last week as “Rise By 
Sin” had its preem for a three-day 
stand (6-8). In four performances 
at a $3.60 top, play drew a slim 
estimated $4,600, despite okay 
word-of-mouth. 

Another breakin holds down the 
boards this week, with . John van 
Druten’s “I’ve Got Sixpence” in for 
four days (12-15). Only a fair ad- 

V3I1CC 

“Don Juan in Hell” is set for last 
half of Nov. 20-22, then comes an- 
other preem, “Gray-Eyed People,” 
due Nov. 27-29. 

“Ice Follies” plays the Arena 
Dec. 7-14. 


Ballet Theatre $23,700 
For Week in Toronto 

Toronto, Nov. 11. 

With the U. S. presidential elec- 
tion providing stiff T-V competi- 
tion earlier part of week, Ballet 
Theatre grossed only a fair $23,- 
700 at the Royal Alexandra here, 
with the 1,523-seater scaled at $4 
top with tax. Friday and Satur- 
day nights, however, were sellouts, 
plus a near-capacity Saturday 
matinee. 

Top here was Alicia Markova, in 
as guest artist for three perform- 
ances, her “Giselle” on Friday 
night rating a terrific ovation and 
15 curtain calls. 


‘Madam’ $32,200, Dayton 

Dayton, Nov. 11. 

“Call Me Madam” bucked elec- 
tion apathy last week to garner a 
fair $32,200 gross at the Victory 
Theatre here. 

Musical is at the Shubert, De- 
troit, this week. 


‘Okla.’ $32,900 in Split 

Minneapolis, Nov. 11. 

“Oklahoma,” u including some 
new stops around the circuit, 
gathered a $32,900 gross last week 
in eight performances divided be- 
tween Duluth, Bemidji, Minn., and 
the Lyceum here. . 

Musical is splitting this week 
between Regina and Saskatoon, 
Saskatchewan* •- «. . • . • 


.*i] i 




t V/ / ’N 


r;;n 


i,H X Ui * J i 


•« .' « J l- J >* 


' J 


j* bt* into <. \k'K . .",*j * * 


: . j i n 



ULTIMATE 


Ptmsfr 

‘Ginger’ SRO $11,000 In 
Four at Wilmington 


Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


Plays Abroad 


Murder Mistaken 

' London, Nov. 5. 


virile worldliness of Lynn and the 
late Tom Walls in the old produc- 


Wauna Paul Playwrights (London) Ltd, tion Which netted & fortune, 
(in association with Edward Choate and There is A lot nf rActloce ^ 


A new City Center '■of Music &+* 


In in Vnorc. fmn fncic W IWm SMS 

in 111 Years, loin insis opurs Drive 22 .^“ 4 sru, 

A new City Center ref Music &4 r— second 1 s^ecton'o^Ihe^The'are end the m^vitable woman tafe 

Drama, with permanent aging > g SdtWefcer to Direct Guild-American Theatre Society Monfc d a 0 Barc 0nd ? n : . N .°. V .\ t . < 8? Ho° 5 who stii^ the suburban conscience 
groups, and in . its own building • m o .♦ subscription season, was well-liked Edward Bare ■ • •••• Derek i?arr exemplified by Hare. As m most 

properly equipped for the pre- Operas at U. of Kansas here and drew capacity audiences Mtr u£SS? i h n e , r ® »*ne 

sentation of legit, opera and bal- Tfnnsas ntv w™ 11 Van Heflin, in “The Shrike, charfotte Young Patricia Burke where t “® 1 J) ales is disguised 

leh Ts efivislbhenor N.Y. bjrthe - „ - hweiler Kansas City third on the subscription list, Emmie rhj.im Morris f** woman, with much of the 

director. Hans bcnweiger, ivansas v^Ly tomorrow (Wed) for five laugh-getting dependent upon this 

r fnealn It mav not come Philharmonic Orchestra conduc- performances through Saturday Coming at the tail end of the well-worn situation. 

tor, will *e musical director for a Performances through Saturday g t g is thriller looks likely to The story is about as imoroh.hu 


^for^ nr^ managing director, Hans Schweiger, Kansas City tomorrow (Wed ) for five “ laugh-getting dependent upon this 

r fnXin It mav not come Philharmonic Orchestra conduc- performances through Saturday Coming at the tail end of the well-worn situation. 

SS2 1 [n t™ [rS m i [n v £ TS m but it wTl tor, will ’be musical director for a Performances through Saturday g t g is thriller looks likely to The story is about as improbable 

“ r T.f won’? be at the series of opera productibns next U0J * top them all. It should certainly as most of the past ones. It revolves 

come, H w • spring at the U. of Kansas, Law- v* a a equal the success of “Dial ‘M for around the ownership of a valuable 

present 5 u J r ^ s fi °?*Xinio tpmnle’ rence. Docket includes two one-act FlflP W1 Sflft Murder" and “Meet Mr. Callag- painting, which gets sold by two or 

converted from a temp , modern operas i n English, “The BaCIlIC rUie i|)tJl,UUv han." Play has only a three-week three people when its worth is dis- 

but it will- be a ^eciauy-Duiu Well „ fey LouI g Mennini, and | H C« QL Aljr Cfrimv tenancy, pending another produc- covered. Three' of the main charac- 

house, with proper •facilities for *<p r i madonna » p y Arthur Benja- III 56V6DKM10W utTMJJ tion, and it will be unfortunate if ters turn out to be old cellmates 

staging, storing, workshops, etc. min . ■ # Denver Nov 11 unable to transfer elsewhere. This now steeped in respectability, but 

Agreeing that it’s far. off, Kir- Tbe Phi iharmonic will, play a « Sout h p aci fi c " playing a seven- £ a fi ” t P lay *? y an actress ( Jai ? et n ?\ adv ^se to cashing in on the 
atein also admits . that in the mean- special concert at K.U. in Hoch nerf ormance ^ a Green) > and gives every promise picture deal. Hare had given it to 

time his job is a difficult one, AuStorium 23 fin?1nne-n!ehter !undav 2) in that Pl a y-writing should prove a his daughter on her impending 

finaaclally as well as artistically, ^eby wSch Schweiger does Spokanfanfsixshows^ theVu" BreaSwIv Se/tirn^uo eUimhjelt ZT* 

as evldeneed by the operatic chore at Lawrence is ditonum here Wednesday through #nd provl( j e g00( j screen material! property. Lynn, a hanger-on of 'a 

?“S M^TmnMlltteri ?nd civic S®? ?L a is Im U sm Ct weg » * a pathological study, of a woman about to buy the house. 


nut it wni. oe a Well." by Louis Mennini, and 

house, with t p J op “Primadonna,” by Arthur Benja- 

staging, storing, workshops, etc. min> . , 


# /y* vv> t ******* 

Agreeing that it’s far. off, Kir- The Philharmonic will* play a 


gency meeting at Gity Hall be- pa j*t of a two-way deal which will Saturday (8), grossed a total of 


0 -WW.JC * • • •. t — - nu„. Ini xi nutijinr /'|)rr A# a v AUUdCAUllK a dvail tu viivUUlMaOui IICI uvuwv, iiai c 111 IUS> 

the nine-year-old organization here next spring. " sas Gity, opening tomorrow (Wed.). an( j thus acquire her modest female disguise and discovered 

needs between $75,000 and $100,- . | j savings. Interest is held from cur- even the picture expert is an ex- 

000 to keep going. ^ InllpOP Plav tainrise and develops into a dra- con, they all sort themselves out 

With a nominal rent from the *ffe|t;i|Ul Fair JaI 800" vUIICgC 1 wj matic, unexpected climax In good with the usual hilarious windup. 

cltv Center is otherwise privately ; m Y , ~’ ^ ^ • theatrical tradition Lynn and Hare play into each 

run nnd sunnorted (Rent is $25^ A1r«k«r Y\r ^ . . Story opens with the man flut- other’s hands with the slick assur- 

nnn anmialhf but the Center is IfCC UKHy ^ZZ,Dl/Uj Cloud Mountain tering around his elderly, bemused ance of old association. Joan Hay- 

S ml reduced to *1 . Washington Nov' 11 (YALE DRAMA DEPT.) . wife with flippant affection, pro- thome, as a disturbing widow 

tr ^. n .® J? *5* . r I„i e houses “Tod Banana” racked up a so-so New Haven, Nov. 5. posing to secure her wealth by whose perception proclaims the 

Mke thl 'Brooklyn r Academy of $31800 for the first half of- its two- dr ™* She? sZin^iwill which heVarl t^^’thrh^hMSh^T 17 

Music pay).- With only,a $3.60 top week^tand at ^ Nattona The- by ^ He^gete 

on attractions. Center has run into ««« S tip. but was S‘ iSlft &HS“Ni A j v « her befuddled with drink and lays Robin Hunter bicker agreeably as 

the red regularly, deficits being *5“:,,?' ...i.ioh wiih her before a gasfire, insuring that the young lovers while Constance 


Cloud Mountain 

(YALE DRAMA DEPT.) 

New Haven, Nov. 5. 


the red regularly* uencits D ing ^ j- r ;^’ws. which wuh m^i Bowen/ Grant Kilpatrick; her before a gasfire, insuring that the young lovers while Constance 

made up from private gifts. (Re- ctrone nickun of business £? ul Lu] S? th , er * Marion Herrod. Dorothy she will be. overcome by fumes Lome twitters gaily as the girl's 

cently-closed opera season was durlng t h e if st haH of the week. hm! S Mary a Biauspi"e1? W Bro : ‘H“rr?i. B “ rn ' wl u}f he hls » ?a fe ^iM. . stepmother. Dodd Mehan con- 

hoped to bring in a $30,000 sur- ghubert, second week of _ The coroner s verdict of acci- tributes an effective performance 

plus; instead, there was a $40,000 “ Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” scaled 


hill, Mary Blaltspleler, Bro Herrod. 


plus; instead, there was a $40,000 “i« ree Grows in Brooklyn,” scaled The curtain has gone up on the dental death leaves him in the as the shady connoisseur. David 
deficit.) to a $4 80 top did about’ $22,500. Yale play factory’s first major pro- clear. Nemesis overtakes him when Stoll makes a tiny part of a rookie 

The Center plans, for the first Business vtas helped by the The- duction of the new semester, and it the lawyer informs him that a will cop stand out. Charles Hickman 

■&iiyya' ify make a nubile ■ drive for a£y*ct' strbs'CjrintioEv list * 'has* come down on a ocm'* made at the time of- marriage is exhibits, hzs customary skill as di- 

fund’s to raise 1X00 000 Drive* .will * fused note that stymied what gave valid, giving him a small income, rector. Clem. 

nmhAhlv take nlace’ some time this " • ~ " earlier promise of an interesting whereas the proposed new one; , 

, Li j r script. would have given him control of ; 

, Wlrctein’c armointment as gen- ~ DllllC&ll Like the newlywed housewife his wife’s fortune. Left with a bare 

Hme such a WUHVUII who g0ts halfway through a good substinence and an old-fashioned UOldOR 

w JIh! B f tX ?w pt — r; Continued from page 81 ==. recipe and then doesn’t know how house, the “bereaved” husband 

post has been made at the center, . . to finish it, author of this one soon gets interested in a wealthy l Continued from page 81 s 

is a long-awaited move to central- i! ave increased the organizations starts out with a sturdy character widow, and marries her with inde- , „ , . . 

Ize operations. At the same time, payroU substantially, as Morris’ w ho pursues honesty and integrity cent haste. bee" encouraged. That is a minor 

one technical director was ap- salary would obviously be greater at all costs, until his own son be- He proposes to dispatch her by factor, but I think an important 

pointed for its various branches, a ny regular staff member. comes involved in a scandal — then a faked auto accident when an at- one m t“ e general philosophy that 

in Jean Rosenthal, and one pub- As temporary special assistant the author doesn’t know exactly tractive younger woman appears we have today made the theatre a 
licity director in Philip Bloom. to the . Pres ident during five-branch what to do with his crusader. on the scene with apparently more hard place to get to via traffic and 

Kirstein sees the future Center merger talks last summer Morris Plucking its theme from current gold. After a dramatic showdown an impossible place to get tickets 

as a unique standout temple of reportedly was paid $3 000 a month headlines, story has upright New sh c halts his schemes by announc- for at boxoffice prides, 
varied performing arts in N.Y., It h as flot ye t been learned how England Senator Wentworth as mg that, she is his sister-in-law and “And,- despite Golden’s view- 

wlth an actor’s studio, and a sing- muc h his salaty was to have been ?® ad K of f ai J investigating commit- H° a point * our theatres are * in 

ers wing^ added to the.. .legit and if had been giveir the assign-^ about to launciuin. .attack on^ ^ ve|Ug^teber 5ters_dejth. Before opinion^ek^ries— antiquated, ill- 
opera divisions, just as the pres- ment permanently. but as a noted fu ? a *ling Boston. Senator has J e , P°^ v c n n ^ J 1 * ventilated mausoleums - rather 

ent ballet school aids the terp and former N Y. City d p?eferring a iuiS deadf to incar’ than good showcases for the plays 

group. Meantime, he s beset by council president, he would obvi- ^ ag „ e A 2? ceratfon g Q 1 “ th 1 which I hope .he and others will 

money problems. With $30,000, for ous i y ra t e a sizeable ampunt for s i ona i footstpn<j Thp Derek Farr gets full value from encourage to be written. And I am 

instance, he could electronically serving on a full-time basis. ^°5 ld comef crashing down when the richI y endowed role of the hus- not unmindful that Golden must be 

improve the house to make it ideal, if the turndown of the commit- it is rev?aled that S the ^on h^ band, reminiscent of the Emlyn fully cognizant of the tenement 

for legit. «o iirooirc tee recommendation and appoint- used Government contacts for pri- Williams character in “Night Must house conditions existing backstage 

Center now has about 3^ weeks men t G f Duncan represented a de- vate gain and he would be involved ^ a B* .The two wives are played in most theatres. 

j ftC ik V n y <. a y ^f r ir? *• ’ f ea ^ f° r Eollamy and the commit- in the contemplated investigation, wrtb vivid realism by Iris Hoey, as In his reply, Golden says he 


that the Center would be an ideal r j s not on j y a j awyer but a force- and-narrow facet of the part. Paul Pny n'annosts, suggesting to the tical to bring these things about, 

place for presentation of operettas, f u i figure, to a top executive spot Lukather is acceptable as the son jnuraerer the final way out. An- i would urge that less fault be 

which would be a good summer wou i d almost certainly have weak- and similar comment applies to r non y Marlowe is icily disapprov- found with our poor live theatre, 

item. He’s mulling other possibili- ene d her position. James O. Barnhill, as a political }?® a J? d S u?P lcl S u 5 . a ? th * famil .y such as it is today. 

isR—ja.-rars s&TiaJsasr**: «2rr«i?s£ST« 

r.mr.v i -~r T*?? sstSiA^siss. “ “SB 

FAIRFAX js &• s tsar* ss SS smus 

H 1 1 1 1 r the American Federation of Tele- tor’s wife is a minor one Mimi the p ’ ay with superb timing. audiences witnessing The Male 

' |lill||"|||a I# vision & Radio Artists, Reel is rflso Bowe^ and GraTt Ki’natrick are Clem. Animal’ at the Music Box; the 

DUItUVILH an attorney, and is understood* to SeteT/ aPeare STamily ser- .. .TTT, ^ 

< be anxious to* get into active prac- vants. Wild Horses wnacs worse, suen neavuy 

6th Month on Tour as tiGe ‘ However, the committee de- Technical work, in the various London Nov 7 !l C1Ze ?* fault-findings ^ 

orn /VI nrn on I ur as aided last > ‘Week to recommend phases of setting, costumes and Linnit & Dimfee Ltd. 0 production ‘ of the attendance in trie 

''The Secretary of State “ Effraf rather than Reel. lighting, rates a favorable nod. J hree u acts ® en , Jravers. we have today by discouraging 

, ^ Duncan’s appointment to perma- Direction has eliminated any pos- Directed ^by t3 ChaJies e Hlckman. lp At L aw- son ? e of th ose theatregoers we are 

nent status as exec head has had sible tendency toward the static; )yych. London, Nov. s, *52; $2 top. trying to win and hold. 

“CALL ME MADAM” a reassuring effect on the union*® whether the ultimate confusion is Trumper S Norton r Rob Rnfnh T^nn . ' 

LV.T!.T” ” .. office Staff and is expected to*be in the writing or staging can be iri S ^ "!SIf. Nor !°".: .’.W’.’; : 

SHU BERT THEATRE, Detroit generally acceptable to the mem- determined only by script exami- fate slaughter Constance Lome a! Will* 

Nov. 10-29 bership. There had been a feeling, nation. Also lacking clarification iff gJSffH 1*988 01 If |IIS 

particularly among the emolovees. 1S significance of play’s title. As ^, oui .s. .5? 1 !© - • • • Dodd Mehan ■ ^ , . , 

i that he deserved a chance at least is. It carries an unhealthy impli- LTSeft 6 ^ 3 !! , . Ban Robii^Hunte? “ “ Contlnucd from page 81 

| to show what he could do with full cation of somebody along the line Kersit Cyril smith since it had but two witnesses, 

FOR PRODUCERS ONLY* I title and authority. His recent being in a fog. Bone. 5\ H c. e Osborne^ t . !!!.’!. f. 01 Dav?i ou sfoii while three are required under 


FAIRFAX 

BURGHER 

A 

6th Month on Tour as 
"The Secretary of State" 

in 

“CALL ME MADAM” 

SHUBERT THEATRE, Detroit 
Nov. 10-29 


FOR PRODUCERS ONLY* 

Young woman with initlatlvo and vonatillty. 
FMayreadlng, Catting, Publicity, Production 
Assistant. Legitimate or network. Writing 
and publicity background. 8liorthand and 
typing. 

MUrray Hill 8-2664 

* also agents or directors 


Animal’ at the Music Box; the 
Alvin’s a pretty good one, too). But 
what’s worse, such heavily pub- 
licized fault-findings ' are affecting 
the attendance in the only theatre 


trying to win and hold.” 


Case of Wills 

Continued from page 81 


status as pro-tem executive was 
the second time* he had been in 
that position. Previously, he had 
the assignment for some months 
after the resignation of Paul Dull- 
zell as exec head and until the ap- 
pointment of Simon. 



CAB CALLOWAY . 

Sportin' Lift 

"PORGY AND BESS" 

Now— STOLL THEATRE, LONDON 
“Cab Calloway *xc*l!«nt." 

r. L. MANNOCK, Daily Herald 
Mgh: BILL M1TTLER. Ul* Broadway, New York 


” P. C. Osborne Davil Stoll wlUiC unee ate 

— p. c. Blood Nell wiison Connecticut law. In clearing up the 

Plays on B’way LSiSoSW 

■ I«J* Mil M n W | new farce by Ben Travers ^ bac J that his estate be handled by Vestal 

i * ■* F.. Continued from page 82 ^ J after 19 years in the theatre that as administrator. 

saw a' succession of hits by the Under the 1949 will both Burl 
lolamue same author and stars. In conced- Vestal and Earl Vestal, whom Cle- 

Rogier’s deliniation of the con- ing this point, chances of top marks mens referred to as “my good 

fused Strephon (half fairy-half being awarded on its merits are friends," were left $1,000 each, 

mortal) is standout, while Lillian slender. It will depend mainly on After numerous other bequests, the 
Murphy is completely winning as the past reputation of the old team. ' residuary estate (including interest 
bis vis-a-vis, Comedy could never achieve any- and title to all play properties) 

The principals, as well as the thing outside this 'environment, was to have gone to his brother, 

rest of the company, display their but as a popular Christmas attrac- victor G Clemens of Port Clin- 
appreciation for the libretto and tion it should fit the bill. tnn o 

score via bright, zestful renditions . Returning to the stage at the a’jA frnm « A loma of the South 
of the « tunes in solo or in chorus, age of 70, Ralph Lynn retains o *» «? 01 au Q c f^nparon ’’ Cle- 
Musical* director Leehman Engel much of his old sparkle and school- Seas and A1 l a ?« ?nirdv Gurdy 
holds them all in line and makes boyish innuendo, partnered by his S ens ,, a S^ ore ^ ie TY^ipv y *' “The 
each reading a gem. • junior by 10 years, the tubby little J?an,' ” “ Young Mr. Dudley, !^ 

Ralph Alswang’s sets and Peggy baldhead Robertson Hare. His per- Bride Confesses and 11 others, m 
Morrison’s costumes contribute to petual gloom has always been his addition, he turned but 14 one-aci 
the happy mopcb , . Grq**, J stock-in-trade, contrasting with the plays and three scenarios. 


Tuesday? November 1952 


ii ib 1 1 1 b '~p i iTTriTirn i n rryi miiTn r 

Literati 



~~ Plush Poetry Kickoff 

A publisher’s dream literary 
« a rtv was the cocktailcry which 
Sherman Billingsley hosted for 
Nick Kenny on the occasion of the 
v v Mirror’s columnists publica- 
Jion of Ms "Collected PoemS, *> via 
Prentiee-Hall. Obviously a work of 
+hfc nature couldn’t afford that 
Itod of a publisher’s tab, but the 
P H firm had all the benefits -of 
VIP get-together, capped by the 
not laureate of the Hearst tabloid 
Snfne on the ’’Stork Club” video 

n w g that same night (Saturday) 
fSl ballyhoo kickoff to the book. 

Gene Fowler Reviews ‘Spice’ 

Whenever big names, or their 
ghosts, write pieces for vacanomng 
columnists or for trade publication 
annuals, the results are not always 
soectacular. Indeed, some of these 
writings make the reader believe 
that the worst things in life are. 

free. 

It is noteworthy then to come 
uuon an engaging symposium of 
articles written for Variety by 51 
guest-authors, several of whqm 
have something to say, and a few 
who say it brilliantly. This ’Collec- 
tion of essays, edited by Abel 
Green, editor of Variety, and 
hound between bookboards under 
the title. “The Spice of .Variety” 
(Henry Holt; $3.50), represents the 
contributions over the years of 
famous byliners who have partici- 
pated in show business as actors, 
authors, or as professional observ- 
ers of the stage and its more or 
less giddy geniuses. 

In editing and writing the pref- 
ace and marginal comments to 
••Spice of Variety,” Green has ex- 
ercised sound editorial powers. 
Broadway will take this book to 
what is left of its once-g-reat gay 
heart. And it is reasonable to sup- 
pose that the rest of the country 
will find in it much to turn aside 
the tired and confused minds pre- 
occupied with political smears, 
taxes, atomic-bomb palsies and 
savage class hatreds. .Any book 
that accomplishes this much for 
even 10 minutes at a time is worth 
its weight in Pulitzer Prizes. And 
to heck with its literary merits or 
demerits! 

Payoffs on anthologies being 
what they are, in this instance edi- 
tor Green insisted on Holt pro- 
rating the royalties equally among 
the contributors, which in itself is 
still another Spicy distinction to 
this Variety galaxy. 

For the “Old Timer,” to quote 
a phrase from Hopalong Cassidy 
and Dean Acheson, there are thrill- 
ing memories revived, as in the 
articles by the late, great critic 
Ashton Stevens, and the not-late 
but equally beloved Gene Buck, 
and by the ageless triple-threat 
man, Harry Hershfield. 

There are Chicago memories, 
also, as supplied by a more youth- 
ful gentleman of that mighty city 
on the Lake: Irv Kupcinet. 

The 51 authors . represented in 
this book range in terms of style, 
looks, fame, and fortune from 
Gypsy Rose Lee and the solid-gold 
James Durante to George Jean 
Nathan and the late Sit* Charles B. 
Cochran. The general tone of the 
articles is satirical, but underneath 
the spoofing one discerns a love 
of the stage and its folk, or for the 
various stepchildren of the thea- 
tre: radio and motion pictures. 

I missed only two things in this 
work: an article by Sophi^ Tucker 
and an index. As a matter of fadt, 



■Ay 

SHO* 


THE SPICER 


Y'say ya want more 
fa ya money? 


T/iJs ya can’t beat — - the book with the 
malt-in all- 5 tar castl More than 50 
Pieces by the who's who of show biz 
* ea J lc d from Variety's anniversary 
sues by that old mugg,.Ab«l Green* 

$3*50 at' all booksellers 


I had to read all of this book to 
find my own name in Gene Buck’s 
chapter. Gene Fowler. 

(Holt has put a second 10,000 
copies into print before publica- 
tion; first edition also numbered 
10,000 copies. — Ed.) i 

. j 

‘Mile. Tips Chapeau’ to ‘Variety’ i 
The November Mademoiselle .in- 1 
eludes a special section on “State 
of Entertainment,” which has been 
edited by Leo Lerman as a sorf 
of publication-within-a-publication 
survey of the show biz scene. To 
key the special 8-page .editorial 
layout the section leads off, “Mile. 
Tips Chapeau to Show Biz Bible,” 
stating in part, “Ever since Sime 
Silverman thought the paper up, it i 
has lived by its initial rule, ‘If you 1 
tell the truth, even the people who I 
don’t like it must respect it.’ j 
Variety is not only world-famous.! 
for telling the truth but for the 
special language in which it tells 
it.” Lerman opens up, “With a 
curtsy to Variety, bible of show 
biz, greatest entertainment trade 
paper in the world adding 
that “VARiETvese (is) an argot that i 
has .considerably enriched the 
American language ...” 

In sequence, covering the vari- 
ous phases of show biz scene, are 
pieces by Harriet Van Horne, 
George T. Simon, Edwin Schallert, 
Aline B. Louchheim, with Lerman 
doing rest of the coverage on legit, 
the arts, inside stuff, chatter, for- 
eign pix, bands, disks, etc. 

New PH-Ken Giniger Subsid 
Just out from the Army* after 
being recalled to CIA service, Capt. 
Kenneth S. Giniger is setting up 
a subsidiary book publishing firm 
within Prentice-Hall, where he 
was editor-in-chief, as an inde- 
pendent division of the. company.. 
It will be an experiment to fur- 
ther Giniger’s ideas and explore 
new techniques in the manufactur- 
ing, creating, selling and merchan- 
dising of books. It will be confined 
to books for specific markets and, 
under that setup no unsolicited 
mss. will be entertained. Giniger 
has certain ideas about creating 
books to fit that market. 

Howard E. Goodkind, execu- 
tive editor, succeeds Giniger as 
editor-in-chief of PH, and he may 
or may not appoint a successor 
exec ed from within the ranks. 

Dunlap, Sr., 91, Votes 
Orrin E. Dunlap made news in 
his native Niagara 'Falls, N. Y., as 
the oldest inhabitant to vote. (“I 
Like Ike,” he was quoted. as saying.) 
Dunlap, 91, is unique in N...Y. 
Times annals as the pldest stringer, 
having covered every Niagara Falls 
news event (jumps’ etc.) and still 
at it. He was editor of the Niagara. 
Falls Gazette from i.890-95. 

His son, Orrin E. Dunlap, Jr., 
vicepresident of RCA on press re- 
lations, was formerly radio editor 
of the N. Y. Times. 

Hynd’sight 

Under the arresting title of 
“Alan Hynd’s Murder,” whodunit 
scripter Hynd has gotten together 
a good omnibus of his grisly tales 
for Duell, Sloan & Pearce-Little, 
Brown; $3). There are 12 such 
“cases.” Ken Purdy, editor of True, 
has written a brief intro. Much of 
Hynd’s hep mystery meller writ- 
ing is in that man’s mag, but these 
whodunits are for all . aficionados 
of the cloak-and-dagger, Bertillon 
and Baker Street school of litera- 
ture. Abel. 

Feteing Wellbaum 
George Wellbaum, N. Y. Tele- 
phone Co. veepee in public rela- 
tions department who retired Nov. 
1, will be feted by the New York 
City press at a cocktailery today 
(Wed.) in the Bowman Room of the 
Hotel Biltmore. 

Wellbaum, a vet Indianapolis 
newspaperman, had been with 
N. Y. Telephone for 20 years. 

’52 ‘Year’ the Best 
The new “Year” (1952 edition) 
($6.95 and $9) is, as the subtitle 
states, “Your Lifetime in Pic- 
tures.” It’s an enactment of the 
days of our years in excellent 
photo and text-montage. It is a 
cavalcade of the passing show of 
life, and not merely the just-pass- 
ing year, which, by the very nature 
of the full times in which we live, 
seemingly doesn’t permit fullest 
appreciation and digestion as the 
scenes and the events are happen- 
ing. It is only in retrospect that 
there is an awareness of the rich- 
ness of the whole pattern. Year 
brings that vividly to life, both for 
historic refreshment and enter- 
tainment. , , 

As Baldwin H. Ward, editor and 
publisher of “Year” notes in his 
foreword, thjs, the. fifth since . 
“year” first started publishing in 


i 

’48, makes over 6,000 pictures and 
over 500,000 words are now be- 
tween covers. Managing editor T. 
Ugrul Uke, exec ed Erwin M. 
Rosen, associate eds Frank R. Pier- 
son, Bart Sheridan and Rollo 
Fogarty, and the entire large board j 
of editors, have done a tiptop pic- j 
ture-story .job in the newest (and ' 
best) “Year.” Ralph J. Bunche did i 
the foreword. 

“Year” embraces everything 
i from people and events to show 
| biz; war and riots to women and 
! fashions; science and medicine to 
I politics and elections. It’s a library i 
: must and an entertainment plus. \ 

Abel. 

Voorhees Book Comes Out 

Simon & Schuster yesterday 
(Tues.) published “Korean Tales,” 
by Lt. Col. Melvin B. Voorhees, 
former chief censor of the Eighth 
Army, despite the fact that 
| Voorhees is being investigated at. 

! Fort Meade, Md., on charges he 
j violated procedure. Colonel said 
I he’s willing to stand court martial 
| to uphold his right to publish the 
book. 

Voorhees lashed out at “one-man 
dictatorial censorship” of an Army 
information officer, who, he said, 
didn’t like his references to Gen- 
erals MacArthur, Ridgway and 
Van Fleet and several correspond- 
ents. 

CHATTER 

Sam Boal doing a Jackie Gleason i 
story for Coronet. • I 

Allen Churchill profiling Willie 
Bryant, Harlem disk jockey, for 
Magazine Digest. 

Author Christopher Morley in 
from Britain Sunday (9) on the I 
Cunard liner Media. j 

Horace Sutton’s travel tome, 
“Footloose in Switzerland” set for 
reprinting in Britain. 

Ann Lewis, Coast editor of Show- 
men’s Trade Review, recovering 
from surgery in Hollywood. 

Phil Minoff, Cue magazine’s TV i 
critic, will have an article in the 
Dec. 13 issue of Collier’s on tele- 
vision boners. 

» 

Roland Gammon, associate editor 
of See mag, has his third piece in 
an inspirational series in Redbook 
for December. 

Victor Rosen, who’s completing 
his book on Otto H. Kahn, set for 
a tome on Vincent (Mad Dog) Coll 
for Lion Publishing Co. 

Hal Foster, “Prince Valiant” 
cartoonist, awarded the sixth an- 
nual Silver Lady of the Banshees 
at the club’s lunch last Thursday 
(61 

Eric Arthur, freelance TV script- 
er, had his first novel published 
last week. Tagged ’’Invitation to 
Dishonor,” it was brought out by 
Eton Press, 

^Screen writer-producer Claude 
Bmyon, onetime Variety mugg, 
will be profiled by Sidney Carroll 
for Argosy under the title, “Bin- 
yon’s Pilgrim’s Progress.” 

Melvin Evans, editor with Dou- 
bleday, and Mrs. Pauline Rush 
Fadiman, ex-Mrs. Clifton Fadiman, 
will wed Saturday (15) in Dan- 
bury, Conn., home of writer Rex 
Stout. 

Jack Eigen’s quip book comes off 
the Norman Kassell press this 
week to coincide with the 20th 
anniversary of Chez Paree, Chi- 
cago, where he’s the night disk 
jockey. 

Annual Front Page dinner dance 
will be held by the N.Y. News- 
paper Women's Club at the Wal- 
dorf-Astoria, N.Y., Nov. 21. Event 
is for the benefit of the Club’s edu- 
cational fund. 

Freeman Lewis, exec veepee of 
Pocket Books, Inc., will give, this 
year’s Bowker Memorial Lecture 
today (Wed.) at N.Y. Public . L\r 
brary. He’ll talk on “Paper-Bompd 
Books In America.” 

Lou Shainmark, former manag- 
ing editor of the Chicago Herald- 
American, has been named editor 
of Israel Life, amicture magazine, 
which will be published monthly 
in Chicago shortly after January. 

“Stephen Crane; An Omnibus,” 
edited by Robert Wooster Stall- 
man, and containing for the first 
time the complete version of “The 
Red Badge of Courage,” was pub- 
lished Monday (10) by Alfred A 
Knopf. 

The N.Y. Public Library’s re- 
corded music concert series will 
honor John Martin, N.Y. Times 
dance critic, at its Nov. 19 concert, 
on occasion of his 25th anni as first 
regular dance critic in the U.S. 
Program will comprise music for 
the dance, with Anatole Chujoy as 
guest commentator. 

Miriam Young, who authored 
“Mother Wore Tights,” is working 
on a sequel tentatively called 
“Father Was a Ham.” She’s the 
daughter of the oldtime vaude 
team of Burt & Rosedale who 
prototyped the central characters 
in the book. Other daughter is 
Iris (Mrs. Ted) Hartman, wife of 
the publicist. Latter pair, now in 
Europe, expect to return to the 
States in May or June. 


LITERATI 85 


Tz z rncTrr . ... worthy of immediate approval by 

M a ■ m H all segments of the industry.” 

Ill£ A£d!tOd Jack Braunagel declared that 

® ® ■ one of the big faults of drive-in 

Continued from page 5 theatre operation is the over-em- 

„ Bnnnolp . x, phasis on the sale of concessions 

eluding appeals to the appropriate rather than on the sale of motion 

committees of congress. Board will 1 pictures. Braunagel stressed the 
take up the report and recommen- ! fact that exhibitors should spend 
dations of Allied’s arbitration ne- m <>re time and energy finding out 

gotiating committee on the dis- 1 ‘ he . Public wants, since they 
? .. . , , a „. * , 1 must deal with the masses and not 

tributors draft. Allied board will ; the classes. “Exhibitors,” he said, 

decide whether to ask the conven- ; “should know more about the prod- 
tion to renew the association mem- , uct they exhibit in order to do a 
bership with COMPO. There will | ^ etter selling job. 
be a report on the COMPO drive to ' Ne w officers of the groups are: 
repeal the 20% admissions tax. , Woodrow G. Fussell of Bladen- 

Television will be one of the j ? res * id n ent { r 

most important subjects. Board ® r y^nt of Rock Hill, S. C. 

will consider- its impact on theatre 

attendance to determine whether ^ an \ s °* . ^f tes uri? * 

this is on the increase or decrease, [^ as S ^ COnd , 

and will hear about the proceed- t f ve ^eapetary^and ^easu?er The 

LtS TV r ch l a nnej? and "aboul ‘the' J-rd of doctors was increased 
Government’s 16m antitrust suit. the” 1 growth™ of ^the organizaUon. ' 

Among other topics to be con- More than 650 were registered at 
sidered will be the matter of mo- the convention, 
tion picture exhibits at state fairs, 

exchange of business information ■ - '""" i 

between the various allied terri- 1 ■ 

tories, complaints against high i NOW Aftfe 

prices and “poor service” by Na- I 

tional Screen Service, Cinerama, - Continued from page 78 
non-inflammable film, the new . ' , , ... 

ASCAP demands for royalty pay- ®g a “ ** baHet groups and soloists, 

ments on performances of music !£ e 

not on film soundtracks, audience Soe^over 8 fresh qua 
behavior, and ways to increase Al- 8 * ’. , , , , .. 

lied’s revenue from its members. Miss , w ^° w °rked the 

vaude-cafe beat as a solo terpster, 

■ 11 r ~ 1TT "" is a stylized ballerina and itate- 

^ m grates her choreographic patterns 

lMH May Auf/lli into the routine. It’s imaginative 

■VI# ■■■**# it flail an( j packs plenty of s.a. punch. 

= Continued from page 5 s . h e set s the pace for her terp 

aides, who are all standout m their 
However, plan was scrapped, with portrayal of the shady characters 
the company attributing its deci- involved in the mayhem on ,10th 
sion to changes in the film industry Ave - 

and in the company’s biz. Latter Costuming clinches the mood, 
included the sale of theatres and with gal’s accenting gams and der- 
other properties and buyups of its , rieres. Could- go over big in niteries 
common stock. where stage layout is big enough. 

In addition, WB has been hop- Gros. 

ing to take advantage of the Rev- _____ _ _ _ TT . 

enue Act of 195.1, which contains i £ED WILLS QUARTET 
a clause known as a “spinoff,” : 

relating to tax-free reorganization. F - o’clock Miami Beach 
Okay from the Justice Dept., which | ^ c'oSposed ’ of former members 
hasnt been forthcoming yet, to of the Ben Yost Royal Guards, 

0 ^ , spinoff would songsters, who have worked with 

allow WB to maintain the present Martha Raye at her club and else- 
company and merely form a new where around the country, have 
one. Under the present consent departed from the Yost format, 
decree ruling, company must be which called for operetta type of 
dissolved and two new firms must costuming, and come up with ail 
be formed. intelligently blended session of 

' song-selling. Added to this is for- 

- r-n t nrr "r- . -iir-- i ^ 7 , -rr-T-T--r^- :T T rT attire that befits the good 

looks of the quartet, for a touch. 
Ntarr of c * ass an ^ Obvious stamp of 

readiness for the better cafes and 
r -i Continued from page 4 — y - video. 

They tee off with a special on 
uniform national policy as regards Miami, then into an operatic med- 
each picture. It is perfectly fan- ley which gives them all a chance 
tastic to reason that a picture to display vocal ability. Follow 
worth 40% in a large metropolitan with an array of international hits 
theatre is also worth 40% in a and come back for a wham ar-> 
small theatre in a small town. I rangement of “Granada” for an 
call upon distribution to lead the ^ntry into the group harmony 
way in providing the solution to „ eas - Hefnm l^ter in show in 
the print problem before it ex- Hobm Hood outfits for standard 
plodes in their faces. The existing .Martha Raye. Act 

condition is almost intolerable, and Frank?}!! 1 * an< * arran 2 e< ^ Sl< * 
it grows worse every day.” Franklin. bary. 

Starr declared that it was a J0AN kAYNE 
shame and disgrace that exhibition Dance 
is lacking in national organization, g Mins 
and “that almost nothing is being Chez Zi-Zi, N. Y. 
done to protect ourselves in the Joan Kayne* is a likeable new- 
same manner in which other in- comer who has a solid background 
dustries have been doing.” He in terps. Routines are well de- 
pointed out that a national pop- signed and taps *re well executed, 
corn association recently allotted her dance motifs borrowing heavily 
'$1,000,000 for the protection and from ballet. She’s well-built, 
promotion of that, branch of con- charming and dances are good 
cessions and ? bemoaned . the fact enough to rate presentation in 
that all of exhibition cannot raise some of the upper-crust clubs and 
nearly that much. Tbs reason, he theatres. 

stated, for exhibitors to be in such ^ Miss Kayne on this occasion is 
a position is because “every man handicapped by the fact that the 
is for himself.” stage space is too small. Her rou- 

„ T . rr.,-w A „ i tines look like they are telescoped 

Herman M. Levy TOA general (o mee t th e physical requirements 
counsel, stated: The approval of 0 f ^is room. With a larger stage 
the Theatre Owners of North and S h e would have a greater sweep. 
South Carolina of the principle of Another factor that handicaps her 
arbitration, and the adoption of i s the inability of those in the rear 
the plan ultimately approved by 0 f the room to watch her foot 
TOA, or by its arbitration commit- movements. However, there is 
tee, is most encouraging. This is [plenty interest in her upper torso, 
the sixth unit of TOA to respond 'Her graceful spins provide a great 
enthusiastically to this action. It measure of interest. Jose. 

proves the crying need for arbitra- • 

tion, the fact that exhibition wants BERYL REID 
it, and that arbitration is here. Comedy 


bary. 


Speedy Tribunal 


10 Mins. 


“The basic intention of the pro- email 

posed system was to piovide a d dainty with blonde tresses, 
speedy, effective and inexpensive on iitelv-<;Doken accents and con- 

1 1 I i . * J tinuous smile, scores strongly with 

small, with grievances, large and style of naught y sophistication, 
small, it may be that, the plan is She makes top U6e o£ travesty of 
subject to criticism for one rea- highfalutin’ accent, 
son or. another; there may be room Gal has lots of personality, garbs 
for improvement. It may be that, herself colorfully, and adds for 
after a period of' trial and error, good measure useful impersona- 
amendments .will be necessary or tions of Grade Fields and British 
advisable. None of this, however, pic actress Margaret Rutherford, 
detracts from the justified conclu- Okay for radio, TV ahd vaude. 
sion that 'the plan is r a good^one*,* 


86 


CnATTEK 




Wednesday, November 12, 1952 


Broadway 


Actor Ralph Meeker In Gotham 
from the Coast. 

Jerry Tobias, son of songwriter 
Charles Tobias, weds Mary Lynn 
Davis at the Hotel Plaza Nov. 23. 

Armand Deutsch, Metro pro- 
ducer, due in from the Coast to* 
day (Wed.) for a week. 

Bernard Sobel convalescing in 
Doctors Hospital follpwing a siege 
of long but npt serious illness. 

Actress .Yvonne Pe Carlo ana 
former opera diva Lucretia Bon 
in from Europe yesterday (Tues.). 

Karl Malden east after complet- 
ing his role in Alfred Hitchcock's 
“I Confess,” set for Warner re- 
lease. 

Carleton Carpenter, Metro con- 
tractee, back to the Coast Sunday 
(9) to begin work on “A Slight 
Case of Larceny.” 

Joe Lopez, long maitre d' at the 
Gopacabana and before that at the 
Stork, planning to open in Miami 
Beach this winter. 

Russell Holman, Paramount Pic- 
tures’ eastern production head, 
pulled in from London, where he 
surveyed Par's film plans. 

Louis Lurie, millionaire San 
Francisco realtor, theatre owner 
and legit angel, arrives in New 
York from the Coast this week. 

. Indie film producer Harry M 
Popkin in on the Queen Elizabeth 
yesterday (Tues.) after an extended 
visit to London and the Continent. 

Jerry Pickman, Paramount’s ad- 
pub v.p., hopped to the Coast 
yesterday (Tues.) to huddle with 
studio officials on upcoming pro- 
motion 


in New Orleans, house guests of 
the R. J. O’Donnells. 

Betty Blanchard, Shreveport le- 
git producer,' signed a five-year 
lease for Civic Playhouse here, 
where she’ll offer non-pro players 
in January. 


London 


Rome 


,By Helen McGill Tubbs- 
John Ringling North off to Bad- 
en Baden to take the waters. 

Clark Gable here for 10 days 
before going to Morocco for a 
picture. 

American singer Linda White is 
featured in the new Italian revue, 
‘‘La Piazza.” 

Grace Hoffman, Cleveland so- 
prano, won a prize at the Vercelli 
music festival. 

Jean Renoir, after a year and a 
half here, goes to Paris then like- 
ly to Hollywood. 

Having finished “Roman Holi- 
day,” Gregory Peck goes to Paris 
to join his family. 

Paul Gallico in to script part of 
the DeSica- Jennifer Jones film, 
“Terminal Station.” 

Katherine Dunham and troupe 
held over several days at ‘the Quat? 
tro Fontano Theatre. 

Marissa Pavan, twin sister of 
Pier Angeli, signed to play lead in 
an Anglo-Italian film. 

Singer Bill Johnson trained out 
for Austria to entertain the troops; 
recently returned from Korea. 


Chicago 

Danny Kaye due in N. Y Nov. Joan Blondell> in a "Tree Grows 

17 to help plug the a in Brooklyn,” started a run at the 

Samuel Goldwyn s Hans Christian shubert 

Andersen ’ at the Criterion Theatre New York City Opera opened 

N pivM Rose and Raoul Walsh, g*,*"* at the ° pera 

iroducer and dii^ctor. respective- John charles Gilbert, manager 
y, of Coronado Productions oea » tiip nnpm Hon*?p off to New 
Devils" iofrom Britain yesterday ^i^to^ewthe^lgiters. 

(Tues.) on the “Skating Vanities,” with Olsen & 
Preem ver J©knson v came in for five days at 

9 ec - $ the Chicago Stadium last week, 

sion of Puccini s La Boneme at virtnr ■sppin? old friends 

* h t e f Met t ? Pe , r n a trnuf for b the Crio' with the Daufsh Natfonal Orches- 
f, ,t for the Institute for the Crip- ^ playing a eoncert here He 

pl tjv f momorini ma « was a child soloist with the group. 

Fir 1 at ^aplr^MpTn Helen Richards in town trying 

f Ce «nnn at Mnndav (17^ St" to have some Confederate money 

Taa« y Tiant?Sp n rhi?rph a He had been P rinted to use in promoting “John 
Jean Baptiste Church, xie naa peen ■D rrtwn >c ■Rnrtv’' wfiiph chp’«? flapk- 

publicity head for the 6 Paramount browns Body which she s hack 


Milton Rackmil in London for a 
few days, mainly to attend to af- 
fairs of Decca records. 

James Carreras, Exclusive top- 
per, tossing a cocktail party for 
Howard Duff Friday (14). 

Lawrence Wright inked Jack 
Storey to star in next season’s pro- 
duction of his “On With the Show' 
at Blackpool. 

James Woolf of Romulus Films 
planed to N. Y. over the weekend 
and is heading for the coast to 
negotiate new Anglo-US produc- 
tion deals. 

-Jack E, Baker, Republic’s prd- 
duction veepee, arrived last week 
to o.o. the production scene before 
hopping to the Continent on a sim- 
ilar chore. 

Jane Morgan planning a quickie 
trip to N. Y. after her current visit 
in Paris, but is due back* to play 
the femme lead in next year’s/pro- 
duction of “Latin Quarter.” 

Sir Alexander Korda setting 
production of “Taj Mahal” in 
Technicolor next year. It will be 
lensed in " India in collaboration 
with Indian artists and writers. 

Steven Pallos hosted a press re- 
ception to Dennis O’Keefe and 
Colleen Gray, who came over to 
star in “The Fake,” which he is 
making for United Artists release. 

Mary Martin made her farewell 
appearance when she starred in a 
charity gala at the Cafe de Paris 
last Sunday (9) with Noel Coward. 
She left the cast of “South Pacific” 
the previous night. 

Big line up of show biz person- 
alities who sailed on the Elizabeth 
last Thursday (6) include Eileen 
Herlie, Bill Johnson, Cecil Beaton, 
David E. Rose, Raoul Walsh and 
J. Higham, managing director of 
the J. Arthur Rank organization in 
Jamaica. 


Benjamin Altieri, Sr.; veteran 
stage director of troupe who is 
seriously ill. Altieri’s son, Ben- 
jamin, Jr., directed. 


Copenhagen 


Hollywood 


By Victor Skaarup 

“Girls in Cellophane” is the 
title of the new local Burlesk Pari- 
sienne's first show. It is a hit. 

Denmark’s popular actor, rotund 
lb Schonberg, who each year ap- 
pears in at least 10 Danish pix, was 
feted on his 50th birthday. 

Henry Schmidt, the new man- 
ager for Norrebros Theatre, for- 
merly used mostly for operettas, 
has had soldout houses for months 
with its poiiby of playing farces at 

a 1 con lp 

Danish film biz has stopped all 
advertising in the Politiken, a lead- 
ing daily. The paper claims the 
boycott is a protest against its film 
critics while the industry contends 
it is over the paper's ad rates for 
pix. 

Danish State Television, operat- 
ing in its second year under La- 
waetz’ management, is slowly 
emerging from the experimental 
stage. The 4,000 viewers see four 
to eight hours of TV weekly. New 
equipment plus many new pro- 
ducers have bettered the quality 
of the programs. The Danish film 
biz does not yet regard tele as a 
competitor. 


Pittsburgh 


Paris 


Theatre for 25 years. 


mg. 


UT/ - TUar" James Hanson in town to see 

be honored by N. Y, Federation of Audrey Hepburn, his fiancee, who 

Jewish Philanthropies at the Hotel ? pe ^ Anita Loos who adapted 

Plaza, Dec. 8, include Fleur Cowles Anita L,00s * wno adapted 

(publishing), Arlene Francis (TV), in fy pay * 7pvin « pneral manaeer 

Mary Margaret McBride (radip). fn ?S a stZe Ind Mike Sloale 

and^rreenf" 4 in before the"? two 

Pi T?f F T5vif ' wn<£n<? “nnured” Mon- Banana” and “Country Girl,” open 
The Earl Wilsons pourea Mon- , . .. . f wf^ks 

day night for some visiting mid- here m the next lew weeKS - 

west newspapermen, and another 
literary cocktailery, which also 
brought out the town, was last 
Friday’s turnout at Toots Shor’s for 
the Gladys Glad-Jim Bishop shin- 
dig to launch the new “Mark 


Paramount wiit distrm Italo pic 
“Sensualita,” here. 

"S* ^7.^^ A =2 1 month^TWTaTn^i £ounge 


By Hal V. Cohen 

Dave Lewises home again after 
a. Havana fortnight. 

Bill Doll and wife in for Hilde- 
garde’s opening at the Horizon 
Room. 

Georgia Sothern comes back to 
Casino Friday (14) for her second 
visit this season. 

Kaye Gorddn, local dancer, left 
town with “Top Banana” as mem- 
ber of ensemble. 

Dorothy Claire booked to head- 
line Carousel’s anniversary show 
week of Nov. 24. 

T. C. Jones winds up a two- 


motif, the La Macumba, opening slturday asi. 
here. M rS . Frank Jarema, wife of the 

re^ejws new Mm, “the Gold- 

wiK£»g MS 

Nr*™ Orleans end * n December. 

Robert Cravenne back here to Fa y fircf^nffvwood 0 ?!! 6 

assume Unifrance Film duties after Carlo for her first Hollywood en- 

a vacation trip south. gagement at Bar of Music. 

Claude Autant-Lara preparing a _ Pearl H . ippS . has ..V}™! 

new film, with screenplay by Woods , original musical, Dance 

Jacques Prevert, called “Eight Mad Lor Joy, at community theatre. 
Stories.” 


Raoul Walsh in from London. 

Lex Barker bedded with virus 

Sonny Tufts planed in from Lon- 
don. K 

Basil Rathbone planed in from 
N.Y. 

Barbara Payton legalized her 
filin name. 

Byron Haskin vacationing in 
Hong Kong. 

Joan Rice returned from the 
Fiji Islarfds. 

Bing Crosby returned to work 
at Paramount. 

Allyn McLerie in town after a 
month in England. 

Rory ’ Calhoun and Lita Baron 
vacationing in Acapulco, ' 

Cornwall Jackson and Gail Pat- 
rick adopted a baby girl. 

Will Rogers, Jr., to 29 Palms 
for a three-week vacation. 

Denise Darcel to Houston on a 
charity fund-raising mission. 

Sydney Greenstreet announced 
his retirement from the screen. 

Ken Englund on the new Martin 
& Lewis pic at Par (Hal Wallis). 

Eddie Cantor expected to leave 
the hospital at end of this week. 

Arthur Jacobson checked in at 
Paramount after a month in Paris, 
Gertrude Berg paused in Las 
Vegas on her way back to Manhat- 
tan. 

Jack Oliphant, London publi- 
cist, in town for a week of sight- 
seeing. 

Earl I. Sponable in town to hud- 
dle with 20t»h-Fox on the Eidophor 
system. 

Charles Farrell withdrew his 
resignation as mayor, of Palm 
Springs. 

Frank Freeman, Jr., hospitalized 
with internal hemorrhages caused 
by ulcers. 

Joe Pasternak commended by 
the U. S. Navy for producing 
“Skirts Ahoy.” 

Harpo Marx will star in the Pa- 
sadena Playhouse legiter,' “The 
Yellow Jacket.” 

Victor Mature tossed a Holly- 
wood preem for his new electrical 
appliances store. 

Farley Granger suspended by 
Sam Goldwyn for nixing a role in 
UI’s “The GOlden Blade.” 

Jack Gordon in town briefly be- 
fore taking off for Japan and Korea 
on business for Movietone News. 


Miami Beach 


Minneapolis 


Zurich 

By George Mezoefi 


By Les Rees 
Joe Shea here ahead of “Mister 


Cecil Saint-Laurent finishing 
four screenplays “Lucrecia Borgia.” 

“Caroline's Caprices,” “Bolivar” 
and “Whatever You Desire.” 

Marjorie Tallchief, who has not Roberts,” Lyceum underline, 
danced for seven months, is back Hotel Nicollet Minnesota Ter- 
in Paris with the Marquis de st. Paul Civic Opera Co. open 

. A . Cuevas Ballet at the Empire Thea- i n g its season this week with “Tra- 

Swiss date of Louis Armstrong tre viata ” 

Hellinger Story” biog, authored by set for early November at Ivon- Michel-Maurice Levy’s opera race bas the Beachcombers, 
the latter. gresshaus. „ “Dolores” finally will be performed Songstress Marjorie Garretson 

Joan (Mrs. Al) Daff, Australian- Veteran German dancer Harald bere this month after various dif- continuing at Hotel Radisson Flame 
born and a first-class citizen, was Kreutzberg will give recital at faculties in getting this Spanish- Room. 

wheeled by her husband, Universal Schauspielhaus. locale opera launched. Jerry Murad’s Harmonicats 

Pictures executive veepee, from Tino Rossi appearing in song re- Marcel Carne, who’s had his rounded out week at St. Paul Col- 

Doctors Hospital to the polls to cital at Kongresshaus, with French shooting script of “Therese Ra- 0 ny club. 

cast her first ballot. She had prac- orchestra Pierre Spiers. quin” ready for months now, is Edyth Bush Little Theatre pre- 

tically just gotten over the post- U.S. singer Uriel Porter gave s tin being stalled by censorship senting new play, “Today’s Daugh- 
operative anesthetic but didn’t song recital at Kemmersaal, but problems here. Based on an Emile ter,” by its head, Mrs. Bush. 


want to miss voting for her first got unfavorable notices. 

_ _ __ - « _ rH % • _ 1 I * _ _ _ . 


President Mrs. Daff is now re- 
covered and home. 


Portland, Ore. 


By Ray Feves 

Walter Hoffm2n, Paramount field 
man, in town for a few days. 


Schauspielhaus rehearsing Ger- 
man-language preem of Sean 
O’Casey’s drama “The Prize Cup.” 

F r e n c h-Italian co-production, 
“Little World of Don Camillo,” a 
smash hit at the Rex here being 
in sixth week of capacity biz. 


Zola story, censors are balking at Singing comedienne Weela Gal- 
its sharp naturalism. lez in sixth month of Hotel Minne- 

sotan Panther Room return en- 
nL »l J I 1* gagement. 

lllllBOOlDtllH Minnesota Terrace has under- 

“ lined Penny “Blondie Singleton, 

By Jerry Gaghan Nov. 17; Carol Bruce, Dec. 15, and 


BfllVcila PhricHna" The Wedge discontinued shows Honey Dreamers, Dec. 29. 

Reissue o£ ^ Queen Christina Saturday (8 f_ Comedian Shecki Green, roller 

Les Brown orch Set for a two- a "eRek ii? Berae where in phil Guber, co-owner of Big skaters Bob & Diane and singer 

niter at Jantzen Beach Ballroom, fourth Wg wed" at Jura Theatre. Bill’s, is in Hahnemann Hospital Kathiyn Clark . with Vic Torriro’s 
Mnu 99 : a« for spinal operation. orch into House of Hastings. 

The Cooper Sisters and Roberto Uonfj ^ we#"llted St . Val VaUee, recently discharged St. Paul Club Capitol’s show 
& Cerrito held for a second week 'Schauspielhaus, but had to. be can- f rom V* r®°P® n sh ls Car- comprises dancers Denise KesUer 

at Clover Club. ... celled at the last minute when An- ou ?, e i‘ n .. s ^ bu r b . a . n , P .? oU . t ' us . w J eek : ?S.l..^ all * a J % a i n ,t’., J5S 1 


Don Cummings, Sis & Sonny tonio did not arrive in time from 
Arthur, and Tern Andre in at p ar is. House was SRO. 

Amato’s Supper Club for two in- 
nings. 

Danny Kaye show did such a 
sizzling job at the Paramount Thea- 
tre last week that Evergreen loop 
will probably look for other top- 
liners to play the 3,400-seater. 


Robert Q. Lewis 'here two days 1 Conway and the Irv Williams orch. 
early for advance promotion on his 
opening at Latin Casino tomorrow 
(Thurs.). 

Elsa Lanchester to give one- 
woman benefit show for Main Line 


Genoa 


By Geeno* Garr 
Mexican director Roberto Gaval- 


By R. F. Hawkins 
Duse Little Theatre opens sea- 


V-.1 , An 8 son with “Poor Relations. 


Club, Nov. 22. 

Phil Jaye (Jaye 


don' wilT do a film Tn~Spa“in" after Naval 1 fo ^ two days at Verdi Theatre, 

phrjcfmna Naval Hospital and comedy-vocal Emma Gramatica. vet Itali 


Katherine Dunham dancers here 


Dallas 

By Bill Barker 


Christmas. 


Emma Gramatica, vet Italian 


Piano Duet,” by Mary Heley ® ancel bookin 2 at actress, stars in production of H. 

1 /!_, i*i a t T i n . i v wdrnidn xtl0&tr6t Af IVk a Ait rit ip_ 


Bell (translated by Luis Prendes) 
a hit at the,Beatriz theatre. 


Bernstein's “Israel” at the Augus- 


Billy Eckstine-George Shearing- tus IVlario Carotonuto follow*? there 

jl»jt juua juaiikcv a uu at uic.iicauiii meaiie. „ , ° ■ . . ° tuo. ivi.rtnu ^cuutcuutu louuws uieic 

billy May orch drew an SRO French star Claude Laydn here h 0l SL- m*; concert ; at Academy wi th the musical, “Cavalcade On 
1,800, at $1.60, in Showland one- under contract to Rafael Gil and selIout Norman Foot.’’ 

in J _ n piini (.Xr^riZ DrOHIOtGa. TVA" Cool rk TJ rvll of enL A/Illl All 


By Lary Solloway 
Myron Cohen set for December 
date at Club Morocco. 

Art Gordon set Rosalind Court- 
right for January date at new Al- 
giers Hotel. 

.. Jack Goldman due back ^at his 
Ciover Club after hospitalization 
for burns on legs. 

Variety Tent 33 sponsoring 
Ringling Bros. Circus Nov. 21-23, 
for Children’s Hospital. 

Leo Morgan in town at Casa- 
blanca to confer with Martha Raye 
on details of her Dec. 6 TV show 
which he produces. 

Harry (Superman) Donenfeld at 
the Saxony. Louis B. Mayer, also 
there, will address the National 
Realtors convention. 

Touring company of “Mr. 
Roberts” set for Dade County 
auditorium Jan. 20-22. “Oklahoma” 
plays the house March 12-15. 


San Francisco 

. By Ted Friepd 

Gussie Moran doing the seven 
hills. 

Carmen Miranda into Peacock 
Court of Mark Hopkins. 

Eleanor Todd hitting the TV and 
radio circuit for “Lusty Men.” 

Louis Lurie hosting Hedda Hop- 
per at Jack’s and at Press Club 
dinner. 

Margo Jones due in from Dal- 
las to set up proposed local thea- 
tre-in-the-round. 

John Payne, Susanne Morrow, 
Richard Arlen and Roscoe 4^ es 
advancing “Blazing Forest.” 

Tony Buttina, Civic Light Opera 
pressagent, back from northwest 
where he advanced the Danny 
Kaye show'. 


nighter. Vicente Escriva to do a film. ^ , * Milan’s Scala Ballet scheduled 

Majestic, Interstate deluxer, de- Legit actresB Pilar Vela will star a S roup to open local season at the Carlo 

buted large-screen TV in Texas in “Cabaret,” produced by Inter- Herman sidemen Felice Theatre, with concerts by 

with cuffo election returns. continental Films. It will be her ^nZi U fu«. t *+i.i «- e * j Combo is Molinari Pradelli, Scherchen, 

Margo Jones, a ’32 alumna, ad- first screen vehicle. Ca TT«;fi? e -n Llt J le u ® er “* . . , Klecky, Wolf Ferrari, Cattini, An- 

dressed student body at Texas Spanish actors whose voibes are .■ has £ ecei ved larg- dre and others. 

State College for Women, Denton, dubbed into foreign films are ask- organization Doris Day’s voice, well-known 

Sarnia Gamal into return date at ing that their names appear as "Y? 1 Co fP* employees and locally via top-selling disks, is miss- 

Sky Club, as sister-in-law Patricia “provider -of the voice” along with ma o a ge*nent, a total of $218,000. ing from sound track of her latest 

King quit short-lived show biz ca- the name of the, foreign artist in Ventura, Jr., 16-year-old pic “Lullaby Of Broadway” (WB). 

reer. the credits. ?9 n of , the sax virtuoso, received Italian-dubbed voice not only sings 

Karl Hoblitzelle, Interstate The- Ana Mariscal, a legit actress n . 1 f s , . uni( } n caf d this week and is translated songs in the version 
atre’s prez, pledged $25,000 to turned star, producer and director J, 5, n ® 0 ln pn J am sessions at his shown here, but original English 

Gonzales (Tex.) Warm Springs of her own pix, has done so well Qa ? s oouth Jersey Open House verses as well. This is unusual in 

Foundation. with her first one, “Segundo ca t. e * , local dubbing procedure and obvi- 

Walter Wanger and daughter, Lopez,” that she already is plan- . ocala Opera’s opener, “La ously disappointing to her ad 
Shelly, en route to Joan. Bennett ning a second film. iraviata (6), was dedicated to mirers. « 


Birmingham 

By Fred Wood res* 

Grand Old Opry at Aud. Sun. 

(9) . 

Black Hills Passion .Play opened 
at Aud. Mon. -GO) for five c&y 8, 
John Mason Brown speaks at 
Alabama College, Montevallo, to- 
morrow (Thurs.). 

Chuck Murtfliy back for week at 
Christy’s before opening eight- 
week tour at Elmira, N.- Y., as pi- 
ano-singing act. 

Ringling Bros. Circus in. Decatur 

(10) , Birmingham (11), Selma (12)» 
Montgomery (13) and Columbus, 
Ga. (14), on last leg of tour. 

George Jessel back for first time 
in 42 years here to address 600 a j 
United Jewish Appeal dinner last 
week. Ruth Chattertoii spoke to 
woman’s grqup ft 


| OBITUARIES 


rea only three weeks after he had 
landed there with a detachment of 
marines. Shortly before heading 
overseas, he and Shirley Palese, of 
the 20th-Fox exchange in Pitt, had 
announced their engagement. 



JOE JANS(LEY 
joe Jansley, 74, farmer member 
nf the Jansleys, W.k. nsley act, 
S Ld n New York Npv. 5. 

Further details m vaude section. 

MRS. ALF LOYAL 
-Vi rs Alf Loyal, 72*. widow of the 
nnerator of Loyal’s Dogs, died in 
Fanvvood, N. J., Oct. ,29. 

Further details in Vaude section. 


JAMES J. DAIILING 
James J. Darling, 92, retired 
legit producer-director, 'died Nov. 
9 in New York after 'a long illness.' 
Darling, who retired 24 years ago, 
had been associated with the late 
Charles Frohman and Florenz Zieg- 
feld He was employed by Ziegfeld 
as stage manager for “Sally,” “Kid 
Boots” and other Broadway pro- 
ductions. He produced “Kid Boots” 


in London. 

Darling was stage manager for 
the late George W. Lederer on the 
production of “The Belle of New 
York” in 1897, He subsequently 


In I ovltig Memory of 

LOUIS RYDELL 

lljov. V, 1947) 

‘Gone but not forgotten* 


THE FAMILY 

* 


assisted Lederer on “Madame 
Sherry.” 

Surviving are his wife, a son 
and a daughter. 

‘'chesty* mortier 

Polydore “Ch'esty” Mortier, vet- 
eran clown, died in his bunk aboard 
the Singling Bros.-Barnum & 
Bailey train on the run between 
Winston-Slftem and Greensboro, 
N.C.. Nov. 6. 

His death came three' weeks be- 
fore his planned retirement after 
42 years of trouping. 

Mortier came to the U.S. as a 
hand balancer in 1910 and switched 
to clowning in 1927. 

A native of Belgium, he leaves 


In Memory of 
My Beloved Husband 

JACK MdNERNEY 

NOY. 14th, 1951 

Hortense 


no known survivors in this country. 
Body was sent to Sarasota, Fla., for 
burial. 


BESSIE E. KIHCHEL 

Bessie E. Kihchel, theatre owner 
in the Pittsburgh area and widow 
of exhibitor Oliver A. Kihchel, 
died Oct. 25 at her home in Jean- 
nette, Pa. In failing health for the 
last year, she had been hospital- 
ized several times recently. 

After her husband’s death in 
1946, Mrs. Kihchel and her sons, 
Burt and Oliver Jr., built the new 
Kihchel in Jeannette on the site of 
their old Princess. She had been a 
partner in exhibition for a long 
time and took over the active man- 
agement of the theatre upon her 
husband’s death, 


CLINTON “BUDDY” TWISS 
Clinton “Buddy” Twiss, 45, vet- 



eran radio announcer and author 
of a recent best seller, “The Long, 
Long Trailer,” died of a heart 
attack Nov. 7 in Hollywood. 

For many years an NBC an- 
nouncer, Twiss later turned to 
special events. After severing his 
connection with Carleton E. Morse 
as associate on his radio properties, 
; e , toured the country in a trailer 
collecting material for his tome, 
frailer” was bought by Metro and 
served Twiss as a series on CBS. 

Wife survives. 


JULIAN (BUD) MURRAY 
Julian (Bud) Murray, 61, former 
,,, 8 e and screen dance director, 
oied Nov. 1 at Veterans’ Hospital, 
^awtelle, Cal., after a cerebral 
hemorrhage. Murray moved to 
Hollywood in. the late ’20s after 15 
Qi^ r . s ns an actor-dancer with the 
onuherts. He was dance director 
uumerous “Our Gang” films 
p % on musicals at Metro, Fox and 
aramount, and for a number of 
, operated his own dancing 

school in California, 

" Is ' v ife and a ddtifehter'sui’Vive. 


HARRY NORWOOD 
Harry Norwood, 65, former 
vaude performer and talent agent, 
died of leukemia Oct. 31 in Los 
Angeles. For 27 years he plaved 
major vaude houses with his wife, 
Alpha Hall, from whom he was 
later divorced. As an agent he had 
developed such acts as the Merry 
Macs, Bob Hawk and Anita Gor- 
don. 

Norwood’s last activity was as 
professional rep for the Frank 
Loesser music firm. 


ALBERT B. DORRIS 
Albert B. Dorris, 74, a pioneer of 
the motion picture industry, died 
Nov. 5 in North Hollywood. He 
entered film work with the old 
Vitagraph studio in New York as 
an assistant director and later 
moved to. Holly wood with Jesse L. 
Lasky. 

His last film post -Avas that of 
production manager at Universal, 
from which he retired years ago. 


RALPH R. STUART 
Ralph Ramsay Stuart, 62, legit 
actor-director, died Nov. 4 in New 
York. He also appeared in silent 
pix. He had been a -director of the 
Provincetown Playhouse, N.Y., and 
later directed productions in 
Elitch’s Gardens, Denver. His last 
Broadway appearance was in 
“Come of Age” (1934). 

Wife, legit and TV actress Doris 
Rich, survives. 


PHOEBE STRAKOSCH 
Phoebe Strakosch, 84, retired 
operatic soprano, died Nov. 7 in 
New Y'ork. She had sung at Copen- 
hagen, La Scala, Milan, and the 
Metropolitan Opera, N. Y. Her first 
Met role was in "Faust” in 1900. 
She retired 30 years ago. She was 
the niece of the * late Max and 
Maurice Strakosch, opera impre- 
sarios. 

A sister survives. 


RAYMOND HEADLEY 
Raymond Headley, 41, legit 
actor, director and designer, died 
of a heart ailment Nov. 5 in Point 
Pleasant, N. J. He had been with 
the Queen Players of Rutgers U. 
from 1945 to 1950 and was a mem- 
ber and director of the Point 
Pleasant Play Shop. 

His parents and a brother sur- 
vive. 


MRS. DOROTHY E. ABEND 
Mrs. Dorothy E, Abend, 52, wife 
of Sam Abend, owner of the Ex- 
hibitors Film Delivery & Service 
Co., theatre owner, and active 
member of industry and film row 
organizations, died in Kansas City, 
Mo., Nov. 6. 

In addition to her husband, a 
son, four sisters and a brother sur- 
vive. 


SOPHIE ROSENSTEIN 
Sophie Rosenstein, 45, dramatic 
coach at Universal-International, 
died Nov. 10 in Hollywood. She 
came to Hollywood nine years ago 
as a coach for Warner Bros. She 
switched to UI about three years 
ago. 

Her husband, screen actor Gig 
Young, survives. 


everett McLaughlin 

Everett McLaughlin, 60, former 
member of the Paul Whiteman 
orch, died Nov. 7 in Hollywood of 
complications following optical sur- 
gery. In recent years he had 
operated a repair shop for musical 
instruments in Hollywood. 

Wife and son survive. 


RUTH SHAW 

Ruth Shaw (Mrs. William B. 
Emerson), 46, former legit actress, 
died Oct. 20 in New York. She had 
appeared in “Captain Jinks.* 
Surviving are her husband, two 
daughters, her father and a sister. 


WILLIAM R. FRASER 
William R. Fraser, 72, for many 
years manager of the Harold Lloyd 
Corp., died Nov. 5 at his home in 
Encino, Cal. 

He was Lloyd’s uncle. 


Helen Grace Jones, 81, formerly 
active in concert work in Columbus 
and Cincinnati, died Nov. 5 in 
Columbus. She had managed the 
“Music Interlude” series sponsored 
by the F. & R. Lazarus store and 
until her death was managing di- 
rector of the Columbus Artists 
Group. 


Paul Harris, Jr. 41, former bass 
violinist at the Palace Theatre, 
Dallas, died Nov. 3 in that city. His 
late father was a bandleader there 
for 50 years. Surviving are his 
wife and mother. 


Son, 22, of Frank Thomas, vet- 
eran projectionist in Pittsburgh, 
was killed in action Oct. 27 In Ko- 


Frank H; Plant, 68, director cf 
Central Canada Exhibition Assn, 
at Ottawa since 1927, di$d at his 
Ottawa home Nov. 7. He was one- 
time mayor of Ottawa. 


Luis Barbosa, 65, composer and 
first violin of Portuguese Sym- 
phonic Orchestra, died in Lisbon 
recently. 


Mrs. Grace Atwell, 80, former 
stage and screen actress known as 
Grace Mordant, died Nav. 2 in 
Hollywood. 


Mother, 67, of Abe Rprger, ad 
agency exec and former Variety 
mugg in Dallas, died in that city 
Nov. 6. 


Harry Fitzgerald, 50, musician, 
died of a heart attack Nov. 1 in 
Los Angeles. He was formerly 
Rudy Vallee’s accompanist. 


Jesus Marquez, member of Par- 
amount’s special photograph de- 
partment, died Nov. 3 in Holly- 
wood. 


Chris Hanson, 72, studio police- 
man at Columbia for 10 years, died 
Nov. 6 in Los Angeles. 


Wife, 41, of Bill Thall, WLW 
radio and TV emcee, died Nov. 1 in 
Cincinnati. 


Father, 72, of Eddie Mayehoff, 
comedian, died Nov. 2 in Los An- 
geles. 


Miley Glen Miller, 49, former 
trick roper in rodeo and vaude, 
died Oct. 22 in Lincoln, Neb. 


James W. Watts, 75, former orch 
and choir director, died Nov. 5 in 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 


Son, 5, of Acquanetta, actress, 
died Oct. 30 in Los Angeles. 


MARRIAGES 

. Diane Stathas to Byron C. 
Karzas, Highland Park, 111., Nov. 8. 
Groom is connected with the man- 
agement of the Karzas Ballrooms 
in the midwest. 

Toby Robins to Bernard Freed- 
man, Toronto, Nov. 5. Bride is ra- 
dio and TV actress. 

Dorothy Ross to Harlan Jackson, 
New York, Nov. 8. Bride is a pub- 
licist; groom is an artist. 

Madiene Morgan to Phil Prov- 
enzono, Las Vegas, Nov. 2. Bride 
is office manager of Freddy Martin 
Music Co. 

Virginia M. Brown to Dick Smith, 
Worcester, Mass., Nov. 1. Groom 
is disk jockey at WORC there. 

Ruth Russell Is Mort Sherman, 
Columbus, Nov. 7. Bride is pub- 
licity director of WTVN; he’s mer- 
chandise director of WBNS-TV. 

Marian Jean Tinker to Isiah 
Davis, Pittsburgh, Oct. 26. Bride 
is the daughter of Harold Tinker, 
of RKO exchange staff there. 

Catherine Obringer to Edward 
Nathan, Pittsburgh, Nov. 7. Groom 
is assistant to John Walsh, mana- 
ger of Shea’s Fulton Theatre in 
Pitt. 


Ike Setup 

■; Continued from page 1 ---|- 

America” in the State Dept, but 
there will be a tightening up of its 
spending and an effort to make* it 
more effective. Howland Sargent, 
husband of actress Myrna Loy arid 
the Assistant Secretary of State in 
charge of the program, is almost 
certain to go. Herbert Edwards, in 
charge of the “Voices'” motion 
picture section and husband of 
India Edwards, vice chairman of 
the Democratic National Commit- 
tee, is likely to be replaced for 
policy reasons, although he has 
done a good job in his ppst. Eddie 
Rooden, ex : picture industry man, 
now ambassador to Uruguay, will 
probably go. 

2. The Motion Picture Assn of 
America, National Assn, of Radio 
& Television Broadcasters and 
other industry trade bodies must 
maintain their Washington repre- 
sentation. Such men as Eric John- 
ston and Justin Miller have been 
dealing for years with Republicans 
as well as Democrats. They cer- 
tainly will continue to do so suc- 
cessfully. The networks have 
Washington vicepresidents and the 
motion picture studios all have 
contactmen in Washington to deal 
with the Administration, with Con- 
gress, and with the Government 
Agencies. There is not one of these 
men who cannot; deal as \yell with. 
Republicans as with ‘Democrats. In 


fact, over the years, they have 
gotten along well with the GOP 

minority in Congress, and with 

Republicans who have accepted 

posts in the New Deal and Fair 

Deal admihistrations. 

3. Secretary of Commerce Charles 
Sawyer, who has owned interests 
in amusement parks and theatres, 
Will naturally turn in his resigna- 
tion. But Nathan D. Golden, vet- 
eran chief of the Commerce Dept, 
motion picture division and a non- 
political career man, has a very 
good chance of remaining. Plenty 
of people in the film industry are 
prepared to support him as one 
who has continually helped the 
industry. 

4. The two largest Government 
producers of documentary films, 
Dept, of Agriculture and U. S. 
Office of Education, are expected 
to keep on with their jobs, al- 
though their budgets for this pur- 
pose may suffer some reduction. 

5. The Armed Forces deal com 
tinually with the picture and radio 
industries’and also, via the Armed 
Forces Professional Entertainment 
Branch and USO, get live talent 
for Camp Shows in this country 
and abroad. Nothing is expected 
to change these relationships. 

6. There are no t plans, so far, 
to eliminate the Savings - Bond 
drives. Hence Treasury Dept.’s 
Bond Division, which deals extern 
sively with . Hollywood, Broadway, 
and the broadcast stations and 
webs, must continue this coopera- 
tion to promote the bond program. 

7. Justice Dept. Antitrust Divi- 
sion will still police the decrees 
with the majors and with the vari- 
ous theatre chains. Whether it will 
actively push -the 16m suit against 
the majors is anybody’s guess. The 
suit has been widely criticized. 

It may be quietly shelved. This 
will depend in part upon the new 
Attorney General, who hasn’t been 
chosen yet. Generally speaking, 
this new administration is expected 
to do less antitrust crusading and 
to commence fewer actions. 

8. The makeup of the Federal 
Communications Commission will 
naturally change. The chairman 
will be a Republican, and the Re- 
publicans will take over the ma- 
jority control of FCC. It will be 
the first time in the agency's his- 
tory that it has operated under a 
Republican administration. Senator 
Charles W. Tobey (R., N. H.) and 
Rep. Charles W. Wolverton (R., 
N. J.) will head the Senate and 
House Commerce committees, re- 
spectively. These committees han- 
dle all FCC legislation. 

9. House Un-American Activities 
Committee will continue to probe 
and hold hearings of Communism 
in films and other branches of 
show biz. On the Senate side, the 
Internal Security Sub-committee, 
created by Senator Pat McCarran, 
may remain active in the coming 
83d congress. It has been digging 
into Communism in broadcasting 
and the live stage. In addition to 
the reports and hearings already 
released, it has several others to 
issue. 

10. The issue of televising and 
broadcasting sessions of Congress 
will come up again next year. Also 
the issue of televising sessions of 
congressional committees. The 
House finally saw a ban slapped 
on televising of committee ses- 
sions, which may be lifted when 
the Republicans take control. 


L Larry Adler 

Continued from liage 2 ■■ *• 

the hotel, said the hotel took no 
stand one way or the other about 
Adler’s alleged organizational ac- 
tivities. “The Legion told us they 
didn’t want him to appear in our 
Swan Room,” he stated. “We acted 
simply on the basis of the Legion’s 
protest.” 

Mayer’s committee, which con- 
ferred with hotel officials about 
Adler’s appearance, said that Adler 
was “mentioned” five times in the 
report of California’s Un-American 
Activities Committee. Mayer also 
said that the 19 groups to which 
Adler belonged “were all declared 
subversive by the attorney gen- 
eral.” 

Mayer added that the Legion 
also objected because “Adler was 
on a committee that went to Wash- 
ington and picketed the House Un- 
American Activities Committee 
when it was questioning Hollywood 
people.” 

Questioned about the Legion’s 
charges, Adler refused to comment. 

Adler’s local appearance was to 
be the first of a tour through the 
U. S. since his arrival f^nj Qyer- 
seas. 


Bing Swings 

Continued from page 1 

Warren as Don Carlo and Cesare 
Siepi as Padre Guardino were in 
top form, with Mme, Milanov and 
Tucker especially distinguishing 
themselves for lyric lushness. 
Zachary Solov’s second-act ballet 
was effective. Opera, in toto, had 
drama, warmth and vocal distinc- 
tion, and though essentially a 
somewhat static vehicle, was a 
high-class achievement at preem. 

Exhibitionists Gone 

Another feature stood out. 
Among his various improvements, 
general manager Rudolf Bing has 
worked a major miracle. The 
swank, opening night audience 
comes now — not to see and be seen 
by each other, socially — but to hear 
the music. Opening-night audience 
has changed all right. It’s still 
society, in the main (who else 
could pay $30?), but the rowdy 
exhibitionists and noisy clothes- 
horses have given way to quiet, 
attentive* listeners. 

Evidenced throughout on Mon- 
day night was Bing’s new Met look 
or outlook, that of snappy presen- 
tations appealing as much to the 
eye (as theatre) as to the ear (as 
music). The Met is offering three 
new productions this season, at a 
combined cost of $175,000, these 
being “Forza,” an American pre- 
miere in Stravinsky’s new “The 
Rake’s Progress,” and Puccini’s 
“La Boheme.” 

Last-named will be given in two 
versions, in Italian and in English, 
the latter in a new libretto by 
Howard Dietz. Film director Joseph 
Mankiewicz will stage both “Bo- 
hemes.” Other innovation will be 
a revival of “Boris Godunov” in 
the original Moussorgsky version. 

In his third season as Met man- 
ager, Bing has heightened his bor- 
rowings from popular show biz 
fields, to make his presentations 
more and more theatrical. 


BIRTHS 

Mr. and Mrs. Vic Skaggs, sonT 
Pittsburgh, Oct. 23. Father is a 
director at WDTV. 

Mr. and Mrs. William Leech, 
daughter, Pittsburgh, Nov. 3. -Fa- 
ther is staffer of Playhouse School 
of the Theatre there. 

Mr. and Mrs. Grier Barbour, son, 
Pittsburgh, Nov. 1. Father is an 
engineering technician at WDTV. 

Mr. andTVTrs. Art Vlttur, daugh- 
ter, Columbus, Oct. 25. Father is 
WBNS-TV continuity director 
there. 

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Schuster, 
daughter, Hollywood, Nov. 4. Fa- 
ther is a screen director. 

Mr. and Mrs. Mervyn Blake, son, 
Stratford-on-Av6n, England, Oct. 
9. He is a member of Shakespeare 
Memorial Theatre Co. 

Mr. and Mrs. Guy Biondi, son, 
New York, Oct. 31. Mother is ra- 
dio-TV actress Andrea Wallace; fa^ 
ther is Universal homeoffice pub- 
licist. 

Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Powers, 
daughter, San Antonio, recently. 
Father is manager of ■ the Texas 
Theatre there. 

Mr. and Mrs. John Baker, daugh- 
ter, Los Angeles, Nov. 4. Mother is 
Jane Nigh, the Lorelei of “Big 
Town” on TV. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bruno Zirato, Jr., 
daughter, N.Y., Nov. 3. Father Is 
producer-director at CBS. 

Mr. and Mrs. Alan Young, 
daughter, Glendale, Cal., Nov. 7. 
Father is film, radio and TV comic. 

* Mr. and Mrs. Norman Greer, 
twin daughters, Hollywood, Nov. 
5. Mother is Gloria Grant, ac- 
tress; father is a publicist. 

Mr. and Mrs. A1 Wyatt, son, 
Burbank, Cal., Nov. 6. Father is 
a film stuntman. 

Mr. and Mrs. .Robert Miles, 
daughter, Van Nuys, Cal., Nov. 5. 
Mother is Vera Miles, screen ac- 
tress. 

Mr. and Mrs. William Levine, 
daughter, Nov. 6, New York. Fath- 
er is business manager for Theatre 
de Lys, N. Y.; mother is former 
radio singer Ruth Robbins. 

Mr. and Mrs. D. John Phillips, 
son, New York, Nov. 9. Mother is 
United Paramount Theatres attor- 
ney; father is exec director of 
Metropolitan Motion Picture Thea- 
tres Assn. 

Mr. and Mrs. David Oppenheim, 
son, New York, Nov. 10. Mother 
is legit-film actress Judy Holliday; 
father is director of Columbia Rec- 
ords’ Masterworks division. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lou Weiss, daugh- 
ter, Bronxville, N, Y., - Nov. 10. 
Father is with the William Morris 
Agency, N. Y. 

Mr. and Mrs. Dave Halper, 
daughter. Chicago, Nov. 8. Father 
is^^naTfn^ (Jjre^qr^oJ the.,gh&z 
Faree nitery there. 


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,m1>er 12, 19 52 


Mink-Monicle Set 


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plaza V/ith SpeH 


{ Vocal Magic 




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By JOE CMDA, (BiHbo«rd> | 

Any to be^ New I 

$Sf Ini $%* *J talentVnd I 
SS with 8«wl? e J 0 f Vide range. I 
dramatic than the Ho* I 

need s 0 ”,® ^ The Miss is Mindy I 
on 57th s - tr ^ e V, pr o C t is one of the ■ 
Carson. And her act i lwly ? n- I 
most smartly pacea, ptivat ing I 

tertainlng and thoroty ^ # gir l I 

this reviewer nas ev I 

vocalist deliyej. gamut from | 
Mindy xjrns ™ ^ ist{ul heart- 
plxieish ^?J® d Lch song for con* | 
S«My More than it inherent* 

possesses. »h e mink and 

p She wraps ■ «P \“® she would 

ported perform Parson ^ as . 
veloped into one otthe sm 
most P ol S 0 w’ business, and she 
: werally had to heg off opening 
night here. 


Hotel Pl«**» '* 

She’s in as a cate attractto^ 
socko. wtoh she is i a wel- 

as a Performer, in I the dass 

come new VA^ 0 „ w fo ch she has 
hotel mrcuits. n of late. 

been c0nce H O fei Plaza’s Persian 
At the HMel d her per- 

Room. »er c“»‘ backed up 

£ P r s SaV sL t mVef&rents 

S a Harkback to a yest^.. 

Bert Williams excerp . Ucat (dl . 

that in its modern PU ed bow- 
lapidated topper, , s a nd 

tie. grotesque wW» e g ‘ven w hat 

e carnal perhaps might have , 

“shTit a capital dlseuse.^ex -1 

pert interpreter ■ o£ w pop song 

song definite stylist who , 

singer. Sheis ^ and this has 
has made the ^ plush pr e- . 
nought to do ^ . Room. On 

cincts of the Fers Carson 

performance a ^ . anybody’s 
would ring the hen ^bel. 

auditorium. 


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ST. LOUIS 

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EDWARD JOY 

1619 Broadway, New York 19, N.Y* 


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GENERAL ARTISTS CORP. 















films 


RADIO 




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Published Weekly at 154 West 46th Street. New York 26, N, Y., by Variety, Inc., Annual subscription $10. Single copies, 25 cents. 
Entered as second class matter December 22, 1905, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y.. under the act o£ March 3, 1879. 

COPYRIGHT, 1952, BY VARIETY, INC.. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 


VOL. 188 No. 11 

- i - i i ■ ■ 


NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1952 PRICE 25 CENTS 



Legit Financing Hypo Seen Likely 


Til GUY SPARKS 


AFTRA Nixes l l /{f 0 , Wants 20 % Tele 


In Wake of Recent Eisenhower Win 


Tilt, Plans Walkout on AM-TV Nets 


Feeling in Broadway managerial-* 
circles appears to be that the Eis- 
enhower victory in the recent elec- 
tion has eased legit production 
financing. However, there has been 
no definite boxoffice reaction to the 
first Republican .win in a general 
election since 1928. 

The repotted relaxation of in- 
vestment coin may have a psycho- 
logical basis, since the return of 
the Republicans to national power 
presumably promises a more con- 
servative regime, with the pros- 
pect of a more sympathetic attitude 
toward large capital and industry. 
On this assumption, producers of 
new shows say they have already 
found potential backers in a gen- 
erally cheerful mood and more 
inclined to make Investments. 

Actually, observers believe the 
only likely legislative change in 
the monetary setup is the expected 
cancellation or modification of the 
excess profits tax, a step said to 
have been in the works regardless 
of the election outcome. Despite 
election promises, no major tax re- 
duction is anticipated, since there 
is believed to be little chance of 
serious curtailment of the arma- 
ment program, which 4s the major 
item of the national budget, or of 
dther principal classifications of 
Government spending. 

. However, it's figured that in the 
matter of interpretation and appli- 
cation of tax regulations, which is 
of obvious concern to people with 
large incomes, there may be a more 
sympathetic attitude on the part 
of Treasury officials in a Republi- 
can administration. So people with 
available investment capital may 

(Continued on page 63) 


Dicker Sinatra to Follow 
Sugar Ray’s ‘Big Bally’ 
Run at French Casino 

Sugar Ray Robinson’s engage- 
ment at fhe French Casino, N. Y„ 
is likely to result in encouraging 
Other headliners to go into that 
room. Currently in negotiation is 
Frank Sinatra, who returned Mon- 
day (17) from Europe and would 
start at the nitery following Rob- 
inson’s stand ending either Nov. 
21 or 28. 

Business at the French Casino 
picked up via middleweight champ 
Robinson, who can earn $15,000 
there on a guarantee and percent- 
al- Spot hasn't reached its top 
capacity, but date is regarded as 
-Profitable inasmuch as publicity 
surrounding the boxer's nitery 
debut was among the heaviest ever 
accorded a cafe headliner. 

1 Dree space is expected to accrue 
to the spot’s advantage when sub- 
sequent headliners come in. Imme- 
oiate profit for the spot is seen in 
tive fact that the William Morris 
nice started to dicker for Sina- 
ra there. Before Robinson’s entry, 
iriualiy every major office had 
u.sed °P er ator Nachat Martini’s 
submit top performers. 


Pixites’ Xmas in Korea 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

Fifteen film names have volun- 
teered thus far to entertain service- 
men in Korea during the Christmas 
holidays. Hollywood Coordinating 
Committee expects to round up 15 
more by Dec. 19, when the players 
take off from Burbank Airport. 

First fifteen are: Unit 1 — Paul 
Douglas, Jan Sterling, Richard Al- 
lan; Unit 2 — Walter Pidgeon, Kee- 
nan Wynn, Barbara Ruick, Peggy 
King, Carleton Carpenter, Carolina 
Cotton; Unit 3 — Beverly Tyler, Pat 
Moran, Bill Shirley, Jack O’Connor, 
Donna Lee Hickey, Rory Calhoun, 
Lita Baron. 

ASCAP (Mere, 
Pubs Differ Over 
Anti-BMI Tactics 

Friction is developing'" a m o n g 
top writers and major publishers 
in the American Society of Com- 
posers, Authors & Publishers over 
strategy in the fight against 
Broadcast Music, Inc. The fight 
between the pubs and cleffershas 
been kicked off with the latter’s 
attempt to amass a. $500, 000 war 
chest with which to conduct a 
possible law suit against BMI. 

Some publisher - members of 
ASCAP’s board are flatly disso- 
ciating themselves from the anti- 
BMI maneuvers while pointing up 
that the Society is not in any way 
linked to the writers’ efforts. 
These publishers contend that 
there’s nothing to be gained from 
the anti-BMI moves, whether 
propagandistic or legal, and that 
the solution for ASCAP’s prob- 
lems lies solely in the developing 
of hit material. 

The top writers, on the other 
hand, are continuing the buildup 
of the kitty with, which they are 
aiming to finance an eventual 
showdown with BMI. The well- 
heeled ASCAP tunesmiths are be- 

... (Continued on page 63) 


LURIE MAY GO IN ON 
CINERAMA WITH MAYER 

Chicago, Nov. 18. 
Louis R. Lurie, San Francisco 
realtor and showman, is en route 
to New York from Chicago to give 
Cinerama the o.o. and to look into 
his investments in legit attractions. 

Lurie has indicated that he s in- 
terested in investing in Cinerama, 
noting that he’d go along with 
any deal in which Louis B. Mayer 
is associated. Realtor, who recent- 
ly bought Frisco’s Curran Theatre, 
is an investor in the current hit, 
“Dial 4 M' for Murder." 


By GEORGE ROSEN 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

Bill Paley-Frank Stanton & Co. 
aren’t kidding about this one. If 
there were any doubts about CBS' 
TV City sparking the “new show 
business" on the Coast, they were 
dispelled in one fell swoop over 
the weekend when Columbia’s $12,- 
000,000 baby was officially dedi- 
cated in one of the major Holly- 
wood hooplas of recent vintage. 

Out of the CBS round-robin of 
weekend events, for which the net- 
work picked up a $100,000 enter- 
tainment-promotion tab highlight- 
ed by the Saturday night (15) 
“Stars in the Eye” Coast-to-Coast 
TV show and the N. Y.-to-L. A. 
airborne junket of 60 newspaper- 
men, has emerged a TV City which 
stands as a symbol of “things to 
come” in reshaping Hollywood’s 
future sphere of influence in the 
entertainment world. r 

For TV City, as perhaps the most 
unique plant in modern show biz, 
is everything — and more — than 
was pre-heralded. All the gadgetry 
and video inventiveness of modern 
science (as detailed by the CBS- 
TV braintrusters in last week’s TV 
City section of Variety) generated 
an enthusiasm and excitement at 
last weekend’s dedication cere- 
monies that left no doubt as to 
Hollywood’s awareness of its fu- 
ture stake in TV. And if Stanton, 
Paley, CBS-TV prexy Jack L. Van 
Volkenburg and the rest of the 
Columbia high command who con- 
verged on Hollywood for the fes- 

(Continued on page 22) 

$1,000,000 Facelift 

i 

For Met Opera 

The Metropolitan Opera Assn, 
is contemplating a $1,000,000 face- 
lift, with the renovation job in- 
tended to modernize the N. Y. 
operatic emporium, and especially 
add some much-needed seating 
space. 

Plans are still in the talking 
stage, but it’s reported that the 
Met is mulling a public drive or a 
special funding deal for the $1,- 
000,000, sometime after the first of 
the year. Extra seating space pro- 
vided, it’s believed, will bring in 
an added $100,000 annually to the 
boxoffice, so that if the renovation 
coin is a loan, it can be paid off 
roughly in 10 years. 

Refurbishing job would go on 
next summer, after the Met opera 
season was over. It might run into 
the fall, which precludes any do- 
mestic ballet company from using 
the house, as customary, but won’t 
prevent engagement of the Sadler’s 
Wells Ballet of London, which is 
due to return to N. IT. next autumn. 
Ballet Theatre, which used the 
house this September, will be 
abroad next fall, until November. 


V.P. Barkley’s Spiels 

Vice-President Alben W. Bark- 
ley, who had previously been on 
the lecture lists of the National 
Concert & Artists Corp., is being 
booked by the Columbia Lecture 
Bureau for a limited tour begin- 
ning in February. 

Barkley, one of the top gabbers 
touring the circuit, usually gets 
between $750 and $1,000 per lec- 
ture. 

Acts Mull Vegas 
Boycott; Burned 
At ‘Trust’ Booking 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

Some of the top nitery acts in 
the country, incensed at what they 
call the “arbitrary” attitude of 
Las Vegas hotels, are quietly con- 
sidering a boycott of the desert 
resort city — the nation’s biggest 
employer of live talent. Explosive 
situation, which has been gradu- 
ally coming to the fore in recent 
months, has been ^aggravated in 
recent weeks by indications that 
Reno, another centre for top name 
nitery shows, is planning to fol- 
low the lead of Las Vegas in set- 
ting down rigid rules designed to_ 
eliminate booking raids. 

Most of the major talent agen- 
cies are quietly supporting the en- 
tertainers’ rebellion, but no open 
action is expected since the agen- 
cies must continue to do business 
in Las Vegas.' It's reliably reported 
here, however* that several agen- 
cies have agreed not to submit to 

(Continued on page 50) 

■ ‘turn 


•f American Federation of Tele- 
vision & Radio Artists is threaten- 
ing a strike against both the AM 
and TV networks and their owned 
and operated stations in N t - ¥■.> -Chi t 
L. A. and San Francisco. 

New York local of AFTRA on 
Monday (17) unanimously voted to 
empower the recently merged 
union to call the walkout. Chi, 
’Frisco and Coast locals are meet- 
ing this week and next, and will 
probably follow the. recommenda- 
tion of the national board to pass ' 
a strike vote. 

Negotiations are in a state of 
suspended animation. At the end 
of the last bargaining session last 
week, AFTRA told the skeins there 
was no use setting any further dis- 
cussions until it confabbed with 
the membership. Parties are far 
apart not only in the network pacts 
but also on contracts for the 
o-and-o staffs. 

In the TV sphere, according to 
N. Y. local executive secretary A. 
Frank Reel, the union asked for & 
(Continued on page 54) 

Critics Pass Buck on Who’s 
'Undermining’ the Theatre; 
Everybody Else, of Course 

With much beating around the 
bush, critics John Chapman (N. Y. 
News), Virgil Thomson (music, 
N. Y. Herald Tribune) and Vernon 
Rice (N. Y. Post), joined playwright 
Stanley Young (“Mr. Pickwick”), 
producer Lawrence Langner (The- 
atre Guild) and actor Clarence Der- 
went in a discussion of “Are the 
Critics Undermining the Theatre?" 
sponsored by the New York Chap- 
ter of ANTA at the ANTA Play- 
house last Thursday 113). 

Word “undermining” may have 
caused the pussyfooting, for, as one 
of the panel members mentioned, 
it suggested that if an affirmative 
answer were arrived at by the end 
(Continued on page 15) 



ITINERARY um* uw ■ 
Nov. 20. .Donvor 
” 21 . .Larcunio, Wyo. 

" 22.. Ft. Collins. Col. 

LAST FRONTIER HOTEL 

LAS VEGAS, NEY. 

Nov. 25 thru Dtc. 26 




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MISCBLUNY 


PISMSff 


Wednesday, November 19, 1952 



During War to Silence Red Blasts 


Detroit, Nov. 18! - 

Government pressure was exert- 
ed in 1943 to silence a Detroit radio 
commentator's blast at Russian 
’atrocities, it was revealed in testi- 
mony before a House committee 
investigating the wartime Katyn 
Forest massacres in Poland. 

After the Government moved in,' 
Polish newscaster Marion Kreutz, 
now with Detroit station WJLB. 
was suspended three times from 
Detroit station WJBK and finally 
walked out in a quarrel over cen- 
sorship, he testified at the Wash- 
ington hearings. 

Kreutz said his troubles began 
after he had told his radio audi- 
ence on the Polish Hour that Rus- 
sia was the most likely suspect for 
the ‘ Katyn atrocity. “After I 
blamed the Russians, I got orders 
to cut out the Polish news service 
and use only INS and the Associ- 
ated Press,” Kreutz said. 

Earlier testimony from other 
witnesses established that James 
F. Hopkins, former operator of 
WJBK, had been warned to use 
only the “reliable” news services 
and stay away from editorial com- 
ment. The warning came from 
Joseph Lang, a Philadelphia radio 
operator who headed a voluntary 
radio censorship group. Lang tes- 
tified that Allen Cranston, of the 

(Continued on page 21) 

Man Vs. Femme Rassling 
Closes. Mex City Nitery 

Mexico City, Nov. 11. 

Claiming That it went' overboard' 

In indecency, the city amusements 
supervision department closed El 
Golpe, novelty nitery here which 
had become a popular tourist hang- 
out. Spot featured prize fights and 
wrestling matches instead of floor 
shows, patrons being served food 
and drink around the ring. Biz was 
terrific. Shows had been with men 
boxers, with the variation of two 
femmes wrestling. 

Department said it was provoked 
to step in and shutter when the 
El Gope presented wrestling 
matches between men and women 
which it alleged were extremely 
immoral. 


•Harvard Pudding Show 
Gert Lawrence Tribute 

Boston, Nov. 18. 

.Harvard’s, Hasty Pudding Club is 
dedicating this year’s theatrical 
production, “Strike While It’s 
Hot,” to the memory of Gertrude 
Lawrence. Long a Hasty Pudding 
Vve, Miss Lawrence was picked 
by members in 1950 as “Woman 
of the Year,” and students figure 
the forthcoming comedy is the type 
of production the public associates 
with the late star. 

A pic' of Miss Lawrence, coupled 
with a tribute to her importance 
to show biz and Hasty Pudding 
theatricals, *\vill occupy a promi- 
nent section of the printed pro- 
gram for the 105th annual pro- 
duction, which preems here Dec. 
2." Vice-chairman of last year’s 
production, “Seeing Red,” was the 
star’s stepson, David Aldrich. 

\ ‘ 

Coward-Mary Martin Net 
$8,000 at London Gala 
For Actors’ Orphanage 

London, Nov. 11. 

When Noel Coward played the 
Cafe de Paris last season, the ropes 
were up every night for a month, 
but at a special Sunday night gala 
in aid of his pet charity, the Ac- 
tors’ Orphanage, he took no 
chances and gave himself co-star 
billing' with Mary Martin; Latter 
had made her final appearance in 
“South Pacific” the night before. 

The result was capacity plus, 
with extra covers laid to meet the 
overwhelming demand for table 
space. Normal capacity of 400 was 
stretched to % 475, and the thespers 
orphanage netted $8,000 on the 
evening. 

Minimum price tab was $15, and 
this was handed over in toto by the 
Cafe de Paris management, who 
made no charge either for the use 
of the restaurant or for the cost of 
providing the dinners. Their only 
proceeds from the evening was on 
(Continued on page 63) 


GOP TO LIFT TV BAN 
ON HOUSE HEARINGS 

Washington, Nov. 18. 

The ban on televising House 
Committee hearings is expected' to 
go out the window in January when 
the Republicans take over control. 
Rep. Joseph W. Martin (R., Mass.), 
in line to become the next Speaker 
of the . House, said . on the CBS 
“Man of the Week” video program 
Sunday (16) that he will lift the 
ban. It was imposed by Democratic 
Speaker Sam Rayburn. 

Martin, who expressed his dis- 
agreement at the time Rayburn 
turned thumbs down on televised 
hearings, said he believes .each 
committee should be .free to make 
its own decision on this matter. 
This is the system used in the 
Senate. 


•f » f f- hH j » >■ fr » f V fM ♦ f » MMlH f 

This Week’s Football 


t 



House Red Probe 
Of Show Biz Ends 

t Washington, Nov. 18. 

House Un-American Activities 
Committee has virtually concluded 
its Hollywood hearings for 1952 
and, in the next Congress, may 
sharply reduce the amount of at- 
tention given to Communism in the 
entertainment field and devote it- 
self to almost entirely Red in- 
fluence in other businesses and in 
labor. 

This, at least, is the present line 
of thinking within the committee. 

Meantime, last week, the Com- 
mittee had two show biz witnesses 
befoTe it — one fully cooperative, 
and the other seeking constant 
refuge behind the 5th Amendment. 
Abe Burrows, the comedian-writer- 
director, who ducked no questions, 
(Continued on page 16) 

Rommel Pic Sets Off Pen 
Struggle in Argentina; 
Stench Bombs in Berlin 

Buenos Aires, Nov. 18. 
Showing of the 20th-Fox biopic 
of Marshal Erwin Rommel, “Desert 
Fox,” here has touched off a strug- 
gle between neo-Nazi and anti-Nazi 
factions in Argentina. 

Writing in the Freie Presse, 
newspaper of the neo-Nazi move- 
ment in Argentina, assistant ed 
Wilfred von Oven attacked the 
“patently false if not criminal” 
policies of Franklin D. Roosevelt 
in decrying the film treatment of 
Rommel. 

Opposing von Oven’s views, Her- 
mann Brunswig, former German 
corvette captain, wrote in the anti- 
Nazi sheet Argentinische Tageblatt 
that Rommel was murdered by 
Hitler. Observers here believe the 
pen-battld inconsequential, but both 
groups consider it an important 
element in helping swing the ma- 
jority of Argentina’s 70,000 Ger- 
man citizens to their side. 


Berlin Nabe Fights 

Berlin, Nov. 18. 
Demonstrators interrupted show 
ings of “Desert Fox” in two thea- 
tres here last week (14) when they 
broke in and threw stench bombs 
into the audience. 

Pic had been showing here for 
several weeks with only minor in- 
cidents. However, it has now 
moved from the larger downtown 
pic houses to smaller theatres in 
working-class districts. 

D.C. Radio-TV Press Corps 
Maps Prez Dinner Revival 

Washington, Nov. 18. 
Radio-Television Correspondents 
Assn, is seeking to restore its an- 
nual dinners to the President of 
the U. S. Association’s executive 
committee has already made sev- 
eral approaches to General Eisen- 
hower and is waiting to get word 
from . him before he leaves for 
Korea. Association has nailed down 
Feb. 7 as the date for the affair. 

Dinners were called off two 
years ago, after the outbreak o 
the Korean war. President Tru 
man decided at that time not to at 
tend any more of the correspond 
ents’ affairs until the world situa 
tion settled down. At the same 
time, annual dinners of the White 
House Correspondents’ Assn., and 
the Press Photographers ASsn 
were also put in mothballs. In the 
event General Ike okays the ether- 
wave newsmen, it would be a sig 
nal for the other two groups to re- 
store their dinners. 


^>^4^11^4444 By HARRY WISMER 

College 

EAST 

GAMES SELECTION *PTS. 

Boston-Villanova Villanova 12 

Villanova’s best season since the days of Clipper Smith. 

Brown-Colu|hbia Columbia 14 

Lou Little deserves cheers from coast to coast. 

Dartmouth-Princcton Princeton 21 

Charlie Cardwell and his Tigers again Ivy League champions. 

Fordham-Syracuse • Syracuse 7 

Too much for the Fordham Ram; Temple was another story. 

Harvard-Yale ”. - • ’ : * • 

Olivar is Yale’s modern Frank MerriwelL - 

Holy Cross-Temple Holy Cross 28 

Ariderson can win this one as he pleases. 

Lafayette-Lehigh Lafayette 10 

Lehigh’s big year was last year. 

Penn State-Pittsburgh ..Pittsburgh 14 

This win could help Dawson and Pitt go to the Orange Bowl. 

Rutgers-NYU Rutgers 6 

Finishing out the season. • 

SOUTH 

Alabama-Maryland Alabama 3 

The Terrapins broke their luck last Saturday. 

Aubum-Clemson Auburn 6 

Clemson’s worst season in years. 

Raylor-SMU • • • SMU 2 

Texas can support college teams. 

Duke-No. Carolina Duke 20 

Sanvaley’s last game as coach of the Tarheels. 

Florida-Miami Florida 14 

The ’Gators get revenge. 

No. Carolina State— Wm. & Mary Wm. and Mary 10 

No trouble here. 

So. Carolina-West Va West Virginia 17 

If Gamecocks can’t lick W. V., they can’t handle anyone. 

Tennessee-Kentucky . . Tenn 12 

Volunteers have too much power. 

TCU-Rice TCU 7 

No oil wells here. 

MIDWEST 

Illinois-Northwestern Illinois •. 14 

It’s been a rough season for both clubs. 

Indiana-Purdue Purdue 14 

The Old Oaken Bucket is at stake, and that’s all. 

Iowa State-Kansas State Iowa State 3 

Iowa State in a wheeze. 

owa-Notre Dame Notre Dame. 21 

The Irish should be able to hang onto the ball *in this game. 

Kansas-Missouri Kansas 8 

Too much Reich for Old Missou. 

Mich. State-Marquette Michigan State 35 

The Spartans, nation's No. 1 team. 

Mich.-Ohio State Michigan 7 

Wolverines better coached. 

Minnesota-Wisconsin Wisconsin 14 

The Badgers missed the boat this year. 

Nebraska-Oklahoma Oklahoma 21 

The Sooners should have been undefeated this year. 

Tulsa-Arkansas Tulsa 24 

The Oilers one of the nation’s great scoring machines. 

FAR WEST 

Southern Cal.-UCLA Southern California 7 

The Rose Bowl hangs in the balance. 

California-Stanford California 6 

The Golden Bears have enough left to capture the Indians. 

Wash. State-Okla. A&M Oklahoma A&M 12 

The Aggies roar by. 

PROFESSIONAL 

Giants-Redskins Giants 14 

Steve Owen’s team plays better while on television. 

Browns-Eagles Browns 7 

Browns fight to stay on top. 

49-ers-Rams Rams 4 

49ers reeling. 

Bears-Lions Lions * 14 

Lions are on their way to title. 

Cards-Steelers Steelers 7 

Steelers have played some great football while losing. 

Packers-Texans Packers 40 

Parelli and Tobin Rote too much for mpst teams. 
SEASON'S RECORD 
Won, 231; Lost, 71; Ties, 15; Pet., .752. 


• *. * 0.V < A 


TV MAKING ACTORS OF 
SPORTS OFFICIALS: BELL 

Philadelphia, Nov. 18. 

Television is making actors out 
df our sports officials, according to 
Bert Bell, Commissioner of the 
National Football League, in a talk 
to sportswriters and others at a 
Maxwell Club luncheon here (10). 

“Some officials appear to be too 
aggressive,” Bell said. “As an ex- 
ample, they throw the flag in an 
antagonistic manner when they see 
a violation. That’s irritating to 
both the players and the spectators. 
Some members of the shorts pants 
brigade throw their markers as 
though they were tossing a javelin 
for distance.” 

Bell felt that most of them 
weren’t intentionally belligerent 
and had no desire to be antagonis- 
tic, that they just wanted to make 
sure everyone on the field sees the 
flag. He also suspected some of 
putting a touch of theatre into their 
actions. “That comes of being on 
TV,” the Commissioner said; 
“video has made actors out of so 
many of our sports performers.” 

Bell pointed out that with much 
less effort and no irritation at all, 
the markers could be merely 
dropped. They are brightly colored 
and cart be seen, even without dra- 
matics, he said. Calm officials, he 
felt, were an even greater as'set 
jn soothing .arpused, players when 
regrettable incidents cfop.pp.; •, 


'When I Lose Money I’m 
No Piker,’ Sez Wirtz In 
Pre-Holiday Turkey Talk 

Omaha, Nov. 18. 
Arthur M. Wirtz, in town with 
his “Hollywood Ice Revue” last 
week, laughed at newsmen inquir- 
ing if he had ever fielded an enter- 
tainment flop. 

“When I lose money I’m no 
piker,” he chuckled, then related 
how he dropped $500,000 on Cole 
Bros. Circus operated in partner- 
ship with Bill (Hopalong Cassidy) 
Boyd a few years ago. 

Wirtz also told of* his aspirin- 
packed venture into pro basket- 
bail and declared, “In show busi- 
ness it’s easy to get overconfident 
and make a simple mistake that 
costs plenty.” 


Pixites Fete S. Africa’s 
50th Show Biz Ann! 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

Michael Silver, managing direc- 
tor of the Schlesinger Commercial 
Radio Corp., South Africa, is here 
to line up at least 50 film names 
to tape-record a greeting to South 
Africa for the 50th annl'of showbiz 
there next year. 

Bob Hope, Arlene* Dahl, Ray Mil- 
land and William Holden are al- 
ready i$et.c,v 


■ • i t 



Wednesday* Noyensl>er 19* 1952 



Va iziETr 


rieruRKs 


s 


DEPINET 



AT RKO 


Theatre TV of ‘Carmen’ Breaks Thru f |]]( (j 



Union Barriers; Future Co-op Seen 


Scheduled big-screen televising- 
of the complete production of 
“Carmen” Dec. 11 from the Metro- 
politan Opera House, N,Y., may be 
the long-sought-for event to get 
theatre TV rolling on a weekly big- 
time scale. 

Various talent and craft unions 
Involved at the Met, who have 
frowned on any cooperation with 
theatre TV until now through fear 
of setting a precedent which could 
backfire later, are cooperating fully 
with Theatre Network TV on the 
“Carmen” presentation. If they 
find big-screening to their liking, 
they may break down all barriers 
now existing against the televising 
of other entertainment shows, 
which has been the prime deter- 
rent to theatre TV’s expansion. 

Big - screen video until now 
has been subject to the same 
type of “chiclcen-and-the-egg” rou- 
tine which initially stalled the de- 
velopment of home video. Exhibi- 
tors have been reluctant to invest 
$15,000 and up in theatre TV equip- 
ment without a guarantee that they 
would have enough shows available 
to amortize their cost; rapidly. 
Those interested in promoting or 
producing such shows, on the other 
hand, couldn’t proceed because of 
too few interconnected theatres for 
s payoff. Now that the unions- ars- 
cooperating, even though it’s onl£ 
on a one-shot deal so far, the log- 
jam may be broken. 

Performance of “Carmen” is to 
be a benefit for the Metropolitan 
Opera fund, which probably was 
the chief factor in TNT’s getting 
an okay from the International Al- 
liance of Theatrical Stage Em- 
( Continued on page 15) 

May Not FillU’s 
Benjamin Bd. Post 

There is a possibility that tb e 
vacancy left on the Universal board 
by the resignation of Robert S. 
Benjamin may not be filled. Mat- 
ter will be taken up at a U board 
meeting later this month when 
Benjamin’s resignation will be 
formally acted upon. 

Benjamin resigned from the U 
board last week to take the board 
chairmanship of United Artists. 
He’ll remain .as prez of the J. 
Arthur Rank Organization in the 
U. S., which he repped on the U 
board. Provision of the consent 
decree in the industry antitrust 
suit, which forbids interlocking 
directorates, forced Benjamin to 
quiet as U director. 

If a successor is appointed, it’s 
believed that it will be a Decca 
man. Although Decca Records is 
the majority stockholder in U, Mil- 
ton R. Rackmil, U and Decca prexy. 
is the only Decca rep on the U 
board. 


Pix Moral Tone Up 

Washington, Nov. 18. 

Moral tone of motion pictures 
has shown improvement during the 
past year, annual meeting of Catho- 
lic Bishops was told last week by 
the Catholic Bishops’ Committee 
on Motion Pictures. 

The Most Reverened Michael J. 
Ready, committee chairman, said 
in his report that only one film out 
of 370 was condemned, although 
64 were found objectionable in 
part. He said over 45% of the pic- 
tures made in Hollywood were un- 
objectionable for family viewing 
and another 38% were morally un- 
objectionable for adults. 


Price Scale Key 
'Carmen Snarl 
For Theatre TV 


. Theatre. TV exhibitors now being 
offered a chance to carry a produc- 
tion of “Carmen” directly from the 
stage of the Metropolitan Opera, 
N. Y., are running into numerous 
problems generating plenty of 
head-scratching — most of the prob- 
lems keyed to the fact that this is 
a “first” in every sense of the word. 
Exhibs, for the most part, are anx- 
ious to carry the show to determine 
more fully the boxoffice potential 
of big-screen video, but most of 
them want to settle these problems 
[ before inking for the event with 
Theatre Network TV. 

Chief hurdle for the theatremen 
is the question of a ticket, price 
scale. TNT is asking a 4 ! bc-per- 
seat guarantee against 50% of the 
gross, which is considerably less 
than that charged for the recent 
Joe Wolcott-Rocky Marciano heavy- 
weight title fight. But with no prec- 
edent in the way of big-screen en- 
tertainment shows to go by, exhibs 
don't know how much their poten- 

(Continued on page 21) 


Johnston Follows Quick 
Paris Trip by Winging To 
S. America Trouble Spots 

Eric Johnston, Motion Picture 
Export Assn, prexy, arrived in 
Now York from Paris last Friday 
rnorning (14), reported to the 
MPEA on his French negotiations 
by noon, in the afternoon flew to 
Washington, and on Saturday (15) 
Ringed to Rio de Janeiro, where 
lie arrived Sunday night (16). 

Abandoning for the moment his 
Plans for an eight-country South 
American trip for the State Dept., 
Johnston is concentrating on film 
industry problems in Brazil and 
■Argentina. He’s accompanied by 
Mrs. Johnston, Mary Smith, his 
secretary, and Robert J. Corkery 
°f Uie MPEA’s international divi- 
sion. 

The MPEA prexy plans to re- 
gain in Rio until Friday (21) when 
ne takes off for a weekend in Mon- 
tevideo, where his party will be 

(Continued on p*ge 16) 


PIX DIVS $5,000,000 
BEHIND YEAR AGO 

Washington, Nov. 18. 

Motion picture industry divi- 
dends for the first 10 months of 
1952 amounted to $22,709,000, 
more than $5,000,000 behind the 
$27,786,000 figure for the com- 
parable period last year, U. S. De- 
partment of Commerce reported 
last week. 

For the month of October, the 
dividends were $2,894,000, con- 
trasted with $4,167,000 in October, 
1951. According to the Commerce 
Dept., the drop is due to WB pay- 
ing $1,238,000 this October as 
against $1,671,000 a year ago; 
RKO, which paid $392,000 last 
year, issuing none this October; 
and Paramount Theatres paying 
only $825,000 this year, about half 
of last year’s figure. 

Commerce Dept, estimates that 
the publicity announced dividends 
in any industry usually amount to 
about 60% to 65% of all dividends 
actually disbursed. 


Nick Schenck to Talk 
With M-G Suspendees 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

Nick Schenck and Charles Mos- 
kowitz are here for huddles with 
Metro toppers. It’s understood 
Schenck personally will take a 
hand in the studio’s growing list 
of contractees on suspension, and 
will interview Mario Lanza, Michael 
Wilding and Carleton Carpenter, 
all on suspension for nixing roles. 

He will also huddle with Dore 
Schary, Eddie Mannix, Louis K. 
Sidney, Benny Thau and others on 
production plans and overall studio 
problems. 


RKO BUYOUT BID 

The shifting tides of RKO have 
assumed almost, chameleon changes 
from day to day, since Arnold 
M. Grant’s resignation as chair- 
man of the board last Thursday 
(13) after Sherrill C. Corwin and 
Edward G. (Buzz) .Burke, Jr., had 
rejected his nominations for new 
board members. At presstime yes- 
terday (Tues.), RKO’s horizons for 
future management assumed these 
salient aspects: 

(1) Howard Hughes might give 
Ralph Stolkin, Abraham L. Kool- 
ish, Ray Ryan, Corwin and Burke 
some extensions, in exchange for 
casting his own board, leaving con- 
trol in Hughes’ hands but not 
leaving the Stolkin syndicate off 
the hook on its $7,345,940 individual 
and collective commitment to buy 
out Hughes’ 29% control in the 
company. 

(2) Matty Fox was to confab 
again today (Wednesday) in Chicago 
with the syndicate which had 
flown to Hollywood over the 
weekend to discuss matters with 
Hughes. Fox, too, is asking for 
certain concessions. He claims he 
has the bankroll for 100% indi- 
vidual takeover of Stolkin & Co.’s 
stock interests. Counter-reports in 
the trade had it that Fox was still 
trying to align his bankroll, but 
he is getting serious consideration 

(Continued on page 18) 


Along With Blast at Film Rentals, 
Allied Threatened COMPO Walkout 


RKO Stockholder Finds 
Out Why His Son-in-Law 
Shouldn’t Live With Him 

Swift upheaval in the RKO setup 
on Thursday (13) proved too much 
for one bewildered stockholder, re- 
sulting in a serious breech in the 
gentleman’s family relationship. 

Armed with Arnold Grant’s ex- 
iting statement, the biockhoider 
wandered into the RKO building 
in New York on Friday in search 
of an explanation. A mixup found 
him on the RKO Theatres floor, 
and eventually in the office of 
Sol Schwartz, prexy of the theatre 
company: Latter did his best to ex- 
plain that the firms were different 
corporate entities when the stock- 
holder popped up with, “Oh, I'm 
(Continued on pager 18) 


Reisman Settles at RKO 

Phil Reisman, who exitgd as 
RKO foreign chief when the new 
management recently took over, 
has come to terms with the con- 
trolling group on settlement of his 
contract. Reisman, who received 
$1,500 per week, will be paid off 
over an undisclosed period of 
years. He will receive under a 
year’s severance pay. 

He is now v.p. of Joseph P. Ken- 
nedy Industries. 


Corwin Stresses 
Wish (or Depinet 
In RKO’s Future’ 


Sherrill C. Corwin, RKO’s new 
studio chief, virtually concedes that 
the utilization of ousted RKO 
prexy Ned E. Depinet’s services in 
the new company’s future is in- 
evitable. The statements from both 
factions — departing board chair- 
man Arnold M. Grant on one side 
and Corwin-Burke on the other — 
put accent on the schism. 

Corwin’s side of it stressed the 
desire for Depinet as “consultant,” 
with latter stating he’ll reassume 
no new responsibilities unless 
everything “is the way I want it, 
and even then I’d have to think 
about it.” 

Reports of foreign sales manager 
Phil Reisman’s return are coupled 
with Depinet. This is part of the 
rumor factory that Joseph P. Ken- 
nedy, with whom Reisman is now 
associated as veepee of Kennedy 
Industries, might be coming back 
into the picture business. The for- 
mer Ambassador to the Court of 
St. James told Variety “there 
isn’t a chance of it,” but admittedly 
Reisman and he, old friends and 
now business associates, have a 
board pattern of capital and opera- 
tion under the J. P. Kennedy In- 
dustries banner. Certainly vidpix, 
with or without any RKO in their 
future, is an inevitability for Ken- 
nedy-Reisman. 


National Boxoffice Survey 

Key City Biz Spotty to Slow; ‘Snows’ No. 1 for 4th 
Week in Row; ‘Secreted, ‘Zenda/ ‘Quiet’ Next 

Current week is being described 


by some more optimistic exhibitors 
as a transition period. Actually, 
biz with few exceptions- is on the 

skids, with various factors being 
blamed including an early start on 
Xmas shopping, rainy weather and 
too much weekend TV competition. 
A fourth and vital factor is a 
dearth of strong boxoffice fare. 

For fourth stanza in succession, 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro” (20th) is 
champ by a wide margin. “Opera- 
tion Secret” (WB), which was third 
a week ago, is taking second posi- 
tion while newcomer “Prisoner of 
Zenda” (M-G) is third. Fourth 
money is going to “Quiet Man” 
(Rep) although it was supposed to 
have played most key dates. 

“Because of You” (U), new last 
week, is capturing fifth place, with 
“Ivanhoe” (M-G), which several 
weeks ago finished its principal 
playdates, showing enough to land 
sixth position. 

“Springfield Rifle” (WB) is sev- 
enth and “The Thief” (UA) rounds 
out the Big Eight list. “The Pro- 
moter” (U), “Because You’re Mine” 
(M-G), “Miracle of Fatima” (WB) 
and “8 Iron Men” (Col) are runner- 
up films. 

Of 10 new films being launched 
this session, a fair percentage in- 
dicate promise, “Happy Time” 
(Col) shapes up better than it has 
been, with a torrid session in 
Washington, good returns in Bos- 
ton and solid takings in Philly. 
“Pony Soldier” (20th), mild in De- 
troit, is neat in Buffalo. 


“Iron Mistress” (WB), which 
opens today (Wed.) at N. Y. Para- 
mount, is big on its second Chicago 
week. “Steel Trap” (20th) is very 
spotty this round. “Flat Top” (AA), 
also new, is fair in Frisco. “Blood- 
hounds of Broadway” (20th) looks 
mild in Washington, okay in Cincy 
and light in N. Y. 

“Cleopatra” (Par), being tested 
as a reissue, is rated hangup in 
Pittsburgh, okay in Buffalo and 
fine in Baltimore. “My Pal Gus” 
(20th) looms hefty in Indianapolis 
to top city. “Blazing Forest” (Par), 
okay in Seattle, is not so good 
elsewhere. “Plymouth Adventure” 
(M-G) teed off only fair at N. Y. 
Music Hall. “Turning Point” (Par), 
also fairly mew, ranges slow to fair 
in most spots. 

“Horizons West” (U) is doing 
very well currently, being good in 
Portland, okay in Pittsburgh, fair 
in Frisco and trim in Philly. “Devil 
Makes Three” (M-G looms fine in 
Chi. “Monkey Business” (20th) 
looks strong in Louisville. 

“Wakamba” (Indie) turned in a 
sock week in St. Louis. “Every- 
thing I Have Is Yours” (M-G) is 
okay in Seattle and Cleveland. 

“Limelight” (UA), solid in Fris- 
co, is great in two N. Y. houses, 
third round. “Yankee Buccaneer” 
(U), good in Detroit, is nice in 
Denver. 

“Battle Zone” (AA), good in Cin- 
cy, is slow in St. Louis. “Savage” 
(Par) is good in Montreal and fine 
in Portland. 

(Complete Boxoffice Reports on 
l * Pages 10-11) " ’* ’ 


Chicago, Nov. 18. 

Fireworks expected at the 19th 
anhuai convention of Allied States 
Assn, of Motion Picture Exhibitors 
erupted this afternoon (Tues.) but 
simmered somewhat when the ex- 
hib outfit, after an implied threat 
to wreck the Council of Motion 
Picture Organizations, decided to 
go along with the all-industry org 
for another year. 

Decision to stick with COMPO, 
was based mainly on the industry’s 
fight to eliminate the 20% admis- 
sion tax. It’s anticipated that the 
battle will be climaxed this year 
and the more than 700 delegates 
at today’s forum session felt that 
Allied should be part of the over- 
all fight. A rump movement, led 
by Sig Goldberg, Wausau, Wis., 
exhib, was quickly beaten down 
when Goldberg urged Allied with- 
draw immediately from COMPO in 
line with the minority report of 
Boston exhib 'Nathan Yamins. 
(COMPO is the public relations 
outfit encompassing all branches 
of the industry and works on prob- 
lems affecting all groups jointly.) 

Earlier in the day, the Allied 
board, in a sweeping statement, 
had urged withdrawal from all in- 
dustry cooperative ventures. Board 
blamed the threatened action on 

(Continued on page i.6) 

Lurie Cold to RKO 
Syndicate Bids 

Chicago, Nov. 18. 

San Francisco realtor Louis R. 
Lurie, here to inspect his real es- 
tate holdings, was approached by 
several groups to become part of 
a syndicate to buy out the Ralph 
Stolkin & Co. interests in RKO. 
Lurie noted that “they’re trying to 
get me in,” but he indicated that 
he was cold to taking part in any 
deal, noting that “I want no part 
of it as it is set up now,” he de- 
clared. 

Feelers to Lurie have been made 
by Virgil Dardi, a fellow San Fran- 
( Continued on page 21) 



Trade Mark Registered 
FOUNDED BY SIME SILVERMAN 
Published Weekly by VARIETY, INC. 

Harold Erichs, President 
154 West 40th St. New York 30, N. Y.' 
Hollywood 2S . 

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SUBSCRIPTION 

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Single' Copies 25 Cents 

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Vol. 188 


No. 11 


INDEX 


Band Reviews 

.. 48 

Bills 

.. 54 

Chatter 

.. 62 

Film Reviews 

6 

House Reviews 

.. 55 

Inside Legit 

.. 58 

Inside Music 

.. 49 

Inside Radio 

.. 34 

Inside Television 

.. 34 

International 

.. 10 

Legitimate 

.. 56 

Literati 

61 

Music 

.. 42 

New Acts 

.. 54 

Night Club Revifews . , . 

.. 52 

Obituaries 

.. 63 

Pictures 

.. 3 

Radio-Television 

.. 24 

Radio Reviews 

.. 31 

Record Reviews 

.. 42 

Frank Scully 

.. 61 

Television Reviews . . . 

.. 30 

TV-Films 

.. 22 

Vaudeville 

.. 50 


DAILY VARIETY 
(Published In Hollywood by 
- Dally Variety, Ltd.) 





4 ftrctuititid 


T r f i i • nVA TL i 

To Eye Control m RKO Tlieatres 


Continuing purchases on the*!- 
open market to strengthen its posi- 
tion in RKO Theatres, group led 
by Wall St. broker David J. Greene 
is still eyeing majority control of 
the circuit. 

With Howard Hughes perhaps 
returning to active participation in 
the theatre company,. Grefcne group 
may make an active stab to pur- 
chase his holdings. Hughes' hold- 
ings, amounting to 929,020 shares, 
are currently being trusteed by the 
Irving Trust Co. under terms of 
the RKO consent decree. Since 
Hughes has Sold his stock in the 
picture company, the Dept, of Jus- 
tice has approved his removal of 
the theatres holdings from the trust 
arrangement, a move Hughes has 
not yet undertaken. Some quar- 
ters doubted that Hughes would at- 
tempt to replace the Irving Trust 
reps on the board. Bank’s reps 
are William J, Wardall and Ben 
Fleming-Sessel. 

Although Greene group has bol- 
stered its holdings, it’s still a long 
way from challenging Hughes or 
the present management. Exact 
total the Greene group currently 
controls is not clear, but as of last 
May it held 107,950 shares, making 
it the second largest single stock- 
holder. In addition, Greene has 
been able to line up other dissident 
stockholders to vote with his 
group. Last year this led to his 
and A. Louis Oresman being named 
to the chain’s board. 

Greene unit is also the second 
largest stockholder in RKO Pic- 
tures. However, it has made no 
move in that direction because of 
■ its “active interest - in- the theatre- 
company. It’s indicated, though, 
that it has been carefully observ- 
ing* the recent shifts in the pic 
outfit. 


N.Y. COLLARITES MISS 
CHANCE FOR PAY HIKE 

New York film white collarites 
narrowly missed a wage hike this 
week when the cost-of-living in-» 
dex failed to hit the mark set by 
their union and the filmeries. Un- 
der terms of the two-year pact 
signed last November between the 
Motion Picture Home Office Em- 
ployees Union, Local H-63, IATSE, 
staffers were entitled to an auto- 
matic increase if the Consumers 
Index of New York City went up 
five points. It increased by 4:5. 

Pact calls for a lc per hour in- 
crease for each 1.7 increase in the 
cost of living. Had the index been 
upped by the required five points, 
it would have meant an average in- 
crease of about $1.50 per week for 
each white-collarite. 

SDG Preps Decision On 

Biberman Reinstatement 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

Herbert Biberman’s application 
for reinstatement in the Screen Di- 
rectors Guild of America will be 
decided at a meeting next Monday 
(24). 

Decision has been delayed to 
permit the Guild to make an ex- 
haustive investigation of Biber- 
man’s political activities since his 
release from prison. He was sent 
there for refusal to answer ques- 
tions asked by the House Un- 
American Activities Committee. 


Heifetz Sues Over 

Cancelled Pic Fiddling 

Los Angeles, Nov. 18. 

Jascha Heifetz has filed suit for 
$10,000 in Superior Court against 
Rudolph Polk, producer, and World 
Artists, Inc., charging breach of 
contract. 

Violinist declares he pacted in 
1949 to make two films for $5,000 
apiece and has not been compen- 
sated, although he was ready and 
willing to perform in them. 


‘Movietime* in Texas 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

Nine Hollywood personalities 
planed to Dallas to start a tour of 
30 Texas cities for "Movietime, 
U. S. A.” 

Troupe consists of Susan Cabot, 
Wayne Morris, John Carroll, Kee- 
nan Wynn, Hugh O'Brian, Vera 
Ellen, Alix Talton. Jean Hagen 
and Fred de Cordova, 


Autry Goes Pip-pip 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

Gene Autry and his rodeo will 
gallop thataway in England on an 
eight-week schedule in May and 
June, through arrangements made 
by Mitchell J. Hamilburg, 

Deal is also in the making for 
an Autry picture over there, in 
cooperation with Scotland Yard, 

Push Repeal Of 
20% Tax Via Proof 
Of Exhib Losses 

Believing that dollar-and-cents 
proof will be the most effective 
manner in which to wage repeal of 
the 20% Federal admission tax, the 
film industry’s National Tax Re- 
peal Campaign Committee has 
Adopted the coin angle in present- 
ing arguments to Congressmen. 
Group notes that when small ex- 
hibs present proof that the A x is 
crippling their biz, 'almost invari- 
ably they snare a pledge from a 
legislator to vote for repeal of the 
tax. Committee also believes the- 
dollar-and-cents angle will be the 
backbone of the industry’s pitch 
when the tax comes up for hearing 
before the House Ways and Means 
.Committee,. 

In pursuing this approach, in- 
dustry tax group is seeking info 
from exhibs throughout the coun- 
try to prove the point. It’s urging 
exhibs to send letters to the na- 
tional committee setting forth in 
detail- the financial damage that 
has been done their operations as 
a result of the tax bite. 

Dope sheet has gone out to all 
industry State and Congressional 
district committees outlining the 
type of information the national 
group requires for exhibits. Info 
includes profits and losses of thea- 
tres over past five years (this, of 
course, only if figures prove that 
tax has made house operate at 
loss), number of times the tax ex- 
(Continued on page 21) 

RKO EXEC TAKES STAND 
IN JARRICO HASSLE 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

RKO exec Ernest Scanlon was 
scheduled to take the stand today 
(Tues.) as the first witness in the 
complicated RKp-Paul Jarrico le- 
gal hassle over "Las Vegas S.tory.” 
Both sides, waived a jury, case 
being heard by Superior Court 
Judge Orlando H. Rhodes, who 
paved the way for testimony Mon- 
day by denying Jarrico’s attorney, 
Edward Mosk a motion for a judg- 
ment solely on basis of the plead- 
ings. 

RKO seeks court sanction of its 
refusal to give Jarrico screen credit 
on "The Las Vegas Story.” It 
claims it hired other writers to 
rehash all Jarrico’s work on the, 
script after he had been fired from 
his $2,000-a-week job. He was dis- 
charged, the studio declares, be- 
cause of his refusal to answer ques- 
tions on his alleged connection with 
the Communists. 

Jarrico, in his $350,000 damage 
suit, denied’ that his "Las Vegas’* 
script was discarded. He claims 
that a Screen Writers Guild arbi- 
tration board recommended that 
he be given screen credit, even 
after he had been discharged. He 
also asserts that he was fired on 
the day he was subpoenaed and 
before he actually testified before 
the House Un-American Activities 
Ccmmittee. 

It’s expected Howard Hughes will 
be called to the stand late this 
week or early next. He was studio 
head when Jarrico was discharged. 
Mosk also plans to have script 
read, then screen film so judge 
can make necessary comparisons. 


PCC Gets $931,045 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

After the first two weeks of for- 
mal solicitation, the film industry’s 
Permanent Charities Committee 
has rounded up 16,012 subscrip- 
tions, amounting to $931,045, or 
about 76% of the 1953 campaign’s 
goal of $1,225,000. 


GOLDENSONPREZOF 
NEW AB-PT CO. 

Washington, Nov. 18. ‘ 

The American Broadcasting Co. 
will have five of the 18 directors of 
the new American Broadcasting- 
Paramount Theatres, Inc., which 
will operate both the network and 
United Paramount Theatres follow- 
ing FCC. finalization of last week’s 
report by Examiner Leo Resnick 
favoring approval of the merger. 
Executives of^AB-PT will be: 

Leonard H. Goldenson, president 
and director; Edward J. Noble, "di- 
rector and chairman of the finance 
committee; Robert E. Kintner, v.p., 
director and president of the ABC 
division; Walter W. Gross, v.p., di- 
rector and general counsel; Robert 
H. O’Brien, v.p.' secretary, director 
and executive v.p, of the ABC di- 
vision; Robert H. Hinckley, v.p. 
and director. 

Other directors: Earl E. Ander- 
son, John Balaban, Abraham H. 
Blank, John A. Coleman, Charles 
T. Fisher, Jr., E. 'Chester Gersten, 
Robert L. Huffines, Jr., William T. 
Kilborn, Walter P. Marshall, Her- 
bert J, Schwartz, Robert B. Wilby, 
Owen D. Young, Edward L. Hyman 
will be v.p., Robert M. Weitman 
will be v.p., plus veepee of the ABC 
division; Sidney M. Markley, v.p.; 
Simon B. Siegel, comptroller; 
James L. Brown, assistant treas- 
urer. 

Church-Conscious 
Exhibs Blame WB 
Terms for ‘Fatima’ Nix 

Wishing to maintain good pub- 
lic relations with the Catholic 
Church, yet faced with high terms ! 
demanded by Warner Bros, for 
"Miracle of Fatima,'” exhibs are 
blaming their inability to show the 
film on the distrib company. WB 
has been asking as high as 70%. 

Leadership in the move has 
been assumed by the Allied Inde- 
pendent Theatre Owners of Iowa 
and Nebraska, headed by Charles 
Niles. In a letter to The Most Rev. 
H. P, Rohlman, Archbishop of 
Dubuque, with copies to seven 
other Archbishops in the Iowa-Ne- 
braska area, Niles charges that in 
"the parishes where this picture 
i not exhibited, the blame rests 
entirely on Warner Bros.” He 
points out that the exhibs "wish to 
do everything within our power 
to show ‘The Miracle of Fatima.’ ” 
However, he notes that WB has 
; either not made it available to the 
theatres of Iowa and Nebraska or 
have asked for such stiff terms 
that it- makes it "impossible for 
our members to show it.” 

Niles further points out that 
many members of the clergy had 
received invitations from WB to 
view the pic, resulting in requests 
to the theatres from priests and 
church organizations asking when 
the film would be shown. 

A WB spokesman denied that the 
picture had been withheld any- 
where in Nebraska or Iowa, point- 
ing out that it had played first-run 
engagements in Lincoln and Omaha 
and in the Iowa cities of Daven- 
port, Des Moines and Sioux City. 
Only city in which a church official 
had received a copy of the Niles 
letter where pic hasn’t played, ac- 
cording to the Warner spokesman, 
was Grand Island, Neb. This, he 
pointed out, was due to the clear- 
ance, with "Fatima” opening there 
as soon as the Omaha run is com- 
pleted. 

He noted that the company was 
dickering for smaller houses so 
it could obtain longer runs for the 
pictures. Exec stressed that com- 
pany had normal negotiations with 
exhibs in the area and had come 
across no difficulties in booking 
the film. 


Krim to Paris 

Arthur B. Krim, United Artists 
prexy, leaves New York by plane 
for Paris today (Wed.) for a month- 
long swing through Europe. 

Krim plans to visit London and 
Rome, and may also go to Spain. 
While in Europe he will negotiate 
various new deals and will also see 
"Moulin Rouge” and other pix 
slated for UA release. 


N. Y. to Europe 

Richard Aldrich 
Babs Dae 
Bobby Dae 
Tony Dean 
Don Dellaire 
John Dervin 
Henry Deutschmeister 
Dorothy Matthews 


Wetlnesciay, November 19, 1952 


Washington, Nov. 18, 

Here are some of the highspots of last week’s initial decision by 
FCC Examiner Leo Resnick on the Paramount package pro- 
ceedings. 

On competitive factors involved in ABC-UPT merger: 

"There is little likelihood of substantial change in the com- 
petitive situation . . . with respect to ABC-UPT theatres and AM 
and TV owned-and-operated and affiliated stations. Any affirma- 
tive efforts on the part of ABC-UPT to change this competitive 
situation will be limited, in the case of theatres, by the general 
prohibition in the consent judgment against the acquisition of 
• ^additional theatres unless ABC-UPT could show to the satisfaction 
v of the court that competition would not be unduly restrained; in 
the case of additional broadcast facilities, by the necessity for 
securing the approval of the Commissionr and, in the case of 
acquiring additional affiliates, by the competition with other 
networks . . . failure (of ABC-UPT) to develop strong ABC pro- 
gramming would more probably result in greater audience for 
programs of its broadcast competitors than for ABC-UPT 
theatres.” 

On justification for the merger: 

“In our opinion, the merger will not only fail substantially to 
lessen competition but will promote competition. The merger 
will provide ABC with the financial resources to carry out its 
plans to strengthen its programming and improve its physical 
plant and thereby provide substantial competition to the other 
networks, enabling both its o and o stations and its affiliates to 
improve their service to the public, and stimulating the other net- 
works and stations to compete in turn. 

“Furthermore, the increased competition which the merger will 
foster appears certain, substantial and immediate whereas the les- * 
sening of competition which may occur would be minor, limited 
and remote. We therefore conclude that the merger will be in 
the public interest.” 

On the Paramount-DuMont control issue: 

"There is no doubt that Paramount has a substantial interest . 
in DuMont. However, the extensive investigation conducted into 
the ‘actualities’ of the Paramount-DuMont relationship . . , dis- 
closes that under the leadership of Dr. DuMont, the Class A 
officers and directors dominate the corporate management and 
policy of the DuMont organization and that the veto power pos- 
sessed by Paramount, as the Class B stockholder, has not been 
exercised and is applicable to a limited class of situations not 
likely to occur in the foreseeable future.” 



UPTs $30, 000,000 Surplus Pledged 
To ABC in Expanding TV Network 


Goetz in N. Y. 

William Goetz, production head 
at Universal-International, planed 
into N. Y. from the Cohst yester- 
day (Tues.) for conferences at 
the homeoffice. He was accom- 
panied by A1 Horwits, U studio 
publicity director. 

While in N. Y., Goetz will con- 
fer with Milton R. Rackmil, U 
prexy;” Nate J. Blumberg, board 
chairman, and Alfred E. Daff, 
exec v.p. 


Par to Press 
For 4 More 
Video Outlets 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

Now that the Federal Communi- 
cations Commission has ruled ten- 
tatively that Paramount does not 
exercise control over the DuMont 
television network, Par is expected 
to prosecute its applit ations for 
new TV outlets to bring its owner- 
ship up to the maximum of five 
permitted by the Commission. Paul 
Raibourn, Par veepee and Par TV 
Productions prexy, arrived on the 
Coast over the weekend for hud- 
dles with studio execs and also 
with Klaus Landsberg, veepee-gen- 
eral manager of KTLA, Par’s 
(Continued on page 16) 


N. Y. to L. % A. 

George Banyai 
Marlon Brando 
Wendell Corey 
Linda Darnell 
Yvonne DeCarlo 
Armand Deutsch 
Lynn Farnol 
John Gregory 
Mauril Gresham 
Will Jason 
George Jessel 
Jesse L. Lasky 
David Rose 
Leah Salisbury 
Joe Schoenfeld 
Frank Sinatra 
Jack L. Warner 

Europe to N. Y. 

Sidney Gordon 
Eric Johnston 
Arthur Loew 
Irene Manning 
Felipe Mier 
Joyce O’Hara 
Leonard Sillman 


Washington, Nov. 18. 
Important developments in tele- 
vision can be expected soon as a 
result of last week’s epochal initial 
decision by Federal Communica- 
tions Commission Examiner Leo 
Resnick in the Paramount pack- 
age proceedings. The ruling is 
likely to be affirmed by the full 
Commission within a month. 

By approving the merger of the 
American Broadcasting Co. with 
United Paramount Theatres, the 
decision gives the green light for 
expansion of the network into a 
position where it can compete for 
programs and affiliates with the 
National Broadcasting Co. and Co- 
lumbia Broadcasting System. UPT 
has committed itself to the Com- 
mission to building ABC into a 
strong network and sought ap- 
proval of the merger on the prom- 
ise it would provide competition to 
the "big two” webs. The enormous 
resources of the theatre company, 
which has a surplus of $30,000,000, 
were pledged to this purpose. 

It can therefore be expected 
that shortly after the Commission 
has finalized Resnick’s decision, 
ABC will begin to move in the 
program field in order to attract 
its share of affiliates from the new 
stations coming on the air and to 

(Continued on page 63) 


L. A. to N. Y® 

Andrews Sisters 
Josef Auerbach 
John Beal 
Valerie Bettis 
Judy Canova 
Hoagy Carmichael 
Harry Cohn 
Hans Conried 
Lester Cowan 
Pat di Cicco 
Roy Disney 
Y. Frank Freeman 
William Goetz 
Wanda Hendrix 
A1 Horwits 
Cy Howard 
Danny Kaye 
Tony Landis 
Edward Lewis 
David Lipton 
Virginia Mayo 
Ann Miller 
Harold Mirisch 
Edward Morey 
Michael O’Shea 
Jerry Pickman 
Walter Pidgeon 
Herman Rifkin 
Morton V. Ritchey 
Philip Rivero 
Kay SpreckfEs 
Jonie Taps 
. A1 Vaughan 
Hal Wallis 
Harry Warner . 

Ethel Waters 





Matty Fox as RKO Insurance? 

Matty Fox, former executive vicepresident of Universal, a po- 
tent factor in putting together the present management in United 
Artists (Arthur B. Krim, Robert S. Benjamin, et al.), hag 100% 
control of Motion Pictures for Television, of which he is prez. Eliot 
Hyman add Joe Harris are still with MPTV, but under employment 
contracts. 

Fox long ago bought out both Hyman’s Telinvest and Associated 
Artists Productions and Harris’ Flamingo Films, whose product 
constitutes the available flow of pix under the MPTV trademark. 

Fox’s billings from MPTV, whose business is renting pix for 
video, were $400,000 last month. He has been doing better than 
$300,000 for some time. He has some $4,000,000 in forward con- 
tracts. Trade observation is that Fox’s entry into RKO must mean 
a continuing catering to the theatres, and that the fear of selling 
off the residuals to TV is something very much for the future. 

For one thing, any major dumping of strong competitive product 
on the TV market would undermine MPTV, whose prime value 
comes from the fact that it has some competent but now quite old 
features for which it gets a certain standard of rentals. Any in- 
flux of superior or strongly competitive pix would perforce knock 
down MPTV’s potentials. 

Therefore, unless overriding interests of the other stockholders 
would influence to the contrary. Fox's entry into RKO figures as 
insurance that the company stays in the normal distribution-for- 
theatre-exhibition business. 


Incentive Bonus in French-U.S. Pact 
Seen Precedent For Other Countries 


Incentive bonus feature of the* 
new French-U. S. film deal, while 
it may not substantially increase 
American production in France, 
was seen by company execs in New 
York this week as setting an ex- 
cellent precedent for future sim- 
ilar agreements with other coun- 
tries. 

The French pact, which remains 
subject to negotiations on various 
details, runs for one year and is 
retroactive to July 1, 1952. Nego- 
tiated in Paris last week by Eric 
Johnston, Motion Picture Export 
Assn, prez, and covering only 
Assn, members, the agreement was 
approved at a meeting of the 
MPEA board in New York Friday 
(14*. Its main provisions are: 

1. Distribs are allocated 110 dub- 
bing permits for the papt year. 

2. They can remit the $4,500,000 
accrued under the last deal to June 
30, 1952, at the less favorable cap- 
ital account rate, subject to certain 
conditions. 

3. Current earnings are remit- 
table at the rate of $120,000 month- 
ly at the favorable official rate 
with an additional percentage re- 
mittable at the capital account 
rate. 

4. They will set up an $850,000 
fund, out of which they can finance 
co-production, acquire pix for dis- 
tribution, etc. The French will 
make available the equivalent of 
50% of their investment in dol- 
lars, thus permitting a maximum 
additional remittance of $425,000. 

The agreement avoids any sub- 
sidy arrangements, such as might 
nave split the MPEA and the So- 
( Continued on page 21) 

125G ‘Andersen' Version 
On TV at Same Time Pic 
By Goldwyn Circulates 

Minor-league pic version of 
Hans Christian Andersen,” pro- 
duced in England at a cost of 
$ 1 2a ,000 by Jean and Ronald 
Haines, may be on' TV at just about 
tue lime Samuel Goldwyn ’s ‘‘Hans 
Christian Andersen” hits its stride 
at the theatres. 

„ British film will be plugged aA 
the real story” of the Danish tale- , 
teller, according to J. J. Hoffberg, 
prexy of Hoffberg Productions, | 
tj* Y.. who has a financial stake in 
the pic. It’s based on Andersen’s 
Ihe True Story of My Life,” pub- 
lished in 1847, and was shot partly 
on location in Denmark. 

Hoffberg says he has no il- 
lusions about competing with the 
Loidwyn epic and that he is not 
Planning any New York opening 
unth two to four weeks” after, 
the Goldwyn Technicolor pic has 
Premiered at the Paris and the 
criterion. Hoffberg’s position is 
‘hat the whole thing is “just an ac- 
cident’’ and that the idea for the 
jilm originated with the Haineses 
, 0 a }td a half years ago. Pic has 
heen in N. Y. for over a year, liav- 
(Continued on page 21) 


A-C's New U Pact 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

Abbott & Costello have been 
signed to a new contract by Uni- 
versal-International providing for 
their services through 1955. First 
pic under the new pact will be 
‘‘Abbott & Costello Meet Dr. 
Jekyll and Mr, Hyde.” Film goes 
before the cameras in mid-Janu- 
ary. 

Deal provides for A & C to 
make a minimum of four pix. 
‘‘A & C Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. 
Hyde” will be the team’s 25th 
pic for U. 


Cite Intricate 
Structure Of 
Cinerama Co. 

Spectacular climb of Cinerama 
common stock shortly after the 
company’s first production preemed 
at the Broadway Theatre, N. Y., 
Oct. 1, and the issue’s equally 
spectacular decline several weeks 
later, serve to spotlight the firm’s 
intricate corporate background. In 
a hectic six-week period the shares 
started off with around 4 bid over- 
the-counter, reached 8 and yester- 
day (Tues.) was quoted at 6 bid, 
6 3 i asked. 

Cinerama’s illusion of third- 
dimension for films grew out of 
the work of inventor Fred Waller. 
After a year of experiments, he 
formed Vitarama Corp. in 1938. 
which still holds the basic patents 
for the Cinerama process. Lau- 
rence Rockefeller reportedly was 
one of the original stockholders of 
the company, of which Waller 
owns 43% of the outstanding stock. 

Waller joined with Hazard 
Reeves (who designed and built 
Cinerama’s magnetic sound system* 
in 1947 to form the now-defunct 
Cinerama Corp. Its stockholders 
included Laurence Rockefeller, 
(ContinuecKon page 21) 


Flying Jessel 

George Jessel is on a bicycle 
this week to fill a flock of toast- 
master engagements on both 
coasts. He planed in and out of 
New York within the same day 
(Tues.*, after appearing at a Ha- 
dassah conclave at the Waldorf- 
Astoria to make the Screen Pro- 
ducers Guild testimonial for Louis 
B. Mayer at the Biltmore Hotel, 
L. A., tonight (Wed.). 

Jessel returns to Gotham for the 
Picture Pioneers’ fete to Nate 
Blumberg next Tuesday (25), and 
pulls out for the Coast again the 
same night to prep for his “All 
Star Revue” slint on NBC-TV four 
[days later (291. . 



1 

3 


FILMITES 


Columbia Pictures is considering 
“investments up to $3,000,000” 
either in television stations or vari- 
ous new developments in that field. 
In addition, the company is weigh- 
ing possible backing of Broadway 
legit productions and may also set 
up a subsidiary for the purpose of 
guaranteeing loans to independent 
film producers. 

Columbia plans were disclosed 
in connection with its recent clos- 
ing of a new $15,000,000 loan 
agreement with the First National 
Bank of Boston, Bank of America, 
National Trust & Savings Assn, and 
the Manhattan Co. As part of the 
deal the film company informed 
the lending institutions what opera- 
tions it may undertake. 

In light of a Federal Communi- 
cations Commission examiner’s 
recommendation last week that the 
proposed merger of the American 
Broadcasting Co. and United Para- 
mount Theatres be effected, indus- 
try observers feel that this may 
pave the way for possible expansion 
of other major film companies into 
television. 

In the 140-page findings of FCC, 
examiner Leo Resnick on the ABC- 
UPT case praised Paramount Pic- 
tures (from which UPT was 
(Continued on page 18) 


Spurt Continues 

i 

In Trans-Atlantic 
Production Deals 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

Transatlantic co-production deals, 
which got into full swing in recent 
m c n t h z, -will mushroom in the 
months ahead, agent Paul Kohner 
reported yesterday (Mon.) after 
returning from an extensive Euro- 
pean trek. As a result, Kohner is 
widening his activities to include 
such operations in which Holly- 
wood talent joins with foreign pro- 
ducers. 

Some tw r o dozen such co-produc- 
tion deals are already firmly set 
for 1953, Kohner reported, and at 
least as many more are in the 
talking stage. 

Growing practice, he explains, 
stems from the new market po- 
tential which they open up. Eng- 
lish producers particularly are 
anxious to make deals under which 
American stars or directors make 
the ocean trip for production du- 
ties under the Union Jack. 

“Everybody benefits in these 
deals,” Kohner pointed out. “The 
English producer gets a name that 
enhances the boxoffice chances of 
his picture. And the co-producer 
on this end gets a better chance 
at the world market, particularly 
in the case of English deals, since 
the British partners in the deal 
(Continued on page 18) 


SWG Proxy Battle 
Roars Into Homestretch 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

Screen Writers Guild’s battle 
over proposed constitutional 
amendment limiting proxies to 
single meeting instead of present 
seven-year . system is "waging 
warmer than ever, with both sides 
iij verbal and w-ritten warfare. 

Over the weekend proponents of 
the change were drafting a mailer 
bearing 50 names of guild mem- 
bers to be sent to entire guild 
membership asking they kill the 
seven-year stretch w’hen they cast 
their ballots. Deadline is next 
Monday (24*. 

John Rich, meanwhile, asserted 
his name w'as wrongfully used in 
petition sent out by opponents of 
change. Both Adele Buffington and 
William R. Cox, supporting con- 
tinuation of present setup, averred 
Rich had okayed use of his name 
on the mailer. 


N.Y. Court to Hear Stockholder Suit 
This Week On Receivership For RKO 


$100,000 Week Loss 

RKO domestic distribution 
costs around $200,000 and the 
company reportedly has been 
losing around $100,000 weekly. 
Board chairman Arnold Grant’s 
job, while incumbent, was to 
“cut away the fat,” and he 
claimed to have achieved a big 
saving. 

United Artists' weekly nut is 
$96,000. 


Terms Agreed On 
But Grant, Picker 
Didn’t Sign Pacts 

Neither Arnold Grant j .• Arn- 
old Picked, who exited RKO 
Thursday (13* as board chairman 
and executive veepee, respective- 
ly, had actually consummated their 
pacts with the new management. 

Grant and the five-man syndi- 
cate which last month took over 
Howard Hughes’ block of stock had 
agreed on terms for the former 
board chairman’s pact and was 
all set to be inked when the Wall 
St. Journal broke a series about 
the background of the new man- 
agement of RKO. Following the 
resignations of Ralph StQlkin, A. 
'C. Koolish and William Gorman, 
Ray Ryan’s rep on the board, 
Grant said he thought it advisable 
to present the pact 'to the new 
members of the board. With the 
latter never set before his bowout. 
the contract was not officially 
consummated. Similarly, terms for 
Picker were recorded and trans- 
lated into legal terminology, but 
he delayed signing the pact re- 
portedly until he knew for whom 
he was working. 

Fancy Terms 

Grant’s terms called for $2,000 
per week with an option to termi- 
nate the pact at the end of the 
first, second or third years. - The 
corporation had an option allow- 
ing, it to cancel at the end of the 
second or third years. If neither 
party exercised the option, the 
pact would run for six years. If 
the pact were terminated at the 
end of the first year, neither party 
was under any obligation. How- 
ever, if Grant died or became 
physically unable after one year, 
the corporation was required to 
pay his estate $2,000 per week for 
every month he worked. In addi- 
tion, he was allowed the privilege 
of continuing his law practice, with 
the company being only allowed to 
demand half of his time. If the 
corporation cancelled Grant’s pact 
at the end of the second or third 
year, it was required to keep him 
on as a consultant or a director at 
$50,000 annually. Company was 
also required to furnish and main- 
tain an office in Grant’s home. 

Picker had a five-year deal 
starting at $70,000 for the first 
year, $75,000 for the second and a 
confab on the third which called 
for not less than $85,000. He also 
had an option clause to buy 75.000 
shares of stock, with stockholder 
approval, at the market price exist- 
ing at the time of the ojeay. 


4 Whether a temporary receiver 
should be named to “protect” the 
interests of RKO stockholders is 
scheduled to be argued in N. Y. Su- 
preme Court Friday (21). Hearing 
stems from a minority stockhold- 
ers’ suit filed with the court Thurs- 
day (13) against RKO, several of 
its subsidiaries, Howard Hughes 
and the Chase National Bank. 

Action was brought by Eli B. 
Castlemen and Marion B. Castle- 
man, holders of 2,500 shares, along 
with attorney Louis Feuerman, who 
holds 25 shares. In conjunction 
with bringing the suit for the plain- 
tiffs, legalite Louis Kipnis obtained 
an order from Justice Henry Clay 
Greenberg which directs RKO to 
show cause by Friday w>hy a tem- 
porary receiver should not be ap- 
pointed. 

Technically known as a deriva- 
tive stockholders’ suit, the papers 
make a sweeping attack upon 
Hughes’ conduct c of RKO since as- 
suming control of the company in 
1948 via his acquisition of Atlas 


News Series ‘Inspired*? 

Ralph E. Stolkln, deposed 
new prexy of RKO and spark- 
plug of the new syndicate own- 
ing 29% control of the com- 
pany, Insists that the Wall St. 
Journal’s “expose” series was 
“inspired.” One accent is on a 
competitive bidder for a TV 
channel. Stolkin and theatre 
owner Ted Gamble have been 
associated on the Pacific Coast 
in such operations. 


Atlas’ 40c Divvy 

Atlas Corp., which has invest- 
ments in several film companies, 
declared a regular quarterly divi- 
depd of 40c per share Monday (17) 
following a meeting of its board in 
New York. Melon is payable Dec. 
20 to stockholders of record Nov. 
29. 

Special divvy consisting of 1/50 
of a share of Airl'leets. Inc., com- 
mon stock per share of Atlas com- 
mon, was also declared by the 
board. It’s payable Jan. 5 to Atlas 
shareholders as of Nov. 29. Listed 
on the Curb, Airfleets common 
has a market value of around $13 
per share, 


Corp.’s 929,020 shares. It’s charged 
that he “saddled unfair contract 
commitments” on the company and 
is ' guilty of “gross mismanage- 
ment.” 

Hughes, according to the com- 
plaint, violated regulations of the 
Securities & Exchange Commission 
in his negotiations with Ralph SFoI- 
kin’s Chicago syndicate. For, it’s 

(Continued on page 54) 

Coast Confab Slated 
To Work Out Expo 
For Film Industry 

Plans for the long-delayed film 
industry exposition originally 
slated for Grand Central Palace, 
N. Y., will be worked out at a 
confab on the Coast in January or 
February. 

Meeting to set up the exposition 
w'as initially supposed to be held 
last summer, but N. Y. exhibs 
claimed they had difficulty sched- 
uling a specific date with Coast 
production toppers. Upcoming 
Coast seminar will be the second 
overall get-together of the three 
branches of the industry, with dis- 
tribution, production and exhibi- 
tion reps conferring under the 
auspices of the Council of Motion 
Picture Organizations. 


FIDELITY GEARS FOR 
5 MORE TO WARNERS 

Fidelity Pictures will definitely 
deliver the balance of its commit- 
ment to Warners, board chairman- 
treasurer A. Pam Blumenthal de- 
clared in New York this week. He 
admitted his ihdie company had 
been inactive since turning over 
“The San Francisco Story” to WB 
j last March but indicated that pro- 
duction may soon be resumed. 

Fidelity, which is headed by 
producer Howard Welsch, is sched- 
uled to make six pictures for WB 
release; “San Francisco.” a Joel- 
McCrea-Yvonne de Carlo starrer, 
was the initialer. Company’s inac- 
tivity apparently stems from Blu- 
menthal’s recent illness. He’s been 
under doctor’s care for a coronary 
condition. 

A Warner homeoffice spokes- 
man expressed the belief that the 
i other five films would be forlli- 
| coming from Fidelity. “We’ve re- 
j ceived no word to the contrary,” 
Ihe said. 



6 : FIU** itJE VIEWS 


The Had anil the 
Beautiful 


All-star drama about Holly- 
wood, its characters. Well- 
done, exploitable and b.o. pos- 
sibilities. 


Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

MGM release of John Houseman pro- 
duction. Stars Lana Turner, Kirk Douglas, 
Wnlter Pldgeon, Dick Powell, Barry 
Sullivan, Gloria Grahame, Gilbert Roland; 
features Leo G. Carroll, Vanessa Brown. 
Paul Stewart, Ivan Trlesault, Elaine 
Stewart, Sammy White. Directed- by Vin- 
cente Minnelli. Screenplay, Charles 
Schnee; based on story by George Brad- 
shaw; camera, Robert Surtees; editor, 
Conrad A. Nervig; music, David Raksin. 
Previewed Nov. 12, '52. Running time, 
116 MINS. 

Georgia Larrison Lana Turner 

Jonathan Shields Kirk Douglas 

Harry Pebbel Walter Pidgeon 

James Lee Bartlow ...... Dick Powell 

Fred Amiel Barry Sullivan 

Rosemary Bartlow Gloria Grahame 

Victor “Gaucho” Ribera . . Gilbert Roland 

Henry Whitfield Leo G. Carroll 

Kay Amici Vanessa Brown 

Syd Murphy Paul Stewart 

Von Ellstein .. Ivan Trlesault 

Lila Elaine Stewart 

Gus Sammy White 

Miss March Kathleen Freeman 

Ida Marietta Canty 

HcDill Robert Burton 


Contemporary Hollywood, in- 
cluding composites of the charac- 
ters that make the town the glam- 
our capital it is, is the setting for 
“The Bad' and the Beautiful,” An 
all-star cast, well-chosen, and a 
story with all the recognizable ele- 

• ments of drama, melodrama and 
romance, plus a few sardonic 
touches, provide exploitable hinges 
on which the film can be bally- 
hooed towards the kind of key-city 
grosses indicated. While particu- 
larly slanted for people within the 
trade, the picture has merchandis- 
able angles that can get it over in 
the general market. 

The John Houseman production, 
excellently conceived and carried 
out, is the story of a first-class 
heel, a ruthless, driving individ- 
ual whose insistent push changes 
a number of lives to the end that 
all have benefited In some way 

. from . hisk. multiple double-crosses*.. 

despite the personal sorrow or 
loss experienced. The Charles 
Schnee screenplay, of the George 
Bradshaw story is exceptionally 
well-written in dialog and situa- 
tion, projecting a plot that could 
be adapted to any industry but 
particularly suited to the produc- 
tion end of the film business. 

Vincente Minnelli's direction is 
involved with mirroring a variety 
of main characters, and he makes 
each register colorfully with a 
type of detached emotionalism that 
goes with the “out of this world” 
people mixed up in the plot.' 

Kirk Douglas, in a role espe- 
cially suited to him, and, in a way, 
reminiscent of his heelish “Cham- 
pion,” scores as the ruthless in- 
dividual out to prove he is the best 
when it comes to making pictures. 
Swung along with him is Lana 
Turner, the drunken, inferiority- 
complexCd daughter of a' former 
screen great, who necessarily has 

• to . prove she is great after being 
used by Douglas for his own gain; 
D i c k Powell, the self-satisfied 
southern professor-writer .-Who is 
pulled into the Hollywood mill by 
Douglas, suffers tremendous per- 
sonal loss in., love and esteem and 
then rises above it; Barry Sullivan, 
who, as an embryo director, gets 
Douglas his first chance and is 
double-crossed for the helping 
hand; and Walter. Pidgeon, the 
dollars-and-cents “B” producer 
who provides the means for Doug- 
las to start towards his production 
goal. 

Individually, each turns in a com- 
manding performance, with possibly 
Powell having a slight edge be- 
cause . of potent underplaying of 
his character. Miss Turner is fine 
as the actress who finds the 
strength to overcome her weak- 
nesses and become a top glamour 
star. Sullivan, with less story em- 

• phasis, makes his every scene 
count,, and Pidgeon sells his com- 
posite character excellently. Gloria 
Grahame registers big as Powell’s 
flighty wife,- whose easily-turned 
head- quickly bows to Hollywood 
and the amatory opportunities ar- 
ranged for her by Douglas with 
Gilbert Roland, the dashing Latin 
star. Roland is a flamboyant joy 
in the part. 

In the featured and supporting 
roles there are several standouts, 
the best of which is Sammy White’s 
portrayal of a small-time film agent 
who nurses along and makes his 
Jiving from the small bit players. 
Mso to be remembered are Van- 
«ssa Brown, as Sullivan’s wife; 

aul Stewart, Douglas’ yes-man; 
Maine Stewart, a sexy bit girl 
whose duties are not all confined 
o the film set; Ivan Triesault, a 
oreign-born, meticulously arty di- 
rector; L^o G. Carroll and others. 

Minnelli makes almost every 
;cene ahve with background action 
.md bits of business. A standout 
s the sequence in which Miss Tur- 
ner drives away from Douglas’ . 
iome after finding it was business. I 
;iot love, that invoked his interest) 
vn her. Party sequences anc( other 1 


group bitingly mirror Hollywood 
behavior, yet, because of the de- 
tachment featured in the presenta- 
tion, do not do the industry a dis- 
service. 

Behind-the-camera functions are 
of the quality expected of a large- 
scale production. Included among 
the worthy contributions are Rob- 
ert Surtees’ photography, David 
Raksin’s music score, the special 
effects and settings. Brog. 

Slurs and Stripes 
Forever 
(MUSICAL— COLOR) 


Spirited musical-drama based 

on career of John Philip Sousa. 

Hearty b.o. possibilities, 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

20th-Fox release of Lamar Trotti pro* 
duction. Stars Clifton Webb, Debra Paget, 
Robert Wagner, Ruth Hussey; features 
Finlay Currie. Roy Roberts, Tom Browne 
Henry. Directed by Henry Koster, Screen- 
play, Lamar Trotti, from screen story by 
Ernest Vajda, based on "Marching Along” 
by John Philip Sousa; camera (Techni- 
color), Charles G. Clarke; editor, James 
B. Clark; musical direction, Alfred New- 
man; "Springtime In New York” staged 
by Nick Castle. Previewed Nov. 13, ’52. 
Running time? 89 MINS. 

John Philip Sousa Clifton Webb 

Lily Debra Paget 

Willie Robert Wagner 

Jennie Ruth Hussey 

Col. Randolph Finlay Currie 

Major Houston Roy Roberts 

David Blakely Tom Browne Henry 

Mr. Pickering Lester Matthews 

Maid Maude Prlckett 

Organ Grinder Erno Vcrcbes 

Secretary of Navy Richard Garrick 

Music Professor Romo Vincent 

Navy Nurse Florence Shirley 

Bass Singer ............ Delos JeTVkes 

Purvis Norman Leavitt 

President Harrison Roy Gordon 

Mrs: Harrison ' Hellen van Tuyl 

President's Aides. . , .Walter Woolf King 

Roger Moore 

Senator Thomas E. Jackson 

Nora Maude Wallace 

PrisciUa Lenee Martin 

Helen Sharon Jan Altman 

Sousa, Jr Nicholas Roster 

Professor Estaban William Veddcr 

Clove Salesman Olan Soule 

Madame Liebling Alleen Carlyle 

Mr. McCaull Paul Maxey 

As spirited as any march John 
Philip Sousa ever led, “Stars and 
Stripes Forever” registers as top- 
notch dnterfafnment with' an ex- 
cellent earning potential in almost 
all situations. It is alive with 
Sousa’s martial airs, competent 
performances and an appealing 
nostalgia that strikes home in its 
Technicolor dressing. 

Sousa’s music, which will endure 
as long as there is a red corpuscle 
to tingle or a foot to march, is the 
chief feature of the late Lamar 
Trotti’s production, which he 
scripted vftth good dialog to carry 
the kaleidoscopically - presented 
career of the bandmaster. 

Similarly, Henry Roster’s direc- 
tion has feeling, pace, and a sure 
hand in sharpening the nostalgia 
and emotional bits to be found in 
the episodic Ernest Vajda screen 
story based on Sousa’s own “March- 
ing Along.” . 

Enacting the late march king is 
Clifton Webb, and he endows the 
character' .with his own peculiar 
personality to sell it strongly. It 
possibly might not be an accurate 
Sousa, but it is good Webb as 
deftly woven by the actor, and 
viewers will be pleased. For the 
younger ticket-buyers, the picture 
teams Debra Paget and Robert 
Wagner, a pairing that should aid 
its Ohances in the general market, 
and both supply a verve in keeping 
with the march tempo of the tunes. 
Ruth Hussey is splendid as Mrs. 
Sousa, a woman who understands 
and loves a husband who leans to 
the ec'centric as . depicted on the 
screen. 

Generously sprinkled through 
the quick 89 minutes of footage is 
a parade of Sousa tunes that start 
the feet marching, such as the 
memorable title number, “Semper 
Fidelis,” “Washington Post March,” 
“The Presidential Polonaise,” “The 
High School Cadets March,” “The 
Ben Hur Chariot Race,” along with 
lesser-known pieces, all having the 
Sousa wallop. 

Story, starting with Sousa’s days 
as leader of the Marine Corps 
Band back in 1890, spans his 
career briskly and reveals his 
secret desire to create ballads, not 
marches. Story thread is light in 
that it doesn't hew to a step-by- 
step dramatic line, but it adequate- 
ly frames the presentation as the 
years are spanned to show Sousa’s 
rise to , international prominence 
and his very human foibles as 
primly drawn by . Webb. The in- 
timate sequences with Miss Hussey 
are topnotch. 

Wagner proves again he is a 
coming personality with his play- 
ing of a young musician who joins 
the Marines so he can play with 
Sousa and introduces the Sbiisa- 
phone. Miss Paget, who becomes 
the tights in which she makes her 
initial appearance, scores strongly 
as the obscure singer who desires 
to rise above her burlesque job. 
She and Wagner carry a charming 
young romance that comes closest 
to a straight story line in the film. 

The depiction of a “living pic- 
tures” tableaux, an old burley 
standby, is nostalgic fun. The big 
production piece of the picture is 
“Springtime in New York,” staged 




by Nick Castle, and again featuring 
the very feminine curves, terp and 
song talents of Miss Paget. A 
highlight, musically, is the choral 
work of the Atlanta Stone Moun- 
tain Choir in a southern sequence, 
singing “The Battle Hymn of the 
Republic.” 

Ably supporting the entertain- 
ment intention of the picture are 
the performances of Finlay Currie, 
seen only briefly; - Roy Roberts, 
Tom Browne Henry and a host of 
other players, plus Charles G. 
Clarke’s color lensifig, Alfred New- 
man’s musical direction and the 
other technical credits, Brog. 


Road to Ball 

(SONGS-COLOR) 


Crosby - Hope - Lamour in a 
tinted, nonsensical, musical 
trek. Okay returns. 


Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

Paramount release of Harry Tugend 
production. Stars Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, 
Dorothy Lamour; features Murvyn Vye, 
Peter Coe, Ralph Moody, Leon Askln. 
Directed by Hal Walker. Screenplay, 
Frank Butler. Hal Kanter, William Mor- 
row; story, Butler and Harry Tugend; 
camera (Technioolor), George Barnes; edi- 
tor, Archie Marshek; songs, Johnny 
Burka, James Van Heusen. Previewed 
Nov. 14, '52. Running time, 91 MINS. 

Harbld Gridley Bob Hope 

George Cochran . . ; Bing Crosby 

Lalah Dorothy Lamour 

Ken Arok Murvyn Vye 

Gun'g Peter Coe 

Bhoma Da Ralph Moody 

Ramayana Leon Askln 

Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and 
Dorothy Lamour are back again 
in another of Paramount’s highway 
sagas, this time in Technicolor, 
with nonsensical amusement its 
only destination. That end is 
reached eventually, but the road 
isn’t a smooth highway and the 
entertainment occasionally falters. 
Overall, however, it serves its in- 
tended purpose satisfactorily and 
the. grossing prospects are okay. 

Five songs are wrapped up in 
the Harry Tugend production. 
Numbers tee off with Crosby and 
Hope doing “Chicago Style” in a 
Sydney vaud* house., . a .sequence 
that puts them on the road chased 
by an irate father who doubts the 
lads’ intentions towards his daugh- 
ter. Needing a job,, they hire out to 
Murvyn Vye, a South Seas island 
prince, as divers, sail for Vye’s 
homeland and meet Princess La- 
mour, which is excuse enough for 
her to sing “Moonflowers,” later 
reprised as the finale tune. 

“Hoot Mon,” with Crosby and 
Hope attired in kilts, serves as a 
production number while the boys 
are confronted with Vye’s skull- 
duggery in attempting to seize a 
treasure that belongs to Miss 
Lamour. The dirty work going on 
doesn’t prevent Crosby from pitch- 
ing romance towards the princess i 
with “To See You,” nor Hope do- I 
ing the same thing with “The 
Merry Go Runaround.” Wiser 
cracker Hope, however, ends up 
as an also-ran at the finale, with 
Crosby walking off with Miss La- 
mour .and another choice femme 
prize in the shape of Jane' Russell. 

There’s no story to speak of in 
the script by Frank Butler, Hal 
Kanter and William Morrow, from 
a story by Butler and Harry 
Tugend, but the framework is 
there on which to hang a succes- 
sion of amusing quips and physical 
comedy dealing with romantic 
rivalry and chuckle, competition 
between the two male stars. It 
also permits some surprise guest 
star appearances, such as the finale 
walkon of Miss Russell; Humphrey 
Bogart pulling the African Queen 
through Africa, Martin & Lewis 
and Bob Crosby, all of whom serve 
no other purpose than to get a 
laugh. 

Hal Walker’s direction is geared 
to the free-wheeling spirit that 
dominates the script and does well 
by it, as do the three stars and 
the featured cast. With such a trio 
to vocal them, the tunes by Johnny 
Burke, and James Van Heusen lis- 
ten well. George Barnes’ photog- 
raphy gives the production a good 
color cloaking. Brog. 


April in Paris 

(MUSICAL— COLOR) 


Doris Day in average musical 
for average b.o. 


Hollywood, Nov. 13* 

Warners release of William Jacobs pro- 
duction. Stars Doris Day, Ray Bolger; 

features Claude Dauphin, Eve MUlcr, 

George Givot, Paul Harvey. Directed by 
David Butler. Written by Jack Rose atld 
Melville Shavelson; camera (Technicolor), 
Wilfred M. Cline; editor, Irene Morra; 
musical numbers staged and directed by 
LeRoy Prinz; songs, E. Y. Harburg, Sammy 
Cahn, Vernon- Duke. Previewed Nov. 7, 
'52. Running time, 101 MINS. 

Dynamite Jackson Doris Day 

S. Winthrop Putnam . .. Ray Bolger 

Philippe Fouquet Claude Dauphin 

Marcia Eve Miller 

Francois George Givot 

Secretary Sherman Paul Harvey 

Joshua Stevens Herbert Fareon 

Sinclair Wilson Wilson Millar 

Joseph Weimar Raymond Largay 

Cab Driver Jack Lomas 


An average musical sparked by 
Doris Day and Ray Bolger is rung 
up in ■ this Technicolor offering^ 


Wednesday, November 19, 1952 


and Its chances at the boxoffice 
In the general market are commen- 
surate. 

The William Jacobs production 
has the expected flash in sets and 
costuming, but could have used a 
real sock song or dance. Best of 
the tunes is the E. Y. Harburg- 
Vernon Duke “April in Paris,” 
which is reprised twice during the 
101 minutes. New songs by Sammy 
Cahn and Duke listen, pleasantly 
and are well sold by Miss Day. 

Three production numbers 
staged by LeRoy Prinz are spotted 
in the footage. First is “It Must 
Be Good,” using Miss Day and a 
line of femmes; midway is “I’m 
Gonna Ring the Bell Tonight,” a 
shipboard affair involving the gal- 
ley staff, Miss Day, Bolger and 
Claude Dauphin; third is “That’s 
What Makes Paris Paree,” spotting 
Miss Day, Dauphin, a chorus line 
and a group of French poodles 
dyed to. match the costumes of 
their leash-holders. Bolger only 
terps twice and neither appear- 
ance makes full use of his hoof- 
ing talent. Among other Cahn- 
Duke tunes heard are “Give Me 
Your Lips,” “I Know a Place” and 
“I Ask You.” 

. David Butler’s direction makes 
the most of the material in the 
screen story by Jack Rose and 
Melville Shavelson, cloaking the 
sagging Spots when the plot is 
stretched too thin and pointing up 
a number of very amusing 
sequences. Story springboard has 
Miss Day, a chorus girl, drawing 
by JState Dept, mistake an invite 
to represent the American theatre 
-at the International Festival of 
Arts in Paris. Error catches pub- 
lic fancy and officialdom is forced 
to carry it through. 

Enroute to Paris a quick 
romance blooms between Miss Day 
and Bolger, though he’s engaged 
to Eve Miller, and there’s .ji ship- 
board marriage that isn’t bonafide. 
Amusing is the sequence showing 
the conspiracy of Dauphin and 
George Givot to keep the newly- 
weds from consumating' the mar- 
riage after Givot, masquerading as 
ship’s captain, performed the 
phoney ceremony. Other compli- 
cations ensue as the plot boils 
along, including a misunderstand- 
ing between the couple before the 
finale clinch is reached. 

Miss Day’s winning personality 
and pipes aid her character, and 
Bolger is okay as the mixed-up, 
man-mouse assistant to an assistant 
in the State Dept. Dauphin im- 
presses as a light comedian with 
Hollywood film possibilities. Others 
in the cast are competents without 
too much to do. The plushy physi- 
cal production values are enhanced 
by Wilfred M. Cline’s color lensing 
and the other technical assists. 

Brog. 


Above and Beyond 


Compelling, human drama 
around principals involved in 
the Hiroshima atom bombing. 
Neatly done for good b.o. 


Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

MGM release of Melvin Frank, Nor- 
man Panama production. Stars Robert 
Taylor, Eleanor Parker; features James 
Whitmore, Larry Keating, Larry Gates, 
Marilyn Erskine, Stephen Dunne, Robert 
Burton, Hayden Rorke. Directed by Frank 
and Panama. Screenplay, Frank,' Panama, 
Belrne Lay, Jr., from the Matter’s story; 
camera, Ray June; editor. Cotton War- 
burton; mu6ic, Hugo Friedhofer. Pre- 
viewed Nov. 6, '52. Running time, 121 
MINS. 

Col. Paul Tibbets Robert Taylor 

Lucey Tibbets Eleanor Parker 

Maj. Uanna James Whitmore 

Maj. Gen. Vernon C. Brent. .Larry Keating 

Capt. Parsons Larry Gates 

Marge Bratton Marilyn Erskine 

Maj. Harry Bratton Stephen Dunne 

Gen. Samuel E. Roberts. . .Robert Burton 

Dr. Ramsey Hayden Rorke 

Dr. Van Dyke Larry Dobkln 

Dr. Fiske Jack Ra.'ne 

Dutch Van Kirk Jonathan Cott 

Thomas Ferebee Jeff Richards 

Bob Lewis Dick Simmons 

Wyatt Duzenbury John McKee 

'Radio Operator Patrick Conway 

Paul Tibbets, Jr Christie Olsen 

Driver William Lester 

Mary Malone Barbara Rulck 

Gen. Curtis E. LeMay. Jim Backus 


A compelling, human story, in- 
timately involving the people who 
prepped the Hiroshima atom bomb- 
ing, is movingly presented in 
“Above and Beyond.” It is a fine 
show, splendidly enacted by Rob-, 
ert Taylor and Eleanor Parker, 
with plenty of general appeal to 
make it’ worthy of top dates. While 
long on footage, it also is long on 
entertainment, and the indications 
for excellent returns are strong. 

Film is almost entirely a Melvin 
Frank-Norman Panama presenta- 
tion. The team produced and di- 
rected, -as veil as scripting with 
Beirne Lay, Jr., from the latter’s 
story. The switch from the light 
comedy that has featured most of 
their previous film efforts is ma/de 
with great effectiveness. The over- 
all presentation job is well-done, 
though at times there is an in- 
clination to belabor some story 
points and the 121 minutes of run- 
ning time is excessive. 

Plot hinges on one of World War 
IPs best-kept secrets, the develop- 
ment of the air team that dropped 
the atom bomb on*. Hiroshima Tay- 


loY plays Col. Paul Tibbets, the 
pilot given the dreary chore of 
whipping together the planes and 
personnel needed for the awe- 
some task. The performance ranks 
with, if not topping, any of Tay- 
lor’s .previous bests. Miss Parker 
is fine as Mrs, Tibbets, the wife 
who saw her marriage become 
secondary to the great task facing 
her husband, and, against the back- 
ground of modern warfare, a very 
valid love story is projected. 

Taylor, two years overseas in 
the European theatre, is ordered 
to the States to test the experimen- 
tal B-29, long-range bomber. The 
return gives him a brief 30 min- 
utes with his -wife and a son he 
had never seen before the months 
of testing are started. When the 
bomber is okayed, Taylor is then 
assigned to develop an anonymous 
air force, the members of which 
are kept in the dark about the 
job ahead. 

In this setting of tension, the 
picture meticulously details the 
various stages of progress made to- 
wards the day the bomb is to be 
used, the strain that develops in 
the private lives of the principals 
involved because of the need for 
great secrecy, and the excitement 
that generates from such a hush- 
hush chore. Climaxing this run 
of drama, naturally, is the bomb- 
dropping and the following let- 
down that permits Taylor and the 
others to get back on a normal 
basis with families and friends. 

A well-chosen cast of featured 
and Supporting players back the 
two stars smartly. Among them 
are James Whitmore, security of- 
ficer over the project; Larry Keat- 
ing as Major General Vernon C. 
Brent; Larry Gates, Marilyn 
Erskine, Stephen Dunne, Robert 
Burton, Hayden Rorke, Larry Dob- 
kin and others. 

Ray June gives the picture top- 
notch lensing that plays an im- 
portant part in the dramatic and 
action punch of some of the se- 
quences. Hugo Friedhofer’s music 
score is excellently used. 3rog<, 


Face To Face 


Episodic feature telling two 
separate stories, both in classic 
field. For companion features 
in art or general spots. • 


Hollywood, Nov. 14. 

RKO relea«« of Huntington Hartford 
(Theasquare) production. Stare James 
Mason, Robert Preston; features Marjorie 
Steele, Gene Lockhart, . Michael Pate, 
Minor Watson, Albert Sharpe, Sean 
McClory, Dan Seymour, Alec Harford, 
Olive Carey, James Agee. "The Secret 
Sharer" directed by John Brahm; screen 
adaptation, Aeneas MacKenzle; from the 
Joseph Conrad story; camera, Karl Struss; 
editor, Otto Meyer; music, Hugo Fried- 
hofer. "The Bride Comes r© Vellow Sky" 
directed by Bretaigne Windust; screen- 
play, James Agee from the Stephen 
Crane story; camera, Geoige Dlskantj 
editor, Otto Meyer; music, Hugo Fried- 
hofer. Previewed Nov. 1, '52. Running 


time, 19 MINS. 

Tho Secret Sharer 

Captain ; James Mason 

Capt. Archbold Gene Lockhart 

Swimmer Michael Pate 

1st Mate Albert Sharpe 

2nd Mate Sean McClory 

Ships Cook Alec Harford 

The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky 

Sheriff Robert Preston 

Bride Marjorie Steele 

Bad Man Minor Watson 

Dritmmer * .... Dan Seymour 

Saloon Keeper Olive Carey 

Prisoner James Agee 


Two short-story classics, Joseph 
Conrad’s “The Secret Sharer” and 
Stephen Crane’s “The Bride Comes 
to Yellow Sky,” have been pack- 
aged under the title of “Face To 
Face” as the first production offer- 
ing of Huntington Hartford’s new 
company, Theasquare Productions, 
Inc. It’s a worthy debut and with 
RKO’s distribution the film has 
possibilities as a companion feature 
for the general market as well as 
art house chances. 

Aeneas MacKenzie’s adaptation 
of the Conrad tale stars James 
Mason and was directed by John 
Brahm with appreciative attention 
to its literary merit as well as the 
Conrad mood. It’s the story of a 
young sea captain, taking his first 
command and aiding a sailor from 
another ship who is in trouble. 
Mixed with the measured Conrad 
pace is suspense and extremely 
able acting by Mason, Michael Pate, 
the sailor in trouble; Gene Lock- 
hart, a pious captain; Alec Harford, 
ship’s cook, and Albert Sharpe and 
Sean McClory, ship's officers. Karl 
Struss’ lensing and the other tech- 
nical credits are excellent. 

James Agee’s treatment of the 
Crane story has resulted in 
switches, new characters and a 
general buildup which, - however, 
does not destroy any of the tale's 
essential flavor. Bretaigne Win- 
dust’s direction of it is very good, 
and the playing by Robert Preston, 
Minor" Watson and the ethers are 
in keeping. Preston is the marshal 
who has cleaned up the small west- 
ern town and goes off to get him- 
self a bride while Watson, an 
unregenerated old gunfighter, goes 
on a drunken spree and waits for 
the marshal’s return so he can 
have one last gun battle. The story 

. . • (Continued -on page 16) 



■¥ 


Industry’s Future Rests Mostly 
With the Exhibitors, Says AI Daff 


Future of the film industry rests 
largely with the exhibs, as Holly- 
wood depends on them to sell the 
pix and help build a new reser- 
voir of b.o. stars,, it’s stressed by 
Alfred E. Daff, Universal exec 
veepee, whose company has just 
announced a four-month, Decem- 
ber-to-March lineup of 10 re- 
leases, eight of them in Techni- 
color. 

Daff admitted that the slate’s 
high Technicolor content and U 
studio plans to, tint 75% of its 
output were substantially increas- 
ing operating costs, particularly 
in relation to Techni prints. “Even 
if we could control, negative costs 
by efficient management at the 
studio, we couldn’t hold down gen- 
eral operating costs on account of 
the Techni print problem,” he 
said. It’s Universal’s feeling that 
the added b.o„ potential justifies 
the additional cost. 

“To enable us to put real qual- 
ity into our negatives, exhibitors 
should be warned that it’s neces- 
sary, particularly with the Techni- 
color pictures, that’ they be given 
maximum possible runs. The ex- 
hibitors must help us in this and 
other respects if we are to con- 
tinue making important b.o. films,” 
he stated. 

Daff said U w;as concerned not 
only with giving its pix star ap- 
peal, but equally with the develop- 
ment of fresh talent. “The only 
people who can be really instru- 
mental in raising a new crop of 
popular performers are the men 
who run the theatres,” he de- 
clared. “Even if they spend only a 
fraction of their time developing 
talented newcomers, they’re help- 
ing insure their future.” 

In line with its policy of 
strengthening the b.o. potential of 
its pix as much as possible, U is 
deliberately coupling such screen 
vets as Tyrone Power, Loretta 

(Continued on page 15) 

500G Coast Suit Challenges 
Distribs’ Right to Sell to TV 
While Ignoring Producers 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

Distributors’ right to assign films 
to television without consulting 
producers is b e i n 8 challenged in a 
precedental $500,000 damage suit 
brought in 'Superior Court by Frost 
Films and Jack Schwarz’s Equity 
Pictures against Chesapeake Indus- 
tries (formerly known as Pathe In- 
dustries! over tele release of “Shed 
No Tears.” 

Film, made four years ago at a 
cost of about $110,000, and star- 
ring Wallace Ford, has been de- 
stroyed for possible reissue by tel- 
evision release, suit contends, ask- 
ing restraining order against 
further televising plus return of 
film for violation of distribution 
agreement via failure to push the 
film properly. Action contends pic 
grossed only $101,835 theatrically, 
of _ which producers share $63,- 
325.07. Gross is described as 
“grossly inadequate” for a picture 
ol this calibre. 

Originally made for Eagle Lion 
release, pic went to Eagle Lion 
classics in the merger, thence to 
UA.when latter bought ELC. 

Also named defendant is Matty 
Fox’s Motion Pictures for Tele- 
vision, which set “Tears” for video 
release. 


Estimate 100G Damage 
To Par in Freak Storm 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

Preliminary estimates indicate 
damage of around $100,000 was 
done to the Paramount studio by 
a ireak twister during a rainstorm 
Saturday (15). It leveled the stu- 
dio’s permanent western set and 
caused panic when it shook the 
plages where studio was shooting 
Here Come the Girls,” Bob Hope 
starrer and “Little Boy Lost/’ 
® In R Crosby pic. 

Trees were uprooted at nearby 
BKO but damage was minor# 


Daff’s 7-Year Pact 

Universal has handed Alfred E. 
Daff a new seven-year contract as 
executive veepee, starting at $1,350 
a week and going as high as $1,500, 
company reported to the Securities 
& Exchange Commission in Wash- 
ington last week. 

Daff’s employment pact starts 
Jan. 1, 1053, and runs through Dec. 
31, 1959. He will receive $1,350 
per week for the first year, $1,450 
for the second year, and $1,500 
from there on in. Contract is 
dated Oct. 28 and calls for a 
month’s, vacation annually and an 
unspecified expense account. 


Stresses Dualer 
Inroads in South 
By Drive-Ins 

Unorthodox booking policy of 
drive-ins is creating the first real 
doubie-biii inroads in the south, 
one of the nation’s few remaining 
single-bill territories, Harry Bal- 
lance, 20th-Fox’s southern division 
sales manager, said in New York 
last week. 

Ballance, attending the 20th di- 
vision managers’ meeting, empha- 
sized the ozoners are becoming in- 
creasingly important in the 12 
southern states under his ’ super- 
vision. There are now more than 
1,300 in his territory, and they ac- 
count for approximately 15% of 
20tli’s business, which Ballance re- 
vealed, is ahead by about 5% on 
an overall basis over last year. 

“The drive-iris are bringing a new 
element of exhibitors into the bus- 
iness,” Ballance said. “Quite a 
few of them are trying double-bill- 
ing, and it seems successful. Of 
course, the better-type theatres 
don’t accept it, nor would their 
audiences, but the outdoor situa- 
tions are attracting a very differ- 
ent kind of patron.” 

Many of the so-called “fringe” 
theatres in his territory are clos- 
ing, but, says Ballance, “as many 
people go to see films in the south 
today as ever before. We have 
television down there, too, and it’s 
hurt us, but not anywhere near as 
much as TV may have affected the 
business up north.” 


COWAN’S ‘MAIN ST.’ 
SHIFTS TO BROADWAY 

With the interiors completed on 
the Coast, “Main Street to Broad- 
way ” joint all-star film venture of 
an exhib syndicate, Metro, and the 
Council of Living Theatre moves 
to Broadway next month for loca- 
tion shooting. Producer Lester 
Cowan is due in Gotham this week 
to set up details for the lensing, 
set to take place in the legit area, 
including the use of a legit house. 

Despite close ties between the 
exhibs and Metro in the financing, 
the 13 theatremen involved will get 
no preference in the booking of the 
film. They will have to bid for the 
picture in competition with thea- 
tres not involved coin-wise. Re- 
lease is slated for late April, 1953. 

Council of Living Theatre has al- 
ready received $50,000 as its share 
in the venture and is also set to 
snare 25% of the profits. Coin will 
be employed by the Council to in- 
crease subscription memberships in 
“road show” cities and to further 
interest in general in the legit the- 
atre. 


Connie Russell will make her 
screen bow in “Here Comes the 
Showboat,” Jonit Tap# production 
at Columbia. 


it OF PIX IN 

COLOR 1ST MR. 


Studios’ determination to put 
some of that old glamor back on 
the screen via a boost in color 
content and the introduction of 
new and fresh faces is reflected in 
the major distribs’ lineup for the 
first quarter of 1953. 

Survey shows tinters taking ui: 
a full 50% of the product parade 
for the first three months of next 
year, with seven majors set to re- 
lease 59 pix. 30 of them in color. 
Count doesn’t include RKO, whose 
releases are still uncertain. 

First-quarter total is actually 
slightly below that of the’ same 
period in *1952, when exhibs were 
offered 64 pix with, roughly, a 
third in color. 

With the accent definitely on 
light entertainment, the emphasis 
is decidedly on new personalities. 
Budding tliesps as a rule are 
coupled with prove i b.o. stars by 
way of a painless intro to th*. audi- 
ence, which frequently takes its 
time warming up to a new face. 
Exhibs have long prodded the 
studios for an infusion of fresh 
glamor. At the same time, theatre- 
men have shown reluctance to 
book pix with doubtful star appeal. 

Need for new players was 
pointed up forcefully in New 
York recently by Don Hartman, 
production topper at Paramount. 
Hartman cited the teaming of 
young Audrey Hepburn with 
Gregory Peck in “Roman Holi- 
day” as his idea of “chain reac- 
tion” in building players, and he 
added that his studio was de- 
termined, before long, to have its 
“own roster of stars.” This, he 
said, would eliminate the need for 
paying “out-of-line prices” now 
being asked by freelance players. 

First-quarter lineup sees 20th- 
Fox with eight pix, including four 
in color; Metro with nine (three 
color); Par. seven (four color); 
U-I, eight (seven*; Columbia. 11 
•(three); Warner Bros., six (five), 
and United Artists. 10 (four). 
RKO has a tentative schedule 
for four in January, including one 
in color. Republic and Allied 
Artists releases ( for the first 1953 
quarter aren't set yet. 

Releases during the first three 
months of 1952 shaped up as fol- 
lows: 20th, nine (four in color); 
M-G, 11 (three); Par, five (two); 
U-I, nine (five); Col, 10 (1); WB, 
seven (two) and UA, 13 (four). 
RKO had 15, with none in color. 

Product schedules offer plenty 
of new names, with a sprinkling 
(Continued on. page 15* 


24-PIC LINEUP FOR 
20TH IN 9 MONTHS 

Accent on tinters marks 20th- 
Fox's 24-pix nine-month lineup 
from January to September, 1953. 
Release slate, including 13 in 
color by Technicolor, was out- 
lined in New York last Thursday 
(13) by Al Lichtman, 20th’s direc- 
tor of distribution, at a meeting of 
division sales heads. 

Release list indicates at least one 
Techni film a month and two each 
for February, April, June and July. 
Breakdown shows six musicals, 
eight dramas, seven adventure 
films, two comedies and a Darryl 
F. Zanuck personal, “The Robe.,” 
which has a Biblical theme. Pic 
starts in January and is skedded 
for September release. 

Two-day meet of domestic and 
Canadian division sales managers 
discussed exploitation ■ and mer- 
chandising plans, with special em- 
phasis on the quartet of features 
skedded for release during the 
Christmas and New Year holidays. 
Pix include “Stars and Stripes 
Forever,” “My Cousin Rachel,” 
“Ruby Gentry” and “The X Don’t 
Care Girl.” Latter three will be 
offered for special pre-release en- 
gagements. 

Other holiday releases include 
“The Farmer Takes a Wife” and 
“Niagara” for Lincoln’s and Wash- 
ington’s birthday; “Call Me 
Madam,” for Decoration Day, and 
“Tonight We Sing” and “Destina- 
tion Gobi” for Easter. 


NLRB Stresses Featherbed Exception 

« *• 

In High Ct Hearing on Akron Theatre 


Tugend Quits Prod. Job 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

Paramount granted Harry Tug- 
end release from his producer con- 
tract to permit him to devote full 
time to screenwriting. 

In the last year as producer Tug- 
end turned out “Off Limits” and 
“The Road to Bali.” 


N. Y. Boothmen, 
Circuits Reach 
Pay Stalemate 

Stalemate has been reached in 
negotiations for a new pact be- 
tween the Projectionists Union, Lo- 
cal 306, IATSE, and the N. Y. cir- 
cuits. While boothmen have been 
asking for a wage hike, the exhibs 
are demanding that a formula be 
evolved to reduce the number of 
men manning the booth. 

In connection with the latter, 
theatre operators have submitted 
a written memorandum to the 
union outlining the current biz 
situation of the industry. A writ- 
ten reply has been requested from 
the union, with latter asked to 
give its views of the analysis. 
Union has indicated that it has 
no intention of answering the ex- 
hib memo. 

•Talks broke down last week and 
union officials are currently con- 
ferring to map their next move. 
No date has been set for a new 
confab. Union has noted that it’ll 
ask for a new palaver as soon as 
it decides on its next step, at 
which time it wili want a definite 
offer from the exhibs. 

Dickering has been going on 
since after Labor Day to replace 
the pact which expired Sept. 1. 


CLOSE U. S. DEALS 
FOR SCALERA FILMS 

New foreign product due to hit 
art house and other screens this 
season will include a number of 
films from Italy’s ■ Scalera Studios, 
it was disclosed in New York this 
week by Scalera Film prez Pietro 
Bullio. Recently arrived from 
Rome, hC has already closed sev- 
eral distribution agreements for his 
company’s pix, and others are 
pending. 

“The Charter House of Parma,” 
a Gerard Philipe starrer, will be 
released in the U.S. through Jo- 
seph Burstyn, Inc. Film is now be- 
ing dubbed in English by Italian 
Films Export (IFE*. JLatter organi- 
zation is also dubbing another Sca- 
lera production, “The White Devil.” 
Distrib arrangements on Orson 
Welles’ “Othello” and the Richard 
Greene-Valentina Cortes starrer, 
“Shadow of the Eagle,” are still to 
be set. 

Scalera has an interest in the 
Welles-produced “Othello” as well 
as in “Eagle,” which British pro- 
ducer Anthony Havelock-Allan 
turned out in Italy two years, ago. 
Although RKO was said to have 
had a verbal agreement with 
Welles in which it would distribute 
“Othello,” Bullio stated that no 
deal had been made with any com- 
pany as yet. 

Aside from Scalera, Bullio also 
represents several independent 
Italian film-makers. Among the 
latter is Maleno Malenotti, whose 
“Enrico Caruso” is up for U.S. re- 
lease. Picture has Ermanno Randi 
as the singer while tenor Mario del 
Monaco handles the voice require- 
ments. 


William Dictcrlc will direct three 
films in 1953: “Elephant Walk” for 
Paramount, “King Saul,” his own 
indie, and one still untitled for Co- 
lumbia. 


Washington, Nov. 18 . 

In a preview of the argument 
scheduled for Friday (21) before 
the Supreme Court, National Labor 
Relations Board declared in its 
brief that the featherbedding pro- 
vision of the Taft-Hartley Act does 
not outlaw a union’s attempt to 
secure work for its members 
“whether or not the work is needed 
or wanted by the employer.” 

Brief was filed in the case involv- 
ing Local 24, American . Federation 
of Musicians, and the Palace Thea- 
tre, Akron, a unit of Gamble En- 
terprises, Inc. Same day Gamble 
Enterprises replied in its brief: 

“Sec. 8 (B) (6) of the National 
Labor Relations Act expressly for- 
bids attempts to cause an employer 
to make payments in the nature of 
an exaction for services which are 
not to be performed. A union can- 
not evade this provision by at- 
tempting to exact payment for the 
performance 'of acts which are 
neither services nor incidental to 
services and which the employe? 
does not want, does not meed, and 
and is not even willing to accept.” 

Local 24, which failed in its ef- 
fort to intervene In the High Court 
argument, filed an amicus curiae 
brief in which it asserted that it • 
was merely trying to get work for 
its members. 

NLRB said in its brief; “The 
legislative history of Sec. 8 (b) (6), 
like its text, shows clearly that a 
union's attempt’ to secure the em- 
ployment of its members for the 
performance of actual work is not 
forbidden, whether or not the work 
is wanted or needed by the em- 
( Continued on page 18) 

Metro Doesn’t Object 
To Disclosing Bids 
After Deadline -Bate— 

Metro has “no objection to the 
disclosure of bids after the dead- , 
line date and before the award is 
made If this is desired by our cus- 
tomers,” Charles M. Reagan, M-G 
general sales manager, stated in 
New York Monday (17). Sales top- 
per added that, since the proposed 
arbitration agreement made pro- 
vision for such disclosures, “it 
would be preferable to await the 
final approval of the arbitration 
plan rather than to institute an in- 
dividual plan of our own.” 

Reagan said his company was 
doing its best to limit? competitive 
bidding and that it had been suc- 
cessful in cutting down on the 
number of bidding situations. “We 
shall continue to exert our efforts 
to confine competitive bidding to 
those situations where there Is no 
other alternative as \vc are fully 
aware of the feelings of the rank 
and file of exhibitors on this sub- 
ject,”. he declared. 

Reagan wa$ to have been In Chi- 
cago today (Wed.) as a guest at 
the Allied States convention. Exec 
said he was hopeful for adoption of 
the proposed arbitration and con- 
ciliation plans, and he gave a par- 
ticular plug for the conciliation 
system which, he thought, would 
make arbitration unnecessary in 
many cases. 


High Ct. Nixes Exhib 
In L.A. Mex-Nabe Suit 

Washington, Nov. 18. 

The U. S. Supreme Court yester- 
day (Mon.) refused to take an ap- 
peal in another treble-damage 
suit. Suit was brought by Steve 
and Emma Chorak on behalf of 
their Puente Theatre, in Puente, 
small Mexican community near 
L. A. 

They claimed they were being; 
discriminated against in playing 
dates in favor of the Valley, 
Tumblewood and El Monte Thea- 
tres at nearby El Monte. They 
sued RKO, WB, 20th, Columbia, 
Universal, Loew’s, Paramount, UA, 
Republic and Monogram, plus A. L. 
Sanborn and James Edwards, Jr., 
of the Edwards circuit. 




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PICTURE GROSSES 


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Wednesday, November 19, 1952 


Ram Sloughs L.A. Biz Albeit ‘Zenda’ . 
Nice $25,000; ‘Birds’ Blah $11,000, 
‘Carrie’ Fair 11G, lusty’ So-So 28G 


Los Angeles, Nov. 18. * 

Overall boxoffice pace is slump- 
ing in current week, w'ith heavy 
weekend rains hurting most sit- 
uations. Only lour new bills, too, 
are available to offset the many 
extended-runs. “Prisoner of Zen- 
da,” in two theatres, shapes nice 
$25,000 while “Lusty Men” is 
rated fairly good with $28,000 in 
three sites. 

“Operation Secret” looks slow 
$20,000 in three houses. Combo of 
“Carrie”' and “Hurricane Smith” is 
fair $11,000 in two spots plus $17.- 
000 in five outlying houses, includ- 
ing three drive-ins. 

After last week’s spurt, upped- 
scale, extended-runs arc dropping 
sharplv. “The Promoter” looks 
neat $5,500 in second week at tiny 
Fine Arts. “Snows of Kiliman- 
jaro” is rated okay $20,000 in 
fourth stanza, two locations. 
“Something 1 For Birds” got a dull 
$11,000 in three spots for 8-day 
first w eek. 

Estimates for This Week 

Loew’s State, Egyptian, tUATC) 
(2.404; 1.538; 70-$1.10) — “Prisoner 
of Zenda” <M-G) and “Wac From 
Walla Walla” (Rep). Nice $25,000. 
Last week, “Everything I Have Is 
Yours” (M-G) and “Scotland Yard 
Inspector” (Lip) (2d wk-6 days), 
$15,300. , . 

Hillstrect, Pantages, Rita (RKO- 
FWC) t2,752; 2,812; 1.370: 70-$1.10) 
— “Lusty Men” (RKO) and "Strange 
Fascination” (Col). Mild $28,000. 
Last week, with Wiltern, excluding 
Ritz, “Springfield Rifle” (WB) and 
“Secret People” (Lip) <2d wki; 
$ 20 , 200 . 

Hollywood, Downtown, Wiltern 
(WB) (2,756; 1.757; 2,344: 70-$1.10) 
— “Operation Secret” (WB). Slow' 
$20,000. Last week. Hollywood, 
Orpheum, “Way of Gaucho” (20th) 
and “Wife’s Best Friend” <20th) 
(2d \vk). $12,400. Downtown. Ha- 
waii, “Miracle Fatima” (WB) (4-day 
sixth wk Downtown, 2d \vk Ha- 
waii), $6,400. 

‘ Orpheum, Hawaii (Metropolitan- 
G&S) (2,213; 1,106; 70-$1.10)— 

“Carrie” (Par) and “Hurricane 
Smith” (Par). Fair $11,000. Last 
week, w'ith other units. 

Los Angeles, Chinese, (FWC) 
(2,097; 2,048; 80-$ 1.50)— “Snows 

Kilimanjaro” (20th) (4th wk); Okay 
$20,000. Last -week? — $3 1,00 0, — 

Los Angeles. Hollywood Para- 
mounts (UPT-F&M) (3.200; 1,430; 
90-$1.50) — “Ivanhoe” (M-G) (6th 
wk). Medium $19,000. Last week, 
$22,300. • 

Four Star (UATC) (900; 80-$1.20) 
— “Androcles” (RKO) <3d wk). 
Nice $6,000. Last week, $7,300. 

United Artists, Wilshire (UATC- 
FWC) (2.100; 2,296; 80-S1.50) — 

• “Quiet Man” (Rep) (7th wk). Good 
$8,000 or near. Last week. $11,400. 

Canon (ABC) (533; $1.20) — “Full 
House” (20th) (9th wk). Mild $2,- 
900. Last week, $3,600. 

Fine Arts (FWC) (679; 80-$1.20) 
—“Promoter” (U) (2d wk). Neat 
$5,500. Last week, $7,000. 

Globe, Vogue, Loyola, (FWC) 
(782; 885; 1,248; 70-$1.10)— “Some- 
thing For Birds” (20th) and “Night 
Without Sleep” (20th). Finished 
8-day w'eek yesterday G7) with 
dull $11,000. 


Broadway Grosses 

Estimated Total Gross 

This Week . . $463,900 

( Based on 19 theatres ) 

Last Year $556,000 

‘ TBased on 20 theatres) 


^ A flMB a il 

Fabma Torrid 
$11, OM, Omaha 

Omaha, Nov. 18. 

“Greatest Show,” returning to 
Omaha at the State after a month’s 
roadshow run a year ago, is mak- 
ing the best first-run showing this 
week. “Miracle of Fatima” is land- 
ing the most money with a sock 
Brandeis session. “Caribbean” 
looms okay at the Omaha. 

Estimates for This Week 

Br&ndcis (RKO) (l,ltf0: 35-$D— 
“Miracle of Fatima” (WB). Hiked 
prices should boost this to sizzling 
$10,000. Last w'eek, “Lusty Men” 
(RKO) and “Narrow • Margin” 
(RKO), $7,500 for 8 days. 

Omaha (Tristates) (2,100; 20-70) 
— “Caribbean” (Par) and “Feudin’ 
Fools” (Mono). Okay $7,500. Last 
week, “Untamed Frontier” (U) and 
“Just Across Street” (U), $7,000. 

Orpheum (Tristates) (3,000; 20- 
70)“—“EverythiRg I Have- Is Yo-urs ’ 
(M-G) and “My Man and I” (M-G). 
Medium $9,000. Last week, “Some- 
bodv Loves Me” (Para) and “Arc- 
tic Flight” (Mono), $10,500. , 
‘State (Goldberg) (865; 26-76) — 
“Greatest Show” (Para). Brisk $6,- 
500 sighted on return popscale 
date. Last week. “The River” (UA) 
and “Chicago Calling” (UA), $3,200 
in 4 days, and “Show,” $2,500 in 
3 days. 


Pitt Slips Again But 
‘Horizons’ Oke 6G; ‘Cleo’ 
Fast 9|G, ‘Snows’ 10G, 3d 

Pittsburgh, Nov. - 18. 
After a slight holiday lift from 
Armistice Day, the bends have set 
in. again, Not much of a. dent be- 
ing made by any new’ pix. Pace- 
setters are “Snows of Kiliman- 
jaro,” in third w’eek at Fulton, and 
reissue of “Cleopatra” at Warner. 
Two downtown deluxers are droop- 
ing, Stanley with “Montana Belle” 
and Penn with “The Thiel.” “Hori- 
zons West” is giving the Harris an 
okay stanza. 

Estimates for This Week 
Fulton (Shea) <1,700: 85-$1.25) — 
“Snow's of Kilimanjaro” <20th) (3d 
wk). Holding up very well at $10,- 
000. 1 May stick until Thanksgiving 
pic comes in. Last week, fine 
$14,500. 

Harris (Harris) <2.200; 50-85) — 
“Horizons West” <U) and “Black 
Castle” <U). Okay $6,000 in 6 days. 
House pulled "W ilc’s Best Friend” 
(20th) after 3 dismal davs at loss 
than $2,000. 

Penn ■< Loew’s) <3,300: 50-85)— 
“The Thief” <UA). Notices gen- 
erally were rather lukewarm and 
biz will be the same. Not much 
more than $8,500. L;;*l week, 

(Continued on page 20) 


‘Snows’ Terrif $41,500, 
Denver; ‘Thief’ Big 12G 

Denver, Nov. 18. 

“Snows of Kilimanjaro” is pack- 
ing the Denver and Esquire to 
new highs in both spots, and holds. 
Some first-run biz hurt by CBS 
preem in Hollywood Sunday (18) 
night. “Yankee Buccaneer” looks 
fairly good in three spots. “Thief” 
and stageshow looms good at Par- 
amount. 

Estimates for This Week 

Aladdin (Fox) (1,400; 50-85)— 
“Yankee Buccaneer” (U) and “Bela 
Lugosi Meets a “Brooklyn Gorilla” 
(Indie), day-date with’ Tabor, Web- 
ber. Fair $6,000. Last week “Sally 
and Saint Anne” (U) and “Captain 
Black Jack” (Classic), fair $5,500. 

Broadway (Wolf berg) (1,200; 50- 
85) — “Red Shoes” (UA) (reissue). 
Okay. Oke $7,500. Holds. Last 
j.week, “Because You’re Mine” 
(M-G), fair $6,000 4th w'k. 

Denham (Cockrill; (1,750; 50-85) 
— “Turning Point” (Par). Poor 
$8,500. Last week, “Cleopatra” 
(Par) (reissue), $7,000. 

Denver (Fox) (2.525; 60-$l) — 
“S nows Kilimanjaro” (.20th). 
Smash $33,000. Stays on. Last 
week, “Springfield Rifle” (WB) 
(Continued on page 20) 


‘BLOODHOUNDS’ BRIGHT 
8JG, CINCY; ‘BATTLE’ 7G 

Cincinnati, Nov. 18. 
Keith’s return to downtown line- 
up with pleasing session on “Blood- 
hounds of Broadway” is bolstering 
overall count this week to snappy 
fall pace. “Eight Iron Men” has the 
Palaffe in par stride. Town top coin 
goes to “Snows of Kilimanjaro,” a 
bright holdover at the big Albee. 
Other new bills are “Caribbean,” 
oke at Capitol and “Battle Zone ” 
good at Grand. 

Estimates for This Week 
Albee (RKO) (3,100; 75-$l.l0)— 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro” (20th) (2d 
wk). Brisk $14,000 after tall $21,- 
000 preem. ^ v 

Capitol (RKO) (2,000; 55-85)— 
“Caribbean” (Par). Okay $7,500. 
Last week, “Miracle of Fatima” 
(WB) (3d wk), $7,000. 

Grand (RKO) (1,400; 55-75)— 
“Battle Zone” (AA) and “Rose 
Bowl Story” (AA). Good $7,000^ or 
over. Last week, “The Fighter” 
(UA) and “Captive City” (UA), 
$6,500 in 6 days. 

Keith’s (Shor) <1,500; 55-85) — 
“Bloodhounds of Broadway” (20th). 
Brisk $8,500 on reopening week 
after several months of darkness. 
Rube Shor and associates are now 
lessees. Theatre redecorated inside 
and front. 

Lyric (RKO) (1,400; 55-85)— 

“Quiet Man” (Rep)Tm.o.) (2d wk). 
Trim $6,000 trailing last week’s 
‘$7,500. 

Palace (RKO) (2.600; 55-85)— 
“Eight Iron Men” (Col). Moderate 
$9,000. Film’s Mary Castle made 
personals opening day. Last week, 
“Steel Trap” (20th), $8,500. 

‘Quiet’ Loud 19G 
Sets K.C. Pace 

Kansas City, Nov. 18. ■ 
Several first-runs are brighter 
this week with good screen fare 
the answer. “Quiet Man” in four 
Fox Midwest houses looks smash 
and stays extra days. Midland 
also is nice with “Prisoner of 
Zenda,” and may hold. Brief rain 
last week interrupted the long dry 
spell. 

Estimates for This Week 
Kimo (Dickinson) (504; 50-75) — 
“Tales of Hoffmann” (UA). First 
time at pop prices, having played 
house previously roadshow. Strong 
$2,700. Last week, “Under Paris 
Sky” (Indie), $1,400. 

Midland (Loew’s) (3.500; 50-75) 
—“Prisoner of Zenda” (M-G) and 
“Harem Girl” (Col).- Fine $15,000, 
and may hold. Last week. “Every- 
thing I* Have Is Yours” (M-G) and 
Without Warning” (UA), $11,000. 

Missouri (RKO) (2,650; 50-75)— 
“Captain Pirate” (Col) and “Brig- 
and” (Col). Stays only* five days 
as house goes back to Wednesday 
openings. Light $4,000. Last 
week, “Golden Hawk” <Col) with 
Phil Spitalny all-girl orch onstage, 
90c top," failed to hold opening 
pace, $10,000. 

Paramount (Tri-States) (1,900; 
50-75) — “Hurricane Smith” (Par). 
Dull so-so $6,000. “Cleopatra” 
(Par) (reissue) opens test date 
next. Lost week, “Turning Point” 
(Par), $7,000. 

Tower, Uptown, Fairway, Gra- 
nada (Fox Midwest) (2,100; 2,043; 
700; 1,217; 50-75)— “Quiet Man” 
IRep) with “Tropical Hqat Wave” 
(Rep) at Tower and Granada. Best 
for this combo in weeks. Stays 8 
days for sock $19,000. Last week, 
“Lure of Wilderness” (20th) and 
“Lady in- Iron Mask” (20th) at 
Tower and Granada, $12,000. 

Vogue (Golden) (550; 50-85) — 
“High Treason” (Indie) <4th wk). 
Neat $1,500. Holds a fifth. Last 
week, $1,700. 


Wash. NSG, ‘Happy’ Hep 10G, ‘Secret’ 
Ohay 12G, ‘Bloodhounds’ Mild 14G 


-4- 


Key City Grosses 

Estimated Total Gross 

This Week $2,259,700 

( Based on 24 cities , 202 the - 
atres, chiefly first runs, include 
ing N. Y.) 

Total Gross Same Week 

Last Year .$2,360,000 

( Based on 25 cities, and 220 
theatres.) - 


‘Because’ Brisk 



Del Still Dull; ‘Rifle’ Standout But 
Only $17,000, ‘Buccaneer Good 14G 


Detroit, Nov. 18. 
This is another dull week in 
Detroit. “Springfield Rifle” at the 
Michigan looks best of lot but bare- 
ly average. “Pony Soldier” shapes 
slow at the Fox. However, “Yankee 
Buccaneer” is good at the Palms. 
“Untamed Women” shapes fair at 
the Madison. “Ivanhoe” continues 
steady at the Adams in sixth week. 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro” continues 
sturdy in fourth round at United 
Artists. 

Estimates for This Week 
Fox (Fox-Detroit) (5.000; 70-95) 
— “Pony Soldier” (20th) and 
“Faithful City” (RKO). Slow $18,- 
000. Last week, “Lusty Men” 
(RKO) (2d wk), nice $16,000. 

Michigan (United Detroit) (4,- 
000; 70-95)— “Springfield Rifle” 

(WB) and “Wife’s Best Friend” 
<20th). Average $17,000. Last week, 


Because You’re Mine” (M-G) and 
“Apache War Smoke’.’ (U), (2d wk), 
fine $15,000. 

Palms (UD) (2,961; 70-95)— 

“Yankee Buccaneer” (U) and 
“Toughest Man in Arizona” (Rep). 
Good $14,000. ’ Last week, “The 
Savage” (Par) and “Scotland Yard 
Inspector” (Lip), same. 

Madison (UD) (1,900; 70-95)— 
“Untamed Women” (UA) and 
“Jungle” (Lip). Oke $9,000. Last 
week, “Ladies of Chorus” (Col) 
(reissue) and “Strange Fascina- 
tion” (Col), fair $7,000. 

United Artists (UA) <1,900; 95- 
$1.25) — "Snows of Kilimanjaro” i 
(20th) <4th wk). Still big $14,500.' 
Last week, great $15,300. I 

Adams (Balaban) <1,700; 95- 

$1.25) — “Ivanhoe” <M-G) <61h wk). 
Sturdy $8,000. Last week, $11,000. 


Cleveland, Nov. 18, 

Unusual mild weather is being 
felt at downtown wickets, but not 
cutting too much into biz. Rita 
Gam’s personals here helped 
“Thief” to rack up a' good session 
at Hippodrome. However, one of 
standouts is Allen’s “Because of 
You” with smash stanza looming. 
“Eight Iron Men,” at Palace, 
shapes okay. 

Estimates for This Week 

Allen (Warner) (3,000; 55-85) — 
“Because of You” (U). Lofty $14,- 
000 or near. Last week, “Opera- 
tion Secret” (WB), $13,000. 

Hipp (Telemanagement) (3,700; 
55_85)— “Thief” (UA). Good $13.- 
500. Last week “Way of Gaucho” 
(20th), fair $11,000. 

Lower Mall (Community) (585; 
55-85)-*-“Grand Concert” (Indie) 
(2d wk). So-so $2,500 following 
$3,500 last week. 

Ohio. (Loew’s) (1,300; 55-85) — 
“Everything I Have Is Yours” 
(M-G) (m.d.). Oke $6,500, Last 
week, “Somebody Loves Me” (Par) 
(m.o.), $5,500. 

Palace (RKO) (3,300; 55-85) — 
“Eight Iron Men” (Col). Okay 
$10,000. Last week, “Steel Trap” 
(20th), $9,500. " 

State (Loew’s) (3,450; 55-85) — 
Prisoner of Zenda” (M-G). Hefty 
$17,000 or a bit better, and holding 
5 days. Last week, “Everything I 
Have Is Yours” (M-G), $11,000. 

Stillman (Loew’s) (2,700; 55-85) 
— “Turning Point” (Par). Passable 
.$6,500. Last week, “Hurricane 
Smith” (Par), $7,000. 

Tower (Telemanagement) (585; 
75-$l.l0) — “Snows of Kilimanjaro” 
(20th) (m.o.). Smart $3,000 on 

sixth downtown round following 
$4,500 last week. 

‘HANGMAN’ HEFTY 14G, 
ST. LOO;' ‘GAUCHO’ 12G 

' St. Louis, Nov. 18. 

Turnstile activity at Mainstem 
houses was slowed down over the 
weekend by the return of mid- 
summer weather, grosses as a con- 
sequence being mainly mild. “Hang- 
man’s Knot,” with a good session 
at Loew’s, shapes best of new- 
comers. “Wakamba” with “Cali- 
fornia Conquest” wound up a sock 
week at the big Fox yesterday 
(Mon. I. “Way of Gaucho” looms 
only average at Ambassador. 
“Lusty Men” shapes fair at the 
Missouri. 

Estimates for This Week 

Ambassador (F&M) (3,000; BO- 
75) — “Way of Gaucho” (20th) and 
“Somebody Loves Me” (Par). 
Average $12,000 or less. Last 
week, “Somebody Loves Me” (Par) 
and “Night Without Sleep” (20th), 
nice $16,000. 

Fox (F&M) (5,000; 60-75)— 

“Caribbean” (Par) and “Hurricane 
Smith” (Par), Opened today 
(Tues.). Last week, “Wakamba” 
(Indie) and “California Conquest” 
(Col), sock $19,000.- 

Loew’s (Loew) (3,172: 50-75) — 
“Hangman’s Knot” (Col) and 
“Golden Hawk” (Col). Good $14,- 
000 or close. Last week, “The 
Thief” (UA) and “Park Row” 
(UA), $15,000. 

Missouri (F&M) (3,500; 60-75) — 
“Lusty Men” (RKO) and “Spring- 
field Rifle” (WB). Fair $9,000. 


• ' ■ 1 / ■ JL. UAk yvovw 

Last week, “Just for You” (Par 
and “Carrie” (Par), same. 

Pageant (St. L. Amus.) (1,000; 
90) — “Snows Kilimanjaro” (20th) 
(2d wk). Held at $2,000 after fine 
$2,500 initial stanza. 

St. Louis (F&M) (4.000; (75-$l) 
— “Rose Bowl Story” (AA) and 
“Battle Zone” (AA). Slow $7,500. 
Last week, “Miracle of Fatima” 
(WB) 1 3d wk), solid $12,000. 

Shady Oak (St. L. Amus.) (800: 
90) — “Snows of Kilimanjaro” 
(20th) (3d wk). Still fine at $3,000, 
following $3,500 second frame. 


Washington, Nov. 18. 

This is a dull session along the 
town’s mainstem, with the annual 
competition from pre-holiday shop- 
ping taking its toll. Sole standout 
is "Happy Time” at the Trans-Lux. 
Bolstered by unanimous raves 
from the r drama desks, it shapes 
solid. “Operation Secret” is rated 
okay at the Warner. Everything 
else shapes mild to nearly okav 
except “Snows of Kilimanjaro.'* 
still sock in its fifth session at 
Loew’s Columbia. 

Estimates for This Week 

Capitol (Loew’s) (3,434; 55-95 1 

“Steel Trap” (20th) plus vaude. 
Okay $19,000. Last week. “Son of 
All Baba” (U) plus Patti Page on- 
stage. smash $33,000. 

Columbia (Loew’s) (1.174; 74- 
$1.20) — “Snows of Kilimanjaro’’ 
(20th) (5th wk). Still sock at $15.- 
000 after hefty $18,000 last week. 
Holds. 

Dupont (Lopert) (372; 50-85) — 
“Lady Vanishes” (UA) (reissue) 
(3d-final wk). Okay $3 700 after 
surprising $5,000 last week. 

Keith’s (RKO) (1,939; 50-85) — 
“Raiders” (U). Slow $5,000, and 
yanked* after* 5 days. Last week, 
“Lusty Men” (RKO), firm $8,500. 

Metropolitan (Warner) (1.200; 
50-80) — “Hour of 13” (M-G). 

Pleasing $5,000. Last week, 
“Strange Fascination” (Indie), rock 
bottom at $2,000. 

.Palace (Loew’s) (2,370; 50-80) — 
“Bloodhounds of Broadway” (20th). 
Mild $14,000. Last week, “Way of 
Gaucho” (20th), ditto. 

Playhouse (Lopert) (435; 50-$l) 
— “The Thief” (U) (4th wk). Fairly 
steady $4,500 after fast $6,000 last 
week. Stays on. 

Warner (WB) (2,174; 50-80) — 
“Operation Secret” (WB). Okay 
$12,000. Last week, “Springfield 
Rifle” (WB), brisk $15,000. 

Trans-Lux (T-L) (600; 60-$ 1) — 
“Happy Time” (Col). Hot $10,000 
to top town. Holds. Last week, 
“Eight Iron -Men” (Col) (2d wk), 
slow $1,500 in 3 days. 

‘Because’ Boffo $22,000, 
Boston; ‘Point’ Pert 16G, 
‘Promoter’ Sock 12G, 2d 

Boston, Nov. 18. 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro” in sec- 
ond week at Met continues to lead 
town with “Because of You” at 
Memorial way out in front for 
newcomers. Latter is smash. “Turn- 
ing Point” at Paramount and Fen- 
way looks oke. “Montana Belle” at 
Boston is not bad. “The Promoter” , 
in second week at Exeter still is 
great after record opener. 
Estimates for This Week 
Astor (B&Q) (1,500; 50-95)— 

Happy Tin) eM (Col) (2d wk). Hold- 
ing near $9,500 following okay 
$10,000 in first. 

Beacon Hill (Beacon Hill) (682; 
50-90)— “Miracle of Milan” <Bur- 
styne) and “Last Holiday” (Indie) 
(3d wk). Off to about $4,200 for 
final week after big $5,800 for sec- 
ond. 

Boston (RKO) (3,000; 40-85)— 
“Montana Belle” (RKO) and Love 
Island” (Indie). Oke $11,500. Last 
week, “Horizons West” (U) and 
“Scarf Murder Mystery” (Indie), 
$9,000. 

Exeter (Indie) (1,300; 60-80)— 
“The Promoter” (U) (2d wk). Smash 
$12,000 after first week broke 
house record with $12,500. 

Fcriway (NET) (1,373; 40-85)— 
Turning Point” (Par) and “Brook- 
lyn Gorilla” (Indie). Okay $4,500. 
Last week, “Springfield Rifle” 
(WB) and “WAC from Walla Walla” 
(Rep), $4,500. 

Memorial (RKO) (3,000; 40-85)— 
“Because of You” (U) and “Has 
Anybody Seen My Girl” (U). Socko 
$22J)00. . Last week, “Steel,, Trap’ 
(20th) and “Savage African” (In- 
die), fairish $14,500. 

Metropolitan (NET) (4,367; 74- 
$1.25) — “Snows of Kilimanjaro’* 
(20th) (2d wk). Nice $30,000 fol- 
lowing big $46,000 for first. 

Orpheum (Loew) (3,000; 40-85)— 
“Prisoner of Zenda” (M-G). Open- 
ed fairly strong Saturday (15). Last 
week. “Lure of Wilderness” (20th) 
and “Hour of 13” (M-G), fair $11,- 
500. 

Paramount (NET) (1,700; 40-85)— 
“Turning Point” (Par) and “Brook- 
lyn Gorilla” (Indie). Unexciting 
$11,500. Last week, “Springfield 
Rifle” (WB) and “WAC from Walla 
Walla” (Rep), $12,000. 

Pilgrim (ATC) (1,850; 44-90)— 
“Eight Iron Men” (Col) and “Voo- 
doo Tiger” (Col) (2d wk). Down lo 
about hefty $10,500 following $14,- 
300 for first. 

State (Loew) (3,500; 40-85)— 

“Prisoner of Zenda” (M-G). Open- 
ed Saturday (15). Last week, ‘‘Lure 
of Wilderness” (20th) and “Hour 
of 13” (M-G), sluggish $7,500. 


Wednesday, Novemher 19, 1952 


PtS&mfr 


PICTTJKE GROSSES 


Chi Improved; DeviMfly Man’ Nice 
$12,001), ‘Mistress’-Laine Big 45G, 2d; 
‘Snows’ Hot 24G, ‘Fatima’ Fat 14G, 3d 


11 


Chicago, Nov. 18. 

While there are only two new 
pn tries, both fairly good, most 
holdovers are also strong, giving 
Z local boxoffice a slight lift. Of 
the newcomers, “Devil Makes 
Three” and “My Man and I” at 
Grand looks nice $12,000 while 
“Strange Ones” at World is neat 
$4,000. 

Chicago, pairing “Iron Mistress” 
with Frankie Laine heading the 
show, shapes stout $45,000 
for" its second week. “Eight Iron 
Men" and “Black Castle” at Roose- 
velt looms good in second round, 
“Kansas City Confidential” at 
Woods is also trim in first hold- 
over stanza. 

Third - weekers are unusually 
strong with 4 Snows of Kiliman- 
jaro” at the State-Lake leading 
with great takings. “Miracle of 
Fatima" at United Artists, also in 
third week, still is very strong. 
“Ivanhoe” at the Oriental contin- 
ues solid In sixth frame while “Be- 
cause You’re Mine” at Palace is 
holding near fourth round with a 
solid fifth session. 

Estimates for This Week 

Chicago (B&K) (3,90ft; 98-$1.25) 
—‘‘Iron Mistress” (WB) aided by 
Frankie Laine topping stage show 
(2d wk'. Holding strong with. $45,- 
000. Last week, big $55,500. 

Grand (RKO) (1,500; 55-98)— 
“Devil Makes Three” (M-G) and 
“My Man and I” (U). Fine $12,- 
000. Last week, ‘‘Battle Zone” 
(A A • and “Rose Bowl Story” (AA), 
$ 11 , 000 . 

Oriental (Indie) (3,400; 98-$1.25) 
—"Ivanhoe” (M-G) <6th wk). Neat 
$22,000. Last week, $25,000. 

Palace (Eitel) (2,500; 98)— “Be- 
cause You’re Mine” (M-G7 (5th wk). 
Ad splurge hypoing this to fine 
$12,000. Last week, $13,000. 

Roosevelt (B&K) (1,500; 55-98)— 
“Eight Iron Men” (Col) and “Black 
Castle" (U) (2d wk). Bright $10,- 
000. Last week, $14,000. 

State-Lake (B&K) (2.700; 98- 

$1.215' — “Snows of Kilimanjaro” 
(20th) (3d wk). Excellent $24,000. 
Last week, $33,000. 

Surf (II&E Balaban) (685; 98)— 
“Lady Vanishes” (UA) (reissue) 
(3d wk). Nice $3,500. Last week, 
$4,300. « 

United Artists (B&K) (1,700; 98- 
$1.2,5) — “Miracle of Fatima” (WB) 
(3d wk'. Swarms of school ducats 
keeping this at very big $14,000. 
Last week, $19,000. 

Woods (Essaness) (1,073; 98) — 
K. C. Confidential” (UA) (2d wk). 
Holding at $15,000. Last week, 
stout 820,000. 



$2.1500 


Rain Bops Frisco Biz; 
‘Limelight’ Lively 14G, 
‘Flat Top’ OK $12,000 

San Francisco, Nov. 18. 
Torrential rains for three days is 
dampening the film boxoffice ‘here. 
Respite strong exploitation, “lime- 
nght is rated as somewhat disap- 
pointing at the United Artists. 
Howovor. a solid session looms at 
tlie l.207-. S eat house. “Prisoner of 
wp , , is holding okay husecond 
Warfield stanza while “Flat Top” 
looks fairly good at St. Francis. 
n . wUh opening day personals 
a flock of Hollywood players. 
Blazing Forest” shapes mild at 
Paramount. 

Estimates for This Week 
golden Gate (RKO) £.850; 65-95) 
r~ Horizons West” <U) and “The 
«Q V inn lcrs ” ^ n( iie> (reissue). Thin 
Last wfeek, “Lusty Men” 
(R £0', $11,500. 

Fox (FWC) (4.651; 65-95)— “Way 
?•* mViT 10 ” (20th) and “Wild Stal- 
S L\ Tono ^ ^d wk-5 days). Dis- 

$^1 500 G ‘° 00 ‘ LaSt we * ek ’ blah 

. Warfield (Loew’s) (2,656; 65-95)— 
^' ls °ner Of Zenda” (M-G) (2d 
$20 OOO^ 6 kast week nice 

ar . amount (Par) (2,646; 65-95)— 
imr forest” (Par) plus open- 
wm* * v P ers °nals by Dick Arlen, 
mam Demarest, Roscoe Ates, 
, rs - I( Colorless $11,000. Last 
''^• Operation Secret” (WB) 
a hd Silent Dust” (Indie), $12,000. 
“pil F I anc te (Par) (1.400; 65-95)— 
Hal Top” (AA). Okay $12,000. 
w;eok, “Turning Point” (Par), 
^4.000 in 10 days. 

(No * Coast) (2.448; 65- 
«i'p 9, utp0R t In Malaya” (UA) and 
f a,, ?o (Indie). Small $9,000 or 
0so * Last week. “Hangman’s 
(Continued on page 20) 


Estimates Are Net 

Film gross estimates as re- 
ported, herewith from the vari- 
ous key cities, are net; i. e., 
without the 20% tax. Distrib- 
utors share on net take, when 
playing percentage, hence the 
estimated figures are net in- 
come. 

The parenthetic admission 
prices, however, as Indicated, 
include the U. S. amusement 
tax. 

‘Zenda Powerful 

$25,000, Philly 

# Philadelphia, Nov. 18. 
Long overdue rains washed out 
Saturday (15) night’s biz, killing 
usually great Penn-Army grid 
game weekend. Best newcomer 
is “Prisoner-of Zenda,” which is 
sock at the Randolph. “Steel Trap” 
failed to catch much at the Boyd. 
“Turning Point” looms far below 
par at the Stanley. “Springfield 
Rifle” misfired at the Mastbaum 
where a slim session is likely. 
“Horizons West” is doing okay at 
the Goldman. 

Estimates for This Week 
Aldine (WB) (1,303; 50-99) — 
“Thief” (UA) (6th wk). Off to 
$3,600. Last week, good $4,200. 

Arcadia (S&S) (625; 85-$1.20)— 
“Because You’re Mine” (M-G) (5th 
wk). Trim $7,500. Last week, 
$ 10 , 000 . 

Boyd (WB) (2,360; 50-99)— “Steel 
Trap” (20th). Mild $8,000. Last 
week, “Somebody Loves Me” (Par) 
(2d wk), $8,000. 

Earle (WB) (2,700; 50-$1.10) — 
“Holiday for Sinners” (M-G) with 
“Peep Show” unit onstage. Dull 
$10,000. Last week, “Models, Inc.” 
(Indie) with Larry Steele’s* “Smart 
Affairs” onstage, thin $11,000. 

Fox (20th > (2,250; 90-$1.50) - 
“Ivanhoe” (6th wk). Down to $16,- 
000. Last week, smart $20,000. 

Goldman (Goldman) (1,200; 50- 
99) — “Horizons West” (U). Trim 
$10,000. Last week, “Eight Iron 
Men” (Col) (2d wk), $9,000. 

Mastbaum (WB) (4,360; 50-99)— 
“Springfield Rifle” (WB). Light 
$14,000. Last week, “Quiet Man” 
(Rep) (6th wk), okay $10,500. 

Midtown (Goldman) (1,000; 75- 
$1.30) — “Snows of Kilimanjaro” 
(20th) (5th wk). Big $17,000. Last 
week, $18,000. 

Randolph (Goldman) (2,500; 50- 
99) — “Prisoner of Zenda” (M-G). 
Fancy $25,000. Last week, “Because 
of You” (U) (2d wk), $8,000. 

Stanley (WB) (2,900; 50-99)— 
“Turning Point” (Par). So-so $13,- 
000. Last week, “Savage” (Par) (2d 
wk), $9,000. * ^ 

Stanton (WB) (1,479; 50-99)— 
“Operation Secret” (WB) (2d wk). 
Okay $6,000 in 5 days. Last week, 
strong $12,000. 

Trans-Lux (T-L) (500; 85-$1.20) 
—“Happy Time” (Col) (2d wk). 
Solid $7,500. Last week, tidy 
$9,000. 


ly Pal’ Robust $13,000, 
Indpls.; ‘Assignment’ 8G 

Indianapolis, Nov. -18. 

Streak of mild weather is bene- 
fitting the few drive-ins still open 
! and holding biz at most first-runs 
i below hopes this stanza. Big ex- 
ception, however, is “My Pal Gus,” 
which got off to fast start in test 
run at Circle with aid of special 
exploitation to lead town by nice 
margin. “Springfield Rifle,” at 
Indiana, and “Assignment Paris,” 
at Loew’s are only fair. 

Estimates for This Week 

Circle (Cockrill-Dolle) (2,800; 50- 
76)— “My Pal Gus” (20th) and 
"Toughest Man in Arizona” (Rep). 
Hefty $13,000. Last week, “Sud- 
den Fear” (RKO) and “Annie Oak- 
ley” (RKO) (reissue), $9,000. 

Indiana (C-D) (3,200; 50-76) — 
“Springfield Rifle” (WB). Mild 
$9,000. Last week, “Back At Front” 
(U) and “Yankee Buccaneer” (U), 
$ 10 , 000 . ; 

Loew’s (Loew’s) (2,427, 50-76) — 
“Assignment Paris” (M-G) and 
“Golden Hawk” (Col). So-so 
$8,000. Last week, “Devil Makes 
Three” (M-G) and “You For Me” 
(M-G), $9,000. 

Lyric (C-D) (1,600; fc0-76) — 

“Tarzan’s Savage Fury” (RKO) and 
“Under the Sea” (RKO). Mild 
$5,000. Last week, “Rose Bowl 
Story” (Mono), with Tommy Dor- 
sey orch., others, onstage, *$13,000 
at 55c-$l scale. 


JB’way Sluggish; “Plymouth’ Mild 
120G Opener, ‘Bloodhounds’ Plus 
Vaude 54G, Trap’ 13G, ‘Angel St.’ 6G 


‘Because’ Boffo 



in Buff. 


‘Because’ Fancy $10,000, 
Seattle; ‘Everything’ 7G 

Seattle, Nov. 18. 

Palomar has reverted to stage- 
shows this week, with “Lady 
Godiva” topping stage lineup with 
“My Man and I.” Only okay ses- 
sion looms. “Because of You” 
shapes nice at Orpheum for best 
showing of a newcomer. “Every- 
thing I Have Is Yours” is fairly 
good at Liberty. 

• Estimates for This Week 

Coliseum (Evergreen) (1,829; 65- 
90) — “Blazing Forest” (Par) and 
“Seeds of Destruction” (Indie). 
Oke $7,500. Last week, “Steel 
Trap” (20th) and “Canyon Ambush” 
(Mono), $9,600: 

Liberty (Hamrick) (1,650; 65-90) 
— “Everything I Have Is Yours” 
(M-G) and “Wide Boy” (Indie). 
Fairly good $7,000. Last week, 
“Lusty Men” (RKO) (2d wk), 
$4,500. 

Music Box (Hamrick) (850; 65- 
90) — “Man in White Suit” (U> (2d 
wk). Good $3,500 after big $4,200 
opener. 

Music Hall (Hamrick) (850; 90- 
$1.25) — “Ivanhoe” (M-G). (5th wk- i 
(Continued on page 20) 1 


Buffalo, Nov, 18. 

Standout here this session is 
“Because of You” with a smash 
total at the Lafayette. Elsewhere, 
biz is very spotty although “Pony 
Soldier” at the Buffalo is rated 
neat. ‘‘Cleopatra” on reissue 
looms fairly good at the Center. 

Estimates for This Week 

Buffalo (Loews) (3,000; 40-70 — 
“Pony Soldier” (20th) and “Park 
Row” (UA). Neat $12,000. Last 
week, “Everything I Have Is 
Yours” (M-G) and iiApache War 
Smoke” (M-G (9 days), $15,500. 

Paramount (Par) (3,000; 40-70) — 
“Operation Secret” (WB) and 
“Marry Me” (Indie). Slim $8,500. 
Last week, “Turning Point” (Par) 
and ‘Desperadoes Outpost” (Rep), 
$ 10 , 000 . 

Center (Par) (2,100; 40-70) — 
“Cleopatra” (Par) (reissue). Fairly 
good $8,000 or near. Last week, 
"Snows of Kilimanjaro” (20th) (3d 
wk), $10,000 at 70c-$l scale. 

Lafayette (Basil) (3,000, *40-70) — 
“Because of You” (U> and “En- 
chanted Forest” (Indie) (reissue). 
Smash $13,000 or better. -Last 
week, “Eight Iron Men” (Col) and 

“Man of Evil” (Indie), $8,500. 

Century (20th Cent.) (3,000; 40- 
70) — “Cairo Road” (Indie) and 
“Brooklyn Gorilla” (Indie). Soft 
$8,000 or dose. Last week, “Way 
of Gaucho” (20th) ana “Tropical 
Heat Wave” (Rep), $7,500. 


L’ville Perks Up; ‘Secret’ 
Big $7,500, ‘Assignment’ 
Tail 12G, Trees’ $8,500 

* Louisville, Nov. 18. 

Downtown houses teed off 
smartly in current session. State, 
with “Assignment Paris” and “Gol- 
den Hawk,” reaping benefit of 
spring-like weather and influx of 
downtown shoppers, shapes fine. 
Mary Anderson, with “Operation 
Secret,” likewise had a brisk open- 
ing. Rialto’s “It Grows on Trees” 
and “Raiders” looms modest - Fall 
race meet at Churchill Downs 
wound up three-week sesh with 
attendance and betting setting a 
high figure. 

Estimates for This Week * 

Kentucky (Switow) (1,000; 54-75) 
— “Monkey Business” (20th) (2d 
wk). Still strong at $4,500 after 
first week’s $5,500. 

Mary Anderson (People’s) (1,200; 
54-75) — “Operation Secret” (WB). 
Looks like fine $7,500. Last week, 
“Springfield Rifle” (WB) (3d wk), 
$5,000. 

Rialto (Fourth Avenue) (3,000; 
54-75) — “It Grows on Trees” (U) 
and “Raiders” (U>. Weak opening, 
and shapes mild $8,500. Last week, 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro” (20th), 
with 99c top, took smash $22,000 
and moved to Brown. 

State (Loew’s) (3,000; 54-75) — 
“Assignment Paris” (Col) and 
Golden Hawk” (Col). Strong 
$12,000. Last week, “The Thief” 
(UA* and “House of 13” (M-G), 
$ 8 , 000 . 


Despite five new bills, including 
. some supposedly strong fall prod- 
j uct, Broadway film business is 
mainly sluggish this session. Com- 
bination of too much TV competi- 
tion last Saturday (15; and all-day 
rain that day crimped the vital 
weekend trade. This was particu- 
larly true of newcomers that teed 
off last Thursday or Friday. 

“Plymouth Adventure,” with new 
stageshow, failed to come through 
as expected, doing mildish $120,- 
000 for opening week at the Music 
Hall. It probably will hold three 
weeks to take it through Thanks- 
giving. “Turning Point” likewise is 
suffering from the offish tone, 
with only a mild $10,000 probable 
at the Globe. 

“Bloodhounds of Broadway" 
with^ Frances Langford. Jimmy 
Nelson, Mello-Larks, and Borrah 
Minevitch Harmonica Rascals top- 
ping stage bill, also is being hurt, 
with not more than $54,000 likely, 
sluggish, at the Roxy in first 
stanza. “Steel Trap” got a very 
modest $13,000 opening round at 
the State. 

“Angel Street,” fifth newcomer, 
likewise found the going tough to 
land only a good $6,200 on first 
frame at the Normandie. 

B.ulk of the present week’s 
strength is coming from holdovers 
and extended-run pictures. “Break- 
ing Through” still is socko with 
$21,500 in second session at the 
Victoria. “Limelight” continues 
smash at $24,500 for third round 
at the Astor, with a great $9,800 
for the Trans-Lux 60th Street, 
where playing day-rate on two-a- 
day. 

“Operation Secret” with Four 
Aces, Charlie Barnet band, Sunny 
Gale topping the stageshow wound 
up its second stanza at the Para- 
mount with a good $60,000. Par 
flagship brings in its 26th anni 
show today (Wed.), with “Iron 
Mistress” as the pic. 

“The Promoter” continues in 
terrific style at the Fine Arts, get- 
ting a rousing $12,500 in third 
week. “Snows of Kilimanjaro” still 
is strong with around $20,000 prob- 
able this session (9th) at the Rivoli. 

Estimates for This Week 

Astor (City Inv.) (1,300; 70-$1.50) 
—“Limelight” (UA) (4th wk). Third 
frame ending today (Wed.) is hold- 
ing at socko $24,500. Third stanza 
was $26,000, over expectancy. Con- 
tinues indef. 

Broadway (Cinerama) (1,250; 90- 
$2.80) — “This Is Cinerama” (Indie) 
(8th wk). Seventh session ended 
last night (Tues.) held virtually at 
capacity with smash $40,000. Sixth 
week was $41,000. Nights are sold 
out until early next year. 

Capitol (Loew’s) (4,820; 70-$1.50) 
— “Prisoner of' Zenda” (M-G) (3d 
wk). Initial holdover round ended 
Monday (17) slipped to good $19,- 
000 or near. First week was fine 
$35,000. 

Criterion (Moss) (1,700; 50-$1.80> 
— “Lusty Men” (RKO) (4th wk*. 
Off to around $6,000 after light 
$8,000 for third frame. Holds a 
fifth, with “Hans Christian Ander- 
sen" (RKO) opening Nov. 25, day- 
date with Paris Theatre. 

Fine Arts (Davis) (468; 90-$1.80) 
— “The Promoter” (U) (4th wk>. 
Third week ended Monday (17) 
continued socko with $12,500 after 
$13,500 for second frame. Long 
lines Saturday (15) night despite 
continued rain. Stays indef. 

Globe (Brandt) (1,500; 50-$1.50» 
— “Turning Point” (Par). First 
week ending tomorrow (Thurs.). 
shapes to get mild $10,000 or less. 
In ahead, “Cairo Road” (Indie) (2d 
wk), $8,000. 

Mayfair (Brandt) (1,736; 50- 

$1.50) — “World in His Arms” (U) 
(6th wk). Heading for $7,000 after 
okay $8,000 for fifth week. 

Normandie (Normandie Thea- 
tres) (592; 95-$1.80) — “Angel 

Street” (Hakim) (2d wk). Initial 
session ended Sunday (16) hard hit 
by rain but shapes to get good $6,- 
200 anyway. In ahead, “Magic 
Box” (Mayer) (7th wk), $3,000 but 
winding up fine run. 

Palace (RKO) (1,700; 75-$1.40)— 
“Something For Birds” (20th) with 
8 acts of vaude. Shaping to get 
$19,000 or less. Last week, “Mon- 
tana Belle” (RKO) with vaude, fair 
$19,500. 

Paramount (Par) (3,664; 80-$1.80) 
— “Iron Mistress” (WB) with Toni 
Arden, Jack E. Leonard, Condos & 
Brandow, Art Mooney orch on- 
stage. Opens today (Wed.), this be- 
ing the Par flagship’s 26th anni 
show. Virginia Mayo, from pic, 
makes personals today to launch 
film. Last week, “Operation Se- 
cret” (WB), with 4 Aces, Charlie 
Barnet orch, Sunny Gale heading 


: stageshow (2d wk), h£ld at good 
• $60,000 after fine $70,000 opener, 
j Paris (Indie) (568; $1.25-$1.80)— 

; “Young Wives’ Tale” (Indie) (2d 
wk). First holdover stanza ended 
Sunday (16) was $4,000. Opening 
week, fair $4,200. “Hans Christian 
Andersen” (RKO) opens Nov. 25, 
day-date with Criterion. 

Rivoli (UAT) (2,092; 70-$2) — 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro” (20th) (9th 
wk). Still strong with $20,000 or 
close. Eighth week was socko $29,- 
000, over hopes, and topping 
“David and Bathsheba” (20th) for 
corresponding week at this house. 
Stays on. 

1 Radio City 'Music Halt (Rocke- 
fellers) (5,945; 80-$2.40)— "Plym- 
outh Adventure” (M-G) with new 
stageshow. Heading for only fair 
$120^000 in first week ending to- 
day (Wed.). Likely will hold two 
more weeks to take it through 
Thanksgiving. In ahead, “Happy 
Time” (£ol) and stageshow (2d 
wk), disappointing $114,000 and 
below hopes. “Million Dollar Mer- 
maid” (M-G), with annual Christ- 
mas show, comes in for Xmas sea- 
son. likely the first week in De- 
cember. 

Roxy (20th) (5,886; 80-$2.20) — 
“Bloodhounds of Broadway” (20th) 
with Frances Langford, Harmonica 
Rascals, Jimmy Nelson, Mello- 
Larks heading stageshow. Initial 
week ending tomorrow (Thurs.) is 
heading for lightweight $54,000. 

In ahead, “Way of Gaucho” (20th) 
with Miss Langford. Borrah Mine- 
vitch Rascals, Blackburn Twins & 
Marion Colby topping stage biR 
(10 days), slow $60,000. Decided 
to hold only three extra days past 
first week after pic fell down mid- 
week. 

State (Loew’s) (3.450; 55-$1.25) — 
“Steel Trap” (20th) (2d-final wk). 
First session ended last night 
(Tues.) was moderate $13,000 or 
close. “Outpost in Malaya” (UA) 
opens Nov. 26. 

Sutton (R & B) (561; 90-$1.50) — 
“Four Poster” (Col) (6th wk). Fifth 
stanza ended last night (Tues.) held 
at $8,600 after solid $9,000 for 
fourth week. Continues on. Big 
ad campaign stressing fact that 
“Poster” is continuing here and 
end of pic’s run at Victoria re- 
sponsible f«n n, ce^show^agfr :*-^ast — 
two weeks. 

Trans-Lux 60th St, (T-L) (453; 
$l,80-$2.40) — "Limelight”' (UA) 
(4th wk). Present frame ending 
today (Wed.) held at great $9,800 
or close after near-capacity; $10,800 
for third week. Stays indef. 

Trans-Lux 52d St. (T-L) (540: 
90-$l,50) — “Full House” (20th) (5th 
wk). Current round ending today 
(Wed.) is off to good $7,800 after 
$9,000 for fourth week. Continues. 

Victoria (City Inv.) (1.060; 70- 
$1.80) — ‘ “Breaking Through” (UA) 
(2d wk). Initial holdover staiiza 
ending tomorrow (Thurs.) is hold- 
ing with sockeroo $21,500 after 
great $26,000 opening week. Stays 
on for longrun at this pace. 

Stronger Pix Up Prov.; 

‘Quiet’ Rousing $15,000, 
Tor You’ Sturdy lOKii 

Providence, Nov. 18. 

Better film fare is reflected in 
better than average biz at most 
houses this week, with stout fare 
apparently the ‘answer to the TV 
bugaboo. State’s “Quiet Man” 
shapes solid while “Operation 
Secret” looks strong at Majestic. 
Strand’s “Just For You” was nice 
in opening week. Second week 
of .RKO Albee’s “Snows of Kili- 
manjaro looks fine. 

Estimate for This Week 

'Albee (RKO) (2,200; 65-$l.l0) — 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro” (20th) (2d 
wk). Fine $11,000. First week was 
big $19,000. 

Majestic (Fay) (2,200; 44-65) — 
“Operation Secret” (WB) and 
“Tromba, Tiger Man”. (Indie). 
Fairly strong $9,000. Last week, 
“Springfield Rifle” (WB) and 
“Tropical Wave” (SG), good $8,000. 

Metropolitan (Snider) (3,100; 44- 
65) — “Turning Point” (Par) and 
“Rosie the Riveter” (Indie). Fair 
$5,000. Last week, “Hurricane 
Smith” (Par) and “WAC from 
Walla Walla” (Rep), so-so $6,500. 

State (Loew) (3,200; 44-65) — 
“Quiet Man” (Rep). Solid $15,000 
or belter. Last week. “Devil 
Makes Three” (M-G) and “Apache 
War Smoke” (M-G), $11,500. 

Strand (Silverman) (2,200; 44-65) 

— “Just for You” (Par). Second 
week began Monday (17). First 
week, nice $10,500. 


12 


Pft&mTr 


Wednesday, November 19, 1952 














'VARIETY'.*' LONDON OFFICE 
t St. Marita's JNac*/ Trafalaar itquara 


P'Amety 


Arg. Stix Exhibs, Hard Hit by Crop 
Failures, Closeor Run lrDay Weekly 


Buenos Aires, Nov. 11. 

Exhibitors In :the Argentine hin- 
terland have been, finding the going 
so tough in the past year that some 
have cut down their operations to 
two shows per week — and in some 
instances to a single operating day 
weekly. Others have just folded. 

The vast amount Of unemploy- 
ment stemming from the failure of 
the 1951-52 grain crop has caused 
this bad economic situation. Unem- 
ployment naturally is more general 
in the big cities, especially Santa 
Fe andf Rosario. But the rural 
areas suffer almost as badly, with 
exhibs commenting on the dearth 
of coin in the hands of the public. 
Bahia Blanca, port for the southern 
part of the country, also has been 
hard hit. Hence, film grosses have 
been declining all the past year, 
despite an attempt to bolster biz by 
upping admission scales. 

Severe droughts have hit the 
sugar-cane crops, while the vine- 
yards were hurt by the past win- 
ter’s frosts. However, the dip in 
biz has not been so marked in 
Cordoba. 

Along with the shortage of 
money, exhibs find it hard to meet 
the high rentals demanded from 
local producers (native product 
goes best in the rural areas). Addi- 
tionally, some theatre operators 
have had to contend with electric 
power cuts, which often makes it 
impossible for them to operate at 
all. They have been subject to 
many interruptions when the elec- 
tric power faded, some of this be- 
ing caused by obsolete or worn-out 
generators. 

Exhibs in' the stix have plenty of 
taxes to meet, ..apart... from, the 40 
centavo (4c) tax which every pa- 
tron must pay to the Eva Peron 
Foundation when buying a ticket. 

Besides the 3% taxation exacted 
by local jnunicipalities, in some dis- 
tricts there is an educational levy 
on each cinema. In addition there 
are license fees, insurance and so- 
cial security charges. Exhibs then 
have to contend with the fact that 
salaries of projectionists and the 
whole staff have bounded up dur- 
ing the last five years. 

However, one of the small-town 
exhib’s biggest headaches was elim- 
inated last year when censorship 
was made uniform for the entire 
co u n i ry',"wifh the Enfertainmen 
Board’s censoring applying to all 
Argentina. * Before this, a local 
censorship board had to pass on 
each film, their verdicts often being 
in conflict with those made in this 
city. 


W. Germany Lifts Price 
Controls But Admission 
Scale Shows No Increase 

Washington, Nov. 18", 

German federal ministry of eco- 
nomics lifted controls last April on 
theatre admissions and distribu- 
tors’ prices, reports Nathan D. 
Golden. Commerce 'Dept. film divi- 
sion chief. But there has been no 
significant increase in prices since. 
During the second quarter of 1952, 
there were 104 films shown in the 
western zone, including West Ber- 
lin. Of these 58 came from the 
l’. S., 18 from France, 12 from 
Germany, eight Italian, five British, 
plus one each from Sweden, Aus- 
tria and. Denmark. 

Klim theatres in the western 
zone of Germany are generally 
small, averaging from 200 to 500 
seats, Entire country, with over 
50.000,000 people, has only 90 
houses with seating capacity of 
over 1,000. There are 4,547 film 
houses. 

In the French West Indies, says 
Golden, 80 of the 150 films exhibit- 
ed last year were American, 50 
coming from France and the re- 
mainder from various nations. The 
U. S. also sent in the majority of 
the shorts; although the weekly 
newsreels were all French. 

There is a steady buildup of 16m 
film theatres in the French West 
Indies. Presently about 29 com- 
mercial 16m houses are operating, 
with a couple more under construc- 
tion. 


» v* 

Ace Mex NfrWsreel Expands 

Mexico City, Nov. 11. 

Clasa-Excelsior, one of the top 
Mexican newsreels, is now man- 
aged by Gonzalo Candlani Castel- 
lanos, vet filmite. He plans expan- 
sion and improvement in coverage. 


Film Interests Mull 
Giving Pix to BBC-TV 

London, Nov. 11. 

A meeting of the four trades as- 
sociations is. being called for the 
end of this month to consider a* 
producer suggestion that explora- 
tory talks be opened with the Brit- 
ish Broadcasting Corp. on its film 
requirements for TV. Proposal w'as 
originally made at a meeting of the 
REP (Renters, Exhibitors, Pro- 
ducers) committee, and since has 
been communicated to all the ma- 
jor trade groups. 

The BBC has been hoping to ne- 
gotiate a -supply of product from 
the picture industry to ease its pro- 
gram schedule. But BBC has been 
consistently stymied by the exhibi- 
tor attitude against pix shown on 
TV ever going into theatres. 

This ban, w'hich has been in op- 
eration for a year or two, has made 
it impossible for the BBC to obtain 
any but the oldest pix. 

CEA Stalling On 
Eady Fund Stand 

London, Nov. 18. 

Adopting delaying tactics which, 
it is thought, may strengthen its 
position .when negotiations an ad- 
mission tax concessions, start next 
year, the Cinematograph Exhibi- 
tors Assn, has declined to give a 
clear-cut answer on its attitude 
towards continuation of the Eady 
Fund. Through tills fund a propor- 
tion of boxoffice receipts are 
passed over *to British producers. 
Instead, a specially convened ses- 
sion of the CEA general council 
last Wednesday (12) instructed its 
officers to continue negotiations 
with other trade organizations on 
the best way of helping the studio 
industry. . 


It* 


This means • the CEA has re- 
fused to accept the producers’ 
argument of urgency. At the same 
t-ime,--tr-move- has - started to exert 
pressure on the government for 
tax relief to exhibs in return for 
continuing to* support the indirect 
subsidy to British films. Because 
of the refusal by successive gov- 
ernments to make any major 
change in the admission tax sched- 
ule, there has been rising resist- 
ance by indie theatre owners to 
promise indefinite support to the 
Eady scheme. 

Defaulters have been growing in 
number, and the fund is losing out 
on a substantial amount of coin. 
It is this determined small exhib 
action which is compelling the 
CLA to tread warily and caused 
the special general council meet. 

The Eady scheme, which adds 
about $8,500,000 le Brit^h produc- 
tions, is scheduled io e\_ re in Au- 
gust, 1954. Many- film makers, 
hewever, have warned that unless 
its continuance is assured by next 
March, production schedules will 
have to be slashed. 


‘Prostitute’ Top Mex 
Legit Hit Despite Ban 

Mexico City, Nov. 11. 

The top legit hit here is “The 
Respectful Prostitute," being done 
in- Spanish. It is playing to 
turnaway biz at the Teatro de 
Camara, small art house, but under 
extraordinary circumstances. It is 
being presented over the vigorous 
protest of the city government’s 
amusements supervision depart- 
ment which banned the show be- 
cause its impresarios, Ivan de 
Negri and Marta Elba, had neglect- 
ed to join offi^al authorization for 
performances. Arid also they had 
failed to have programs for each 
show stamped by the department 
as the law demands. 

The department sealed ' up the 
theatre between shows. De Negri 
and Miss Elba, who. also, plays the 
lead, allegedly- broke the seals,, 
and went on with the show. The 
department imposed three fines of 
$11.60 each daily for the law viola- 
tions. The show goes on despite 
this probably because the pro- 
ducers showed a letter from Presi- 
dent Miguel Aleman saying he was 
interested in this art theatre ex- 
periment. 


London May Ban All 
Hypnotism From Stage 

London, Nov. 18. 

Acting under the authority of 
the Hypnotism Act 1952, which 
comes into operation next April 1, 
the London County Council meet- 
ing tonight (Tues.) is to consider a 
recommendation to exclude stage 
demonstrations . of hypnotism in 
licenses granted after that date. 

The new Act does not involve a 
total ban on. hypnotic perform- 
ances, but they will be allowed 
with the consent of the council. 
Licensees will have to apply for 
permission for each specific per- 
formance. . 


Rank to Finance 
Own Film Prods. 
Without NFFC 

London, Nov. 18. 

Starting next year, the J. Arthur 
Rank organization will finance its 
own production program and is 
withdrawing from the group 
scheme through which a substantial 
part of the budget was met by the 
National Film Finance Corp. Pro- 
ducers who have been associated 
with Rank under the NFFC plan 
will be offered facilities to continue 
production on terms similar to 
those under which they operated 
on the group project. 

Announcement of this policy 
switch reflects the healthy trend 
iri the company’s affairs since the 
program of retrenchment was in- 
troduced two years ago. It also un- 
derscores the important role played 
Iri British production by the: Eady 
fund. 

According to an official announce- 
ment from Rank’s office, the as- 
sumption of all production risks by 
the group has been made possible 
by the Eady scheme, and it is as- 
serted that, provided the fund 
continues, it should be possible to 
produce a program of films with- 
out loss. 

While completely financing its 
own ventures, the Rank organiza- 
tion will, in the normal course of 
business, offer world-widC distribu- 
tion for other British pics in which 
there will be financial participa- 
tion -by the NFFC. 


‘OUTLAW’ TO POSTWAR 
B.O. MARK IN JAPAN 

Tokyo, Nov. 11. 

Helped by a two-day holiday 
(National Culture Day), theatres 
here in general enjoyed lusty b.o. 
for the period, with “The Outlaw" 
(RKO) scoring a startling $27,800 
in eight houses. This topped by 
16% the previous general release 
pic record for the postwar held by 
“Sands of Iwo Jima” (Rep). Exhibs 
give credit for the healthy bonanza 
to a hep bally campaign devised 
by RKO-Japan’s publicity chief 
Kazuo Morita’ winner of last year’s 
RKO World Drive. 

Meanwhile, with the daily take 
dwindling to the danger mark, 
Metro's office, here announced that 
lowest priced tickets, 84c, for 
“Gone With Wind’’ roadshow at 
the Yurakuza Theatre here would 
be increased to the cost’ of middle 
priced seats or $1.39. Move will 
increase bottom priced seats by 
588. 


Gordon Sets First TV 
Film Studio in Berlin 

Berlin, Nov. 18. 

Europaische Television Gesell- 
schaft, said to be the first studio 
to set up here for the production 
of TV films, b a s been formed by 
Paul Gordon. Outfit currently is 
readying five r projects. Its first 
series includes 1 3 one-fiodr 
mysteries While the second series 
will consist of 13 half-hour musi- 
cals. ^ All films will be in English 
and German language, most of 
them also in French. 

SPIO, the local organization for 
film producers, has decided- not- to 
accept ariy new or old theatrical 
films for television. Thus, it ap- 
pears that there will be a heavy 
demand for product made especi- 
ally for TV. Gordon, who’s just 
inked James Wakefield Burke to 
handle the English versions of his 
company’s films, plans a junket to 
N.Y. in January to screen his 
product. 


INTERNATIONAL 13 


H.0.s Slow Up London Film Trade; 
‘Marrying Mild $3,780, ‘Case $9,208, 
Chaplin Wow 18G, 3d, ‘Mine’ 14^G>2d 


Set ‘Wagon’ Brit. Preem 
For Manchester in Dec. 

Manchester, Nov. 11. 

“Paint Your Wagon," British ver- 
sion of the American success, will 
star Bobby Howes along w'ith his 
daughter, Sally Ann Howes, at the 
Opera House here next month, un- 
der the banner of British Impresa- 
rio Jack Hylton. Elizabeth Lamer, 
who clicked in the British tour of 
“Kiss Me Kate," also will be fea- 
tured. 

“Kate" is currently at the Opera 
House’ here, continuing its long, 
successful British tour. “Remains 
to Be Seen," the U. S. comedy 
thriller, had its European preem 
at the Palace, with Naunton Wayrie, 
Diana Dors, and Dick Henderson, 
Jr. Both productions are presented 
by Jack Hylton. 


Weak French Pix 
In Paris lst-Runs 

Paris, Nov. 18. 

Last week has seen a batch of 
weak French pix invading the first- 
runs here. Most of the films are of 
the quickie type that appear des- 
tined for the provinces' or out-of- 
way first-run dates! Lack of the 
double feature here is giving these 
pix a hard time in trying to stand 
on their own. Dearth of draw films 
is again focusing attention on the 
still undecided Franco-American 
pic talks. 

The Olympia has a comedy, “My 
Priest Among the Rich," which is 
leaving a lot of empty seats in 
this big house, “lyomen Are An- 
gels," with Viviane Romance, and 
“Mutiny on the Danae," which fea- 
tures a mutiny, also are not doing 
well. Sacha Guitry has “I Did It 
Three Times," which deals with 
adultery, and “The Norman Hole," 
with comic Bourvil, also are play- 
ing. 

Films that are making them line 
up here are “Limelight” (UA), go- 
ing strong at four theatres, and 
“The Quiet Man"- (Rep), at two 
first-runs here in the original ver- 
sion. Latter also is doing fine with 
a Venice kudo and top reviews to 
back it up. Long-run French pix 
like “Adorables Creatures,” “For- 
bidden Games," now on a success- 
ful reissue run, “Respectful Prosti- 
tute," -are doing sock to fine trade. 

The French still have a few top 
films for release soon, such as the 
Rene Clair “Beauties of the Night” 
and “The Red Curtain.” Also hold- 
ing are “An American in Paris” 
(M-G) and' the French-made “Lit- 
tle World of Don Camillo” with 
Fernandel. 

* 

Logans Settle on Deal 
For Outside Appearance 

Glasgow, Nov. 11. 

Jimmy Logan, young Scot come- 
dian and a nephew of Ella ’Logan, 
has reached a working agreement 
with "his father, Jack Short, fol- 
lowing their dispute when Jimmy 
was inked for a British panto un- 
der the Howard & Wyndham ban- 
ner. Move meant that the comic 
would have to withdraw at peak 
festive season from the Logan 
Family act. Father, who produces 
and presents the family group, 
threatened to sue his son if he 
left the act. 

Compromise has now been 
reached, with the younger artist 
being released each December for 
pantomime and rejoining family 
act for remainder of year. He will 
also be offered financial shares in 
the Logan Family shows. 


Col Ups Tucker in London 

London, Nov. 11. 

Alan Tucker, who has been han- 
dling press and public relations for 
Columbia, has been upped to the 
position of publicity manager. He 
joined the company eight years ago 
in charge of pictorial publicity. 

Tucker succeeds R. H. Kcssler- 
Howes, who resigned last month. 


UVUUUU) A. A* 

“Limelight," which started off 
by breaking the all-time house rec- 
ord at the Odeon, Leicester Square, 
is still comfortably leading the 
field and looks set for a ’ three- 
month run. The second round 
topped $19,000 and there was little 
change in the third when it grossed 
a smash $18,000. 

Having been panned heavily by 
crix,' the Command pic “Because 
You’re Mine" has riot come up to 
expectations. In its first Empire 
week (six days), its gross was $16.- 
200 and it dropped the following 
w§ek to $14,500. 

The new British entry was Her- 
bert Wilcox’s production of “Trent’s 
Last Case," which hit a surprising- 
ly fine $9,200 in its opening round 
at the Plaza. Holding sturdy at the 
Warner is “Big Jim McClain," now 
in its third week. 

Estimates for Last Week 

Carlton (Par) (1,128; 55-$t:70) — 
“Marrying Kind" (Col). Made mod- 
erate beginning with around $1,800 
for first weekend, and looks only 
$3,700 on week. Holds. 

Curzon (GCT) (500; 55-$1.35) — 
“Kon-Tiki" (RKO) and “Stranger 
in House" (GCT) (4th wk). Still 
hefty at $5,200 this frame. Con- 
tinues indef. 

Empire (M-G) (3,099; 55-$1.70)— 
“Because You’re Mine" (M-G) (2d 
wk). Below hopes for Command 
film choice, with good $14,500 this 
round- after • opening $16\2(MK 
“Top Secret" (AB-Pathe) opens 
Nov. 17. 

Gaumont — (CMA) (1,500; 50- 
$1.70) — “Because of You" (GFD) 
and “Horizons West" (GFD) (3d- 
final wk). Doing only moderate biz 
with around $3,500 for this week 
after $4,000 for^second. “Pickwick 
Papers" (Renown) in from Nov. 14. 

Leicester Square Theatre (CMA) 
(1,753; 50-$ 1.70) — “Started in Para- 
dise” (GFD). Fair $7,000. Continues 
for regular three weeks with 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro" (20th) 
coming, in Nov. 21. 

London Pavilion (UA) (1,217; 50- 
$1.70). — “Big. Sky".. (RKO) X2d wk). 
Holding firm at around $5,000 after 
solid $6,700 on first week to be fol- 
lowed by “The Thief" (UA). 

Odeon, Leicester Square (CMA) 
(2,200 ; - 50-$l .70 1 — “Limelight" (U A) 
(3d wk). Still packing ’em in with 
wham $18,000 for this session after 
^resounding $19,000 in second. 
Chaplin pic stays, natch! 

Odeon, Marble Arch (CMA) (2,- 
200; 50-$1.70) — “Gentle Gunman" 
(GFD) (2d wk). Modest $5,700. 
Stays a third round and will be 
followed by “Made in Heaven" 
(GFD) Nov. 13. 

Plaza (Par) (1,092; 70-$1.70) — 
“Trent’s Last Case" (B-L) (2d wk). 
Above .expectations with good $9,- 
200 in opening round and solid 
$3,800 in second weekend. “Some- 
body Loves Me" (Par) set to open 
Nov. 21. 

Ritz (M-G) (432; 30-$2.15) — 

“Quo Vadis" (M-G) (5th wk). Con- 
tinues big at over $4,000 this frame. 

Warner (WB) (1,735; 50-$1.70>— 
“Big Jim McClain” (WB) (3d-fmal 
wk). Sturdy $4,500 looms this week 
after $5,800 in second. “Lion and 
the Horse” (WB) opens Nov. 13. 

Yank Filins Got 68% 

Of $1,200,000 Italian 
Key City Sept. Gross 

Milan, Nov. 11. 

Key city grosses for September 
show that approximately $1,200,000 
passed through the Italian boxof- 
fices in such cities during the ini- 
tial fall month, an increase over 
the corresponding figures for 1951. 
Percentage-wise, the revenue to 
Yank pix dropped considerably, 
though preserving a strong lead in 
holding about 68% of the market 
or $816,000- for the period. 

Drop was taken up by Italian and 
French films, which respectively 
garnered 19% and 11%, with the 
Gallic pictures making an espe- 
cially strong climb from last year’s 
figure. 

Among the individual pix, con- 
sistently strong takes have been 
registered in recent runs by 
“American in Paris" (M-G), “II 
j Cappotto” (Titunus - Italian) and 
l“Altri Tempi" (RKO-Cines-Italian>. 



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W«^u«*<Iay, November 19, 1952 


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Produced by JOSEPH BERNHARD and KING VIDOR* Directed by KING VIDOR • Screenplay by SILVIA RICHARDS- Story by ARTHUR FJTZ-RICHARD 





Wednesday, November 19, 1952 


PTSimff 


PICTURES 


IS 


Amusement Stock Quotations 




(N.Y. 

Stock Exchange ) 

si 




Week Ending Tuesday (18) 






Weekly Weekly Weekly 

Tues. 

Net. 

1952 


Vol. in 

High 

Low 

Close 

Change 

High 

Low 


100s 




for week 

12" 4 

8% 

ABC 

> . 142 

10% 

9" 8 

10i i 

+ 3 4 

40% 

33 

CBS, “A” . 

.. 27 

37% 

37 

37% 


39" i 

32 Vi 

CBS, *‘B” . 

. . 31 

38 

37% 

37% 

— % 

13*2 

11 % 

Col. Pic. . . 

.. 32 

11% 

11% 

11% 

+ % 

9 :, s 

8 

Decca 

.. 58 

9 

8" 4 

9 

4* 1 8 

48 

41% 

Eastman Kdk 243 

45% 

42% 

44% 

+ 1% 

18 1 i 

11% 

Loew’s .... 

. . 487 

12" 8 

11% 

12% 

4* % 

5's 

3% 

Nat’l THea 

. 177 

4 

3" 4 

3% 

+ % 

30% 

21V4 

Paramount . 

. 237 

26" i 

24 

26% 

+ 2% 

36% 

26% 

Philco .... 

. 201 

36% 

35% 

36 

+ % 

28 :: i 

23% 

RCA ...... 

. 555 

28% 

27% 

28% , 

4-1% 

4% 

3 Vi 

RKO Piets. 

. 714 

3T» 

3% 

3% 

+ % 

4% 

3% 

RKO Theats.. 238 

3% 

3% 

3% 

— % 

5's 

3 Vi 

Republic . . 

. . 66 

3% 

3% 

3% 

- % 

10" s 

9% 

Rep., pfd. . 

4 

10% 

10% 

10% 

4- % 

12 : 2 

10% 

20th-Fx (new) 227 

11% 

10% 

11% 

4- % 

21 1 1 

11% 

U. Par. Th. 

. . 495 

14% 

11% 

14 

+ 21 '4 

13% 

11 

Univ. Pic. . 

. . 46 

13% 

12% 

12% 

3 8 

65 

57 

Univ„ , pfd. 

.8 

61 

60 1 2 

60% 

—2% 

Li % 

11% 

Warner Bros. 113 

12% 

1 1 % 

12 

+ % 

86 

68 

Zenith .... 

.. 44 

84% 

82% 

84 

+ 1% 

N. Y. 

Curb Exchange 






19 :: i 

15 

Du Mont . . 

.. 115 

17% 

16% 

17% 

+ 1 

3" i 

2% 

Monogram 

.. *22 

3 

2% 

2% 

— % 

97> t 

20 1 s 

Technicolor 

. 97 

27% 

26% 

‘27% 

+ 1% 

3 

2% 

Trans-Lux . 

5 

3 

2% 

2% 

— % 

Over-the-Countcr Securities 


Bid 

Ask 


Cinecolor . 




1% 

1% 

— 

Cinerama ' . 




6 

6% 

— 

Chesapeake Industries (Pathe) .. 


3% 

4% 

— % 

U. A. 

Theatres 



4% 

5 

— % 

Walt* Disney 



6 1 4 

7 

— 


Theatre TV 


SS Continued from page 3 

ployees, American Federation of 
Musicians and the American Guild 
of Musical Artists. Theatres are be- 
ing charged a flat 40c per seat 
guarantee for the show against 
50% of the gross. TNT is paying all 
line charges, and an unspecified 
percentage of the theatres’ pay- 
ment is to go into the Met fund 
coffers. To date, it’s impossible to 
estimate hov many theatres in how 
many cities will carry the event, 
although TNT prexy Nathan L. 
Halperin said the reaction of big- 
screen exhibs has been “enthusi- 
astic.” 

The opera will be restaged slight- 
ly to meet the needs of the TV 
Cameras making the pickup. Hal- 
pern said exactly how much change 
will be effected in the traditional 
stage business will be decided later 
by the producer and director of the 


Col to Depend Less on Indies 

In Stepping Up Prod. Schedule 


Cancel Red Film 


Columbia will depend less on the 
product of outside Indie producers 
and will look to its own studio to 
Minneapolis, Nov. 18. | meet the needs of its distrib setup* 

The U. of Minnesota has can- Company has launched a stepped- 
celled ‘‘New China,” scheduled for up program of studio production, 
Dec. 3 as one of the institution’s j s if Dresent Dlans 1ell will lnf>k . 
Film Society’s series on the cam : ? na 11 Present plans jell, will look 

pus, open to the general public as ! ^ oss and * ess * 0 other sources to 
well as to the student body upon ! supplement its release schedule, 
payment of admission slightly low- . with a program of 22 top-budget 
er than loop “A” first-run houses, j pix slated for 1953, studio has 
After previewing the picture, 
produced jointly by the Soviet 
Union and Red China, a university 
committee judged it to be “of such 
a blatantly propagandists nature 
that it has no place in any pro- 
gram” under university auspices. 


( Quotations furnished by Dreyfus & Co.) 


Critics Pass Buck 


3 Continued from page 1 


of the ' afternoon, the audience 
might posse together to tar the 
• orities w-ith •• their-. > .own. . - v.enom } 
feather them with their bad re- 
views and deport them on the next 
boat. So a situation fraught with 
fisticuffs developed as a genteel 
quilting-bee. 

Characteristic of the congeniali- 
ties of the day was the head-patting 
(Langner to Chapman; Young to 
the Times’ Brooks Atkinson; Der- 
went to Rice). However, a final de- 
cision of a sort was reached. 
Though the critics are not to blame 
so much for “undermining” the 
theatre, practically everyone else 
is. including the audiences and 
Variety. 

Each Grabs for- Himself 

Langner, for instance, charged 
that the culprits *were Equity, 
League of N. Y. Theatres, stage- 
hands union, scenic artists, Dram- 
atists Guild and “even the Theatre 
G u i 1 d,” because each group 
grabbed for itself instead of “hav- 
ing the good of the theatre” at 
heart, as did the “giants” of the 
theatre’s rosy past. 

He also offered the suggestion 
that a well-meaning critic could 
devote his space to praising the 
acting if the play itself were not 
up to par. He lauded Atkinson’s 
review of “The Deep Blue Sea” as 
“perfect” in this respect. Langer 
also hit out at an unnamed critic 
who. he said, consistently begins by 
disparaging the play’s construction, 
its failure to “be like Ibsen or to 
be a well-made play.”. 

Author Young stated that he 
“had never found any successful 
playwright who was dissatisfied 
with the critics.” He suggested that 
critics might give an assist to the 
theatre by hammering away at high 
costs. Young also admitted that 
possibly the reviews of his “Mr. 
Pickwick” had something to do with 
its short run. 

‘Alien Problem* 

Pico,’ agreeing that' economics 
were to share the blame for “un- 
dermining,” commented that the 
critics’ livelihood is the theatre, 
and though they might bite at it, 
they wouldn’t bite off the hand that 
feeds them. 

Thomson said the drama critic 
performs a “shopping service,” the 
book critic a “replacement service” 
fi e., his readers read the reviews 
instead of the books), and the mu- 
sic critic “a post mortem.” Thom- 
son also claimed that the box-score 
was the culprit, cowing the critics 
who hesitated to be recorded as 
going overboard for a play that 
men flops.- (Variety dropped its 
bnyseore two years ago. — Ed.) 

Countering a suggestion by Der- 
'\ent that the critics help solve 
’ l,H ' alien problem” by saying in 
tneir reviews whether or not per- 
formances by aliens could not have 
been equalled or improved on by 
members of American Equity. 
' l,;, Pinan said that the theatre 


should be kept the free institution 
it is now, including freedom of 

choice for .roamgess,- 

It is the audiences, said Chap- 
man, who make shows into “smash 
hits” and “failures” by blindly fol- 
lowing the critics. He didn’t know 
of any crix who were “undermin- 
ers,” he said, “except those who 
disagree with me.” , 


No ‘Carmen* Blackout 

Unlike the situation existing 
in theatre televising of boxing 
matches, when no house in the 
city of origin was permitted to 
carry the show, New York City 
will not be blacked out from 
big-screening the special per- 
formance of “Carmen” from 
the Metropolitan Opera stage 
-Dec. 11. 

To date, the Guild Theatre 
in Rockefeller Center, N. Y„ 
has signed on for the event and 
it’s expected that several other 
theatres in the metropolitan 
area will tie in. It’s not be- 
lieved, though, that' the Broad- 
way Paramount will accept the 
opera, since it would mean 
shutting down its regular vaud- 
film operation for that night. 
'Warner Theatre on Broadway, 
which is now shuttered but 
equipped for theatre TV, may 
sign on. 


bolstered its ^contract production 
staffers with the addition this week 
of Lewis Rachmil, William Fadi- 
man and Robert Arthur. Trio will 
work under the supervision of re- 
cently-appointed exec producer 
Jerry Wald. Addition of the new 
staffers will give Col a total of 
nine contract staffers. Before Wald 
assumed the top post, Col had only 
Buddy Adler, Vincent Sherman and 
Jonie Taps on its production roster. 
I Anson Bond joined the company 
recently and writers Kenneth Ga- 
*3 Lai l ! met and Oscar Saul were elevated 
Selection of the 10 film pack- j to producer status. 


Chemical Bank-UA 
Ready 1st of 10 Pix 
For January 


Wisberg-Pollexfen In 
Teamup With Gering 

G-L Enterprises, headed by 
Marion Gering, has joined with 
Wisberg-Pollexfen Productions to 
turn out twq feature-length films 
in Eastman Color. Pictures are 
scheduled to roll next spring in 
Italy. 

Two pix are “The Narrow 
Street,” based on an original by 
Aubrey Wisberg, and “Beloved,” 
adapted by Gering and A. J. 
Palmerio from a play by Jay Victor. 
Aside from these projects. Gering 
expects to start production in Rome 
this month on a series of 30-min- 
ute films for TV. Titled “Theatre 
of the Doomed,” they’re authored 
by Wisberg. Distribution deals on 
“Street” and “Beloved” have not 
yet been set. 


show, yet to be selected. “Carmen” 
is to be carried by theatres in its 
full three-hour version, so that 
none of the houses screening the 
show will run a film that evening. 


ages to be financed by Chemical 
Bank & Trust Co. under its recent 
deal with United Artists should be 
completed by the end of the year, 
with the first pix going before the 
cameras in January. UA said Mon- 
day (17) that the company had 
been offered many interesting pack- 
ages for consideration. Financing 
will cover the usual 40 to 50% and 
may run higher in some instances. 

The agreement between UA and 
Chemical, concluded earlier this 
month, makes available first money 
for a slate of pictures set for re- 
lease late in 1.953. aucLdunng. .1954.. 
UA in no way acts as a producer 
but merely .recommends that cer- 
tain pix be made and that the 
money for them be advanced by 
the bank. 

According to the UA exec, by 


In addition to these, Col is set 
to receive six pix annually from 
the Stanley Kramer unit, 17 from 
the closely-allied Sam Katzman 
unit, two oaters from the Harry 
Joe Brown-Randolph Scott outfit, 
and six from Gene Autry. Add to 
this six pix annually from Robert 
Cohn’s unit and Col will have a 
grand total of 59 films emanating 
from its studio. 

Another aspect is the stress on 
“bigger” pictures, with increased 
budgets being allotted. With the 
Rita Hayworth starrer, “Salome — 
. Dance ..of the. .Sevejcv .Veils*” 
pleted, Col is preparing “From 
Here to Eternity,” James Jones’ 
bestseller; “The Quest of the Holy 
Grail,” “The Franz Liszt Story,” 
“Casanova” and “Miss Sadie 
Thompson,” latter as a musical. 


Col’s 25c Div 

Columbia Pictures board, at a 
meeting in New York yesterday 
(Tues.), declared a dividend of 25c 
on the common stock and voting 
trust certificates for common stock, 
payable Dec. 18 to stockholders of 
record at the close of biz Dec. 4. 

Board also declared a 2%% stock 
dividend on common stock and 
voting trust certificates, payable 
in common stock Jan. 18, 1953, to 
stockholders at the close of busi- 
ness Dec. 5. Cash will be paid 
where fractional shares of common 
stock are due. 

Attending the board conclave 
for the first time was distillery 
executive Alfred Hart. His elec- 
tion as a director was announced 
last week. He fills one of 
the vacancies left by the depar- 
ture of attorney Arnold Grant and 
Lewis S. Rosenstiel. a top exec 
with Schenley Distilleries. 


Mpls. Radio City Gets ‘Carmen* 
Minneapolis, Nov. 18. 

United Paramount Theatres’ j 
Radio City here (Minnesota Amus. 
Co.) will.be one of the nation’s 
, showhouses to carry the exclusive 
| theatre big screen telecast of the 
' Metropolitan Opera’s “Carmen” 
presentation Dec. 11, according to 
Harry B. French, MAC president. 
It will be a Twin Cities’ exclu- 
sive, too. 

Aside from several non-exclu- 
sive events, this will be only the 
fourth utilization of Radio City’s 
TV equipment since its installa- 
tion several years ago. In addition 
to the Marciano-Walcott scrap, the 
Robinson-Maxim and Saddlei^Pep 
bouts were also brought into the 
theatre, whereas the St. Paul 
Paramount, also having large 
screen TV, had only the Robin- 
son-Maxim battle. 


RKO Future No Snag 

To Bally Activity 


acting as a consultative body, the 1 with Wald Personally producing, 
company is in a vastly better posi- j 
tion to blueprint its product and 1 
arrange its release schedule. De- 
spite, the added work load. UA top- 
pers decided against setting up a 
spfecial department to sift the vari- 
ous package proposals and instead Despite uncertainty over the 
are doing the selecting themselves' company’s future, RKO’s New York 

ballyhoo department is buzzing at 
peak activity. Department is cur- 
rently plugging five films set for 
release shortly and has a total of 15 
personalities in town with whom to 
work. 

Samuel Goldwyn’s “Hans Chris- 
tian Andersen” has the largest per- 
sonality representation, with Gold- 
wyn himself topping the list. 


Industry’s Future 


Continued from page 7 


WB Testing Bigley 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

Isabel Bigley, co-star of “Guys 
and Dolls” on Broadway, is testing 
here at Warner Bros, for important 
part in “The Eddib Cantor Story” 
and term pact. 

She’s testing opposite Keefe 
Braselle. male lead. A1 Green is 
directing the Sid Skolsky produc- 
tion. 

John Forsythe signed a two-pic- 
ture deal with UI. startir- ^ ' 
star with Loretta Young in It 
Hannens Every Thursday. ’ 


Young, Irene Dunne, Errol Flynn. 
Boris Karloff, Dan Dailey and 
others with promising newcomers 
like Piper Laurie, Rock Hudson, 
Julia Adams, etc. Reasoning is 
that this is the most effective way 
of popularizing fledgling talent 

until it can stand on its own b.o. 

* 

feet. 

Diversified Lineup 
Diversified lineup of U product 
was emphasized by Daff along 
with the fact that U is continuing 
| in its policy of extending the ap- 
| peal of its top pix to cover all 
audience strata. Under a plan 
worked opt two years ago. U's re- 
leasing policy attempts to meet 
exhib complaints about the “sea- 
sonal” flow of pix. “We recognize 
exhibitors must have film.” Daff 
said. “It’s our intention to release 
important pictures every month, 
regardless of climatic conditions.” 

Commentihg on the December- 
i to-March releases, Milton R. Rack- 
mil and Nate J. Blumberg, prexy 
and board chairman of U, re- 
spectively. said that, in the final 
analysis, “the major problem is 
to get more people into the the- 
atres by offering the public the 
best in entertainment and the best 
in publicizing and promotion of 
! good pictures which will provide 
the entertainment the p u b 1 i c 
, seeks.” 


$22,200,000 Pay Div 
For 51,000 EK Aides 

’*■ Rochester, Nov. 18, 
Wage dividend of $22,200,000 for 
more than 51,000 Eastman Kodak 
employees was voted here today 
(Tues.) by the Kodak board. Bonus 
is payable March 6, 1953. Eligible ! 
persons will receive $27.50 for j 
each $1,000 earned at Kodak j 
during the five-year period 1948- i 

1952. j 

Directors declared cash dividend 
of 60c a share on the common 
stock and the regular 1%% divi- 
dend _nn preferred stock of $1.50 
a share.. Both are payable Jan. 2. 

1953, to stockholders of v record 
Dec. 5, 1962. Also voted was a 
stock dividend of one share for 
each 20 now held, payable May 29. 
1953, to shareholders of record 
May 1, 1953. 


Roz’s Pix Bally 

Publicity value of Rosalind Rus- 
: sell’s tryout tour with the coming 
I musical version of “My Sister 
Eileen” will be employed by RKO 
to push “Never Wave at a WAC,” 
Independent Artists production 


New Faces 

Continued from page 7 

of personalities taken over from 
TV. Others come to join the 
glamor colony from abroad. At 
20th, newcomer Richard Burton, 
an Englishman just signed to a 
seven-year contract by the studio, 
is teamed with Olivia de Havilland 
in “My Cousin Rachel,” which goes 
out in January. Same month sees 
Charlton Heston and Karl Malden 
sharing star credits with Jennifer 
Jones in “Ruby Gentry,” and Mitzi 
Gaynor doing the honors in “The 
1 Don’t Care Girl” in Technicolor. 

Constance Smith stars with Dan 
Dailey in “Taxi” in January and 
with Cornel Wilde in “Treasure of 
the Golden Conddf?* (Techni) in 
March. Rory Calhoun is down 
with Dale Robertson for ‘The Sil- 

! ver Whip,” alsu March. 

M-G has Jane Greer and Pa- 


starring Miss Russell, Distrib.com- 

I pany plans to book the film in New 

| Haven, Boston and Philadelphia ; tricia Medina in “The Desperate 
! a ^®f R ; u 1 sc11 a l >_ i Search” for January. Pier Angeli 

~ I and Vittorio Gassman lead the cast 


pears in the legit attraction. 

Miss Russell’s husband. Inde- 
pendent prexy Frederick Brisson, 
has set his wife as well as Paul 
Douglas and Marie Wilson to make 
six personal appearances each in 
connection with the pic, set for 
Jan. 16 release. 


ol “Sombrero,” in Techni, for 
March release, and Debbie Rey- 
nolds costars w r ith Donald O’Con- 
nor in “I Love Melvin.” in Techni. 
It's a March release also. 

U-I is particularly conscious of 


(he need to develop new players. 
Film, first tested via a video Company has Rock Hudson and 
script, was built up into a full- ) Julia Adams in “The Lawless 
length fe'ature by Ken Englund. j Breed" for January; Piper Laujrie 

i . ■ ■ ii *1 uMth ^TN t r*r\ n n D/Mifn p In IcLicei nr»i 


Dave Rose to Coast 

Following a week of huddles with 


with Tyrone Power in “Mississippi 
Gambler,” in Techni. February; 
Mala Powers in “City Beneath the 
Sea.” Techni. also February, and 


! RKO sales execs on his recently Audio Murphy and Mala Powers in 
1 completed “Sea Devils.” indie pro- • -Gunsmoke” for March. RKO, 
ducer David E. Rose leaves for the whose “Androcles and Hie Lion,” 
Coast today (Wed.) to scout talent starring Jean Simmons, goes into 
for his next venture. release in December, will have 

Script hasn’t yet been decided that British actress again in 
upon, but the project will be filmed “Beautiful But Dangerous,” tenta- 
1 somewhere in Europe. Itively set for late in February. 



1« 


MCTUIUES 


Msmrt 


. Wednesday, November 19, . 1952 


Allied's Convention 


Continued from page 3 


the distribs, claiming latter took 
advantage of Allied while the the- 
atre group was engaged in working 
cooperatively with the various 
branches of the film industry. 

‘Indiscriminate Heights' 

Policy statement charged that 
the companies had hoisted prices 
to indiscriminate heights, directly 
and by numerous practices and de- 
vices,’ such as pre-releasing a pic- 
ture without regard to the essen- 
tial merit or investment in such 
films. While not mentioned in the 
statement, Warner Bros.* “Miracle 
of Fatima" was singled out this 
morning in the film clinics. 

The board statement charged 
that the distrib practices were par- 
ticularly reprehensible because of 
the emergency which exists among 
exhibs. Because of this, it noted, 
the board decided, for the time be- 
ing and until the distribs reform 
their • trade practices, that Allied 
leaders would confine their activ- 
ities to cooperative measures and 
to those projects which promise 


Boston for Allied in '53 

. Chicago, Nov. 18. 

Allied States will hold its 
1953 convention in Boston, 
Nov. 7-11, at the Hotel Shera- 
ton-Plaza, it was decided yes- 
terday (Mon!) at the opening 
of its 1952 powwow. ^ 


immediate and substantial benefit 
to Allied members. 

The measure, pushed by Col. H. 
A. Cole, head of Texas Allied, was 
obviously aimed at COMPO, al- 
though no organization was men- 
tioned by name. Cole and others 
felt that^distribs got more out of 
COMPO than the theatreowners. 
Obviously such joint charities as 
the Variety Clubs and the Will 
Rogers Memorial Hospital are not 
affected. Cole is a member of the 


sibilities in the idea, particularly 
in regard to conciliation. 

“Possibly a more certain and de- 
tailed procedure along the lines of 
the abortive UMPI plan of 1942 
can be worked out," Kirsch de- 
clared. “That must remain for fur- 
ther discussion by those who have 
given more time to the proceeding 
than I have. But do not delay any 
affirmative action you may .have in 
mind in blind reliance on concilia- 
tion a a solution of your film prob- 
lems. There are a lot of characters 
among the film companies, but I 
have never met one who looked — 
or acted — like Santa Claus." 

Kirsch reviewed the efforts made 
by Allied and COMPO in seeking 
repeal of the 20% admission tax, 
as well as the fight against the 
bill to exempt non-profit amuse- 
ments from the tax. He warned 
that a great deal is yet to be done 
to' offset the Government’s suit on 
turning over 16m films to video. If 
the Government should by chance 
win its suit, Kirsch said, “such a 
calamity would spell ruin for every 
motion • picture theatre in the 
United States." 

He charged that the Attorney 
General had abused his discretion 
as a prosecuting attorney in in- 
stituting this suit and aaid exhibs 
were justified in carrying their 
complaints to Congress. 

Although there were good rela- 
tions with other branches of the 
industry in joint ventures, Kirsch 
charged distribs refused to throw 
exhibs a lifesaver on such matters 
as film rentals, pre-releases, 
“must" percentages and other 
problems. He urged that the con- 
vention unite the exhibs on a 
course' -of •aetron‘ M that mir ■ distribu- 
tor friends can no longer ignore.” 

Support Myers Report 


Pitt Variety Tent No. 1 
25th Anni Celebration 
Draws Show Biz Toppers 

Pittsburgh, Nov. 18. 

Tent No. 1 of Variety Club is 
looking for the biggest three days 
in its history this weekend when 
25th anni of the founding of the shows* promise,’ and Olive Carey, 
showmen’s organization will be the town’s femme saloonkeeper; 
celebrated. Fete begins Friday Dan Seymour, travelling salesman, 
(21) with winter meeting of inter- and the others match the perform- 
national biggies and chief barkers ances of Preston and Watson, 
from all over the world, followed by George Diskant’s lensing is expert, 
four-hour telethon over WDTV Sat- Hugo Friedhofer did the music 
urday (22) for the benefit of local score for both stones and Otto 
charities. Climax comes Sunday Meyer the editing. Both are c 
with the annual banquet which al- P etent - 


Film Reviews 


Continued from page C 


Face to Face 

is well-rounded with incident, mood 
and excitement while continuing 
the whimsical note of the original. 
Marjorie Steele, the bashful bride, 

. • i . 


Tromba, the Tiger Man 

' (GERMAN) 


English-dubbed, German- 
made circus feature for sec- 
ondary bookings; only so-so as 
program offering. 


ready is a sellout and will draw 
show biz luminaries from all over 
the U. S. 

John H. Harris, Pittsburgh the- 
atre owner and producer of “Ice 
Capades” and “Ice Cycles" and 
one of the 11 men who originally 
organized the Variety (Sub in 1927, 
is chairman of the powwow. He 

has received Okays from practically Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

all Hollywood studios for appear- Ri^^oduction 5 stS? Key f Defies 

ances by film personalities. Hildc Weissner, Gaidy Granalfe; features 

A mnnp thnsp «;et for the telethon Angelika Hauff, Gustav Knuth, Grethe 
Among inose set iorine icieutuu Weiser> Adrian- Hoven. Directed by Hel- 

and the banquet roster are Vll- m ut Weiss. Screenplay, Elisabeth Zimmer- 

ginia Mayo and her husband, Mich- mann and. Weiss; camera, Werner Krien; 

ael O Shea, Tony Curtis and his Adolf Steimel. Previewed Nov. 10, ’52. 
wife, Janet Leigh; George Mur- Running time, 62 mins. 

phy, Forrest Tucker, Joe E. Brown, Tromba Rene Deltgen 

Morton Downey, Perry Como, Bert V.7.7.7;. . A SSS?v* K 

Wheeler, Phil Regan, Forrest Tuck- Thesese Kronbeck Wide Weissner 

er, Herb Shriner, Fran Warren, Sardy Vet . s .WW’:: Gardy® c?anlss 

Senor Wences and Van Heflin. Rudolf Weckerle Adrian Hoven 

Telethon is to be emceed by Shri- 
ner and Carl Dozer, who is WCAE Lippert Pictures is presenting 
sales manager and newly-elected this German-made circus feature 
Chief Barker of Tent No. 1. programmer market In that 

Video charity drive was ar- bracket it is just passable, develop- 
ranged by Harold Lund, general so-so interest for lowercase dat- 
manager of WDTV and second as- Plcture ’ dubbed in English, 


sistant Chief Barker of the local 
Variety club. 


bears evidence of having been 
well-scissored from its original 
footage, when it was tagged just 
plain “Tromba." 

- The Krone Circus’' of -Germany- is 
the setting for a story that deals 


-Ten-i- Stays - -in- -Wm* Pesm 

Pittsburgh. ____ o ___ ^ 

Variety Club will remain in its with a tiger trainer who uses hyp- 
. .. . , present quarters at the William notism to make his jungle cats and 

There is strong sentiment that Penn Hotel after all. Several his assorted women do his bidding 

the conventioneers, totaling more months ago Tent No. 1 planned to Rene Deltgen plays this unsavory 

than 1,000, including their wives, move elsewhere after rent was character in obvious fashion and 

the biggest gathering in the his- tripled but satisfactory negotia- ge t s his just desserts when a gai 

COMPO committee aiming to elim- tory of Allied, will go along with tions since have been completed be has abandoned, Angelika Hauff, 

inate the 20% admission tax. the report of Abram F. Myers, with Eugene Eppley, owner of the throws away the drug that gives 

Concerted Move Urged chief counsel of the association, “P^ntown * n P_* 5P d .^ new * on ®‘ him his hypnotic powers, paving 


miliar ground in topnotch style. 
Hayden is very good as the real- 
istic commanding officer of the air 
group, and Carlson gives a satis- 
factory , account of himself as the 
executive officer under Hayden. 

Period of the plot is 1944j when 
an earlier Princeton was seeing 
service in Pacific waters. Things 
get underway when Carlson and a 
new air group board the carrier to 
find Hayden a tough c.o., not be- 
cause he is a martinet but because 
he knows survival depends on do- 
ing the job the right way. Per- 
sonal conflict is involved with the 
men’s reaction to Hayden’s drive 
after having been wet-nursed 
through training by the more easy- 
going Carlson. When the shooting 
is all over, everyone has realized 
Hayden was right. 

A nifty air of excitement is gen- 
erated during the story’s unfold- 
ment by the actual combat footage 
cut in. Dogfights between Zeroes 
and Navy planes, the crescendo of 
the carrier’s defensive weapons, 
crashing planes and bursting 
bombs and torpedoes all add to 
the action punch. However, some 
of the real war footage scenes are 
used repetitiously. 

Bill Phipps, John Bromfield, 
Keith Larsen, William Schallert 
and Todd Karns do well by their 
stock roles of young fliers. Dave 
Willock adds some chuckles as a 
sailor aboard the carrier. Phyllis 
Coates appears briefly in a “back- 
at-home” scene as a new mother. 
Heading the firstrate technical 
credits is Harry Neumann’s color 
lensing. William Austin’s editing 
and the Marlin Sidles music score 
are good. Brog. 


term lease was signed. 

Variety Club has been occupy- 
ing space in the William Penn 
since 1940. 


In another section of the board and will either refuse to accept the 
report, Allied members were urged arbitration plan of the distributors 
to join in a concerted move to ob- entirely or will insist on drastic 
tain relief by instituting litigation changes. Report was submitted to 
and petition executive departments the members yesterday (Mon.). His 
and administrative Government paper claims that without provision 
agencies, in addition to making for arbitration of film .rentals it’s 
strong ' appeals' to" Congress:' ~ ineffective.' 

At sessions earlier today, thea- Nixes Pre-Release 

tre ops charged that the print 
shortage problem was a 

one” in many cases. In Texas, u the major companies limiting each ^“of r™. ” ” 
was claimed several dnve-in own- to two pictures a year . He's not ob- K, 5?, , 


Wilder Gets ‘Joey’ 


the way for one of the jungle cats 
to kill him. 

Shots of animal acts in action are 
interesting, particularly the work-- 
ing of a large group of elephants. 
Several aerialist scenes are good 
also but the lensing is mostly low- 
keyed to the extreme and the 


’phony for the new ’ re-release setun of Dy Wllder > wn ° ls currently 

xas it lv!L i- Se ..?„ p 0 J working on* Paramount’s “New 

n. the maior comnames limiting eaeh -r ,, 


ers were refused prints, with the j ec ting to that in first-run situa 
distribs claiming shortage, but that tions, but in the subsequent-runs, 
the Paramount-linked Interstate Here, he claims that ‘the distribs 
Circuit did have prints of the same win enforce competitive bidding, 
picture. Several exhibs also charg- nullifying all the possible benefits 
ed advertising allowances were too 0 f limiting the pre-release flood of 
low, with ozoners claiming they pictures. Lawyer also believes 
were being discriminated against, that the coriipanies are trying to 


• Hollywood, Nov, 18. 

Columbia’s “Pal Joey” will be film’s movement is slow. The orig- 
t« | directed and probably screenplayed *nal picture, before cutting, evi- 

In addition, Myers cares little by Billy wilder, who is currently dently had quite a few hot amatory 
. *i * sequences, but these obvious ex- 

ploitation pegs have been sliced 
for the domestic market. 

Gardy Gran ass is appealing as a 
young girl who almost comes un- 
der Deltgen’s evil spell, and the 
others are adequate, as is Helmut 
Weiss’ deliberate direction of the 
Georg Richter production. Brog. 




Par to Press 

Continued from page 4 


1 


Filming starts in April, with Rita 
Hayworth starring and Vincent 
Sherman producing. 


Silliphant Sets Gordon 

Robert Gordon, onetime Colu- 
bia Pictures contractee, has been 


_ T .. . _ , -- „ — .inked to direct' “The Joe Louis 

National Screen Service also use the proposed bidding system as Story" for Federated Films. 


came in for a coal-raking, with a cloak for discrimination.’ 
hiany exhibs claiming that the out- He comes out with a blast 
fit was still continuing its monop- against the planned awards from 
olistic practices. the arbitration court, asserting 

ASCAP’s new theatre tax policy that the distributors wish to evade 
came up, but it’s evident that most damages for first offenses; also that 


Appointment of Gordon was re- 
vealed in New York this week by 
Silliphant, who’s producing “Louis 
Story." 


Flat Top 

(COLOR) 


Good . war-action feature in 
color for general market; 
profitable grosser. 


Hollywood, Nov. 13. 

Monogram release of Walter Miriseh 


, _ . , - Hayes Goetz signed a producer 

houses are lowering the boom on exemplary damages, limited to the contract at Allied Artists after 15 . , Y - - 

use of* the Society's music, employ- .amount of actual profits lost, can years with Metro. Harold Miriseh ard Carfson ^ fe^tu^ 1 bui H phSp”s johii' 
ing either public domain or BMI, only be granted, not triple as in became a member of the Allied Bromfield, Keith Larsen, william ’schai- 
for intermission platters. the case of antitrust suits. Myers Artists board of directors, replac- Ducted by Lesley 

Film rentals got most of the also claimed that the conciliation ing William Hurbut, who recently era (Cinecoior),' Harry 1 NewnSnmedRms 
crossfire at clinics which took up section was ineffectual. sold his Detroit franchise to the William Austin- 

most of Monday’s (17) opening day Theatre Equipment and Supply Company, 
of the confab. Patricularly cited and Manufacturers, also meeting 
were Paramount and Warner Bros., in joint session with Allied, is 
with Metro running a close third, making most of its pitches to the 
It was apparent there is a grow- drive-in trade. Over 125 firms, an 
ing tendency <1; Smong exhibs from all-time high, are exhibiting, 
small towns and drive-ins to boy- Theatre television demonstra- 


House Red Probe 


Continued from page 2 


Austin; music, Marlin Skiles. 
Previewed Nov. 11, ’52. Running time, 83 
MINS* 

Dan Collier Sterling Hayden 

Joe Rodgers Richard Carlson 

c eC, A e i Iley n, * Bin Phipps 

Snakehips MacKay John Bromfield 

Barney Smith Keith Larsen 

Longfellow William Schallert 

Judge Todd Karns 

Dorothy - Phyllis Coates 


cott distribs that are asking what tion, with various Allied leaders I denied he had ever joined the Com- I Commander .’.' ‘ waitYr Coy 

they consider exorbitant terms. jappearirig on TV over a closed cir- munist Party. He admitted, how- . — — — 

Attendance at the clinics were cult before an audience of Allied ever, that he had associated with A fundamental war story, told 
largest in Allied history, with the members, was arranged today by Reds in Hollywood, had joined var- akmg familiar lines, is offered in 
drive-in meeting filled to overflow- Nathan Halpern, Theatre Network ious Fronts and contributed to f Dealing with a Car- 
ing. One of the points brought out Television prexy. Halpern pre- Party causes. ^ ie . r “! r Group aboard the USS 

in the ozoner group is the over- dieted the number of houses on Karen Morley, long sought un- Frmceton during World War II, 
development of airers. In Union- the theatre TV circuit would successfully Un-American Activ- sba P^ U P as a profit- 

town, Pa., for example, it was re- double and triple within the next ities Committee subpoena servers, pi + v mo r i?ff c „,v,o!?i )I lS grarn ln „ key 
ported there are 13 ozoners within eight months, and said 90% of ex- was finally caught up with. How- ? G g u lTr^ rirnrWf ^ 

18 miles for a town of 185,000. hibs participating in the last large- ever, she refused to tell whether pify P rodB ct does not usually 
Also reported was a tendency screen fight had shown profits of she is now or had ever been a “ 


owned-and-operated station in Hol- 
lywood. 

Fact that the FCC examiner’s re- 
port advising approval of the pro- 
jected United Paramount Theatres- 
American Broadcasting mergeivalso 
lifted the onus of former antitrust 
violations from major film com- 
panies seeking TV stations is also 
expected to benefit Par’s quest for 
■more stations. Par now owns only 
KTLA, and thus, pending final FCC 
approval of the AB-PT merger, has 
the right to file for four more video 
stations. Film company has an ap- 
plication pending for a channel in 
San Francisco, on which it partici- 
pated in competitive hearings be- 
fore the FCC prior to imposition of 
the freeze several’ years ago. 

Prior to its divorcement, Par. 
also owned WBKB, Chicago, but 
hat was turned over to UPT as 
part of the consent decree splitup. 
With the Chi outlet and WBKB, 
the FCC formerly considered that 
ar owned two stations. And with 
DuMont owning stations in New 
York, Washington and Pittsburgh, 
he FCC had originally ruled that 
if Par actually controlled DuMont 
via its stock interest in the latter 
network, the two companies to- 
gether owfted the full complement 
of five video outlets and so were 
not permitted any more. DuMont, 
by the same token, now has 1 the 
right to file for two more stations 
on its own. 

While on the Coast, Raibourn is 
also huddling with Landsberg on 
plans for new KTLA studfos, on. 
which construction is slated to 
start in six months at a site ad- 
jacent to its present studios. Rai- 
bourn also went to Palm Springs 
to eye the progress of Telemeter, 
the pay-as-you-see system in which 
it has an interest. Testing of the 
system scheduled to start -at the 
resort town in February. Also on 
the Par veepee’s agenda is a trip 
to San Francisco to check progress 
of the Lawrence chromatic tube 
for color TV. 


Communist Party member on con- 
stitutional grounds of self -incrim- 
ination, and ducked all other em- 
barrassing questions. * 

Burrows, who testified last Wed- 


Excellent values have been ob 
tained in the Walter Miriseh pro 
duction by actual scenes shot 
aboard the carrier, and picture 
gained an exploitation peg by hav- 
ing its premiere on the Prince- 


not to play percentage pix in | from $1,000 to $5,000 each, 
smaller areas by the large houses. 

forcing the films into fringe thea- TO FETE BRYLAWSK1 

tres where the grosses are less. Washington, Nov. 18. 

Kirsch Keynoter p Film industry friends are plan* 

Convention chairman J a’c k ning a dinner Dec. 1 to fete A. Ju- nesday (12), appeared at his own ton’s hangar deck before an audi- 

Kirsch, in a keynote address Mon- lian Brylawski on his 70th birth- request to reply to charges made en . c ® that included many of the 

day (17), intimated that a revival day and 30 years in motiori pic- last October by radio writer Owen P e rsonnel who appear in it. 

of the United Motion Picture In- tures.. Vinson that they had «been mem- Off erin S ] s dressed up in Cinecolor 

dustry plan of 1942 mgiht be tried Brylawski, president of the Mo- bers of the same Red cell in Holly- aBcl much use is made of actual 

tion Picture Theatre Owners o£ wood in 1945. Previously Burrows a 5oienticitv l<180 ° ‘ nS “ re aCl ‘° n 

Metropolitan Washington, has been had testified in executive sessions ifliaJJ'insthP t n e i« v 

head of the real estate, mainte- before the committee but his state- Selander’s direction are Sterling 
nance and construction department ments then were described as Hayden and Richard Carlson 
of Warner Bros, theatres here since “vague" by Frank S. Tavenner, the Selander’s guidance and the Steve 


as a solution to the establishment 
of an industry arbitration system, 
Kirsch, also prexy of Allied Thea- 
tres of Illinois, only hinted at the 
UMPI plan, but some quarters saw 
in the mention that he saw pos- 



1928. 


committee counsel. 


Johnston 

Continued from page 3 

the guest of U. S. Ambassador Ed- 
ward Roddan. After that, he's due 
in Buenos Aires, where he expects 
to .stay a week, returning to New 
York in early December. 

U. S. distribs consider Brazil, 
where they have in excess of $11> - 
000,000 frozen, their major S. A. 
sore-spot. There is strong pressure 
in that country for a law to limit 
imports in order to encourage the 
native industry. In Argentina, all 
U. S. earnings continue frozen and 
the companies also are having h- 


Fisher screen story flow along fa- cense difficulties. 






WITH 

HILLARY BROOKE • BILL SHIRLEY * LEIF ERICKSON written by HOWARD DIMSDALE and JOHN GRANT songs b y b$ R usseii and Lester tee 
pbooucedby ALEX GOTTLIEB directed by CHARLES LAMONT a WOODLEY production distributed by WARNER BROS. 














IS 


PVCTURKS 


&ssm ff 


Wdlneeday, November 19, 1952 


See Depinet 'Active’ 


Continued from page 3 


from both the Hughes and Stolkin . from them; that that’s what ham- 


ends. 

(3) Ned Depinet would come 
back actively into RKO. 

(4) A number of other syndi- 
cates were trying to get into the 
act. 

Depinet r s reactivated future in 
RKO seems most likely. For one 
thifig, dating back to the Grant 
debacle, latter,, would have offered 
Depinet and possibly also Phil 
Reisman, former veep over RKO 
foreign, their old board posts back, 
had Corwin and Burke approved 
Grant’s nominations of Robert 
"Butler, former Ambassador to Aus- 
tralia and Cuba, and Lawrence 
Co wen, president of the Lionel 
Corp., world’s largest manufac- 
turers of toy electric trains. 

Depinet Back as Prez 
- More directly, it is understood 
that Hughes, if he reassumes con- 
trol of RKO’s board until the- Stol- 
kin group dan consummate their 
financial obligations, would want 
Depinet not only back on the 
board but as president. 

The Corwin group likewise ac- 
cented its statement, following 
Grant's own *elaborate - statement 
when he resigned, that it would 
also reenlist the services of Depi- 
net who, at present, is on a “con- 
sultative” basis. 

Depinet states that he has heard 
lots of rumors but that “nobody 
has come near me; I would want 
to make sure just what it is they 
have irt mind.” 

Fox, meantime, virtually had a 
deal all set with Stolkin when he 
met with the group in Chicago. 
This included one session with 
Koolish, Stolkin’s father-in-law, 
Corwin and Burke.' 

Fox is leaving lor Chi with 
his attorney, Jerry Edwards, of 
the Phillips, Nizer, Benjamin & 
Krim law firm, to continue ne- 
gotiations with Stolkin & Co., who 
meantime, left L. A. for Chi, their 
home base. 

The rumor factory about new 
syndicates being formed to take 
over the conipany include Floyd 
Odium, who, coincidentally or 
otherwise, left his Indio, CaL, home 
and is now in New York. He owns 
over 120,000 RKO shares. Depinet 
denies his affiliation with a Karl 
Hoblitzelle-Bob O’Donnell Texas 
syndicate. Joseph P. Kennedy dit- 
tos. Sam Goldwyn is noncommittal 
on reports linking him with a Jim 
Mulvey-Eddie Small group. Sol 
Lesser has been mentioned. Also 
Louis Lurie. There are two stock- 
holders on the Coast, Ed Hersber 
(groceries) and M. J. Stevens (ma- 
chinery), who are supposed to have 
a plan to present to the other RKO 
stockholders this week. 

Fox’s 100% Financing 

Fox, whose deal in principle 
with Stolkin in Chicago last week 
was balked only because of cer- 
tain conditions and concessions he 
reportedly wanted, also took ad- 
vantage of the weekend hiatus to 
review the potentials of a minority 
stockholders’ suit. Under normal 
circumstances, if a company is a 
going business with a responsible 
board and slate of officers, it is 
reasonable to assume that no court 
would seriously entertain a re- 
ceivership plea. As now constituted, 
with* Grant’s resignation (see sepa- 
rate story); with the previous with- 
drawal of Stolkin and William 
Gorman (Ryan’s representative) 
from the board; and with Corwin 
(now acting chairman) and Burke 
(a complete novitiate in the picture 
business) the lone remainders 


pered the Grant situation; and the 
only way he’d ever take it would 
be as the No. 1 boss. 

Other Negotiations 

Even if the Eox dicker flivs, 
there are other negotiations for a 
sale. Stolkin, et al. want out, that’s 
no secret now. Until they do get 
out, however, they have Corwin 
and Burke representing them, with 
an operating board of, RKO Pic- 
tures, Inc., subsid of RKO Pictures 
Corp., augmented by general sales 
manager Charles Boasberg, studio 
exec Ross Hastings and general 
counsel William Zimmerman. Wil- 
liam H. Clarke,, treasurer, is also 
a member of the board. Gordon 
Youngman, member of Bautzer, 
Grant, Youngman & Silbert, law 
firm of which Grant is also a part- 
ner, had been a board member, 
but he resigned Friday (14). No 
new board members were ‘named 
to the parent company, leaving 
Corwin and Burke the only mem- 
bers of this panel. Pair can form a 
quorum under terms of the bylaws - 
of the corporation which requires 
the presence of only two members 
for an official meeting. Parent 
corporation has a five-man board 
while the subsid operating com- 
pany has a nine-man board. 

There are stilPother groups very 
much interested in gaining control. 
Fred Packard, son-in-law of J. Ar- 
thur Rank and for a time a pro- 
ducer at Universal, is heading up 
one group. Brior Dahlberg, who had 
been very much in the negotiations 
picture even before the Stolkin & 
Co. acquisition, is back in the run- 
ning. And oilman Ed Pauley is re- 
portedly heading up another group 
on the Coast. The Louis Lure-Si 
Fabian & Co: syndicate is else- 
where covered. 

The trade believes that the sell- 
out by the Corwin-Burke- remnants 
of the original Stolkin syndicate is 
inevitable. But obviously Stolkin 
& Co. didn’t pay $7 a share for 
something that’s $3.37V£ on the 
open market. The consideration 
was the 29% control. 

Incidentally, hotelier Arnold M. 
Kirkeby reportedly put up around 
$500, 00Q of the Stolkin initial bank- 
roll. 

Grant bowed out Thursday (13) 
in one of the most hectic days RKO 
has undergone since its formation. 
He departed with a lengthy blast 
at the new management, in which 
he charged that failure to second 
his nominations to the board “man- 
acles his hands.” He declared that, 
despite his requests to do so, Cor- 
win and Burke told him they had 
no nominations of their own to 
make. Grant added that he had 
consented to adjournments of pre- 
vious board meetings only with the 
understanding that definite action 
would have to be taken at Thurs- 
day’s confab. When Corwin and 
Burke declined to accept his nomi- 
nations, Grant exited. 


Goldwyn Urges Bequests 
To Rogers Hosp Fund, 
Adds $25,000 Donation 

An appeal that members of the 
film industry remember the Will 
Rogers Memorial Hospital, Sara- 
nac Lake, N. Y., in their wills was 
made by Samuel Goldwyn in New 
York Thursday (13). Producer 
advanced the suggestion at a 
luncheon given in his honor at 
the Hotel Waldorf-Astoria by the 
hospital’s trustees. 

■ ’ Goldwyn, who previously had 
contributed $5,000 to the institu- 
tion, announced that he is making 
an additional $25,000 donation and 
would make a provision in his 
will upon his return to his Coast 
home. “The film business has 
done a great deal for me,” he 
said, “and this is a. way of giving 
something back that will benefit 
all humanity.” 

Abe Montague, prez of the board 
of trustees, outlined the hospital’s 
work and cited the great strides 
the institution has made in its re- 
search as to the cause and cure 
of tuberculosis. Some 50 promi- 
nent industryites attended the 
1 incheon. 

Meantime, tickets for the spe- 
cial benefit performance of Gold- 
wyn’s “Hans Christian Andersen” 
at the Criterion Theatre,. N, Y., 
Nov. 24 reportedly have racked up 
heavy sales. Scaled at a $25 top, 
entire proceeds will go to the Rog- 
ers hospital fund. Screening is 
scheduled to be the first in a 
contemplated annual series of 
benefit showings for the fund. 


Frank Freeman in JN. Y. 

For Homeoffice Talks 

Y. Frank Freeman, Paramount 
veepee in charge of the studio, 
arrives in New York from the 
Coast today (Wed.) for talks with 
homeoffice execs and Don Hart- 
man, production chief, who’s been 
in Gotham about a week. 

Following confabs, it’s expected 
that .Hartman will go to England 
and then Rome. In latter city, he’ll 
confer with William Wyler and 
Gregory Peck, director and star 
of Par’s currently shooting “Roman 
Holiday,” on the possibility of the 
pair assuming the same roles for 
“Babylon Revisited,” film version 
of the F. Scott Fitzgerald story. 


NLRB Stresses 

Continued from page 7 


ployer . . . There is no doubt that 
Congress rejected the proposal to 
regulate unneeded employment be- 
cause that body thought it unwise 
and premature to legislate on that 
subject. 

“Congress extended its regula- 
tion of featherbedding practices 
to require that work be performed. 
But it left to the pressure and per- 


suasion of the bargaining process 
thereon, Fox chose not to risk any^he determination whether the erh- 

J- 1 A ^ « A 1*^ _ _ _ 


> 


potential interference from a 
court. (See separate story on “-re- 
ceivership proceeding). 

Fox reportedly has other ideas 
on the consummation of the deal. 
He is prepared to finance it 100%. 
As detailed elsewhere he is solo 
in the negotiation; his former 
partners, Eliot Hyman and Joe 
Harris, are now merely under em- 
ployment contracts to Fox’s Mo- 
tion Pictures for Television dis- 
tribution outfit, which last month 
topped $400,000 billings and which 
has been doing over $300,000 in 
rentals of late. Fox’s MPTV re- 
portedly has $4,000,000 in forward 
billings. 

On the heels of the Grant walk- 
out, leaving the company’s future 
responsibilities with Corwin artd 
Burke, Fox reportedly had been 
invited on the board by Stolkin & 
Co. He refused. He is supposed to 
have told the Stolkin syndicate 
that he can’t operate as an em- 


ployer • shall accede to a demand 
for work and the manner in which 
work should be done to yield the 
employer the greatest benefitf 
“The court below rejected this 
view of Congressional policy, stat- 
ing in effect that Sec. 8 (b) (8) 
should be interpreted to reach un- 
needed or unwanted work as well, 
as unperformed work, because the 
same vice of featherbedding in- 
heres in both.’* 

NLRB has taken the case on ap- 
peal to the Supreme Court. Gam- 
ble Enterprises contends that Local 
24 violated the Taft-Hartley Act 
by insisting that pit bands be em 
ployed when name bands played 
on stage at the Palace Theatre 
Local 24 said its members could 
play during intermission and be- 
fore and after the show. Gamble 
said it neither wanted nor needed 
a house orch on such occasions. 

It took the case to NLRB, which, 
supported the union. Suit was ap 


ployee; that, in effect, he’d be just i pealed to the U. S. 6th Circuit 
another hired hand taking orders 1 Court, which overruled NLRB. 


Col’s $3,000,000 


Continued from page 5 


divorced) for putting “its house in 
order” with respect to alleged un- 
fair trade practices and “antitrust 
activities.” Thus the film industry 
apparently has a* legal greenligttt 
to enter TV. 

Columbia told the three banks 
that: 

(1) “Our company may lend to 
and make advances to and invest in 
financing stage productions such 
amounts as we believe to be neces- 
sary. 

(2) “Our company and its sub- 
sidiaries may make investments up 
to $3,000,000 in television stations 
and television inventions, includ- 
ing new developments in that field. 

(3) “Our company and its sub- 
sidiaries may produce and dis- 
tribute motion picture photoplays 
for television. 

(4) “Our company may lend to 
and- invest up to $3,000,000 in a 
subsidiary to be organized by us 
to engage in the business of guar 
anteeing loans to motion picture 
producers . . . Certain provisions 
call for a lien to be made on a film 
benefiting from a loan, picture 
must be distributed through Col, 
etc. 

Columbia, incidentally, has been 
inactive in legit financing in the 
past, but often has provided “sec- 
ond money” to such indie film pro- 
ducers as Stanley Kramer and Sam 
Katzman. Its subsidiary, Screen 
Gems, Inc., has been turning out 
films for television for some time. 
Fact that Col has tentatively ear- 
marked $3,000,000 for possible TV 
expansion would give it no more 
than two or three stations, trade 
circles point out, if the entire sum 
went for that purpose. 

Bank loan agreement covers tho 
five-year period from Oct, 1, 1952, 
through Sept. 30, 1957, and grants 
a maximum credit of $15,00]), 000. 
ynder the transaction, .Col bor- 
rowed $10,000,000 on Oct. 1 
and paid $7,000,000 in previous 
outstanding notes with the same 
banks. Dated as of Aug. 1, 1950, 
these loans were cancelled and 
terminated. 


Fingerpointing 

With the falling-out of Arnold M. Grant and the Sherrill C. 
Corwin-Edward Burke, Jr., contingent from the original Stolkin- 
Koolish-Ray Ryan syndicate that took over RKO last month, the 
trade points to some “fingerpointing” in the press release of last 
Thursday (13) night, following Grant’s exodus. 

The attorney, in the press statement, gave his reasons for quit- 
ting as RKO’s new board chairman; and other pronunciamento 
soon came from Corwin-Burke’s side accenting, not unsubtly, their 
point of view. Grant's statement read, in part; ; 

“On Oct. 2, 1952, 1 was elected chairman of the board of directors 
of RKO Pictures and its subsidiaries, and was employed as an execu- 
tive officer. . .On Sept. 23, 1952, Messrs. Ralph Stolkin, A. L. Koolish, 
Ray Ryan, E. G. Burke, Jr., and Sherrill C. Corwin purchased from 
Howard R. Hughes his stockholdings in RKO consisting of" approxi- 
mately 29% of the outstanding stock. These men thereafter asked 
me to undertake the duties to which I watf elected on Oct. 2. At 
that time, Messrs. Stolkin, Burke, Corwin and William Gorman, 
representing Mr. Ryan, were also elected directors of RKO. On 
the same date, the same individuals were elected directors of the 
subsidiary operating corporation, RKO Radio Pictures, Inc., as well 
as A. L. Koolish. 

When Olected, I stated to the Board that my sole obligation 
would be to work for the best interests of all the stockholders and 
employees of the corporation, without regard to special interests. 
The entire board joined me in an executive press release, in which 
they stated: 

* . . . that a corporation owes an obligation to its employees 
second only to its stockholders . . . and the objective is to re- 
vitalize and build the corporation.’ 

“. . . On Oct. 16, 1952, the Wall Street Journal published the 
first of a series df articles which cast seriously unfavorable reflec- 
tions on the previous business reputations or associations of Messrs. 
Stolkin, Koolish and Ryan. These articles led to a mass of un- 
favorable publicity, some of.it in other publications; but even 
more by word of mouth, primarily in industry and financial circles. 
It seemed to me that the principle which had been applied to the 
reorganization of all employees *ynd executives of the corpora- 
tion must, of necessity, apply to its directors, since without such 
application there could be no principle . . . Accordingly, I demand- 
ed and received their resignations as officers and directors of RKO 
and its subsidiaries on Oct. 22, 1952 ... On the same day, the 
other two remaining directors, Messrs. Burke and Corwin, against 
whom no derogatory matter had been published, joined with me 
as- the ‘third director in preparing announcements of the resigna- 
tions obtained, which authorized me to state on behalf of the 
board of directors: 

‘It is the intention of the board as soon as possible to fill 
the vacancies with men of outstanding calibre who will be 
well qualified to represent the interests of all stockholders of 
, RKO. It is hoped that this can be accomplished within the 
next 10 days.’ 

“Since Oct. 22, 1952, I have made every effort to obtain men of 
the type described to serve as directors of the corporation . . . 
It is evidently impossible to reconstitute the board at this time 
with persons of sufficient calibre to meet the corporation’s prob- 
lems . . . Being legally and factually stymied in this fashion . . . 
I cannot and will not remain in silch a . . . futile position.” 

Immediately following the resignation o' Grant,' the board of di- 
rectors announced the election of three new members to the board 
“in accordance with the company’s policy of developing its leaders 
from the ranks, rather than appointing outsiders who would, “by 
necessity, take inordinate time to learn the workings of the com- 
pany and the motion picture industry.” The new directors are 
Charles Boasberg, general sales manager; William Zimmerman, 
general counsel for the corporation; and Ross Hastings, assistant 
secretary. All three have been with the company many years. 
Hastings is presently in charge of studio operation for the com- 
pany. 

Grant and his firm of Bautzer, Grant, Youngman & Silbert, who 
had served the corporation as board chairman and legal counsel, 
respectively, terminated their services effective immediately. 
“Grant came into the company Oct. 2 at a salary of $104,000 a 
year, plus annual fees toliis law firm of $75,000 a year,” the press 
announcement stated, “and undertook his position after acting as 
attorney for the five-man syndicate who purchased approximately 
29% of the outstanding stock then owned by Howard Hughes. 

The board also announced the resignation of Arnold Picker^ ex- 
ecutive v.p., who was to have taken over last Saturday (15). 


Spurt Continues 

■ - Continued from page 5 




put up 75% and the film thus 
qualifies under the quota regula- 
tions.” 

Kohner debunked the theory 
that foreign producers are in the 
market only for top names from 
Hollywood. He pointed out that 
many “secondary” names or stars 
whose ratings have slipped in re- 
cent years are also in demand. 

“A person may be passe here 
and still be a star in -Europe,” he 
underlined. “Particularly since 
the European market now is get- 
ting many films which were made 
here years ago but never re- 
leased there because of the war.” 

Another important factor, he 
added, is that stars enjoy more 
loyalty in Europe than they do 
here. Long-established names con- 
tinue to command attention from 
film fans despite one or two bad 
pictures. 

England currently is the center 
of the co-production deal but 
Italian producers are becoming 
more and more interested in 
utilizing American names. Lan- 
guage is no great problem, Koh- 
ner added, since European pro- 
ducers have made a fine art of 
dubbing and there are many ac- 
tors overseas who concentrate now 
merely on this chore and are not 
seen on the screen. 

From a talent standpoint, Koh- 
ner declared, the co-production 
deals have an added value in that 
they bring players into contact 
with new personalities and new 
techniques. Some of the co-pro- 
duction deals, as Well; have un- 


covered promising European tal- 
ent which will find its way to Hol- 
lywood before long. 

The sharing deals, Kohner un- 
derlined, take many forms. Most 
common is that in which the 
American group gets the Western 
Hemisphere rights in return for 
contributing a star and director 
while the European firm takes the 
eastern distribution rights. There 
are, however, several variations 
now bejng worked out by many 
producers. 


RKO Stockholder 

I Continued from page 3 ■ * 

also a stockholder in the theatre 
company.” 

“Then,” said the public relations- 
minded Schwartz, “I hope you 
were happy with our last dividend.” 

“What dividend?” demanded the 
stockholder. 

“If you’re an authorized stock- 
holder, you received one,” Schwartz 
replied. 

Following a moment’s contem- 
plation, the stockholder reflected: 
“Come to think of it, son-in-law 
was living with me at that time.” 
He then had Schwartz assign a 
secretary to search through the 
cancelled dividend checks. A $10 
check was found; the stockholder 
claimed that the endorsement had 
been forged. 

He picked up his hat and coat 
and left Schwartz’s Office shouting, 
“That son-in-law. That son-in- 
law.” 


Wednesday, November 19, 1952 


PfifHETY 



A SUPER-WESTERN THAT 
REALLY DESERVES THE 
PHRASE'” 


Motion Picture Herald 


"UNUSUALLY FINE... LONG ON 
ACTION ... SHOULD KEEP 
BOXOFFICES BUSY!" 

Motion Picture Daily 

"SHOULD SATISFY THE MOST 
AVID OF ACTION FANS!” 

„ Hollywood Reporter 

4 

"POTENT OUTDOOR DRAMA 
THAT SPELLS BOXOFFICE!” 

Independent Film Journal 

"HOUSES THROUGHOUT 
THE COUNTRY SHOULD REAP 
A GOLDEN HARVEST ! ” 

Showmen's Trade Review 


PICTURES 


^ssmff 


Wednesday, November 19, 19&2 


NEW YORK 


the fact that Minneapolis employ* 
ment for October reached a new 
high for that "month, hitting 264,- 
700, or 1,700 over previous month 
and 5.3Q0 more than for corre- 
sponding 1951 month, according to 
state employment service figures. 
, . ^ . . . More than 50 of territory’s in- 

office manager; Louis Dreisbach dependent exhibitors attending na- 


Picture Grosses 


Under mutual promotion pact Jefferson Amus. Co., purchased 
between Organization of the Mo- the Don Drive-In at Port Arthur, 
tion Picture Industry and NBC, a formerly operated there by O. O. 
one-minute spot announcement (Cummings. 

will be included on Gene Rayburn Tommy Crump named manager 
morning disk jockey show on 0 £ Carver Theatre, at Austin. 
WNBC. Plug will push recom- Red River Drive-In opened at 
mended films currently playing in Clarksville by Theatre Enterprises 
metropolitan theatres, and Rngelbrecht & Wolfe. 

J. Milton Salzburg, prez of the Karl H. Hobitzell, prez of Inter- 


DENVER 

[ice manager; Louis ureisoacn dependent exhibitors attending na- (Continued from page 10) 
iconics booker# tional Allied States convention m • ^■nsrtufinr* pafe of Toh^llV , 

Jefferson Amus. Co., purchased chicaeothis week. ' Fighting Rats of aoDrun 

e Don Drive-In at Port Arthur, ° nvernilina nrotests of Volk (Assoc), fine $18,000. 


Overruling protests of Volk 
Bros., which operates Nile thea- 
tre, 35-day availability house lo- 


'Front’ Okay at $8,000, 

* Balto; 'Quiet' 6G, 9th 

Baltimore Nov. 18. 
There is a general letdown here 


Esquire (F ox) (742; 50-85)—- There is a general letdown here 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro (20th). W eek with extended holdovers 
Sock $8,500. Holding. Last week, not helping the growing resistance 


clearance# 

Metro ‘stationing an exploiteer 


fine $4,500. 


toliday shopping in the down- 
l area. Reissue of “Cleopatra” 
drawing fairish activity to 


Orpheum (RICO) (2,600; 50-85) — Keith’s while “Back At Front 


J, Milton Salzburg, prez of the Karl H. Hobitzell, prez of Inter- ^ere f or the first time in several “Lusty Men” (RKO) and “Apache looms okay at, Century. “Quiet 
Cornell Film Co., inked pact with- state Theatres, disclosed plans to years. He is Tom Letcher, trans- war Smoke” (M-G) (2d wlc). Thin Man” in ninth week at the May- 
United Films of Tel Aviv, Israel, donate $25,000 to the Gonzales, f e rred from Chicago where he was $8,000." Last week, good $15,000. fair, shows little letup in its record 
ei y es Ills 25 t Tex ® s) ,^ Foundation assistant _to. Norman Pyle. , _ Paramount (Wolfberg). (2,200; making run 

50-85)—' “Thief” (UA> and stage- - Estimates for This Week 
chow r.nnrl *12.000. Last week. Century (Loew’s-UA) (3,000; 20- 


O* ' ■ . 1(V , A j V* VrtUW/ * t *** ‘-'Jr* • 

tribution rights to short, “Life and for Crippled Children. 
Times of Chaim Weitzmann. ’ 1 


James H. Grainger, Republic’s 
sales chief, returned to homeoffice 
Monday (17) after a four-day trip 
to Boston. 

Hugh Owen, eastern and south- 
ern division manager for Para- 
mount, left over weekend for 
Jacksonville and New Orleans 
where he will hold sales huddles. 


CHICAGO 


Kelly Evidon back at Independ- 
ent Poster Exchange after recover- 
ing from a serious illness during 
which he received a succession of 
sales- blood transfusions, 
ill at Big demand for “Quiet Man* 


i four-day trip Max Dreyfus, Monogram sales- bi 0 od transfusions. 

man for about 17 years, ill at Big demand for “Quiet 
am and south- Woodlawn Hospital. ’ throughout territory has 1< 

;er for Para- Harry Nepo, operator of Kim- public here short of prints 
weekend for bark Theatre, also sick at Michael Gordie Rydeen, who recei 
New Orleans Reese. signed as manager of 

huddles. Embassy, formerly the Emboy, Berger’s downtown fir 


Paramount (Wolfberg). (2,200; making run. 

50-85)— "Thief" (UA) and stage- - Estimates for This Week 
show. Good $12,000. Last week, Century (Loew’s-UA) (3,000; 20- 
‘‘Bonko To College" (U) and stage- 70)— “Back At Front (U). Okay 

»«- eys? swr jwrs 

“Brooklyn G^rilfa^^ (Indie)! F^r ^ettlh’s* (Shanberger) (2,460; 20- 
£6.500. Last week. “Sally and 70)— “Cleopatra” (Par) reissue). 


throughout territory has left Re- .‘Brooklyn Gorilla” (Indie). Fair 

LI!- C.U JS-F rvwrnfr ** _ _ .. 


RKO’s Sioux Falls exchange, reopened last week at Ft. Wayne, 

headed by branch manager Sherm l nd -» a “ er , ... 

Fitch, copped first place in the Telenews . Theatres handling 

Depinet Sales closed TV circuit for James Lee 


company s 
Drive.” 


PITTSBURGH 

Jack Dolde, first assistant 


Co. Dec. 8. 

Distributors* plea that Jackson 
Park and Towne theatres be forced 
to bid against other houses, in- 
stead of having 0 first refusal on 


signed as manager of Bennie 
Berger’s downtown firstrun 
Gopher, now manager of Volk 
Bros, circuit Riverview and Nile. 

LeRoy J. Miller, Universal 
branch manager, lining up Will 
Rogers Memorial drive in terri- 
tory. 


“Marry Me” (Indie). Fair $1,700. 
Last week, “Sidewalks London” 
(Indie), $2,000. 

Webber (Fox) (750; 50-85)— 

“Yankee Buccaneer’* (U) and 


(2d wk). Starting second sesh to- 
morrow (Wed.) after okay $3,800 
beginning. 

Mayfair (Hicks) (980; 20-70) — 


jacK, jjuiue, mol 00^01,0111. • i. f hearing in anneals 

Loew’s Penn, upped to manager “ “t^ hearing in appeals 

of the Ritz, succeeding Carl Fer- ' courc nere ^ 0Vt 
razza, who resigned to pilot Keith’s - _ 

in Cincinnati. TOLEDO 

_ Toledo Theatres Assn, organized 


LOS ANGELES 

Frank Fouce bought the Cali- 
fornia, Main Street house, from 
estate of Lillian E. Schramm for 
$194,000. 

Four top 20th-Fox pictures will 
get saturation booking Christmas 
week. Thev include “Stars and 


trict sales manager for WB, who the m aioritv of get saturation booking Christmas 

recently opened booking-buying Toledo theatres ^ack L?kes man- week * They include , ( Star ^ al ) d 
office here, landed a big account, 22 of^ Colonv dri™ SS Stri ? es Forever ’” My Cousin 
doing all booking and buying for * f ected nrexv Abe^Ludacer man- Rachel ” Don’t Care Girl and 
Mahos circuit. Bernard Buchheit l 1 *™* “Ruby Gentry.” . _ 


“Brooklyn Gorilla” (Indie). Good “Quiet Man Otep) <9th wk). Still 
$3,500. Last week, “Sally and St. drawing at .good $6,000 after big 
Anne” (U) and “Capt. Black Jack” proceeding week, and house record. 

(Classic), fair $3,000. New (Mechanic) (1 «9 0d |„ 20 :^)-- 

“Snows of Kilimanjaro (20th) 

(4th wk). . Slow $5,000 after previ- 
‘Snows* Great 000 ous round inched out $6,200. 

7^ T *7 vLA a ax. Playhouse (Schwaber) (430; 50- 
Mont I : Quiet 16G, 4tn 90)— “Brandy for Parson” (Indie) 

Montreal, Nov. .18, . $3 '°°° a£ter bnght 


The amazing “Quiet Man, "-still 


Stripes Cousin blg Tn SSTrodSd at ii ..Stanley (WB,(3 28C, 25-75) - 

Rac t el ’„ Care Girl and holding favorably with the. new- .I?, 11 ?. 8 to afte? verv 


ivianos cuxuiu xici.utu.Li uuumwi, - Uoew’c VaJentinp plertpd comers ana pacing tne noiaover 

did that for Manos interests until and Martin G Smith of * Sai ?- De ^ k fJ’ forn jer Monogram field “ Snow sofKilimanjaro,”ter- 

he resigned ^ account of iU health. Sm g h .’ & Be i d I e r Theatres, elected i^E^Miro 0 theatre 0l |anta Monicf ridc at Loew’s, 4s hypoing overall 
-£•1- 2LJ£* secretary-treasurer. 5 Sc TpH B^lnirk and returns here currently. 


Sd ^^.hold^r d in8 well at $9,000 after o V e ry 


work on new drive-in between ^ ?2 10 j Cl - ty 

Emporium and Port Allegany. 10 S 7 a< ^?? 1 f S " 

1VT A Silver WB zone manager sion tax levied since 1947. City 

r exhibitors, and David C. Silver- 

an, head of RKO exchange, for f oc y a l ^xhibit^l iDDLSJ to di- 
stributors, are co-chairman of cUt a combined rgea for 
ill Rogers Memorial Hospital £ om b d e C iigigg biz 6 Other- 

nd drive in this territory. "wisef they pred^ted^ d?astS cS- 

tailment of operations would be 
DAM AQ necessary. - 


Will Rogers Memorial Hospital 
fund drive in this territory. 


riAIIAQ necessary. ™ wun nrsi-run diz veiy 

L/ftLLino - Paramount and Oriental, 

Tom Sumner named prez of r/yyktkti? a nm t c* in S *‘ The Savage,” look 

newly-organized San Antonio Mo- WllINWIliAJrlJJLlD nice total. However, “BU 

tion Picture Exhibitors Assn. Other With judgment entered for $125,- e st” looms only so-so at ' 

officers include Eph Charninsky, 000 in favor of plaintiffs inde- “Because You’re Mine” 

veepee, and C. O. Donaldson, sec- Pendent exhibitors Sol and Martin second Liberty stanza. 


to his partner, Ted Bolnick, , and 
is returning to distribution. 


‘Savage’ Strong $12,500> 
Port.; ‘Mine’ Big 10G, 2d 

Portland, Ore., Nov. 18. 

Nothing big in town this week, 
with first-run biz very uneven. 
Paramount and Oriental, day-dat- 
ing “The Savage,” look to get a 
nice total. However, “Blazing For- 


bright beginning with $16,700. 

Town (Rappaport) (1,500; 35-70) 
—“Lusty Men” (RKO). Starts to- 
morrow (Wed.) after “Because of 
You” (TJ) (4th wk), got fine $6,000. 


•Estimates for This Week 1 wkr vnf 

Palace (C.T.) (2,626; 34-60)— You ( H) (4th wk), got fine , 

“Quiet Man” (Rep) (4th wk). Big “ <t»rr ftnn 

$16,000 following solid third stanza ‘Trap JoRngUp 

at $19,000. IVTuIc • "MSI 

Capitol (C.T.) (2,412; 34-60)— iVlplS., lrees 


Capitol (C.T.) (2,412; 34-60)— 
“Will Rogers” (WB). Oke $15,000. 
Last week, “High Noon” (UA) (2d 
wk), fine $16,000. 

Princess (C.T.) (2,131; 34-60) — 
“Son of Ali Baba” (U) (2d wk). 
Held at $10,000 after a good first 
session at $16,000. 


Mpls.; ‘Trees’ NSH 6G 

Minneapolis, Nov. 18. 

Holdovers are hogging limelight 
currently, and three new offerings 
are not helping much. Remark- 
ably mild early winter continues 
a godsend for first-runs. “Steel 
Trap” looks best of newcomers, 

. > . V Ti.(. • 1U A 


With judgment entered for $125,- est” looms only so-so at Orpheum. “Snows 
30 in favor of plaintiffs inde- “Because You’re Mine” looks big Terrific 


Loew’s (C.T.) (2,855; 75-$l) — with solid State round. It’s ’the 


of Kilimanjaro” (20th). 
$38,000. Last week, “Be- 


sixth and final stanza for “Ivan- 
hoe” and fourth for “Snows of 


retary. Purpose of group is to help Lebedoff in their anti-trust clear- 
improve relations between local ance conspiracy suit against major 


Estimates for This Week 
Broadway (Parker) (1,850; 65-90) 


theatres and the public. 


distributors and United Paramount — “Horizons West” (U) and “Trop- “The Savage” (Par) and “Stardust, 


cause You’re Mine” (M-G) (3d wk), Kilimanjaro” and “Because You’re 
hefty $20,000. Mine.” 

Imperial (C.T.) M #39* . 34-60)— irctimat^ fnr This Week 


Eucleide Longnion opened Leon Theatres, counsel for defendants ical Heat Wave” (Rep). Mild $4,- Sweet Music” (Par). Good $9,000. 


Theatre at Vidor. Longnion was __ 

formerly at Lake Charles, La. peal. Federal Judge G. H. Nordbye lege” (U) and “Wac From Walla 

National Production Authority refused to consider the motion of Walla” (Rep), $6,000* 
iproved construction of new Lee Loevenger, plaintiffs’ attorney, Liberty (Hamrick) (1,850; 65-90, 
ive-in at Decatur for Walter Mat- to have the award increased to — “Because You're Mine” (M-G) 


have 30 days left to take an ap- 000. Last week, “Bonzo To Col- Last week, “Golden Hawk” (Col) 

_ — a w - _ r ■ |i /<»T\ V i 1 TTT . T"V #TT 11. _ , . .« _ . ... a a a — . V 


approved construction of new Lee Loevenger, plaintiffs’ attorney, 
drive-in at Decatur for Walter Mat- to have the award increased to 


and “Follow That Woman” (Col), 

$ 10 , 000 . 

Orpheum (C.T.) (1,048; 34-60)— 
“Stolen Face” (Par) and “Okla- 


ney. 


$150,000 because of alleged errors and “Hour of 13” (M-G) (2d wk). homa” (Par). Average $7,000. Last 

. I , ■ « , « . T» • A# A A/lA T t _ 1 J A/\A • .... . . . _ »* 


Frank Meyers^ named booker in computation of the damage. He Big $10,000. Last week, ^$14, 000. week, “Hunchback Notre 
here for Rowley- United, replacing took under advisement Loeven- Mayfair (Evergreen) (1,500; 65- (RKO) and “Cat People” 
Bruce Collins, Jr., who joined the ger’s request for $29,000 for at- 90) — “Springfield Rifle” (WB) and (reissues), strong $9,000. 


Dame” 

(RKO) 


U. S. Air Force. 

Roy Smooth promoted from head 
booker at Universal exchange to 


Are you interested in movies- 

seriously? 


If so, you are eligible for membership in the 
National Board of Review of Motion Pictures 

Be part of this independent, non-profit organization, 
founded in 1909 to promote the public understanding 
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factor in social progress. 


tomey. fees, opposed by defend- “Arctic Flight” (Mono) (m.o.). Good 

ants’ counsel as “excessive.” $4,300. Last week, “Snows Kili- rfc»«r 

Favorable for film biz here is manjaro” (20th) (6th days) (m.o.), Jrl I 

$7,500 at upped scale. rrnnHm 

Oriental (Evergreen) (2,000; 65- <4 „ ... 

90) — “The Savage” (Par) and “Be- 
ware My Lovely” (RKO), day-date ?13.C 

with Paramount. Fine $5,000 or „ ** u,rrcl l 
near. Last week, “Springfield Actors and 
Rifle” (WB) and “Arctic Flight” Picture opei 
(Mono), $4,400. ? est thing n 

Orpheum (Evergreen) (1,750; 65- m a 
90) — “Blazing Forest” (Par) and 1 v, 


PITTSBURGH 

(Continued from page 10) 

“Everything I Have Is Yours” 
(M-G), $13,000. 


Century (Par) (1,600; 70-$l) — 
“Ivanhoe” (M-G) (6th wk). Okay 
$4,500. Last week, $5,000. 

Gopher (Berger) (1,000; 50-76) — 
“Because You’re Mine” (M-G) (4th 
wk). Neat $3,500. Last week, 

$4 iL°y°ric (Par) (1,000; 76-$l)— 
“Snows Kilimanjaro” (20th) (4th 
wk). Hotsy $7,000. Last week, 

$9,000. 

Radio City (Par) (4,000; 50-76)— 
“Outpost in Malaya” (UA). British 
pic not making much of boxoffice 
stir. Dull $6,500. Last week, 

“Turning Point” (Par), $6,000. 

KKO-Orpheum (RKO) (2,800; 40- 


wv/ juiuiiiiig jl. vot ' jl ui / auu i • v x ^ ... 

“Seeds of Destruction” (Indie). So- ' dl ®|? $1»500. 


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so $5,000. Last week, “Lure of 
Wilderness” (20th) and “Voodoo 
Tiger” (Col), $8,000. 

Paramount (Evergreen) (3,400; 
65-90) — “The Savage” (Par) and 
“Beware My Lovely” (RKO). Nice 
$7,500. Last week, “Springfield 
Rifle” (WB) and “Arctic Flight” 
(Mono), $8,000. - 

United Artists (Parker) (890; 65- 
90)— “Man In White Suit” (U). 
Modest $4,500 in 8 days. Last 
week, “Something For Birds” 
(20th), $2,500. 


Sau’irrH (WRl (Qflfl- so 76)— “It Grows On Trees (U). 

"Actors and Sin” (UA). Ben Hecht b “" Springfield ^Rfffe 5 ” 

picture opened big and should be week Springfield Ritle 

in S a ‘month^Fancyb $3*000 SS Last RK '°- p ' an < RKOi <1.«00; 40-76)- 
week "Amaiing Mons Fabre" (Ini “Springfield piffle" (WB) (m.o ). 
‘ p) ' ti*Jnn Zmg Mons * • tabre Un Satisfactory $5,000. Last week, 

Stanley (WB) (3.800; 50-85)- “Sndlr n ’Rfd V |!l” F (RKO) ll $4 000 d 
Montana Belle” (RKO). Jane Rus- ?i onn- * ‘‘’Stppl 

11 starrer won’t get much over T ®$*<iSih) Sofik *7 000" Last 

1,000, and this is deep in red. Last “ a £ .'.SSil 7 S „ii d Ta’ai 
e^k “Onpratinn iWR) week, Battle Zone (AA), $b,5UU. 

1000 Uperatlon becret (WB) ’ World (Mann) (400; 85-$1.20)— 

Warner (WB) (2.000; 50-85)- Whfdina im°weli 

Cleopatra” (Par) (reissue). 20- ^ 

‘ftr-nld H 'npMiiio $3>000* Last week, $3,800. 


“Lure of Stanley (WB) (3.800; 50-85)— 

id “Voodoo “Montana Belle” (RKO). Jane Rus- 
sell starrer won’t get much over 
‘pn) (3 400* $8,000, and this is deep in red. Last 
(Par) ’and week, “Operation Secret” (WB), 
RKO) Nice $ 9 -°00. 

“Springfield Warner (WB) (2.000; 50-85)— 

ctic Flight” “Cleopatra” (Par) (reissue). 20- 
luc rngnt year . old Cecil B DeMille epic be- 
er) (890- 65- ! ng f ested for possible general re- 
Suit” (U) * ssue » an d obviously has what it 
lays Last ta ^ es * Should do great $9,000 or 

For Birds” over. Last week, “Hurricane 

ror mi as Smith „ (Par)> dull $5 000 


SEATTLE 

(Continued from page 11) 

6 days). Sturdy $5,000 to wind up 
fine run after $8,400 last week. 

Orpheum (Hamrick) (2,599; 65- 
90) — “Because of You” (U) and 
“Island Rescue” (U). Nice $10,000 


SAN FRANCISCO 

(Continued from page 11) 

Knot” (Col) and “Voodoo Tiger” 
(Col), $10,000. 

United Artists (No. Coast) (1,207; 
65-95)— “Limelight” (UA). Rated 
disappointing but still solid at 


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or near. Last week, “Springfield $ 14 » 00d or near. Last week, Be- 
Rifle” (WB) and “Park Row” (UA), Of You (U) (m o ) and 

(2d wk), dandy $8,000 almost same Sleep (20th), good 

as first stanza. - *t,vw. 

/lorn. AS tn Stagedoor (A-R) (370; ' $1.00- 

M r $1.20)— “Quiet Man” (Rep) (2dwk>. 

plus “Lady Godiva” topping stage- $ 4 ^ 000 ’ H ld ng at blg 

\ Las i' iKxrSi Clay (Rosener) (400; 65-85) — 

fttKO) ( 9 H ar rnnS d “ Merry * Wives Windsor” (Indie). 

runs), $3,200 ]\j lce $2,000 or close. Last week, 

at 70c top. “Ivory Hunter” (U) and “Man In I 

Paramount (Evergreen) (3,039; White Suit” (U) (2d wk), $1,900. 
65-90)— ‘Yukon Gold” (Mono) and Larkin (Rosener) . (400; 65-85)— 
“Way of Gaucho” (20th). Dull “Tight Little Island” (U) and “A 


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Phone BR 2-3177 


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$7,500 in 9 days. Last week, Danny Run For Your Money” (U) (3d wk). 


Kaye and his stageshow, great $47, 
196 at $2.50-$4.50 scale. 


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PICTURES 


£1 


Cite Cinerama Structure 


Continued from page 5 


Time, Inc., Mr. and Mrs. Joseph V. beyond. Company also has an ex* 
McIVIullan and others. Rockefeller elusive profit-sharing agreement 
and Time withdrew in July, 1950, with Cinerama Productions where- 
and during the following month by future proceeds from exhibi- 
the company dissolved. tion of Cinerama films will be split 

Present firm, Cinerama, Inc,, follows: 75% to Cinerama Pra- 
u'Aq set up in September, 1950, to ductions and 25% to Cinerama, 
ocauire patent rights and assets In( y and thereafter on a sliding 
of the predecessor outfit. Reeves U rS!i l tlnerama . Inc., receives 
undertook to reorganize the com- in gros ? revenues, after 

nnnv and raise money to advance which the production company will 
the ^project, as well as to negotiate receive 90 ,o of the proceeds and 
for production and exhibition of Cinerama, Inc., will get 10%. 
the first Cinerama film. Reeves 
Soundcraft became the principal 
stockholder via acquisition of 625,- 
000 shares of Cinerama, Inc. com- 
mon for $77,500 plus an additional 
380 000 shares the following • No- 
vember for $76,000. ceeds whatever profits theatres may 

Working control of Cinerama, have made, theatre’s schedule of 
Inc., passed frorfi Reeves Sound- equipment replacements which 
craft to Thomas-Todd Produc- must be made if the house is to be 
tions, Inc. in August, 1951. Latter kept in proper condition, and state* 
organization was formed by news- ments from realtors and other bus- 
caster Lowell Thomas and legit inessmen testifying to the depre- 
producer Michael Todd to produce elation of realty values in the 
and ' exhibit Cinerama product, neighborhood of theatres already 
With the withdrawal of Todd in closed 
August, 1952, T-T became Ciner- National committee has disclosed 
ama Productions, Inc. Financing of that it is currently developing 
$1,000,000 was arranged for CP, means for the placing of this data 
which holds exclusive world rights in the hands of every congressman, 
through 1956 to the process. This 



20% Repeal 

Continued from page 4 


concession was granted in return 
for its agreement to turn out two 
films annually for the next five 
years. 


Outlines Repeal Case 
Columbus, O., Nov. 18 
In a letter to the Joint Commit- 
tee on Internal Revenue, Robert A 


Claims Indie Stole 

His ?in-Up Queen 1 

Los Angeles, Nov, 18. 
Piracy suit for $200,000 was filed 
in Superior Court by Bernard 
Sommers against Savoy Road Show 
Pictures, Inc., producer of the indie 
film. “Body Beautiful.” Plaintiff, 
a photographer known as Bernard 
of Hollywood, charges the picture 
was based on his own script, titled 
“The Dream Pin-Up” or "Pin-Up 
Queen.” 

In addition to the company, the 
defendants are Max Nosseck, Sam 
Kubitz, Raymond Friedgen and 
David Kohl. Film stars Bob Clarke 
and Susan Morrow. Somers wants 
$100,000 general damages, $50,000 
punitive damages and $50,000 for 
services rendered. 


Control of Cinerama, Inc. was Wile, secretary of the Independent 
acquired by Cinerama Productions Theatre Owners of Ohio, pretty 
under terms of an agreement in well stated the terrific tax load 
August, 1951, whereby CP received under which film exhibitors are 
options to buy 500,000 common currently staggering, and outlined 
shares of the 934,349 common the case for its repeal, 
shares owned by Reeves Sound- Wile divided his letter into three 
craft. Subsequently, CP was main parts: one dealt with 20% 
granted further options* to buy Federal admissions tax, the second 
500,000. additional shares, at prices with the administration of the tax. 
reportedly ranging from 60c to $6 and the third with admission prices 
per share at certain intervals re- and increases in same. He pointed 
lated to further productions of out to the legislators that the Fed- 
Cinerama films. eral tax is a “soak-the-poor” levy 

First public offering of Ciner- since the average price of a ticket 
ama, Inc. common was made in is only 38c, “which makes the 
January, 1951, when the company movies definitely the poor man’s 
marketed 100,000 shares at $2 per. entertainment medium.” 

Last March the firm sold $1,000,- As a direct opposite, he observed 
000 of 5% convertible debentures, that wealthy citizens can go to the 
at which time there were 1,749,300 opera, concerts, symphony, hire 
common shares outstanding. Full fishing boat for $60 or $70 a day 
conversion of the debentures would add a $20 boxlunch and avoid tax 
increase the outstanding common completely. Considering other 
to 2.082,633 shares. Another side- forms of entertainment more in 
light is that underwriters of the the film price bracket that are un 
debenture sale received ^warrants . taxed*., such. .as_bimling, bingo, bar 
entitling them to purchase 50,000 zaars, billiard parlors, etc., he 
common shares at $3 per share. stated that pix are being discrimi- 
Basic relationship of the three nated against. 

Cinerama companies is described Wile wrote that all exhibitors 
by a. company spokesman as fol- want the same tax base as any 
lows: “Vitarama owns and con- other business, but theatres “are 
trols all the basic patents for the "lready paying every single tax 
Cinerama process. Cinerama, Inc., paid by any other business in the 
makes the special cameras and pro- country,” and the admissions tax 
jection equipment, and operates besides, 
under an exclusive franchise from 
Vitarama. Cinerama Productions, 
in turn, has from Cinerama, Inc., 
the exclusive world rights to pro- 
duce and exhibit theatrical films 
made under the Cinerama process 
until Dec. 31, 1956. This applies ciscan and board chairman of 
only when admission is charged.” Blair, Rollins & Co., an investment 
Chairman of Cinerama Produc- banking outfit; Matty Fox, leading 
tions is Louis B. Mayer, Metro’s bidder* in the RKO takeover try, 
onetime production chief. Lowell and the exhib group who are tak- 
Thomas, who stepped out of the ing part in the production of 
chairmanship berth to make room “Main Street to Broadway,” which 
for Mayer, is vice-chairman. Thom- Lester Cow'an is producing, 
as, incidentally, is a major stock- In listing his reasons for by- 
holder along with CP prez Dudley passing the RKO setup, Lurie told 
B. Roberts, Jr. Latter is also head 'Dardi that his advice was to get 
of the Wall St. brokerage firm of Hughes completely out of the pic- 
Roberts & Co. ture, noting that terms of the 

License agreement between Cin- Stolkin-Hughes deal called for the 
erama, Igf., and Vitarama provides syndicate to up its payments from 
that Cinerama must pay royalties $7 to $7.50 per share if it didn’t 
of 5% to 10% of Cinerama’s gross meet the specified payments on 
income. Minimum payments speci- time. Another Lurie reason for 
fled in the deal range from $10,- giving the deal a cold shoulder is 
000 in 1952 to $50,000 in 1955 and the fear that the company would 

be slapped with millions of dollars 
of lawsuits by minority stockliold- 
ers. 

Lurie, who had never met Fox, 
received a call from him today 
<18) and pair are to meet either 
tomorrow or Thursday. Per- 
taining to the interest of the exhib 
group, Lurie was approached by 
Cowan, an old friend. Latter is 
allied with such exhib toppers as 
Si Fabian, Fred Schwartz, M. A 
Lightman, Sam Pinanski and 
George Skouras. Also part of the 
group is former Postmaster Gen 
eral Frank Walker. Lurie has in- 
dicated that he might become an 
investor if this group succeeds in 
its efforts, but would take no part 
in active management. 


WB Theatre Execs Back 
To N.Y. After Regionals 

Warner Bros. Theatres execs 
have returned to the homeoffice 
following the last of a series of 
regional confabs. Palaver Thurs- 
day (13) covered theatre operations 
in Milwaukee, where talks were 
held; Chicago, Memphis and Okla- 
homa. Previously meetings were 
held in New Haven, Newark, Phil- 
adelphia, Washington and Pitts- 
burgh. 

In addition to theatre prexy 
Harry Kalmine, homeoffice offi- 
cials who attended sessions includ- 
ed Stewart MacDonald, treasurer; 
Ben Wirth, real estate topper, and 
Harry Goldberg, pub-ad chief. 




Incentive Bonus 


Continued from page 5 


Dervin to England 

John Dervin, Stratford Pictures 
sales chief, planed to Britain Mon- 
day (17) for confabs with Associat- 
ed British Pictures Corp. officials 
and to attend the world preem of 
ABPC’s “Top Secret” at the Em- 
pire Theatre, London, tomorrow 
(Thurs.). He plans a 10-day stay. 

A subsidiary of Allied Artists, 
Stratford was set up some years 
ago to handle foreign imports con- 
sidered suitable for art houses and 
specialized situations. Most of its 
product stems from ABPC, with 
which AA has a co-production 
agreement. ABPC also handles AA 
films in Britain. 


Lurie Cold 

Continued from page 3 


New York Theatres 


“SISI0 CITY MUSIC Hill 

Rockefeller Center 

“PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE” 

SPENCER TRACY » GENE TIERNEY 
VAN JOHNSON * LEO GENN 

Color by UCIMtHM • An M-G-M Picture 
Ptui MUT MUUY fTMC SHCMCU 



Ladd Mayo 
"Mroit 
Mistress 

C«l*t by TICHNICOiOA " 


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Johnny Downs doubles as assist- 
ant dance director and actor in the 
next Martin-Lewis starrer at Paia- 
1 mount. 


Tevlin Back to Coast 

C. J. Tevlin, vp of Howard 
Hughes’ Motion Picture* Enter- 
prises, returned to the Coast Mon- 
day (17). 

He had been in N. Y, for two 
weeks. 


Detroit Gabber 

Continued from page 2 


1 


Office of War Information, had ap- 
pealed to him to “straighten out 
the Detroit situation.” 

2-Year Censorship 
After his news sources were re : 
stricted, Kreutz said he asked for 
permission to pick up information 
on Katyn from Polish newspapers. 
He said Hopkins objected “because 
there’s a dispute on about Katyn.” 
Kreutz said: “The censorship went 
on for two years. My programs 
were monitored till I couldn’t say 
very much.” 

WJBK was subsequently sold 
and is now owned and operated by 
the Storer Broadcasting Co. 

Hopkins, who now owns Muzak 
Corp. and Ann Arbor radio station 
WHOV, denied that he had hushed 
Kreutz because of pressure. He 
testified that WJLB Attorney Mor 
iris Luskin advised him to take 
Kreutz off the air because he was 
afraid of ipciting the Polish people 
in Detroit and causTng them to 
slow down their efforts on behalf 
of the Allies. 

But his suspensions of Kreutz, 
Hopkins admitted, came after Lee 
pFalk, of the FCC, made a special 
trip to Detroit to ask him to fire 
Leon Wyszatycki, program directof 
of the Polish Hour. Hopkins said 
he refused to fire Wyszatycki, but 
followed his advice in censoring 
Kreutz. Hopkins added: “I felt 
that if a story went out in Detroit 
claiming the Russians had killed 
the Poles, it certainly would have 
created feeling against our ally 
(Russia). It might have had an 
adverse effect and I felt that such 
news should be withheld.” 

Hopkins denied that he was fear- 
ful the FCC would refuse to renew 
his license if he turned down their 
attempts to supervise the Polish 
Hour. 


ciety of Independent Motion Pic- 
ture Producers. The indies are 
now expected to make their own 
deal with the French government, 
calling for the same 11 licenses 
they were allocated under the last 
pact. They only used seven of 
them. 

The French government would 
like to see the majors liquidate 
their $4,500,000 in one or two 
chunks. Question is whether the 
distribs can find a buyer for so 
large a slice of coin. Should they 
run into difficulties, and should 
the individual distribs try to get 
the money out by themselves, the 
French impose a monthly limit of 
$300,000 on remittances. U. S. 
firms originally had almost $6,- 
000,000 blocked, but the French 
recently remitted $1,200,000 as a 
good-will gesture. 

- Breaks Long Deadlock 

Allocation of 110 dubbing per- 
mits breaks a long deadlock over 
licenses which had seen the Ameri- 
can companies flatly refusing to 
pick up any further permits. Trou- 
ble started in July of this year 
when the French Cabinet issued a 
decree reducing the overall total 
of permits for all foreign imports 
to 138. The share of the U. S. 
majors was 90. 

In granting MPEA an additional 
20 permits, French authorities are 
understood to be “borrowing” 
them from next year's quota. Un- 
der the last deal, the majors 
shared 108 licenses among them- 
selves. Metro and 20th-Fox each 
had 13, Paramount, RKO and War- 
ner Bros, had 12 each, Columbia, 
United Artists and Universal 11, 
Republic 10 and Monogram 3. 
Basic pattern will be retained- an--- 
der the new agreement, but ques- 
tions remains how the additional 
two are to be split up. 

. Remittance of $120,000 a month, 
plus the maximum $425,000 under 
the incentive plan, give the ma- 
jors a basic remittable total of 
$1,865,000 for the pact year. Con- 
sidering that the U. S. distribs’ an- 
nual theoretical remittable share 
runs to about $6,000,000, this 
eaves about $4,000,000 to be dis- 
posed of. Companies . can make 
deals at the capital account rate 
or a certain considerable percent- 
age of this money. The rest re- 
mains-froze»i 

Foreign execs in N. Y. thought 
hat, under' the circumstances, the 
distribs probably would prefer 
rylng to get their money out rath- 
er than invest it in production in 
France where some had bad ex- 
periences. Under the last pact 
with the French, the companies 
were able to remit $1,200,000 a 
year, with compensation deals for 
part of the rest. 

Execs foresaw a certain amount 
of difficulty in finding a buyer for 
the $4,500,000 in one lump sum. 
They didn’t think that disposing 


of the excess in current earnings 
would present a problem. To 
cover the four months since July 
1, 1952, the French have allocated 
$500,000 which are remittable im- 
mediately at the official rate. 


Price Scale 

Continued from page 3 

tial patrons are willing to pay. TNT 
is urging them to set prices low 
enough so that new opera fans 
might be lured to the b.o., but some 
exhibs recall that they made a mis- 
take with the first boxing matches 
they big-screened by setting their 
ticket scales too low. 

Also worrying exhibs is the prob- 
lem of what to do during the Met 
intermissions. Several of the the- 
atre ops, of course, visualize the 
stretch periods as a methods of 
coining extra dough via increased 
candy-and-popcorn sales. But then 
it’s pointed out, will patrons of the 
opera be customers for the mynch- 
crunch stuff and will they object if 
regular theatre patrons lured in by 
the opera sit and eat candy in their 
seats during the presentation? 

Few * exhibs, incidentally, are 
worried that the three-hour pres- 
entation will not permit the screen- 
ing of a regular film that night. 
Several of those queried by Va- 
riety noted that, at times when 
they've rented their theatres for 
local concert societies and other 
highbrow affairs, the sponsors have 
usually sold out. Exhibs, as a re- 
sult, believe that their active par- 
ticipation in bringing the Met to 
their screens will serve as a plus 
factor in establishing. ftOQ^wllbwlttu. 
their communities and patrons. 

That enforced elimination of a 
regular film program, however, 
may backfire in Hollywood. Top 
spokesmen for both the major stu- 
dios and indie producers have al- 
ready voiced the fear that theatre 
TV may eventually force much film 
off theatre screens around the 
country. 


I25G ‘Andersen’ 


Continued from page 5 


[ing Jififin...completed in 1950, ac- 
cording to Hoffberg. 

Similar situation arose when 
Walt Disney released his “Alice 
in Wonderland.” The Bunin pup- 
pet film of the same title played 
Broadway and some other spots 
simultaneously, with the Disney 
animated feature unaffected. 
Bunin’s pic didn’t go to TV, how- 
ever. 

Goldwyn office a year ago wrote 
Hoffberg a letter asking him to 
change the title of his picture. 
Latter refused, pointing out that 
his version pre-dated the Goldwyn 
film by at least a year. 


GREAT MOTION PICTURES ARE PROCESSED BY PATHS 


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22 


TV-FIUIS 


Pfissiisfr 


Wednesday* November 19* 1952 


t 


y |t Hr ♦ ♦ » ■ » ■ » • » h»4-<| 

Telepix Reviews 

4 ♦ 44 - MHhf- ♦ 4 4 - 4 4 i- 4-4 4 4 -4 4 -4 4 M-4- 4 4-4 - 44 4- 4 -4-44-4 - 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 t 


OH, BABY* 

With Jack Barry 
Producers: Barry, Dan Enright 
Director; Enright 
5 Mins.; Sat., 11:15 p.m. 

MENNEN 
WNBT, New York 

(Grey) 

New five-minute vidpic series is 
a* novel, imaginative idea with 
good audience appeal and humor. 
Moppets are lensed doing adult ac- 
tivities, with voices dubbed in. to 
make it appear they’re gabbing 
with emcee Jack Barry. The ap- 
proach is to satirize the grown-up 
world under the guise of giving 
the infant generation a chance to 
have its say. _ . 

On the initialer. Oh, Baby! 
twitted television’s panel and par- 
lor game programs (including 
packagers Barry-Dan Enright’s 
own “Juvenile Jury’’ and “Life Be- 
gins at 80”). Three kids, aged 
14-15 months, were interviewed by 

• Barry on the question, “What land 
of babv sitters do you prefer? 
With their dubbed-in voices one 
toddler said she favored males, an- 
other gave Bronx cheers and the 
third little fellow repeated Tm 
bored” and finally ambled off for 

home. . , , , 

In sooofing the charade-type 
shows, Barry asked one tiny miss, 
•Tm six feet tall, handsome and 
well-built, who am I?” and a small 
piping voice ouipped, “Who cares, 
kiss me!” Others in the capsule- 
sized series will kid Hollywood 

• films. Channel swimmers, Author 
Meets the Critics,” etc. 

Production was smooth and edit- 
ing, obviously a painstaking job, 
,was slickly handled. Commercially 
the property is a natural for Men- 
nen baby products. Plug, inci- 
dentally, was a winner with some 

tykes dudecf 

one in a Martian space suit. Placed 
on a soot basis. “Baby” is screened 
five times weekly on N. Y. stations 
and on four other outlets during^ a 
test period, with possibility it will 
• eventually get national distribu- 
tion for Mermen. Bril. 



the ingenuity of the medico. Foot- 
age serves well its dual purpose 
of drama and surprise, ' 

Feeling the pangs of neglect 
after 19 years of marriage, the 
doc’s wife meets up with an old 
flame at a college reunion. He pro- 
poses marriage and she’s all for 
it. She tells the doc she wants 
her freedom and starts packing 
for the getaway. He has his own 
ideas for keeping their marriage 
intact, and just when she is to 
make off with the ex-suitor he 
plays his trump card. 

Told by their daughter of a tele- 
phone conversation she overheard, 
the sawbones sets the trap. He has 
a quarantine sign posted on the 
door, with a copper stationed out- 
side to see that no one enters or 
leaves. The boy friend drives off 
and the distraught wife allows that 
she’s not so bad off, anyway, and 
settles for a reconciliation. 

Mary Brian, onetime film star, 
paints a believable portrait of the 
uphappy wife and keeps her emo- 
tions in check. Clark Howat lights 
up the old flame with a good the-#] 
atric touch, and Edgar Barrier, the 
badgered doc, plays it painfully 
straight with the proper measure 
of restraint. 

Direction of Eddie Davis keeps 
the action moving fluidly, and 
David Boehm's script is well flav- 
ored with the bitter and sweet. 
Ironrite makes an effective appeal 
for the roller that irons anything. 

Helm. - 


does it well-. Ian MacDon 'd arf the 
former friend', and James Craven 
as Miss Bari's co-conspirator, give 
unusually fine performances, 

A good deal of the credit is due 
the skillful, tight direction of 
Robert S. Finkel, who catches all 
the drama in Lawrence Kimble s 
better-than-average teleplay. Lens- 
ing by Ellsworth Fredericks is low | 
key, and helps sustain the mood of 
this fast-moving meller. Daku. 

Hometown Identity Aim 
Of Chi WNBQ as NBC-TV 
Preps Web Ride for ‘Ding’ 

Chicago, Nov. 18. 
Decision by NBC-TV to give a 
network ride to “Ding Dong 
School,” novel daily half-hour tar- 
geted specifically at pre-school 
kids, which has created a stir lo- 
cally via WNBQ, has again focused 
attention on the web’s Chi opera- 
tion. Although 6trictly in the “serv- 
ice” category, “School” is pretty 


Vidpix Chatter 


YOUR JEWELER’S SHOWCASE 
(Like the Rich People) 

With Ruth Warrick, Barbara Whit- 
ing, Robert Sweeney 
. Producer: Gil Ralston 
30 Mins.: Tucs., 10:30 p.m. 
HAMILTON WATCH-INTERNA- 
TIONAL SILVER 
WCBS-TV. New York 

(Y&R; BBD &Ol 

This new vidpic series can do a 
good job for its sponsors, judging 
from the initial entry. The format, 
half-hour stories each featuring 
different Hollywood players, is one 
that has broad audience appeal; 
and the yarns appear to be slotted 
for adult viewers, with major em- 
phasis on the femmes, who buy 
watches and silverware. 

Kickoff show was a comedy, 
“Like the Rich People,” highlight- 
ing a couple of poor Brooklyn kids 
In-love who scout around the 
countryside on a motorcycle and 
play the game of dreaming they 
have money. While eyeing a lush 
estate along the Hudson, they have 
an accident anc\ the gal is .put to 
bed in the manse. They envy the 
wealthy couple, but soon learn that 
money “isn’t everything,” and that 
the wife is Reno-bound. Unex- 
pected visitors’ presence delays the 
woman’s flight to Nevada and cues 
a reconciliation. It’s a simple and 
telegraphed plot, but registers 
warmly. There are some good 
comic moments, but also several 
spots where the humor is muffed 
and the sentiment is maudlin. 

Production is above par, al- 
though somewhat uneven, and good 
use was made of location shooting. 
Ruth Warrick and Barbara Whit- 
ing do well as the older woman 
and the girl, respecitviely, with 
Robert Sweeney contributing a 
fair characterization of a Brook- 
lyn kid. Commercials for Interna- 
tional Silver are effective, . with 
a brief plug for Hamilton Watch, 
the alternate-week bankroller. 

Bril. 


WINTER HOLIDAY 
15 Mins.; Sun., 11:15 a.m. 
Sustaining 
WCBS-TV, N. Y. 

, This, little... 15-mimite . .travelog, 
series is strictly filler material for 
WCBS-TV, the CBS video web’s 
N. Y. flagship, designed to "whet 
the tongues ox N. Y. viewers for 
famed winter resorts around the 
world. As such, it would ostensibly 
make for an okay, low-cost spon- 
sorship buy for travel agencies, 
plane and steamship lines, etc., but 
it has little in it to attract much of 
a Sunday morning audience. 

Initialer this week (16) dealt 
with Mexico’s Acapulco. Film was 
well-produced, with some good 
shots ojf the resort’s hotels, 
beaches, swimming pools, fishing 
sites, etc. Result was a neat gratis 
plug for Acapulco, but since the 
ftravelogs are-being-provided tn the 
station by the resorts themselves, 
local Chambers of Commerce, etc., 
it’s all a mutual benefit thing. 

For any viewer with nothing bet- 
ter to do on a Sunday morning, 
this makes for okay watching. 

Stal. 


Bari, 


CHEVRON THEATRE 
(Long Lost Wife) 

With Rod Cameron, Lynn 
others 

Producer: Revue Productions 
Director: Rbbert S. Finkel 
Writer: Lawrence Kimble 
30 Mins.; Fri., 9 p.m. 

CHEVRON STATIONS 
KTLA, Hollywood 

An elaborate fabric of insurance 
fraud serves as the basic plot in , , . . 

Long Lost Wife,” an extremely | ticular program, 
well-conceived, suspenseful story 
about the unraveling of a six-year- 
old mystery. Rod Cameron, stripped 
of his spurs and hoss for this one, 
emerges as an excellent thesp in 
the role of the police lieutenant, 
who picks up the threads of a vir- 
tually forgotten mystery and solves 
the seemingly insoluble. 

He’s put on the trail by Lynn 




THE UNEXPECTED 
(The Doctor Prescribes) * 

With Mary Brian, , Clark Howat, 
Edgar Barrier, * Virginia Ilall, 
William Ven Gelder, Joan Miller, 
John Phillips 
Producer: Ziv TV 
Director: Eddie Davis 
Writer: David Boehm 
30 Mins., Wed., 8 p.m. 

IRONRITE IRONER 
KECA-TV, Hollywood 
The moral to this piece seems 
to be: take what the doctor pre- 
scribes, whether it be medicine or 
a panacea for romantic ills. Here 
the neglected wife tries her own 
prescription for happiness, but is 
. saved from the uncertainties of 
rekindling an - old love affair by 


much in the same experimental 
vein that resulted in such Windy 
City originals as the siijce-demised 

“Garroway At Large” and “Studs 
Place,” as well as the still extant 
“Hawkins Falls” and “Zoo Parade.” 

The show, which features as its 
single personality Dr. Frances Hor- 
wich, chairman of Roosevelt Col- 
lege’s department . of education, 
moves into .the half-hour following 
“Today” next Monday (24). 

“School;” brainchilded by WNBQ 
program chief George Heinemann 
and assembled into final form 
under the supervision of Chi NBC 
pub^affairs and educational direc- 
tor Judith Waller, is an outgrowth 
of Heinemann’s overall local pro- 
gramming strategy for the Windy 
City NBC outlet With the full sup- ! 
port of his superiors, veepee Harry 
Kopf and Chi NBC-TV chief 
Jules Herbeveaux, Heinemann has 
evolved a consistent and broad 
programming concept for the sta- 
tion which is designed to be a com- 
patible complement to the network 
diet. 

It’s his belief that it’s only, hep 
policy for a web-owned station to 
use its local time in establishing 
the fullest possible hometown iden- 
tity. With the parent network turn- 
ing back for local use all the pre- 
noon period except the “Today” 
eye-opener, Heinemann has been 
concentrating oh the 9 a.m. to noon 
slot. Emphasis, with the exception 
of “Coffee And — ' a half-hour 
music-chatter strip, is exclusively 
on the service or how-to-do-it for- 
mats. Included, besides the afore- 
mentioned “School,” are a daily 
cooking show and the “Good Liv 
ing” strip which embraces all 
facets of homemaking. Recently 
launched in ahead of “Today” is 
a quarter-hour farm show. 

In each case, the shows are 
aimed at a specialized audience 
and' the overall morning roster in- 
corporates what Heinemann calls 
activity periods,” or offerings 
with a high audio content to per- 
mit the housewife to go about her 
work while listening to the par- 


New York 

Lisa Howard, featured on NBCls.. 
“Ford Theatre” vidpix series to- 
morrow night (Thurs.), inked to 
star in several “Short Short 
Drama” vidfilm stanzas being pro- 
duced by Bernard J. Prockter for 
airing on . NBC under Pepsi-Cola 
sponsorship . . . “Beat the Experts, 
a new five-minute sports quiz pro- 
duced by Telenews, acquired for 
TV syndication by Sterling Tele- 
vision . . . Purity Bakers has pacted 
for “Cowboy G-Man” in 24 key 
markets through Young and Rubi- 
cam. Half-hour series is produced 
by Telemount Pictures and Mutual 
TV and distributed by United 
Artists-TV. . .Norman Sper, nar- 
rator on the “Football This. Week” 
vidfilm series, narrating “Football 
Through the Years,” a Warners 
documentary which rolls soon... 
Bernard Schulman, formerly with 
Sterling Films, joined Lakeside TV 
as exec sales veepee , . , “Three 
Guesses,” 15-minute quizzer pro- 
duced by 20th-Fox's Movietonews, 
bought by Hachmeister, Inc., for 
Pittsburgh airing and General Tire 
Co. for Indianapolis. 


ries of 13 “Ramar of the Jungle,” 
starring Jon Hall, geis gun Nov. 
by Arrow Productions . . . John Ire- 
land, Sally Cassell, Peg Hillias, 
Dayton Lummis, Richard Garrick, 
Gil Herman and Suzanne Alexan- 
der working in Meredian Pictures’ 
“The Last Kiss,” for “Schlitz Play- 
house.” 


California 

Continued from page 1 


Hallicrafter Set Sales 
Up 19% Over Last Year 


Chicago, Nov. 18. 

Record-breaking sales totaling 

$42,001,023, an increase of 19% 

Bari, as the woman engaged to a over the previous year, were regis- 

mah whose spouse has been missing tered. the past fiscal year by Halli- 

for six years. She tells him she crafters, Chi radio-TV manufactur- 

wants to know what happened to er. Net earnings were $378,460, or 

her predecessor before she mar- 46c. a share, compared to $678,948, 

ries the man, and with this Cam- or 82c. a share, last year. 

eron is off in a maze of mystery with dema nd for the firm’s TV 

Trail leads him to an ex-boy friend ets curren tlv exceeding Deduction 
of the lost wife, who identifies - c urrenuy exceeding production 


Miss Bari as the missing woman, ~ ’° 00 baC wnf ° f 

it all having been a plot to collect Government orders, prexy William 
insurance, it develops. For the Hallxgan predicted first-quarter 
skeptical, it’s explained Miss Bari earnings for the new fiscal year 
and her hubby deliberately put the would come close to the full-year 
cops back oh the case td be certain net for 1952. 
they had an iron-clad insurance 
claim, figuring the -sleuths would 

muff the case, as they did origi- New Bromley '‘Report* On 
nal y * New Yorkers’ Welfare 


There are a couple of minor 
story flaws, such as the hubby 
telling the cop the name of the 
man who eventually is the key to 
the mystery; and the dubiously 
concealed identity of Miss Bari, 
but overall execution of the story 
is so well done that these don’t 
impede the sense of good, solid 
entertainment all the way. 


Dorothy Dunbar Bromley 
launches a new weekly series, “Re- 
port to the People,” probing con- 
ditions affecting the welfare of 
New Yorkers, . on WMCA, N. Y. 
tonight (Wed.) at 9:30-10 p.m. 

Pubserv airer kicks' off with &t| 
report on crime in the city, featur 


Cameron is well cast as the cop, in S rivic officials, interviews With 
with restraint- which adds credi- victims and on-the-spot recordings, 
bility to his performance. Miss Bari Second edition will cover crime 
doesn’t have 1 too mu6h to do; but and housing. 




Hollywood 

Macdonald Carey, Ed Sullivan 
and Rod O’Connor star in “Family 
Theatre’s” latest vldplc, being pro- 
duced. by Cascade Pictures and 
Ben Pivar and Associates, at the 
Hal Roach lot, for Thanksgiving 
telescreening nationally. Father 
Peyton is producer, and Fred Nib- 
lo, Jr., adapted from Francis 
Thompson’s “The Hound of Heav- 
en.” . . . “Racket Squad,” being 
dropped by Philip Morris at year’s 
end* ■continues without .a letup as 
Toni picks up sponsorship for al- 
ternate week telecasting of Carrol 
Case-Hal Roach, Jr., series . . . 
Donna Martel and Ross Ford star 
in “Ring Around the Moon,” pilot 
pic being produced at Roach stu- 
dios by Planet Productions, with 
Jus Addiss directing . . . Gertrude 
Michael grabs featured role in 
Schlitz “Playhouse of Stars” tele- 
pic. . . Second series of 26 “China 
Smith” rolls at Motion Picture 
Center studios, with Dan Duryea 
in title role ... Diane Fortier set 
for femme lead in two episodes of 
Ziv TV’s “Boston Blackie” series 
. . . Next batch of Flying A’s “Range 
Rider” series rolling with Frank 
McDonald directing, Jack Ma- 
honey and Dick Jones toplining . . . 
Bing Crosby Enterprises wound 
“Rebound” vidpic, “Dry— With 
Three Olives,” at the Roach lot . . . 
Mitch Hamilburg skied in from 
N.Y., after European trek for Gene 
Autry. -o , 

Sheila Ryan is femme lead in 
Autry vidpix, “Rio Renegades,” 
and “Outlaw Warning,” with 
George Archainbaud directing, 
support including Pat Buttram, 
ee van Cleef, Harry Harvey, My- 
ron Healey, Stan Andrews, Greg 
Barton, Effie Laird, Mickey Little, 
Melinda Plowman, Budd Buster.. . . 
Series of “Life of Riley,!’ to be 
seen on NBC-TV, with Gulf Oil 
bankrolling, began this week at 
Hal Roach studios, with,. William 
Bendix, Marjorie Reynolds and 
Tom D'Andrea. Tom McKnight 
produces, Abby Berlin is director 
. . Superior Judge Frank G. Swain 
granted extension of hearing to 
Nov. 21 in case in which Louis D. 
Snader seeks injunction prevent- 
ing partners Alexander Bisno and 
Samuel Markovitch from selling 
750 Snader Telescriptions . . . Cast 
in support of Barbara Britton and 
Richard Denning in “Mr. and Mrs. 
North” series at Goldwyn studios 
are Charles McGraw, Jimmy Ly- 
don, Peggy Knudsen, Ric Roman, 
Charles Cane, Francis DeSales, 
Lowell Gilmore, Ludwig Donath, 
Jeanette Nolan, Paul Guilfoyle, 
June Whitley . . . George Fisher, 
formerly with Snader Sales, and 
John Devine, who was with Stand 
ard Radio, join United Television 
Programs as sales reps. 

Jack Mahoney heads western 
contingent in Macy’s Thanksgiving 
day parade in N.Y. . . . John Jay 
Franklin of Franklin Television 
Productions sold 26 half-hour vid 
pix, “Hawaiian to Paradise,” to 
William F. Broldy, and on first 13 
gets $91,000 and retains 50% of 
the negatives in perpetuity. On 
second 13 Broidy gets distribution 
not ownership of series starring 
Alfred Apaka, and localed in Ha- 
waiian Islands . . . Lawrence A. Har- 
vey, via his attorney, Joseph Bren- 
ner, has made application for 
L.A.’s remaining commercial chan- 
nel, and plans to spend $300,000 on 
construction if given FCC .green 
light. Station would be aimed a 
industrial workers, since therje are 
,515,000 in this area. . .Second se 


\ 


tivities were beaming with the 
countenance of conquerors, it was 
because the signs were' unmistake- 
able. 

HollywtoOC’s ‘This Is It’ 

The civic leaders who participat- 
ed, Gov. Earl Warren (who dou- 
bled as an amiable and videogenic 
performer in the “Stars in the Eye” 
TV showcase), and the flock of film 
celebs who put in an appearance 
all reflected the same high note of 
certainty — that “this was it” in 
terms of Hollywood harnessing its 
creative forces and energies for 
the future. 

To the skeptics and proponents 
of Gotham-originating TV shows 
who say: “What’s all the shouting 
and the tumult about, since there 
are only four live CBS video ’ at- 
tractions emanating from Holly- 
wood studios?” CBS has its own 
answer in backing up its faith in 
TV City. For only this week it was 
established that the network has 
just picked up its option on the 
remaining Gilmore Island acreage 


Noblesse Oblige 

Hollywood,' 'Nov; 18. 

One of the items on the 
agenda cooked up for the visit- 
ing newspapermen converging 
on Hollywood for the CBS-TV 
City opening took the boys — 
and probably NBC — off guard. 

Dave Jacobson, CBS-TV’s di- 
rector of public relations, who 
sweated it out here for several 
weeks engineering the dedica- 
tion hoopla, decided at the last 
minute to top off the roster 
of events by including a visit 
to the opposition web’s new 
TV studios in Burbank. 


(site of TV City; In envisioning its 
ultimate goal — a 25-acre TV City 
plant representing a total invest- 
ment of $35,000,000. And although 
the web echelon acknowledges the 
present “ghost town” status of a 
TV City full of wondrous archi- 
tectural and engineering skills with 
its vast expanse of 12,000 square- 
feet of floor 1 space yet housing but 
four live TV shows, by tbs same 
oken CBS sees it as the fulfillment 
of its “California Here We Come” 
TV manana. 

N*. Y.-L. A. Exodus 
Already ambitious plans are in 
the blueprint stage for a program- 
ming convergence on TV City. 
Shows won’t be moved out of N. Y. 
and transferred to Hollywood at 
once. But gradually, over a period 
of years, there will be an exodus 
of N. Y.-berthed shows. Even soon- 
er, major productions, utilizing the 
scope and dimensions of the TV 
City stages, will be created in Hol- 
lywood, as for example, the present 
plans for a full hour melodrama 
series slated for the Saturday night 
10 to 11 (EST) segment. 

Obviously CBS, like NBC, sees 
the necessity for a stake in film 
syndication (to meet the inroads of 
Frederic W. Ziv, et al), and in such 
vidpix enterprises as its own “I 
Love Lucy’* and “Amos r n’ Andy,” 
but TV City is strictly a “live” 
baby. 

The whole atmosphere of the 
dedication weekend suggested that 
the Paley-Stanton-Hubbell Robin- 
son - Harry Ackerman signposts 
point to Hollywood as the key CBS 
production center. And Hollywood, 
in kind, is charged today with a 
sort of electric excitement. It’s all 
over the place. .Vidpix .enterprises 
are booming at. an accelerated pace, 
taking over all the space availabili- 
ties from the film industry. It’s ap- 
parent out in Burbank, where NBC 
has staked a major video claim in 
Hollywood’s future. It’s apparent, 
too, in the tempo and . thinking 
around the agencies and in the 
plans of major American business 
enterprises^— such as two of the 
nation’s largest breweries — to build 
plants and operate out of the L. A.- 
Hollywoodarea because, from here 
on in their whole economy is tied 
in with TV advertising. 





TV-m»IS 23 



4 


Screen Scribes M Strike Vs. Vidpix 
Producers in Compromise Settlement 

i * 

Hollywood, Nov. 18, 4 — — ■ ■■ — 


A compromise settlement giving 
a precedental pact to vidpix scrib- 
blers ended a 14-week-old strjjce of 
the Screen Writers Guild and Au- 
thors League of America against 
the Alliance of Television Film 
Producers Monday (17). SWG’s 
original proposal was for a mini- 
mum payment against a,precentage 
of the gross. This riled producers, 
who resisted royalties, but the dis- 
pute was resolved through a contin- 
uous payment proposal whereby 
writers are paid minimums plus a 
flat fee for each rerun. At the end 
of the seven-year leasing period, 
rights in the basic material revert 
to the author, although the pro- 
ducer may continue to reissue or 
remake the telefilm. 

For original yarns for one-time 
shows, anthology series and epi- 
sodic series, writer gets $200 for 
story, $550 for teleplay. Where he 
does both, he gets $700, plus con- 
tinuing payments for re-use. Flat 
payment of $600 provided for oat- 
ers and serials, plus rejfn coin. 
On payntent of additional coin, 
motion picture and radio sequel 
rights may be exploited by the pro- 
ducer in a time to be fixed; other- 
wise rights revert to the author. 
All remaining ownership rights, 
dramatic, book, magazine and com- 
■inemal, remaiss -the' property of- the 
writer. 

Pact Details 

If producer makes a theatrical 
pic based on TV material penned 
for a one-time show or anthology 
series, writer gets share in gross 
receipts. If producer wants to sell 
theatrical film rights, writer gets 
additional coin. If producer wants 
to sell theatrical film rights, writer 
gets first refusal. If telefilm is 
shown theatrically, writer gets ad- 
ditional coin. Alliance , members 
vote on new pact this week; SWG, 
Nov. 24, ALA soon after. 

End of strike, which began Ati&. 
11, means 6,000 members of ALA, 
SWG, Authors, Dramatists and Ra- 
dio Writers Guilds can now submit 
scripts to the Alliance. 

Television Writers of America, 
new union of scribes, attacked 
SWG-ATFP pact as a “complete 
sellout'* and hinted it might seek 
jurisdiction in ATFP ranks. 

TWA exec Dick Powell claimed 
ATFP would have been happy to 
sign “such a contract before the 
strike began.’* SWG/ countering 
TWA charges, contended “they 
loused up the network pact and 
now they’re trying to louse up this 
one.” 


COLLEGE OKAYS CIGGIES 
AS HOOP GAME SPONSOR 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

In a precedental move for col- 
legiate basketball on TV, Loyola’s 
home games lire being offered cig- 
gie makers for sponsorship by 
KHJ-TV, which will telecast the 
court contests beginning Dec. 2. 

Loyola athletic director Ed Pow- 
ell had to get permission of all the 
visiting teams who will be par- 
ticipating, before channel could of- 
fer the games to ciggies. Jim Par- 
sons of KHJ-TV and Powell nego- 
tiated deal, in which Loyola will 
get a flat $250 per game. 

Swank to Sponsor 

'Randall’ Second-Runs 

Pointing up sponsorship interest 
even in second-run vidfllm series, 
Swank Jewelry this week paeted 
to bankroll the “Steve Randall” 
show on DuMont’s WABD, N. Y., 
and WTTG, Washington. Show is 
being syndicated by United TV 
Programs. 

“Randall” series, produced by 
Marion Parsonnet and starring 
Melvyn Douglas, was aired orig- 
inally in both N. Y. and D. C. un- 
der the title of “Hollywood Off- 
Beat.” In N. Y., the series was 
sponsored on WJZ-TV by Dixie 
Cups, 


Vidpic 'Bickerson’ Series 
Now Being Marketed 

Jack Denove, former TV produc- 
tion veepee at BBD&O, and Phil 
Rapp, writer-director, are in Goth- 
am peddling the half-hour vidpic 
series, “The Bickersons.” Pair re- 
cently completed the first four of 
the series, telefilm version of the 
show which had a long radio career 
and which recently was a seg- 
ment on an hour-long DuMont va- 
riety stanza. 

Lew Parker and Virginia Grey 
are starred. 


Philco ’52 Sales 
Setting Record; 
Taxes Nick Net 

Rhiladelphia, Nov. 18. 

Philco Corp. sales in the third 
quarter of 1952 reached the great- 
est. volume, in ..the company’s • his- 
tory. Total for the three-month 
period was $82,227,000, compared 
with $57,408,000 a year ago. 

Another record was set for the 
first nine months of this year with | 
a total sales of $247,383,000} com- 
pared with $228,431,000 for 1951. 
Earnings before taxes were up 
sharply, but increased income taxes 
caused net Income to fall below 
the same period a year ago. 

Earnings before taxes in the 
September quarter rose to $3,965,- 
000 from $1,410,000. Net income 
v declined to $1,784,000 or 48c a 
common share, from $2,222,000, or 
-60e -a-sbare-a year^-agoH Philco -had 
a tax credit of $812,000 in the 
same period last year, because 
earnings did not equal the excess 
profits tax base). 

For the nine months period 
earnings dropped to $6,073,000, or 
$1.64 a share, from $7,963,000, or 
$2.18 a share, in 1951. 

William Balderston, Philco pres- 
ident, reported demand for all 
Philco products “continues at high 
levels. Our television production 
is approximating our all-time peak 
and our sales potential continues 
far greater than our output. This 
will be the case until our new 
plant in Philadelphia goes into op- 
eration early in 1953, to increase 
television capacity by 50%. ” He 
declared “steps are also being 
taken to enlarge our radio capacity 
substantially.” 

Philco’s volume of advanced 
electronic research development, 
production and field engineering 
work for the Government contin- 
ues to increase, and, based on the 
orders now on hand, will expand 
further in 1953, Balderson said. 


Packard Buys New UTP 
‘Rebound’ on DuMont 

Packard Motors has bought a 
new “Rebound” film series from 
Bing Crosby Enterprises, via 
United Television Programs, with 
18 markets already set and an ad- 
ditional six still to be cleared. 
Agency is Maxon. Packard, which 
backed the series last season, 
picked up 13 of the new vidpix, of 
which several have been com- 
pleted. 

Packard bought the alternate 
week Fridays at 8:30 p.m. niche oh 
DuMont. Show starts Friday (21). 


Toni Gets 'Squad’ 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

Toni takes up sponsorship of the 
telepic series, “Racket Squad,” 
after first of the year for alternate 
week televising. 

Hal Roach, Jr., filmed crimer is 
being dropped by Philip Morris, 
which found itself with too much 
video celluloid on its hands. 



NOT TO DATE 

NBC’s investment in its film 
syndication project is now over the 
$5,000,000 mark, and it’s estimated 
that within another year it will be 
one of the major facets of the net- 
work operation. The web is con- 
siderably heartened by the re- 
sponse of the stations to the syn- 
dicated properties and those on the 
future NBC agenda, including such 
items as the “Douglas Fairbanks 
Theatre” (now being shot in 
Europe) and the new Lilli Palmer 
series. The Fairbanks series alone 
represents an initial investment in 
excess of $1,000,000. Already 
circuiting the syndication route 
are . “Dangerous Assignment,” 
“Hopalong Cassidy” and weekend 
and daily newsreels. 

With choice network time avail- 
abilities becoming scarcer and 
scarcer, both NBC and CBS now 
envision a lucrative potential from 
the film syndicate biz. (On CBS’ 
part it represents a reversal of 
thinking, for That web until recent- 
ly had more or less shunned any 
suggestion of establishing a stake 
in syndicated pix.) It’s known that 
Columbia now has serious ambi- 
tions in syndication and, like NBC, 
is blueprinting some major prop- 
erties. 

NBC had planned adding to its 
immediate syndication roster the 
Sax Rohmer “Fu Manchu” series, 
but it was learned last week that 
the network had permitted its op- 
tion on the property to laps-e after 
a pilot had been completed. Un- 
derstood that Robert W. Sarnoff. 
who heads the NBC syndication 
operation, . and other web brass, 
were disappointed in the pilot en- 
try, and decided to write off the 
approximate $20,000 expense rather 
than splurge to the tune of $750,- 
000, the amount required for a 39- 
week cycle, on a dubious entry. 

Previously NBC had also con- 
templated adding the Joel McCrea 
YTexas—Rangers”-’ -to its- syndica- 
tion roster, but abandoned the 
plan. 


Snader’s ‘Spotlight’ Show 
Picked Up hy United TV; 
Second-Run Sales Seen 

Although sale of most of the 
Snader Sales Co.’s vidpix proper-, 
ties are still tied up in litigation 
between prexy Louis D. Snader 
and his partners, United TV pro- 
grams this week acquired the 
“Washington Spotlight” show, 
which has been on the Snader 
roster since its inception. Fifteen- 
minute series, featuring Marquis 
Childs and a different guest each 
week, is now in its 51st week on 
the air, and UTP is adding new 
markets to, those already sold by 
Snader. 

While the series has Childs and 
his guest discussing recent news 
events, UTP execs believe the in- 
terest in the topics will make it 
possible for the show to garner 
second-run bookings. As a result, 
UTP sales chief Aaron Beckwith 
h£s worked out a new, low-price 
scale for subsequent-run screen- 
ings on the -series, and is now offer- 
ing them on that basis in those 
markets which are presently airing 
the first-run stanzas. 

Coffee Firm Takes Silver 
CBS Tuesday Night Spot 

International Silver this week 
notified' WCBS-TV, key station of 
the CBS video web in N. Y., that it 
is checking out of the alternate 
Tuesday ' night at 10:30 spot after 
the Dec. 23 broadcast. Station al- 
most. immediately, however, sold 
the time to Medaglia d'Oro Coffee, 
which will alternate with Hamilton 
Watches, now rotating with Inter- 
national. . 

Both the silver firm and Hamil- 
ton had been bankrolling “Your 
Jeweler’s Showcase,” a half-hour 
vidpix series. Coffee firm .will also 
slot a TV film show in the time 
, period. 


SAG Strike CaO Vs. Film Tele Blurb 
Prods. Seen This Week After N.Y. Move 


Hollywood, Nov. 18. 


Carroll Sax Into Video 
With ‘Double Play’ Buyout 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

Marty Martyn has sold out his 
half interest in the Leo Durocher- 
Laraine Day telepix series, “Dou- 
ble Play,” to Carroll Sax, former 
studio manager and labor contact 
at Warners. It marks his entry 
into TV. 

He will produce the next set of 
films, with Ted Kneeland, his part- 
ner in the project, continuing to 
direct. 


Turner (Ex-RKO) 

To MBS for .Pix, 

Radio, TV Tieups 

Terry Turner, veteran film ex- 
ploiteer and for many years chief 
of exploitation for RKO until the 
recent sliakeup, has made a deal 
with- Tom F. 'O’Neil, Jr.,' whereby' 

Mutual Broadcasting System’s ra- 
dio and TV facilities will^tie in 
vividly with the film theatres’ box- 
office. It will be an extension of 
Turner’s past performances with 
“area saturation,” when a new pic- 
ture opens, utilizing AM-TV for 
benefit of b.o. Under the new set- 
up with MBS, Turner will be op- 
erating from the broadcasters’ 
viewpoint. 

This augurs (1) a possible mu- 
tuality in percentage payoff from 
the b.o. tills; and (2) MBS pos- 
sibly going more positively into 
film distribution, albeit on a spe- 
cialized -scalar- by-.-having * “piece” Lblurbs r wliile-SAG’s proposal is for 


i Screen Actors Guild is expected 
1 to issue a strike call this week 
against tele film commercial pro- 
ducers following the N. Y. chapter’s 
okay on Sunday (16>. SAG bulletin 
to members over the weekend as- 
serts that in negotiations the Goth- 
am ad agencies said they had made 
a mistake years ago in granting 
repayment principle to radio actors 
in negotiations with AFRA. 

Question of reusage coin has 
been the leading one precipitating 
the breakdown in talks. SAG 
charges the strike situation was 
caused by “employers’ adamant re- 
fusal to accept Guild proposals, or 
to put forward any fair or equita- 
ble counter-proposals.” 

In N. Y., the Film Producers 
Assn, said that it disputed SAG’s 
contention that the producers have 
refused added coin for re-use of 
tele blurbs, saying it was willing 
to pay as much as 800% in addi- 
tional fees for rcscreenlng plugs. 
Also, FPA said it’s offering increas- 
es in minimum pay in no case less 
than 15% over the existing scales. 

To this, SAG retorted it never 
said the prodycers wouldn’t pay 
any coin, and a spokesman ex- 
pressed great doubt as to the au- 
thenticity of FPA’s “800%” fig- 
ures. 

Re-Use Hot Issue 

FPA explained it was willing to 
pay the full fee for using a spot 
in a 13-week period, with addition- 
al full fees for each 13 weeks the 
blurb is used, saying in a two-year 
span this would be eight additional 
checks for a thesper. While some 
thespers now work for the mini- 
mum of $55 a day, FPA is willing 
to up that to $70, “which even 
John L. Lewis would, agree is a 
healthy hike,” a FPA rep said. ' 
SAG retorted FPA is “talking In 
circles,” that it wants unlimited 
runs for 13 weeks for net tele 


of certain product in exchange for 
the radio-video ballyhoo. 

The eventualities of Turner’s op- 
eration will switch as the tides of 
show biz shift in future. Right 
now, however, O’Neil recognizes 
how Turner , did a hangup bally job 
for RKO with three different cross- 
section films — the 19-year-old re- 
vival of “King Kong,” which gar- 
nered a $3,000,000 “new” gros,s; 
a modern release, “Sudden Fear” 
(Joan* Crawford); and another re- 
issue, this time a Walt Disney sub- 
ject, “Snow White/’ 

Turner takes the position that 
there are any number of good pic- 
tures 7-8 years old which, having 
done Well before at the b.o., should 
repeat, especially with a new gen- 
eration which has grown up and 
hadn’t seen it. He counts on the 
MBS exploitation for repopulariza- 
tion. He' has seen how good b.o. re- 
sults could be achieved via a 7-14 
day pre-opening saturation bally- 
hoo and spot commercials concur- 
rent with the run. This is a switch 
on pix and TV — the ballyhoo this 
time is for benefit of the boxoffiqp 
and not for home exhibitions* Tur- 
ner starts with O’Neil’s General 
Teleradio setup Dec. 1. 


in Prez 
Bid on TWA Election 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

Ben Freedman and Dick Powell 
have been nominated for prexy of 
Television Writers of America, 
which has an election Dec. 16. 

Other nominees are John Mur- 
ray and Ben Brady, v.p.; Bob 
White, Bcrnie Ederer, secretary- 
treasurer, and for exec board, Ben 
Freedman, Murray, Brady, John 
Green, Ederer, White, Jess Oppen* 
heimer, Shelby Gordon, Sol Stein, 
Nate Monaster, Dick Carr, Seaman 
Jacobs, Phil Sharp, Art Stander, 
Jack Elinson, Alan Lipscott, Hal 
Goodman, Powell, Jay Somers, Mai 
Merritt, Hy Freedman, John Rapp 
and Ann Kazarian. Twelve are to 
be named to the board. 

TWA’s hearing before the NLRB 
is set for Nov. 25, but NBC has 
asked for . a postponement. 


one run only, with thespers to be 
paid for each additional run. A 
Guild source stated further that 
FPA offered re-use coin only for 
leading players, nothing for sup- 
porting players, and said the Guild 
is interested immensely in the wel- 
fare of the supporting thesper. 

Furthermore, the Guild spokes- 
man said, the producers want un- 
limited runs on “wild spots” for 
13 weeks, where more than 30 mar- 
kets are involved; unlimited use 
for 39 weeks in less than 30 mar- 
kets, and 52 weeks unlimited on 
local spots. SAG stressed it wants 
a one-year pact, and insists play- 
ers be paid on each run. 

.In Gotham some vidpic produ- 
cers feel SAG is forcing an “infant 
industry to revolutionize the meth- 
od of payment, which could push it 
into a tailspin,” and claim the prin- 
ciple in the film field has always 
been hiring a man for a day’s work, 
without repayment for each reuse. 


IRWIN COREY TO STAR 
IN NEW VIDPIC SERIES 

Flack Larry Gore, writer Arnold 
Stone and comedian Irwin Corey 
have . teamed to. form, a -company 
for the production of vidpix. Out- 
fit, known as Larry Gore Produc- 
tions, is set to film 26 half-hour 
pix starring Corey. First series 
will be “The Professor.” 

Gore will produce, with Stone 
handling the scripting and direct- 
ing chores. Larry Siegel and Ar- 
thur Reich will also handle writing 
assignments. Arthur Florman is 
set to lens the series. 


New 'Finest* Trio 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

. Telefilm debuts of Barbara Stan- 
wyck, Fred MacMurray and Bette 
Davis will be made in starring ve- 
hicles now being scripted for Re- 
vue Productions’ high-budgeted se- 
ries, “America's Finest.” 

No starting date has been set for 
the telepix to be made by the MCA 
vidpix subsid. Joan Crawford, Kay 
Milland and Dennis Morgan have 
finished* telepix for the series* 





24 XABI«-TKI£VI$IO!<r 


Wednesday, November 19, 1952 


WWJ-TV Dedicates New $2,000,000 

Studios; National Ad Bid Seen 


Detroit, Nov. 18. 

WWJ-TV officially dedicated its 
new $2,000,000 television centre 
with a special telecast and dedica- 
tion ceremonies Monday (17). 

Portions of the dedication tele- 
cast will he presented via special 
closed-circuit telecasts this week 
to meetings of advertisers and 
agencies at the Waldorf-Astoria in 
New York and the Blackstone 
Hotel in Chicago. These special 
programs will show WWJ-TV as a 
production centre with facilities, 
talent and craftsmanship available 
to all TV advertisers. 

Dedication telecast told of 
WWJ-TV’s growth as Michigan’s 
first TV station and sixth in the 
nation. Vignettes of the station’s 
shows -and talent presented WWJ- 
TV as "the busiest station in tele- 
vision.” Many celebrities, city and 
state officials took part in the 
ceremonies. 

The new $2,000,000 building, 
with 20,000 square feet of floor 
space, adjoins that of its sister 
stations, WWJ-AM and FM. The 
WWJ stations are owned and op- 
erated by The Detroit News. 

Technical facilities in the new 
centre are of WWJ-TV’s own de- 
sign. Structural design of Jhe two- 
story building provides '"for two 
additional floors, as expansion de- 
mands. The lower level is designed 
around a central storage area for 
television properties — an area of 
5,600 square feet — adjacent to 
which is an area for scenery de- 
sign, carpentry fend paint work. 
Space is also provided on this 
floor for talent and production of- 
fices, film . 

hearsal room, dresssing rooms, 
costume and wardrobe rooms and 
talent lounge. 

The first floor centres around 
the three studios, largest of which 
covers an area of 4,600 square 
feet. One of its main features is 
a large 25-foot turntable built 
flush to the floor. The studio has 
221 feet of wall space available 
for sets and has 18 motor-operated 
light battens. 

Joseph p. McConnell, NBC pres- 
ident, participated in a half-hour 
live TV show dedicating the new 
WWJ-TV studio, along with War- 
ren S. Booth, Detroit News presi- 
dent, Mayor' Albert FI. Coho and 
Edwin K. Wheeler, WWJ-AM-FM- 
TV general manager. Mechanical 
difficulties blacked out part of 
McConnell’s speech. Also the rib- 
bon cutting scene was snafued out 
of the picture. Harry Bannister 
was among, .the 200 invited guests 
who saw the show in the Audito- 
rium. Show consisted of a brief 
commentary and pictures on De- 
troit and birth of WWJ and WWJ- 
TV. Then brief sketches of sev- 
eral WWJ-TV shows were flashed 
on the screen. 


P&G Replacing W With 
’Sister’; Coin Saving Due 
Via Easement on Talent 

Contrary to previous reports, 
Procter & Gamble is not cutting 
back on its daytime radio time 
spending with the cancellation of 
the vet "Big Sister” soaper on CBS. 
Bankroller instead will keep the 
time period to air "Road of Life,” 
dualling the latter show on both 
NBC, where it’s been a longtime 
P&G package, and on CBS. 

System will mean a savings for 
P&G, of course, in that the sponsor, 
will be paying for only time on one 
of the webs rather than for talent 
and production costs also. Under 
the present daytime lineup, there 
will be less than two hours’ differ- 
ential between the broadcast of 
"Road of Life” on NBC and CBS. 
Show will be aired on CBS from 1 
to 1 : 15, and continue on NBC from 
3:15 to 3:30, 


ABC-TV Not Planning 
To Replace Lanigan 

ABC-TV isn’t replacing John B. 
Lanigan, sales v.p. who this week 
moved to NBC-TV. Lanigan recent- 
ly had been more in an adminis- 
trative capacity than in direct sell- 
ing operations, with Edwin S. 
Friendly, Jr., national director of 
TV sales, overseeing the depart- 
ment. 

Lanigan replaced Fred M . 
Thrower, who left to become CBS- 
TV Sales v.p. 


PALEY TO BE GIVEN ’53 
POOR RICHARD AWARD 

* Philadelphia, Nov. 18. 

William S. Paley, chair- 
man of the board at CBS, will be 
the 1953 recipient of the Poor Rich- 
ard Club’s Gold Medal Achieve- 
ment Award. ‘ Paley was chosen be- 
cause of his work in building up 
the CBS network and for his long 
record of public service. 

Announcement of Paley’s selec- 
tion was made by Joseph L. Tin- 
ney, president of the Poor Richard 
Club and v.p. and assistant gen- 
eral manager of the WCAU sta- 
tions. The award, one of the ad- 
vertising field’s top honors, will 
be presented to Paley at a dinner 
in the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, 
Jan. 17, the birthday anniversary 
of Benjamin Franklin. 

In 1950, Paley received a Penn- 
sylvania Ambassadorship Award 
during Pennsylvania Week, for his 
work on behalf ' of the Common- 
wealth, In receiving the Poor 
Richard’s Achievement Award, 
Paley joins an array of gold medal- 
ists that includes Gen. Dwight D. 
Eisenhower, Charles E. Wilson, 
Paul G. Hoffman, Dr. Vladimir 
Kosma Zworykin, Gen. Henry H. 
Arnold, Brig. General David Sar- 
noff and Gen. Douglas MacArthur. 



Radio Version 

* 

Success story of the "My Little 
Margie” show added another chap- 
ter this week, when Philip Morris 
decided to buy a radio version, of 
the vidfilm situation comedy series 
for airing on the CBS Radio- net- 
work. The AM package will uti- 
lize Charles Farrell and Gale 
Storm for the same roles they play 
in the TV program. 

Ciggie outfit, through the Biow 
agency, will slot the new radio 
version in its Sunday night at 8:30 
slot on CBS. Period is presently 
occupied by PM’s "Playhouse on 
Broadway.^ Latter is being moved 
back to Wednesday nights at 9:30, 
as replacement for What’s My 
Line,” which PM recently ditched 
and which has since been picked 
up on CBS by Stopette, same out- 
fit which bankrolls the "TV Line’? 
Sunday nights ‘on the CBS video 
web. 

"Margie” preemed last summer 
as replacement on CBS-TV for the 
'top-rated "I Love Lucy” and drew 
a cool critical reception at first. 
Show soon caught on, however, 
and climbed into the top 10 rat- 
! mg lineup. PM was so pleased 
with the results that, when "Lucy” 
returned, it shifted the show to 
NBC-TV as a temporary filler un- 
til the new "My Hero” vidpix 
series was ready. Now that "Hero” 
is on the air, PM is moving "Mar- 
gie” back to CBS-TV, where it 
will hold down the Thursday 
night at 10 slot now occupied by 
"Racket Squad.” 

FCC TV STATION OKAYS 
NOW REAGH 108 MARK 

» Washington, Nov. 18. 

Number of TV stations author- 
ized since the lifting of the freeze 
is now exactly equal to the number 
of stations which were -on the air 
before licensing was resumed — 108, 
as result of issuance by the FCC 
last week of 10 more permits. 

New authorizations, four of 
which were for VHF channels, 
went to KVOA and KOPO in Tuc- 
son; KFSA in Fort Smith, Ark.; 
Santa Barbara Broadcasting and 
TV Corp. in Santa Barbara, Cal.; 
KDA in Pueblo, Col.; Southland 
Telecasters in Pensacola; WRAK in 
Williamsport, Pa.; Central Texas 
TV Co. in Waco; WLVA in Lynch- 
burg, Va. t and WBAY in Green 
Bay, Wis. . 

The Green Bay station will be 
built by Norbertine Fathers, a non- 
profit religious order which, in ad- 
dition to AM station WBAY, also 
operates WHBY in Appleton, Wis. 


‘OpryY 27th Arnii Fete 

Nashville, Nov. 18. 

WSM officials are readying 
plans for celebration of the 27th 
anniversary of "Grand Ole Opry,” 
with the Saturday (22) broadcast. 
Invitations have been mailed to 700 
disk jocks credited with a big part 
in building up of WSM’s talent 
names. 

These will be feted with a per- 
sonal get-together with WSM per- 
sonnel and artists at the Andrew 
Jackson Hotel, group then moving 
to Ryman Auditorium for special 
recognition on the evening’s broad- 
casts. 


Saturday’s Flash 
‘Report’ Sale 

Pointing up the lucrative opera.- 
tion of the major television net- 
works’ N. Y. flagship stations, 
WCBS-TV this week wrapped up a 
sale on a new show less than , two 
hours after the idea for the show 
was dreamed up by program chief 
Hal Hough. 

With CBS-TV turning back its 
Saturday afternoon time to local 
stations following the completion 
of the Armed Services football 
schedule. Hough on “his way to 
work Friday morning (14) thought 
of adding the "6 O’clock Report,” 
now aired cross-th§-board, to the 
Saturday evening schedule as well. 
He told sales manager George Dun- 
ham of the idea on their w$y to 

sales meeting later that morning 
and, before the meet was con- 
cluded, Dunham had sold the final 
five-minute segment of the show 
to Dunhill cigarets. 

Saturday version of- "Report” 
will be similar in format to the 
strip version, but with different 
personalities for the 6 to 6:05 and 
6:05 fo 6:10 segments. Jim McKay 
is repeating on the sports segment 
from 6:10 to 6:15 and it’s his part 
of the show which Dunhill bought. 
With the network taking over 
Saturday nights at 6:30 with "It’s 
News to Me,” the station still must 
fill the 6:15 to 6:30 period. No 
show has been set yet. 

McKay, meanwhile, picked up 
two new sponsors for his show 
in the Monday-through-Friday air- 
ings. Kaiser-Frazer bought it for 
Fridays,, starting Dec. 12, and 
Charles-of-the-Ritz bought it for! 
Mondays and Wednesdays, on a ] 
short-term ride from Dec. 17 
through Dec. 22. When the cos- 
metic firm bows off, Dunhill, which 
now sponsors on Tuesdays and 
Thursdays, will pick up Mondays 
and Wednesdays as well. 

Philly Set to Establish 
Educ’l TV Station Soon 
Via New Civic Setup 

Philadelphia, Nov. 18. 

Philadelphia is to become one of 
the first cities to establish a non- 
commercial educational television 
station. Outlet will be operated 
by the newly-established Delaware 
Valley Education Television Corp. 

Function of the corporation, In a 
report issued by its executive com- 
mittee, is "to provide television 
service for cultural, educational 
and recreational purposes in the 
areas of Pennsylvania, New Jer? 
sey and Delaware, with a radius 
approximately 50 miles about Phil- 
adelphia.” 

Donations will be accepted from 
any civic-minded individual or cor- 
porate group, provided there were 
"no strings attached.” The execu- 
tive committee was authorized to 
go ahead with plans, for the sta- 
tion, the result of more than a 
year’s conferences by educators as 
to how to make best use of TV fa- 
cilities. 

There • will be three types of 
memberships in the new corpora-’ 
tion: contributing members ( $1^000 
annually), who may use the facili- 
ties of the corporation; guarantor 
members, who will participate in 
the actual operation of the station, 
and, as a group, guarantee the 
funds needed; and sponsor mem- 
bers, those who desire to con- 
tribute to the purposes of the cor- 
poration. ] 

Construction costs will be se- 
cured by a bond issue, and amorti- 
zation and interest of the bonds, 
from whatever source the fund is 
secured, will be considered one of 
the operating expenses of the sta- 
tion. 


Gotham Music Foundation 

In a move designed to make the broadcast industry more of a 
creative force in the local community and to convince listeners 
that the station is as much a part of their local community as their 
newswpapers, WNBC and WNBT, key outlets of the NBC web in 
N. Y„ have launched a new Music Foundation. Purpose is to pro- 
vide record libraries, phonographs, radio and TV sets, etc., to 
hospitals, welfare agencies and Army and Navy centers throughout 
the city, thereby wrapping up a public service activity which, ac- 
cording to station toppers, has not been filled by any other or- 
ganization. 

Foundation is to be under the supervision of Jackie Robinson, 
Brooklyn Dodgers’ second-baseman and new director of community 
relations for the NBC flagships. As detailed yesterday (Tues.) by 
Robinson and station veepee-general manager Ted Cott, each local 
show aired on either the radio or TV station will assume for a 
full- week the responsibility of raising money for the foundation. 
This will be done via direct pitches for public support, until the 
stations can supply all organizations with all the music and musical 
accoutrements they need. Stations’ roster of name talent will com- 
prise the Foundation’s board, which will decide how the money is 
to be allocated. Cott and Robinson envision the donation of pho- 
nos and kid record libraries to all children’s wards, similar ma- 
terial to old folks’ wards, boys clubs, etc. Also on the agenda is 
a circulating library for Navy ships docked in the N. Y. harbor. 

As explained by Cott, radio and TV stations to date have co- 
operated fully with various public service activities, but this has 
always been done on a "reflective” level, rather than a creative 
one. He said the Foundation can become as integral a part of the 
N. Y. community as the N. Y. Herald-Tribune’s Fresh Air Fund 
and the N. Y. Times’ annual Christmas drive for its "100 Neediest 
Cases.” 


Teachers Now in Show Biz: Kyser; 
Jansen Warns Vs. Educ’l TV Losses 


Radio Chart Postponed 

Space limitation this week is 
forcing Variety’s annual' Esti- 
mated Weekly Network Radio 
Program Cost chartffo be omit- 
ted. It will probably be pub- 
lished next week. 

Chart on Network TV Pro- 
gram Costs appeared in last 
week’s (12) issue. 


‘Omnibus’ Draws 
- Offbeat Backers 

Chicago, Nov. 18. 

Type of sponsors being set hy 
CBS-TV for its new "Omnibus” 
show will apparently be as offbejft 
as the show itself is designed to be. 
Web this week is reported close to 
a deal with the Greyhound Bus 
Corp. to buy in as the second of 
'five participating bankrollers being 
sought for the hour-and-a-half pro- 
gram, with Willys-Overland already 
in. Agency for Greyhound, which 
has never been represented on a 
network TV show, is Beaumont & 
Hohman, of Chi. 

"Omnibus,” which is produced 
by the TV-Radio Workshop of the 
Ford Foundation in cooperation 
with CBS, is aired Sunday after- 
noons at 4:30. Under the shared 
sponsorship plan set up by the net- 
work, each bankroller buying in 
pays $13,000 for a total talent and 
production nut of $65,000. Top 
sponsor spot each week will rotate 
among the five participants. 


LUCKIES-'SHOW BIZ’ TIFF 
STATUS STILL UP IN AIR 

Final disposition o f Lucky 
Strike’s Sunday night at 7:30 slot 
on CBS-TV remained up in the 
air this week, with "This Is Show 
Business” producer Irving Mans- 
field still adamant against cutting 
back his show to an alternate-week 
only basis. Luckies asked for land 
was granted an extension on its 
option on "Show Biz,” which ex- 
pires Jan. 18, to gain more time 
for its decision on whether to con- 
tinue the show on a weekly opera- 
tion. 

Cigaret firm wants to cut back 
the show to alternate with Jack 
Benny, who’s slated to go to an 
alternate-week basis on TV after 
the first of the year. Reports that 
Luckies has already decided to 
cancel "Show Biz” at the end of 
its present cycle and buy the new 
Ann Southern-starred vidfilm se- 
ries, "Private Secretary,” as an al- 
ternate vehicle for the Benny show, 
are untrue, since no deal for the 
pix has been made. 

"Show Biz,” meanwhile, drew 
down a fat 36.1 rating in the latest 
national Nielsen lineup, and it’s 
reported that CBS already has an- 
other of its Sunday night sponsors 
readv to buy the show if Luckies 
checks off. 


Schenectady, Nov. 18. 

Two hundred top educators at- 
tended the Television Institute 
arranged by the Fund for Adult 
Education (Ford Foundation affili- 
ate) as part of the annual meeting 
of the Assn, of Colleges and Uni- 
versities of the State of New York 
here last week -(12-13). After 
■ listening ■ to addresses- warning 
"this is the year of decision in edu- 
cational television,” and hearing 
discussion of the Board of Regents’ 
plan for the establishment of a 10- 
station network servicing 90% of 
the state's 14,000,000 people, they 
voted vigorous support of the 
project. 

This action came at a summary 
session in Union College Memorial 
Chapel, where ex-bandleader Kay 
Kyser, now associated with the U. 
of North Carolina as a TV con- 
sultant, ' impressed his audience 
with a plea for "showmanship in 
educational TV.” 

"Showmanship,” the batoner ex- 
plained, "is nothing but another 
word for psychology. Every good 
teacher is right now in show busi- 
ness. So is every good college 
president, every good preacher, 
every effective executive.’ They 
make things interesting.” 

Urging educators to take posi- 
(Continued on page 40) 

Marlin & Lewis TV 
(long Time No See’) 
Set for Nov. 30 Ride 

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, 
who have been missing from TV 
since they ushered in the "Colgate 
Comedy Hour” season on NBC-TV 
almost two months ago, make 
their second appearance of the 
season on* Nov. 30. 

The show’s othqr rotating com- 
ics, including Boo Hope, Donald 
O’Connor, etc., have made the Col- 
gate circuit two or three times 
since then. This in turn occasioned 
considerable conjecture as to 
whether Martin & Lewis, having 
had their knuckles rapped by the 
critical fraternity for the shoddy 
production and material that went 
into their initial effort, weren’t 
purposely steering clear of the 
medium until they had a satisfac- 
tory show lined up, rather than 
risk another rap. 

• NBC claims the M & L team has 
been forced to forego TV because 
of a Paramount pic conflict during 
the past couple of months and that 
their Nov. 30 show is now well in 
rehearsal. 

tt 


Yonkers Fetes Caesar 

Sid Caesar, star of NBC’s "Your 
Show of Shows” TV-er, was feted 
last night (Tues.) by the city of 
Yonkers, N. Y., his birthplace. 

Day’s round of festivities, in- 
cluding visit to City Hall, was fol* 
lowed by dinner-dance at Yonkers 
Armory. "Show of Shows” pro- 
ducer-director Max Liebman rind 
NBC officials were among tb« 
guests. 



Report on Paley’s Report 

In a uniqye documentary presentation designed specifically for 
television audiences, CBS-TV is planning a report. to the nation 
sometime next spring on the survey of the President’s Materials 
Policy Commission. Group was asked to investigate the present 
status of the country’s raw materials and* after spending 18 months 
in research, decided to project its study to 1975, showing what raw 
materials will be available at that time and what the demand for 
them will be. (Commission was headed by CBS board chairman 
William S. Paley.) TV show is to comprise film specially lensed 
by CBS- TV camera crews in all areas of the country surveyed bv 
the Paley group. 

Survey revealed that, whereas the country’s basic raw materials 
sources far outstripped the demand 50 years ago, in 1950 the sup- 
ply lagged behind the demand by 9%. As a result, CBS feels the 
nation should be informed that its status is changing today from 
that of a self-sufficient country to one which must start importing 
goods. Hour-long show is to be produced and directed by Roy 
Lockwood under the supervision of Sig Mickelson, CBS-TV news 
and public affairs chief. Lockwood, at one time associated with 
BBC and Universal, was recently an associate producer with the 
March of Time and is joining the CBS-TV staff permanently. 

To give the story as much impact as possible, Lockwood has de- 
cided to use no narration, letting those interviewed by the re- 
porters-cameramen tell their own story. Research has already 
started under the supervision of Leon Rice, with actual shooting 
slated to roll within five weeks. Stan Silverman and Irve Tunick 
have been assigned to script. Specific day and time for the show 
have not been set. 


NBC Into Final Reorg Phase With 
Unification of AM-TV Sales Staffs 


NBC network embarked on the 
last major phase of its new rein- 
tegration policy this week, with 
the unification of the radio and 
TV sales staffs, which had formerly 
worked as two separate depart- 
ments, into a combined unit. John 
K. Herbert, named sales veepee for 
both radio and video last July, con- 
tinues in charge of the operation, 
with George H. Frey, until now 
veepee and director of TV sales, 
lipped to the post of veepee-sales 
director for both media. 

Under the new setup, NBC sales 
will comprise an eastern, central 
and western division, each headed 
by a sales manager, and two staff 
divisions — merchandising and a 
newly-established sales develop- 
ment and services unit. Walter D. 
Scott, formerly national sales chief 
for radio, has been named to the 
new post of administrative sales 
manager, in which he’ll supervise 
special sales, policy and planning 
assignments. Both he and Frey re- 
port to Herbert. 

Final reorganization of NBC’s 
sales department emphasizes again 
the difference in operating pro- 
cedure between that web and CBS. 
Later network continues on its 
“split-down-the-middle” setup, in 
which tfte radio and TV webs are 
arganized as separate corporate 
structures within the overall CBS, 
Inc., fold. At NBC, on the other 
hand, all branches of the organi- 
zation, including programming, ad- 
promotion, research, publicity, etc., 
operate under the integrated setup. 

In detailing the new NBC sales 

(Continued on page 41) 

NBC-TV to Co-op 
‘Goldbergs,’ ‘Jury’ 

NBC’s cooping -of TV shows be- 
comes a bigtime enterprise soon, 
"itli two of the web’s major at- 
tractions — “The Goldbergs” and 
‘Juvenile Jury” — scheduled to play 
the co-op circuit. Decision to co- 
op the brace of shows stems from 
NBC's faith in the programs in the 
face of sponsorship handicaps, in- 
cluding failure to obtain station 
clearances. 

Lncler the co-op plan, “Jury” 
becomes available to stations as a 
Sunday morning attraction, while 
^Goldbergs” will go into the 7 to 
'•15 p.m. berth on Fridays. The 
Gertrude Berg program was orig- 
inally slated for that time as a full 
network showcase on a twice-a- 
jveek basis, .with Procter & Gam- 
ble and Vitamin Corp. pacted as 
sponsors, but the stations refused 
to clear the time. As a co-op show, 
permuting the affiliates to sell it 
orally and pocket all the revenue, 
is figured to’ get a more hearten- 
ing station response. 


‘Today’s’ Tomorrow 

j NBC - TV‘s early - morning 
two-hour “Today” show now 
looks set at least to the end of 
1953. It’s known that a blue- 
print has , been drawn up 
evolving a new sales formula 
for the wake-up TV show, 
scheduled to go into effect for 
the ’53 season. Sales pattern 
permits for different sponsor- 
ship categories including 13- 
week schedules, saturation and 
special campaigns. 

“Today,” though starting out 
as a dubious commercial entry, 
has been operating in the 
black for some time. 

AM-TV “Miracles’ 
Unveiled by RCA 
Via Transistors 

Future miracles in the radio-tele 
field were auditioned Monday (17) 
by Radio Corp. of .America techni- 
cians at the David Sarnoff Research 
Center of RCA,. Princeton, N. J. 
In a progress report of work on 
the transistoi , new electronic devel- 
opment which duplicates operation 
of the vacuum tube, it was predict- 
ed that the size of radio-tele equip- 
ment would be greatly diminished 
and equipment cost would be low- 
ered. 

Although still in the experi- 
mental stage, the transistor, which 
technicians have been developing 
since 1948, has now reached the 
stage where commercial application 
isn’t too far off. According to RCA’s 
crystalrball gazing technicians, it is 
only a matter of a year or so before 
the transistors become generally 
available in ample qualities and at 
low cost. 

The demonstration, which <vas 
conducted by Dr. E. W. Engstrom, 
veepee in charge of RCA Labora- 
tories Division, allowed an o.o. into 
the future with a sample of a port- 
able tele receiver and a revamped 
"walkie-lookie,” which was used at 
the national political conventions 
in Chicago last tally. By application 
of the transistor development to 
the “walkie-lookie” device, the 50- 

(Continued on page 34) 


Margaret Truman Back 

Margaret Truman, in her first 
performance since the election, 
will guest on WOR-TV’s (N. Y.) 
“TV Town Topics” with regulars 
Whittemore Sc Lowe, duo-pianists. 

Date Is Friday (21) At 2:30-3:30 

p. m. 


LEERY OF LOW 
III CIRCULATION 

By BOB STAHL 

' Operators of new television sta- 
tions springing up around the coun- 
try are finding that the top-spend- 
ing network advertisers are in no 
rush to buy time for their shows 
on the fledgling outlets. While the 
big users of saturation advertising, 
such as cigaret and soap firms, are 
rushing into each new outlet as 
soon as it takes the air, the run-of- 
the-mill network bankrollers are 
backing away from such markets, 
refusing to pay the comparatively 
high card rates until the stations 
can guarantee a certain minimum 
circulation. 

Situation thus resembles closely 
that which confronted most video 
stations constructed before the re- 
cently-lifted FCC freeze originally 
went into effect. During the pio- 
neering days of TV sponsorship, 
it was the cigaret, soap and food 
firms which carried the ball. Other 
advertisers, either operating on a 
lower budget or not desiring pos- 
sible duplication of their other 
mass media, held off until enough 
receivers were sold in each market 
to provide them with a low-enough 
cost-per-thousand buy. 

And just as some of this latter 
group of sponsors were frozen out 
of cream time franchises on either 
the networks or local stations, Op- 
erators of the new outlets are al- 
ready warning that they may be 
sold out when such advertisers de- 
cide the time is ripe for them to 
buy in. Most of the new stations 
represent the only ones in their 
localities, so that all four networks 
are trying to get their shows on the 
air. As a result, available time on 
several of them is already at a pre- 
mium. 

In addition, some of the new sta- 
tions are buying vidpix to fill up 
their programming hours and, In 
many cases, finding it' easy to sell 
the films to local sponsors. This 
means, of course, that they get 
100% of their card rates, rather 
than the 33-35% they might draw 
from the networks for net shows. 
As all four of the major webs have 
already found out, It’s not easy to 
dislodge a local sponsor from a 
time period once the programming 
pattern has been established. 

While son.e stations have based 
their card rates on actual set circu- 
lation, this is pegged for the most 
part to a $200 Class A hourly rate. 
Number of network advertisers feel 
the price is out of line with the 
audience which can be delivered, 
citing some markets which have 
been on the air for several years 
and which only recently hiked their 
rates that high. 


Y&R Bounces Back Into Bigtime 
As the ‘House of Stars,’ But With 
Hardly a Show It Can Call Its Own 


Sked Hope Daytime 
For More Stations 


With NBC’s “Dial Dave Garro- 
way” radio show moving to a new 
2:30 p.m. slot cross-the-board. the 
network is shifting Bob Hope’s new 
daytime show from its present 9:30 
a.m. strip into the 11:30 a.m. per- 
iod formerly, occupied by Garn> 
way. Hope’s switch becomes effec- 
tive. Dec. 1, and program veepee 
Charles (Bud) Barry is currently 
working on a plan to revive the 
“Lum ’n’ Abner” show to take over 
Hope’s present early-bird spot. 

NBC feels that it can get much 
wider circulation for Hope’s day- 
time show and its sponsor, Jell-O, 
via the switch in time. Whereas the 
9:30 period was station option time, 
the 11:30 strip is network time. As 
a result, it’s expected that a num- 
ber of more stations will now pick 
up the show. Web’s sales depart- 
ment is currently attempting to 
line up clearances among the sta- 
tions not now carrying the show. 

“Lum ’n’ Abner” has been- off 
radio the last two years, and re- 
entry via a daytime slotting fol- 
lows the pattern set by Hope in 
the way of name personalities en- 
tering daytime radio. Web tenta- 
tively plans to sell the show on a 
co-op basis. 


See It Later 

There were some strange do- 
ings at CBS-TV headquarters 
—at 485 Madison ave., New 
York, last Friday (14), and 
perhaps it’s just as well that 
all the Columbia brass had al- 
ready departed for Hollywood 
for the opening of CBS-TV 
City. 

What happened is probably 
one for the books. Anyone 
strolling into the Fred Friend- 
ly-Ed Murrow “See It Now” 
laboratory would have found 
the producers of the CBS-TV 
show interrupting rehearsal 
and guffawing out loud while 
watching the kine of — an NBC- 
TV show. 

They were catching up with 
the Bob & Ray show of last 
Tuesday night ( borrowed from 
NBC), which Satirized the Mur- 
row “See It Now” stanza. 


ff CBS-TV Sets 1st 



5-Minute Plan 


WCBS-TV, the CBS video web’s 
N. Y. flagship, got rolling fast this 
week on the network’s new plan 
to offer its 11 to 11:30 a.m. strip to 
advertisers in five-minute seg- 
ments. Local N. Y. outlet sold the 
11:15 to 11:20 segment of the half- 
hour, which is being reserved for 
local sales, to Sunklst Orange Juice 
on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thurs- 
days and Fridays, starting this 
week (18). Agency is Foote, Cone & 
Belding. 

Sales plan, first broached by the 
network only last week, was de- 
vised as CBS-TV’s answer to the 
sales pattern established by the 
rival NBC video web for its early- 
bird “Today” show. With an audi- 
ence participation show, “There’s 
One in Every Family,” retained in 
the 11 to 11:30 period, the net is 
offering advertisers the right to buy 
as many five-minute segments as it 
wishes for as many times as it 
wants. And, just as NBC reserves 
two five-minute segments out of 
each half-hour of “Today” for lo- 
cal cut-ins and local sponsorship, 
CBS is reserving one five-minute 
bit of “Family” each day for local 

sales. 

Network sales staff has only just 
started to pitch the plan to poten- 
tial clients and advertisers. To date 
the web has not scored a sale for 
the show. 


SALTER BACK ON AIR 
VIA OWN MUSIC QUIZ 

..Bandleader Harry Salter, one of 
the creators of “Stop the Music,” 
has come up with a new musical 
quiz show, titled “Name That 
Tune,” which will bow on the NBC 
radio network Friday night (21) 
at 8:30. Salter, who is writer-pro- 
ducer as *well as sole owner of 
“Tune,” will also conduct the orch 
for the airer. It’s his first show 
since “Music” went off the air. 

An audience participation quiz, 
with situation comedy angles, show 
has several couples of studio con- 
testants vying with each other dur- 
ing the half hour for cash prizes, 
by guessing names of tunes played, 
with winner then trying for a giant 
music box prize. ’ Home listener 
participation comes via sending in 
of song title suggestions, and shar- 
ing in the winnings. 

Red Benson is emcee of the 
show. Show, though bowing on 
radio, is seen as aiming for a TV 
spot, because of situation comedy 
angles involved. 


*+ The “Young & Rubicam Story” 
presents itself as one of the 
strange anomalies of the agency 
business today. It’s no secret that 
Y&R is literally jumping with ac- 
tivity these days, notably in tele- 
vision. 

In strange contrast to six or 
eight months ago, when the agency 
found itself minus the $7,000,000 
Schlitz business, and a couple of 
other lucrative accounts desertedT 
the premises, Y&R has bounced 
back into the TV bigtime as the 
“house of the stars.” 

Less than a year ago it could 
point to but a single top person- 
ality entrant — Arthur Godfrey, car- 
rying the banner for Y&R’s Lipton 
Tea client. But today the Y&R 
scratch sheet reads, in addition to 
Godfrey: Bob Hope (for General 
Foods on radio); Bing Crosby (for 
General Electric on radio, with 
some TV shots in the offing); Joan 
Davis (for General Electric on TV); 
Charles Laughton (for Mott’s Apple 
Juice on TV, starting the first of 
the year); Eve Arden’s “Our Miss 
Brooks” (for General Foods on 
TV), and William Bendix’s “Life 
of Riley” (for Gulf on TV, upon 
conclusion of the current 13-week 
“Gulf Theatre” cycle). 

Add to this the Charles Boyer- 
Dick Powell-Joel McCrea-Irene 
Dunne “Four Star Playhouse” TV 
series on behalf of Y&R’s Singer 
client, and the upcoming participa- 
tion in the TV “All Star Revue” 
on behalf of Johnson & Johnson. 
All of which adds up to a lot 'of 
stars. 

But for all its “star wealth,” 
Y&R won’t have a single TV show 
it can call its own after “Gulf 
Theatre” checks off to make way 
for the “Riley” series. Y&R, both 
in New York and on the Coast, has 
for years been preeminent as a 
“production-happy” agency, staffed 
to the hilt with key producers and 
directors. But when the agency-pro- 

(Continued on page 38) 

« _ 

Mike Dann Into 
Key NBC Spot 

Mike Dann has been upped to 
Manager of Planning for NBC’s 
radio and TV networks. . In his 
new assignment he’ll report direct- 
ly to veepee Frank White, general 
manager of the combined webs. 
Working in the planning areas will 
also bring Dann close to network 
chieftain Sylvester L. (Pat) Weaver. 

Dann moves into the spot va- 
cated by Richard PInkham, who 
has taken over duties as exec pro- 
ducer for the NBC-TV “Today” 
.operation. 

Reports had been circulating in 
the trade that Dann was checking 
out of NBC to accept an executive 
post with a major agency. He 
joined NBC in 1948 as trade press 
editor under veepee Syd Eiges.. 
In 1950 he became coordinator of 
program package sales and subse- 
quently became supervisor of spe- 
cial telecasts. 


JUDY CANOVA TALKING 
WEEKLY VIDEO STINT 

Judy Canova is in N. Y. talking 
with NBC-TV execs on the possi- 
bility of doing a half-hour weekly 
tele stint. She did her first major 
video stint two weeks ago on “Col- 
gate Comedy Hour.” She’s headed 
with hubby Phil Rivero for Havana, 
where she'll eye the Cuban AM- 
TV picture. 

“Colgate.” incidentally, has been 
talking to Ray Bolger to do a 
couple of shots on the . Sunday 
evening show, with the possibility 
that he’ll be skedded during 
Christmas week and sometime in 
the spring. 


26 


WADIO-TEUEVISION 

— « — r-, 


V^dncicla^ November 19, 1952 


iTrrAiiiUibli 


Educ’I TV on March, Sez Walker; 

Sees World Network of Colleges 

■L— ' — 


Washington, Nov. 18. 

Declaring that “educational tele- 
vision is on the march,” FCC Chair- 
man Paul A. Walker said here last 
week that the number of noncom- 
mercial TV applications pending 
before the agency is no criteria of 
activity in the field. 

Addressing the Assn, of Land- 
Grant Colleges and Universities on 
the occasion of the 90th anniver- 
sary of the passage of the Morrill 
Act, Walker emphasized that the 
total of applications received (nine) 
and the number of permits issued 
(nine) “does not give a complete 
picture of progress” in educational 
video. 

The Joint Committee of Educa- 
tional Television, said the FCC 
topper, has informed the Commis- 
sion of activity in “many states 
and cities over the nation” in prep- 
aration for filing of applications. 

in addition, he found “highly en- 
couraging” the interest of founda- 
tions in possibilities of establishing 
production centers and bther facili- 
ties for assisting educational TV. 

Pointing out that educational 
channels ma> not be available after 
next June 2 if there is no interest 
in their utilization, Walker urged 
the educators to take steps to pro- 
tect the reservations. 

All-State Webs 

“I am sure,” he declared, “that 
educators who have not actually 
filed an application by June 2 of 
next year will be prepared to dem- 
onstrate to the Commission that it 
would be in the public interest to 
continue the reservation in their 
community — should that reserva- 
tion be sought and challenged by 
commercial interesls.” 

He suggested that educators have 
as their goal establishment of 
statewide networks in each of the 
48 states, and that prompt action 
be taken toward surveying engi- 
neering posibilities of obtaining 
additional channels where required 
for the purpose. 

“Educators should look ahead,” 
he said, “and lend support to the 
. creation of educational networks 
and eventually, a national network. 
Such a network, which might ulti- 
mately have 300 or more member 
stations, could exchange or relay 
programs by coaxial cable, micro- 
wave relay, direct pickup, motion 
picture films and kinescope record- 
ings. 

So fast has television moved, 
said .Walker, that VI would not be 
surprised if you mighty some day 
look forward to international TV 
which would link your campus sta- 
tion with other TV stations around 
the globe.” 

Philly’s WPTZ Airing 
Both Local, Web Grid 
Games Sat Afternoon 

Philadelphia, Nov. 18. 

Unexpected local interest being 
shown here in the UCLA-South- 
ern California football game Sat- 
urday (22) has forced WPTZ to re- 
verse its decision to substitute a 
local football contest on its TV 
schedule Saturday afternoon. Sta- 
tion has now decided to air both 
games, made possible since the one 
on the Coast will not hit the air- 
waves until about 4:45 p.m. local 
time. 

WPTZ originally announced it 
was dropping the UCLA-USC pick- 
up via NBC-TV to substitute the 
Swarthmore-Haverford grid tilt, 
which is a local minor classic.- 
Flood of phone calls, letters and 
petitions forced the station to 
change its mind. General Motors 
will pick up the tab for both tele- 
casts. In this local instance, how- 
ever, 'WPTZ must employ its own 
workmen and camera crews with- 
out compensation from the spon- 
sor. 

WPTZ is exercising its privilege 
of optional rights under the NBC- 
NCAA agreement, which pact per- 
mits each station in the web to 
televise one game during the sea- 
son in its own territory, under the 
same sponsorship, but using its 
own facilities at its own expense. 

Station has to put up two 30-feet- 
high camera platforms and set up a 
special electrical transformer at 
Dalton Field. Game will be beamed 
from the field via two relay points 
to the WPTZ transformer in Wynd- 
more, Pa. Game constitutes a good 
public service promotion for the 
station, at little, if any, sacrifice. 


Harlem Hour Bow 

“Harlem Amateur Hour,” aired 
from the stage of the Apollo The- 
atre, N. Y., bows on WJZ tonight 
(Wed.) in the 11:15 p. m.-midnight 
period. Lucky Millinder will emcee. 

Bobby Schiffman is booking the 
airer, 'placed via William Warren, 

Jackson & Delaney. 

% 

Mutual Mysteries 

Vice MGMRA Set 

Mutual program v.p. Julius See- 
bach has set the mystery block 
lineup which replaces the 10 MGM 
Radio Attractions shows starting 
Dec. 29. 

Shows taking the 8-9 p.m. pe- 
riod cross-lhe-board are: "Mondays, 
Bernard Schubert’s “The Falcon” 
and “Hall of Fantasy,” produced 
and written by Dick Thorne; Tues- 
days, , Mickey Spillane’s “That 
Hammer Guy.” produced by Dick 
Lewis, and “High Adventure,” with 
Robert Monroe, as writer-produc- 
er; Wednesdays, “Crime Files of 
Flamond” produced by Reggie Le- 
vin, and “Crime Fighters,” pro- 
duced and directed by Wynn 
wright; Thursdays, “Official De- 
tective,” another Wright produc- 
tion, and “John Steele, Adventur- 
er,” produced by Monroe. 

On Fridays web is inserting two 
game shows, “Movie Quiz” star- 
ring Johnny. Olsen, and “True or 
Faise,” participationer emceed by 
Eddie Dunn.. 

Saturday replacements aren’t set 
yet. 


Xmas Holiday Bonuses 
Set for Affiliates By 
RCA Thesaurus, World 

RCA Thesaurus and World 
Broadcasting library services are 
distributing year - end holiday 
bonuses to their affiliates. 

Thesaurus. has shipped a “7 in 1” 
Christmas package designed for 
local sponsorship, including an 
hour-long transcribed “Christmas 
Carol,” Walter Hampden in a half- 
hour “Story of the Nativity,” a 
“Christmas Visit with Ted Ma- 
lone,” shopping jingles and 10 
quarter-hour scripts, among other 
features. 

World’s Yule gift to stations in- 
cludes 12 exclusive programs for 
Christmas and New Year airing. 
World veepee Robert W. Friedheim 
said they were part of the library’s 
service to help stations reach local 
advertisers with effective selling 
tools. Meanwhile, World parent 
outfit, Ziv, announced that its open- 
end shows are each getting a 
Christmas-slanted .script. Shows 
with special holiday motifs include 
“Freedom, USA,” “Wayne King 
Show,” “Favorite Story,” “Meet the 
Menjous,” “Bright Star,” “Bold 
Venture,” “Philo Vance” and 
“Showtime from Hollywood.” 


McKenzie tries again 

TO REGAIN jACK’ TAG 

Detroit, Nov. 18. 

Edmond T. McKenzie, formerly 
known to his radio- audience as 
disk jockey “Jack the Bellboy,” 
returned to the courts last week in 
another attempt to get his radio 
trade name back. 

McKenzie and other members of 
the “Jack the Bellboy Corp.” filed a 
$250 bond and notice of appeal in 
Federal Court from the ruling last 
Sept." 11 of Federal Judge Arthur 
L. Lederle in awarding the “Jack 
the Bellboy” name to Storer Broad- 
casting Co., owners of station 
WJBK. 

Judge ruled that the firm had 
purchased the name when it bought 
the station in 1946. McKenzie con- 
tended that he had a right to take 
the name with him when he left 
WJBK and WXYZ with over $200,- 
000 in accounts. 


Lubbock, Tex.— John Hicks has 
been named program manager for 
KDUB-TV here. Hicks was former- 
ly assistant program manager of 
KEYL-TV, San Antonio. 


WCBS-TV Sets Full-Day 
. Spot Drire for ‘Lucy’ Doll 

First one-day saturation spot 
campaign under its “12 plan” was 
wrapped up this week by WtiBS- 
TV, the CBS video web’s key N. Y. 

outlet, with the new “I Love Lucy” 
baby doll scheduling a series of 12 
spots to run from 11:30 a. m. to 
5 p. m. on Thanksgiving Day (27), 
Agency for tfc« American Charac- 
ter Doll Co., manufacturers of the 
product, is Sterling. 

Under the sales plan, any adver- 
tiser contracting for 12 or more 
spots, a week on WCBS-TV’s day- 
time lineup receives a 45% disr 
count. Station has done a big busi- 
ness with sponsors buying the plan 
for a week or more, but the doll 
manufacturer is the first to sched- 
ule his entire series of commer- 
cials in one day. WCBS-TV this 
week also sold the plan to the 
Longchamps eatery chain for six 
weeks and to Sunkist Orange Juice 
for two weeks. 

Twin Cities AFTRA Hands 
Out Plaques to 4 AM-TY 
Stations for Best Shows 

Minneapolis, Nov. 18. 

Four Twin Cities radio and TV 
stations received plaques from the 
local chapter of the American Fed- 
eration of Television and Radio 
Artists (AFTRA) for what a com- 
mittee of judges voted to be the 
best locally-produced shows in va- 
rious classifications, nominated by 
the various stations. It was the 
chapter’s first annual honoring of 
outstanding programs. 

WCCO radio won with Bob De- 
Haven’s variety “Show Boat” and 
Cedric -Adams.’ .“Noontime . News.," 
while WCCO-TV scored with Ar- 
thur Murray’s . “Dance Date,” va- 
riety show; public service “Video 
School,” and live commercials by 
Barbara Davies on “Dangerous As- 
signment.” 

Coming through for KSTP were 
Cal Karnstedt’s “Farmer’s Own 
News”' as best radio farm program, 
and Bill Ingram’s “Today's Head- 
lines” as best radio news. Bill 
Cleary’s “Let’s Talk Turkey” on 
WDGY emerged victorious as the 
best radio public service program. 
The same station landed another 
plaque for Frank Buetel’s spefrts 
news show, , 

Plaques also were awarded to 
WLOL for its disk jockey show, 
called Larry Fisher’s “Swing 
Club”; to KSTP-TV for Rollie 
Johnson’s sports news program, 
and to KSTP radio for the Bee Bax- 
ter show’s live commercials. 

Presentations were made at a 
luncheon. Committee of judges 
comprised C. T. Hagmari, WDGY 
general manager; Sherman Head- 
ley, WCCO-TV assistant manager; 
Art Lund, vice-president, Camp- 
bell-Mithun advertising agency; 
Les Rees, Variety correspondent, 
and Mrs. C. A. Russ, clubwoman. 


JERRY D. LEWIS' NBC 
HUDDLE ON TV PKGE. 

Jerry D. Lewis, longtime scripter 
on “This Is Your FBI,” who exited 
that chore last summer to go into 
TV packaging on his own, is hud- 
dling today (Wed.) in New York 
with NBC’s Bud Barry on “This 
Was Yesterday,” a new panel show 
idea. 

Larry Keating is moderator with 
Mike Romanoff, Vincent Price and 
Claire Trevor as permanent panel- 
ists, plus guests. 

Gemex Buys Into ‘Stork’ 

On Skip-Week Basis 

CBS-TV’s “Stork Club” show this 
week picked up its first sponsor 
since last spring. Gemex Watch 
Bands, which -has been pouring 
money into TV spots in recent 
months, pacted to bankroll the 
show alternate weeks, starting Jan. 
3, as its first network program. It 
will continue to be aired Saturday 
nights from 7 to 7:30. 

“Stork,” which originates from 
a specially-constructed replica of 
the eatery’s Cub Room in the Stork 
building, N. Y., was aired as a 15- 
minute show twice weekly last sea- 
son under Fatima cigarets’ spon- 
sorship. It was later moved to the 
Saturday night half-hour spot, with 
conferencier Sherman Billingsley 
continuing as emcee. 



From the Production Centres i: 

■ H M M HfH fHf t » » - f 4 4 ♦ frM 44 4 ~M^ - »444~ t- 4 4 » 4 -444* 

IN NEW YORK CITY . • . 

Tom Flanagan, managing director of Station Representatives Assn., 
visited reps in Chi early this week; back today (Wed.) . . .* Dick French 
doing radio spots for new Broadway show, “Seven Year Itch,” over 
WQXR this week . . . Without any rehearsal, Ottavio De Rose, French 
horn player In the WMGM orch, last week batoned. “La Boheme” at 
Brooklyn Acadmy of Music; it was his operatic debut. 

Red Barber lectures at Town Hall on sports reporting Dec. 3 and 
at the Kingston (N. Y.) Athletic Assn, banquet Dec. 11 . . . CBS Radio 
brass back from affiliates meetings on the Coast include Prexy Adrian 
Murphy, veepees John Karol, J. Kelly Smith and Herbert Akerbcrg 
and station relations topper Bill Schudt . . . Sales of Ziv’s “Freedom, 
USA” transcriber have passed the 600-station mark . . . Maggie Mc- 
Neills heading a celeb committee for American Women in Radio & TV 
. . . With Paul Affelder in N. Y. Hospital for surgery Monday (17), 
Margaret Lcwerlh is spelling him as scripter of CBS’ Philharmonic and 
other longhair* music shows . . . WOR has set a series of “unsigned” 
ads for the trade press in which the. call letters are incorporated into 
the headlines, e.g., “It WORks” . . . Byron (Biff) Englander has resigned 
as sports director of WGBB, Freeport . . . Add professorial circuit 
notes: Ted Brown to spiel at Jo Ranson’s AM-TV class at CCNY; Ben 
Grauer guests at the Columbia* U. AM-TV announcing class . . . CBS’ 
“Our Miss Brooks” conducting a “most beautiful teacher” contest . . . 
Frances Velthuys has resigned as time-buyer at Compton agency . . . 
WMGM’s Eileen O’Connell has cleffed a kid tune,, “Poor Mrs. Santa 
Claus” . . . Horace Braham, Elaine Kent, Fran Lafferty, Elaine Rost 
and Bart Robinson have been added to the “Front Page Farrell” cast. 

Leonard Meyers, music trade editor at NBC, will take on extra per- 
sonal chore for the next two/ three months, filling in as music critic for 
Paul Affelder of the Brooklyn Eagle. Affelder is being hospitalized for 
extensive surgery. 

Nat Asch, WMGM director, and Kal Ross, one of the indie's an- 
nouncers, elected to Sports Broadcasters Ass’n . . / Robert Drydcn into 
Mutual’s “I Love a Mystery,” replacing Russ Thorson, who ankled 
back to the Coast . . : Lin Cook running on “When a Girl Marries” and 
“Nora Drake” .. . A. C. Nielsen has upped B. V. Lee, W. J. Cousins, 
C. J. Weber and R. M. Lindsey to veepees . . . Jack Grcgson now host- 
ing the daily transcribed “John Sebastian Show” for Coca Cola . . . 
Ruth Jones, formerly with Benton & Bowles, has joined Compton as 
time buyer . . . John H. D’Aiutolo, recently with WOR-TV, has been 
added to N. Y. sales staff of O. L. Taylor Co. 

IN HOLLYWOOD ... 

To stimulate dialing to its frequency and with incentive to accelerate 
tli e habit, KNX is sprlngTing its programs 1 with a mystery voice and 
plenty of loot for those who guess right. Capital prize is $1,000 mink 
stole. Contestants who take a guess must also tell why they dialed the 
CBS stations to qualify . . . NBC shipped Doris Corwith, supervisor of 
public affairs programs, to Hollywood to look after four broadcasts of 
“The Eternal Light” to. originate there . . . Jim Hanna, radio-TV head 
for Ayer, came out from N. Y. to talk renewal of “Meet Corliss Archer” 
with James Saphier for next-year. Show started as a summer standby 
four years ago and has been commercially active on radio since . . . 
Ayer's Hollywood headman, Glenhali Taylor, hummed a tune to Harry 
Owens, Hawaii’s best ad on the mainland, and he was so impressed 
he talked Taylor into a set of lyrics to go along with the melody. It’* 
called “Hawaii, My Island” and Owens’ band played it for the pub- 
lish ers to drool over, 

IN CHICAGO . . . 

Riin-Tunes._radiorTY. ed_^ill. Irvin launched his own airer last night 
(Tues.) via WGN, with a 90-minute deejay session from Curley’s Cross- 
roads eatery from 11:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. . . . NBC board chairman Niles 
Trammell a Chi visitor last week . . . Norman Kraeft, WGN farm direc- 
tor, and Harry Campbell, ditto at WBBM, covering the annual Na- 
tional Grange conclave this week at Rockford . . . For the fourth year, 
Tom Moore is again collecting toys for the Salvation Army on his 
“Ladies Fair” Mutual airer . . . Chi NBC press chief Chet Campbell in 
New York for homeoffice huddles . . . Kirk Logie, ex-WBKB and new 
radio instructor at Loyola, directing taped documentary series being 
aired Sunday nights at WBBM as a pub-service via Dorothy Miller’s 
WBBM education department . . . Barbara Margolin, ex-Free & Peters, 
added to the WMAQ-WNBQ promotion staff . , . Bob Atcher, headliner 
on WLS’ National Barn Dance, will lead the annual State St. Christ- 
mas parade Saturday (22). a 

Whitehall Pharmacal bankrolling Julian Bentley’s 6:30 a.m. news- 
casts. on WBBM . . . John Ottman, formerly ad manager of Stewart- 
Warner’s electric division, has been named radio-TV sales promotion 
chief for Admiral . . . Art Hellyer’s hour-long Saturday disk session 
renewed for. another cycle on WMAQ by- Downtown Nash . . . Board 
of Education’s Radio Council launched a new adult education series 
“College of Today” over WIND . . . H. V. Kaltenborn coming in to ad- 
dress the annual dinner meeting of the Chi Better Business Bureau 
Tuesday (25) . . . Chi NBC newsman Len O’Connor passing out the 
stogies for the fifth time after the arrival of another son. 

IN SAN FRANCISCO . . . 

KNBC preemed new half-hour series featuring San Francisco Sym- 
phony Orchestra in rehearsal. Producer Bill Gavin tapes a three-hour 
session, boils it down to 30 minutes, with occasional explanatory asides 
by the announcer. Guest Conductor Enrique Jorda featured on first 
. . . KGO recording personal messages to boys in Korea for listeners 
who donate a pint of blood in response to Virgil Pinkley’s program . . • 
Now that A1 Torbet, ex-KROW boss, is managing KSFO and inter- 
polating some of his former ideas, KROW ’s running ads such as: “If 
copies were as good as originals, Rembrandt would be a housepainter” 

. . . Noel Corbett to Hollywood to open publicity office. 

Major Jerry Ross, Now WAC recruiting officer at Hamilton Field, 
returns to ABC, w'estem division publicity director Dec. 1 . . . Ameri- 
can Assn, of University Women, local branch, published booklet, “The 
Listener Speaks Again,” containing 33 constructive suggestions . . • 

Bill Nietfeld told U. of Nevada Sigma Delta Chi group about “Na'- 
tional News From San Francisco” . . , Virus bedded five KSFQers in 
one swoop: Wally King, Bob Hansen, Gene De Alessi, “Hap” Roberts, 
A1 Torbet . . . Bill Hillman did a cable-car taping for the “Way Back 
Home” program for servicemen overseas . . . George Ruge gifting 
Thanksgiving birds on his KYA “Talking Turkey” show. 

IN PITTSBURGH . . . 

Betty Carr ai\d her husband, Charlie Baldour, featured daily on 
WDTV’s “Meet Your Neighbor” program, have just signed to cut four 
sides for Pitt Records, a local label. Miss Carr recently won first 
prize of $1,000 on Dennis James’ “Chance of a Lifetime” . . , Josephine 
Yicari, production assistant on Florence Sando’s “Ask the Girls” tee- 
veer, has a role In the Playhouse musical, “Dance for Joy” ... Fort 
Pitt Brewing Co. has bought the new “Foreign Intrigue” series and 
will put them in the 9:30-10 spot on Channel 3 Thursday nights begin- 
ning Dec, 4 . . . Bill Adler’s TV Digest just celebrated its second an- 
niversary . , , Joseph Gotten made plenty of radio appearances while 

{Continued on page 38) 



& 


Azcarraga’s Border Troubles 


San Diego, Nov. 18. 

Emilio Azcarraga, Mexico’s No. 1 radio-TV personality, has run 
into a veritable block-buster in his projected plans for a boarder 
TV station in Tiajuana which would serve the all-important San 
Diego, Cal., market. But despite a gangup of opposition forces 
which thus far has prevented Azcarraga from obtaining the nod 
as 'the NBC-TV affiliate, Azcarraga has full intentions of going 
ahead with his Tiajuana operation with an official opening sched- 
uled shortly after Christmas. 

The NBC-TV affiliation is important to Azcarraga. Whether he 
could exist without it is problematic. NBC, in turn, hasn’t written 
him off — but finds itself in a peculiar, sensitive position where it 
can’t at this time say yes to his request, because of organized op- 
position from the San Diego Chamber of Commerce and the CBS 
affiliate KFMB-TV, which has the lone video operation in San 
Diego, and with which NBC-TV now does business. (The NBC 
radio affiliate, KFSD, has filed for one of the two remaining chan- 
nels, which goes to hearing because there arejfour contestants.) 

Within NBC itself, there’s divided opinion as to whether Azcar- 
raga should get the affiliation. Major opposition stems from the 
fact that “border operations” in radio have been held by U. S. 
broadcasters in ill repute and it’s feared that the same evils will 
be pferpetrated in TV. On the other hand, it’s argued, affiliating 
with Azcarraga is something else again, considering the fact that 
he’s not only one of Mexico’s top and respected showmen, but has 
always held himself aloof from the onus attached to “border-type 
operations.” 

Some say that Azcarraga erred on one major tactical point: 
that he should, have first made his peace and the proper overtures 
with the San Diego factions, which might have elminated the pres- 
ent gangup. 


NBC Sets Up Testing Service for TV 
Clients as Result of Schwerin Study 


In a move to help its advertisers*^ 
get the most out of their television ‘ 
dollars, NBC this week set up a 
commercial testing service for net- 
work TV clients, -under which the 
web will provide facilities at cost 
for producing experimental blurbs 
and testing them before special au- 
dience groups. At the same time 
the web revealed results of a new 
study conducted in collaboration 
with the Schwerin Research Corp., 
which demonstrates the need for 
such a pre-testing service. 

Under the testing plan, created 
“in the belief that the relatively 
small investment can produce sub- 
stantial profits for the advertiser,” 
NBC will schedule time in its N. Y. 
studios for rehearsal and shooting 
of rough commercials. These are 
to be kinnied-and lator played back 
to Schwerin test audiences at 
Schwerin’s Avon Theatre,. N. Y., to 
determine how well basic sales 
points are conveyed. According to 
Ruddick C. Lawrence, the web’s di- 
rector of promotion, planning and 
development, a comparison of sev- 
eral versions of the same selling 
theme will make it possible for the 
client to select the best approach 
for use on the air. It’s pointed, out 
that, since the idea is to test one 
copy approach against another, the 
plugs can be produced without the 
usual finished production stand- 
ards. 

Testing at Cost 

As detailed by Lawrence, NBC 
will bill the client’s agency for 
production and testing at cost. Min- 
imum charge per commercial will 
be $800 net, including, production 
and testing. This includes one cam- 
era and cameraman, one announcer 
or performer, a director, floor man- 
ager, sound man, lighting techni- 
cian, stage hands, boom man and 
video engineer. Kine facilities and 

(Continued on page S4) 


Cloretts Dates 
Judy’ on ABC-TV 

Cloretts has picked up “Date 
with Judy,” and will insert the 
show into the 7:30 p.m. Wednesday 
slot on ABC-TV starting Jan. 7 . 

Sponsor had backed the show 
for 13 weeks starting in mid-July 
but dropped it middle of last 
month. It had been on ABC-TV 
ln the 8 p.m, Thursday slot. After 
deciding to piefe up the stanza 
a^ain. Dancer - Fitzgerald - Sample 
agency began shopping for net- 
works and time periods and de- 
cided on the Wednesday period in 
which “Name’s the Same” has been 
•HTthed— moving shortly to- 10:30 
P-m. Tuesdays. 


Down On the Farm 

Chicago, Nov. 18. 

Here’s, another case history 
♦for Broadcast Advertising Bu- 
reau on radio’s selling power. 

A Utah landlord the other 
week dispatched a query to 
WGN, asking the. station if it 
could help him line up a ten- 
ant for his farm. The WGN 
salesman suggested a couple 
of spots on its edrly morning 
“Farm Hour.” 

Two 60-second blurbs were 
aired last week and within 
three days 30 replies from 
prospects in a dozen states 
were mailed in. 

Chi ABC-TV Sales 
Hitting $120, MO 
Weekly Pace Now 

Chicago, Nov. 18. 
Recent flurry of sales racked up 
by the Chi ABC-TV network sales 
staff is hitting a peak pace and cur- 
rently is pouring a weekly grpss 
tally of some $ 120,000 into the 
web’s coffers. 

Latest sale to be finalized by the 
crew working under TV chief 
James Stirton and sales manager 
Jerry Vernon is the Saturday morn- 
ing “Hail the Champ” moppet 
display, which the Fred Amend 
Co. (Chuckles Candy) picks up 
Dec. 13 to alternate with Derby 
Foods, “Sky King” vidpix in the 
10:30 slot. 

Major feather in the Windy City 
ABC hat is “Super Circus,” the 
chain’s Sunday afternoon rating an- 
chor riding under the auspices of 
Mars and Kellogg. Both deals were 
set locally through the Leo Bur- 
nett agency, and like the “Sky 
King” switchover from NBC-TV 
represented a lot of inter-web jock- 
eying. 

The fast ordering of the Paul 
Harvey newscast by Burton-Dixie 
for the Sunday night spot vacated 
by Drew Pearson was engineered 
by the Stirton-Vernon combine. 

Dual sponsorship of “The Name’s 
the Same” likewise was wrapped 
up by the ABC Central Division 
with Johnson Wax coming aboard 
to join C. A. Swanson & Sons 
when the panel show moves to its 
new Tuesday night next month. . 

Other recent Chi ABC sales in- 
clude the “Ozzie and Harriet” tele 
film to Hotpoint; .“Space Patrol,” 
to Ralston, and the Chi pro foot- 
ball games to Standard Oil. 


SEEK CUTS TO PAH 
PARED TIME R 



By BERT BRILLER 

During the past year, radio’s. tal- 
ent budget tumbled — although 
not as much as the cut in evening 
network time rates. However, in 
the past few weeks agencies and 
sponsors have been putting the 
bee on the webs and package pro- 
ducers to lower price tags on 
shows still more. In many cases 
the chains and indie packagers 
have shown willingness to revise 
costs downward. 

Bankrollers’ demand for a re- 
appraisal of talent nuts stems from 
the same situation which resulted 
in the nets’ axing their rates for 

evening time, based on the falling 
off of after-dark audiences in the 
wake of TV's circulation boom. 

The program price trend is most 
sharply indicated in tftfe tickets on 
the bigleague shows. Bing Crosby’s 
layout, billed at $22,500 weekly 
two years ago, dropped to $17,000 
last* year and now is coming in 
for $15,000. “Fibber McGee & 
Molly,” during the same two-year 
span, slipped from $23,000 in ’50 
to $15,000 in .’51 and. to .$12,50.0. in 
the current semester. Jack Benny, 
who reversed the trend last year, 
climbing from $25,000 to $30,000, 
slumped drastically and is now 
tagged for $22,500. In a lower 
bracket, “Ozzie & Harriet,” which 
was budgeted at $8,500 last year, 
is down to $7,500 for the ’52-’53 
ride. 

Sustainer Slashes 

Nuts on the less expensive en- 
tries are pared, although not as 
spectacularly. Many sponsors feel 
a fair price for an evening show 
is in the $4,500-5,500 bracket, and 
most new shows are coming in for 
under $5,000. More marked are 
the price slashes in sustainers, 
with the webs unwilling to invest 
heavily in a new program that 
lacks a tab-lifter. 

In the daytime hours there has 
been some pruning, but of a rela- 
tively minor nature. Most of the 
soap operas remain in the $2,750 
bracket, with only slight cuts. In 
general, the rule-of-thumb has 
been to consider a daytime strip 
a good buy if it costs less than 
$ 1,000 for each rating point it 
earns. Average washboard weeper, 
with a $2,750 weekly talent bill, 
does better than 3.0 — and thus 
there is less motivation for press- 
ing economy. It’s noted, however, 
that Procter & Gamble, which is 
axing “Big Sister” to insert a play- 
back of NBC’s “Road of Life” in 
the CBS slot, will save about 75% 
of that soaper's $3,000 weekly tal- 
ent cost. 

Cost-cutting tactics include less 
over-scale payments to thespers, 
reduction of live orchs and sub- 
stitution of recorded music and 
lowered payments for properties. 
Greater use of news is also a fac- 
tor in lowering the overall outlay 
for talent. 


HENNOCK WANTS MORE 
FEMMES IN EXEC POSTS 

Washington, Nov. 18. 

More women in executive posts 
in broadcasting networks was ad- 
vocated here last week by Fed- 
eral Communications Commission- 
er Frieda Hennock in an address 
before the D. C. chapter of Amer- 
ican Woirten in Radio and Tele- 
vision. Such a step, she said, would 
give to women the recognition in 
broadcasting they deserve. 

Miss Hennock also suggested the 
desirability of a full investigation 
to determine the role of radio in 
the broadcasting picture. There’s 
still a great deal that needs to be 
known of radio’s value in the mass 
media, she said, which would be 
important in assessing the me- 
dium’s future. 

AWRT is the successor organi- 
zation to the Assn, of ^Women 
Broadcasters. 


Announcer Snafu on Inauguration; 
Packard Shelling Out 56G on Radio 


Paley Medicine 

CBS board chairman Wil- 
liam S. Paley kicked off a spe- 
cial series covering the Paley 
Report on “Resources for Free- 
dom” on the web’s “You and 
the World” Monday (17). 

Interviewer Dwight Cooke 
didn’t mention Paley’s CBS 
connection until the closing, 
when he congratulated the 
topper on a fine ad lib gabbing 
job. Paley answered, “Thanks, 
I’m just taking some of my 
own medicine.” 

Hope (Bob, That Is) 
Springs Eternal In 
All Webs’ Breasts 

Bob Hope’s NBC debut last week 
as a morning radio attraction has 
already sparked "some scouting 
about for other major personalities 
to. join the ayem kilocycle parade. 
Not only is NBC looking for fur- 
ther morning star bait, but ABC as 
well is reappraising its program 
structure, with an eye toward join- 
ing im the bigleague morning 
sweepstakes. 

CBS, of course, has long solidi- 
fied its before-noon network roster 
with the marathon Arthur Godfrey 
performance, which is not only con- 
sistently SRO but leads the day- 
time Nielsen parade. 

With Procter & Gamble serving 
notice last week that it was can- 
celling out on “Big Sisters,” one of 
the established soapers in daytime 
radio with a major audience pull, 
it’s felt in some quarters that the 
next year will find other top clients 
abandoning the weepers in favor of 
name stars. 


METERED TV ‘PREVIEW’ 
GIVES HOT BOW TO SHOW 

A new spur for producers to get 
their programs rolling with a hot 
opening is the “preview system,” 
of metered TV developed by the 
Preview Corp. 

This features an electronic gadg- 
et designed for attachment to the 
tele sets installed in hotels and 
motels. When shows start, it auto- 
matically turns on the set for four 
minutes, so that the ^viewer can 
get a cuffo sampling of video fare 
coming up. If the guest likes any 
of the programs on the air during 
his gratis peek, he has to insert a 
quarter to see the remainder of 
the show. Outfit hopes to have 50,- 
000 sets in use by end of 1953. 

Reiner Vice Marlowe As 
WOR-TV Production Mgr. 

. Harvey...- ..Marlowe,. . production, 
manager of .WOR-TV, N. Y. f has re- 
signed to go into low-budget vid- 
film packaging. He’s being re- 
placed by Ivan Reiner, ex-program 
manager of WNBT, who worked 
with WOR-TV station manager 
Warren Wade when the latter was 
at NBC-TV several years ago. 

Marlowe is planning to shoot vid- 
pic properties aimed at skedding 
in fringe time on local stations. 
With little Class A time available, 
stations and spenders are finding it 
difficult to pick up inexpensive 
reels for morning, afternoon and 
late-night screening. He’s also 
mulling a vidpic version of his live 
whodunit, “Trapped.” Marlowe 
joined WOR-TV in 1949 as pro- 
gram topper, after stints at WPIX 
and ABC-TV. 

Reiner joined NBC-TV in 1947 
becoming program manager in 
1950. 


’ With Packard Motors signing 
this week to bankroll the Presi- 
dential inauguration on CBS Radio, 
as well as CBS-TV, a uniqiTS inter- 
sponsor conflict involving a top 
announcer for each of the two webs 
has been created. Both the AM 
net’s Bob Trout and the TV web’s 
Doug Edwards are closely identi- 
fied with competing car manufac- 
turers via their regular-sched- 
uled shows, and the nets are riow 
trying to work out some arrange- 
ment whereby they can do the Jan. 
20 pickup for Packard as well. 

Trout, who served as the top 
CBS radio announcer in coverage 
of both the national political con- 
ventions and the election night re- 
turns, has two five-minute news 
snows weekly sponsored by Ford. 
Packard and its agency, Maxon, 
consequently, while anxious to 
have him repeat on the inaugura- 
tion pickup, are skeptical about his 
association with the competing 
Ford company. Edwards in the 
same way is,sponsored three nights 
weekly on CBS-TV by Oldsmobile, 
and Packard is likewise wary of 
that association. 

With Olds being one of the Gen- 
eral Motors lines, GM, which is 
bankrolling the inauguration pick- 
ups on NBC radio and TV, would 
like to have Edwards work the 
show on NBC. That, of course, is 
impossible because of his contrac- 
tual obligations to CBS, which has 
created another roadblock on the 
Jan. 20 ceremonies. And still to be 
worked out, in addition, is the de- 
termination of what brand of car 
President-elect Dwight D. Eisen- 
hower will ride in during the in- 
auguration parade. 

In buying the inauguration pack- 
age on CBS Radio, Packard is shell- 
ing out $56,000 for time and talent. 
This includes coverage of the mo- 
torcade from the White House to 
the Capitol from approximately 
11:30 a.m. to noon; a roundup of 
the event in a special newscast 
from 4*to 5 p.m., and coverage of 
the inaugural ball from 11:15 p.m. 
to midnight. CBS Radio, of course, 
will cover the actual inauguration 
ceremonies, including Eisenhower’s 
speech, as a sustaining public serv- 
ice. This is expected to be aired 
from noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 20. 

P&G Cutting 
Back on Strips 

Hollywood, Nov. 18, 

Procter & Gamble is cutting 
back by two-thirds on the three 
quarter-hour strips it now has on 
CBS Radio from 6:45 to 7.30 p. m. 
Both the Dinah Shore-Jack Smith 
cross-the-board musicale and “Beu- 
lah” are slated for axing when the 
present cycle "expires Dec. 26, 
which will leave Lowell Thomas 
standing alone in the P&G lineup. 
In addition, “Club 15,” bankrolled 
by Campbell Soups in the 7:30 to 
7:45 strip, also may be ditched. 

Lester Gottlieb, the web’s pro- 
gramming veepee, arrived on the 
Coast over the weekend. While he’s 
ostensibly here to participate in the 
Columbia Affiliates Advisory Board 
meet, he’s also spending consider- 
able time in huddles with Guy 
della Cioppa. Coast programming 
veepee, in lining up a series of new 
shows to replace those being axed. 
•Because of the comparatively high 
cost of the strip shows slated for 
cancellation, it’s believed unlikely 
that CBS will attempt to sustain 
them. 

“Beulah,” incidentally, is some- 
thing of a unique situation in 
radio. Since the death recently of 
Hattie McDaniel, who played the 
title role, P&G has been repeating 
old tapes on which she appeared, 
with "a preceding note advising lis- 
teners of the fact. Video version 
of “Beulah,” aired on the ABC-TV 
net, is not affected. 





Wednesday,. November. 19, 1952 


pmr&& 


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'TRUE VISION REVIEWS 


ptmmrf 


Wednesday, Novemlxr 19, 1952 


KBC TELEVISION OPERA THEA- PERSPECTIVE 

TRE With Lester B. Pearson, Bean Director. Dan Scmmman 

(Trouble In Tahiti) Rusk, Bethuel M. Webster, Sam- * ^ £1 ins.; Suj^, 1° P^m, 

With Beverly Wolff, David Atkin- uel Lane arp-TV from '"" 1 

son, Constance Brigham, Robert Director: Edward Nugent ABC TV, irom 

Kole, William Harder; Leonard 30 Mins.; Thurs., 9 p,m. 

Bernstein, conducting ‘ -ABC-TV, from N. Y. . m? on a 

Writer-composer: Bernstein What this show needs is a little served up on a 

Producer: Samuel Chotzinoff more showmanship savvy. Its a is the1 ^ ^J 1 -. 

Associate producer: Charles Pola- good, new idea in which top into tne slot, 

check spokesmen of various phases of Pearson, one c 

TV director: Kirk Browning our modern life merely sit around mate thespers 


Bernstein, conducting A WhJt V th^ noeds is a little served up on a platter of ham, this ing a better cargo on its second on that course belted a new hi-de- 

Writer-composer: Bernstein a it’s a is their dish. ABC-TV has moved t ime 0U f Sunday <16), when more ho styled lyric to the Kurt Weill- 

Producer: Samuel Chotzinoff more showmanship Ihi ch t top into the slot, vacated by Drew of i ts offerings were on film. It Ira GershwiuTMenny.” Miss Pons* 

Associate producer: Charles Pola- ^ood, new A dea W p h 3 Ses 1 Pearson, one of the most consum- added up to a highly absorbing 90 other major appearance was in the 

check - . iif- sit around mat? thespers in the Windy City minutes, realizing more of its "Caro Nome" aria from “Rigoletto” 

TV director: K * rk . jj and eatfa^out fheir affairs radio-TV scene. That’s Paul Har- promise than the first trip, despite which while technically brilliant, 

director * Robcrt Hanna a ^ bl | afterdinher* buU session, vey, whose new series, billed as the otter’s highly-touted William seemed to accentuate the tonsil 

45 Mi™ Sun (16) 3 nm With such guests as Lester B. a newscast, preemed Sunday (16). Saroyan and Maxwell Anderson exercise due to fact that cameras 

from N Y Pearson prez of the United Na- There was some hard news on teleplays. caught her several times in her 

^WiU^’ “Trouble* in Tahiti," its tions General Assembly (who ap- the opening sho'v—about two mm- The opening 27 minutes were ^skim STtrills^ ^ mt ° 

second offering of the season. NBC peared on the preem), it can be utes worth. The rest of the 15 devoted to a superb vidpic, The ne *! site {L- llclla i An0 ni n « 

Television Opera Theatre has lived highly entertaining and informa- minutes, with time out for blurbs End and the Beginning," which 

tap to JUie high standards of the Sve Bift, in terms of the inltialer for the bankrolling mattress firm told the st0 ry of Lincoln's birth *" c ‘“£nea "‘regular Cand^ Can- 

first work (“Billv Budd ” heard in last Thursday night (13). the cast was a steamheated tirade against and death. It was a piece of pure Cover ^i^js, regular candy Can 

October) The short 45-minute resembled four plodding, boring the United Nations. It was a film poetry. Long stretches were g} d ° ^ti c h ^ g uL 

fundprn nnpra hv Lponard Bern- college professors trying to make breath-of-fire attack, delivered with without dialog or narration (latter Miss ^° n s Y*. a J 1 S j° wn u°i ora ^ r u 

rie.n whThhad Usvideobow “thfhewnversation" A wise pro- much stamping around the set and was by a Ma rtin Gabel), but the 

^liindav (lfi) a littlp TV musical ducer could tighten up the format, closeup scowls that practically had visual images were more potent to basso buffo. Met star s entry was 

fem cUerVnd timely PertoSed g”ve the show® more ?ohesion and the cameras quivering. It was than any s | oke n word. The scene jet jn a mtery dueling with Du- 

with greatspirit and by an eSp- come up with a solid entry in the strictly. partisan-Harvey. on this in which the martyred President's rente , n You and Your Beautiful 

InafSVSmil/efvfvidVprei ^e^the Press" genre of pro- occasion, * *&*<■**, ^ ^^^SX^inW Portion 

Work, which has both libretto ABC’s public affairs department s Py s ba( . the js fascinating !i a t ed to d etfiiiiig Pa M the "event rehearse his nlten^rouUnramid 

and music by Bernstein (who also « alr ||'§ Assn°°and ^apl thjre's no denial He obviously has Huntly liut 'powerfully catching some hilarious interruptions by 

conducted the orch for Sunday’s with the N.Y Bar Assn, ana, ap (he flalr (o >ttr t bjg b , ocks o£ re y ver ence of a dramatic mo- salesmen in which the Schnoz’s 
presentation), was originally heard psarmg with Bearson on ine iust uke-minded viewers. Eaually ob- mant socks, etc., were sucked m by a 

last June at Brandeis U. and again stanza were Dean Rusk, prez of . his is the slant to antagonize u # fVl _ “innacnmp vacuum cleaner. This stanza en- 

in the summer at Tanglewood Fes- the Rockefeller Foundation and . b ] ocks G f viewers of a . shooting of the compassed his gabbing with his 

tival. Now, in slightly revised former Deputy 'undersecretary different political bent. J ra1 ^, ^llin°anH conscience, via a Shaftel string 

form, and in the narrow confines state; Bethuel M. Webster, prez of noses an interesting prob- tryside, through fields a rep ii ca< 

occnfvijitinn and Samuel iIU!> pos»ej> lutcicauue yi-vu nas t snpvinc citizens, used all the j: i.j„ j j 


BURTON-DIXIE 
ABC-TV, from Chicago 
( Turner ) 

For those who like their news CBS-TV's “Omnibus” was carry- ,-ditty, “Obbligato Song,” and while 


show had JD in pajamas trying to 


conducted the orch .for Sunday’s with the R Yp Bar Assn. and, ap ; ^Tverence^oF a'dra^aUc mo‘ salesmen in which the Schnoz’s 

rasTir'^’BrTnlieTs^a^d S feS^^SSnHgS. “Jf ESS SS Xol™Znt e „ f . , . the ,, onesome “^dean^ 

in the summer at Tanglewood Fes- the Rockefeller Foundation and . flb j’ e G f viewers of a . compassed his gabbing with his 

tival. Now, in slightly revised former ' u ^ e ^ s f creta 5^_ different political bent. i ralI \* p ^ ssm rt^fio?^ g «f ^llin°and conscience, via a Shaftel string 

form, and in the narrow confines state; Bethuel M. Webster, prez of poses an interesting prob- tryside,. throu^ gh fields ®^Sram a rep ii ca> 

of a tele screen, it came off more the bar association, and Samuel lem for h j s sponsor w ho supposed- past g rievin | Preceding his standard finish-off 

‘r. ^ ' r ~ ' crlooct PATYiTTl ■SS'SK !ris°no h t iS intere S s 0 ted W m Sung ST5SS come^lite with Eddie Jackson, Durante came 


tet of gabbers was obviously well- wars me argument ot saieiy Doris . Hich as the m i dwi fe was 

Informed but they failed to hold similarly moving. ^oyal Dano was ^ a ^ ett Roy B argy's orch did a 

audience interest. we °PP? slte siae ot me political convincln g as Linco n, with Joanna ... , h thr „, lc , hmif Trnl , 


fion, carried it off well. thfy failed S hold used against com, 

Opera, with a very simple story t t J the opposite sid< 

] , ine 'JV sympathetic study of a wfth no moderator or emcee at spectrum. 

troubled young suburban couple th w l f e , m thejr chit chat often 

drifting apart under stress of their " t ^ far afleld Any time WAfi „ 

daily life and problems. Action, A fhn r thrPA inkpd Pear- 

In _seven scenes- and Prolog, covers : Mto !?* c r f sHL m?Pcttoh P his W ^ h E d ^ ie 


audience interest. v — — convincing as bincom, wuu ouaim« niftv inh thrmiPhnnt Tmu 

With no moderator or emcee at spectrum. Dave. Ro0 s playing his wife effectively, nifty job, thro ughout . Trau. 

the helm, their chitchat often Producer Richard de Rochemont, T he kinepinnine of Henrv Fonda 

ranged too far afield. Any time WHER e \yA.S I? director Norman Lloyd and James . i en gthv slice of the y former 

one of the other three asked Pear- WUh Eddie Dunn> cmcee; Virginia Agee, who wrote the commentary, Broadway 'egit hrt “Mr Roberts ” 

son an interesting question his Graham, Louis Untermeyer, deserve plaudits for a him which : lu f t u e y sh ‘^i 0 f Edith Piaf 

answer was cut off by the others Nancy GuiId> Pe ter Donald, should become classic and which a duo of sturdv kevstones 

cutting in on him. There was pane lists; Margaret Whiting, will focus attention on the next F^ -Toast of th f e Town” Sunda? 

none of the sharp give-and-take ^ est ot hers; Bob Williams, an- four installments on this Ford Tn addition thi^^e«?«?ion in- 

which such shows need to compen- nouncer Foundation series. . 


in seven scenes ana oroiog, covers - irtorocf ; nd nnprtinn his A , 

a day in their life. The couple car- s ™ xtt a ” „ fa x „ llt i? v the others graham, Louis Untei 
rie« the main sineine-actine load answer was cut off by tne otners Nancy Guild, Peter 

i+u in u main v. s n ? a ~ l : n & toao» cu tting in on him. There was nanelists* Margaret \ 

although a subordinate trio of on- ° f c v,am aive-and-take Panelists, margarei ¥ 

lookers comments on the action ^ 1# .?! h ni?7 ee d to SmSen- gUeSt ’ others; Bob W,H,a 

from time tn time like a Greek which such shows need to compen nouncer 

chorus 1 Simolicitv’ of storv sft- sate for the \ ack . bi vls ? al actl0 , n - Producer: White-Rosenberg 

finis ^ and Sorption ^aVe^ ^atl Id€a ’ of in on. the speak- Director: Martin Magmer 

«• .while they’re in the middle of 30 Mins.; Tues.,- 9 p.m. 


“ Another highpoint, also on cel- Mario Del Monaco and 

j fi, n Toon Ponnif t ovv Leslie Randall. For added mess- 

Dir "Lonelv Hearts Club " fiVri of ure the U. of Pennsylvania Mask 
a series of y pS-isian ballets (being & Whiggers and Harrison & Fisher 

completed what was one of the 


In keenincr (nr a mnrlorn ennra in Willie — AV lUinS.; 1 UCa.,* V p.m. piC, J-iOneiy Jljeai lust w u. o T?ioV.cv. 

mirnltore g ’ f modern °P era m their conversation is a good one, WINE CORP. a series of- Parisian ballets (being * & 

immature. but the 29 minutes or so which DuMQNT, from N. Y. distributed by March of Time). J?™? 1 « Tn/ct" 

Score, though modern, with oc- followed didn’t live up to that (Weiss & Geller) This was a droll item, in dance and more satisfactory Toast .pn^ 

casional jazz intcrspBrsionSi is most nromisc. StoX* D^ntomirnB tcllins thB tal6 of a 6rams. 

often in lyric, romantic vein, of Latest in the string of panel quiz fight-hearted pickpocket (Gerard Fonda, along with a group of 

conventional but appealing style. n T> WWA pampgs shows which have been weighing ^ rer , 0V J n g the baubles of his competent actors, enacted a seg- 

Music is slightly reminiscent at 2 BK £5l? dS nStino) down the TV net T w °rks n recent ? a n r tners anTs^^^ of "lent from “Roberts" depicting the 

first, then settles into an individ- Nirola Moscona Rina Telli "Where Was I? is no bet- P r>i an i s t (Denise Bourgeois) until 'boredom of the crew, resultant 

nalistic pattern. It has many high- '’ 'LKtriV S LaRue nar- ter or worse than any rtin-of-the- S i“* n ^ thf gendarm- horseplay, and the title character’s 
lights the duet of the eouple won- “gg Darid’ Rols, Announcer; mine„. Only origmal ^ea m he h^ga.ly^ees tte gend^rm d mj ion to let the .war 

dering how to find their way back ' musi ^ al conductor, Giuseppe ‘I ,5 1 | 11 2« *h?re the oa“ what was happening at first, since pt away from him. This particu- 

to each other; the woman s lovely, Bamb oschek finest wll ft a eirtain time the reel started without an intro, Jar segment seemed to encompass 

plaintive aria about a garden, sung ProducCT: Carlo Vinti t ’ c t ’j‘' a r r w h ^ at * ™ a Uon hS but it built nicely with a deft Gallic the central points of. the plaj^ 

in the psychiatrist’s office; the Wr it^ P . wnmh Vinti F, ather A ms 0CCU P ail0 “» touch Mlss Piaf * doublmg from the 

man’s dramatic air “There’s A ^ SuS!| 7 T 30 p.m. oS^rfm&SS^used otSer Final film feature was a preview Versailles, NY., negotiated a pair 

Law About Men; ’ the ^zzy vurtu- pROG RESSO BRANDS SSS Ihow^ widucere It’s ob- excerpted from Pictura’s “Leo- of tunes in which she could do no 

oso bff by the wom an a s she de-- wpix N# y. viW v a lo w-cost ^ ackage, so nardo da Vinci," which profiles the wrong. "La Vie en Rose and 

scribes a film she 3 seen; the trio’s (Carlo vinti) SJ * 0 T for its sponsor on Renaissance genius by lensing his x.’Accordiomste" arevrobably the 

Suburbia” refrain and the final « 0 pera Cameos” launched its S st K ratinfi it might draw. paintings, sketches and models of two best-known works from her 

duet, “Is There A Day or Night." third P yea r of capsulized opera w?t h Eddie Dunn ?n the emcee his inventions in a good educa- catalog She did these tunes ex- 

All this is first-rate stuff, es- Sunday (16) with Verdi’s “La Forza pijo;.. t^e guests bring with them tional opus. Somewhat disappoint- celleritly, and the surrounding pro- 

pecially when as well-rendered as de l Destino.” Series is an attrac- photograph which is, flashed on ing was the short on plastics, filmed duction, although unobtrusive, 
they were Sunday. Beverly Wolff, tive dish for opera aficionados, ] ar g e screen behind the panel, with a Princeton prof lecturing his helped Miss Piaf s cause somewhat, 

with a rich, dramatic soDrano. and otron thrmah it’s limited to three Knf iricihia place • which overworked the trick The others also contributed 


young pair, gifted both vocally and given standout interpretation by answ er. Dunn tosses the panel the chemical crucibles. liacci showed his adeptness, while 

histrionically. Constance Brigham, topflight performers and over- some insignificant bit of informa- Of the live portions, the “Tele- Randall indicated that he could do 

Robert Kole and William Harder shadpw the unimaginative camera- t i on> and pan elists then get a phone,” introed by composer Gian- well on the chichi circuit. Latter 
were a smooth, musical trio of work and low-budget mounting. chance to ask five questions each Carlo Menotti, was a delightful has a nice, light comedy touch and 

above-average quality. Occasion- Preem show of its third season j n rotation. Each time the ques- insert, registering perhaps even should be a good bet in the hotel 

ally, mike didn’t pick them up dis- was devoted to highlights from the tioning shifts from one panelist to more appealingly than in its origi-* spots. Harrison & Fisher, a pair 

tinctly enough, or let them fade second act of Verdi’s majestic another, the sponsor donates $5 in nal Broadway. edition. It’s an en- of vet ballroomers, showed their 

out too fast. Cartoon sets were opera. The ihelodious arias were tho guest’s name to the Damon joyable musical spoof and was ability and comedy and straight 

clever, but the skimpy regular sets delivered with force and taste by Runyon Cancer Fund. . neatly sung by Ethel Gordon and terping. 

may not have suggested a real sub- soprano Rina Telli, bass-baritone . On show caught (11), Dunn im- Andrew Gainey, with Emanuel The UP thesps always provide a 

urban home. Nicola Moscona and basso Lloyd P ressed as an affable emcee. He’s Balaban- conducting. Another live colorful sequence. Their song- 

But these are minor beefs. Clever Harris. Miss Telli and Moscona n o John Daly, of “What’s My section, in which host Alistair and-dance theme this time was on 

camera and production work, plus were especially effective in their Line” repute, but he handles the. Cooke interviewed the principal of the American revolution, and their 
obviously careful overall supervi- solo chores. Static camera, how- panel and the guests well. P an .^I’ a dog training school on canine spot at the start of the show helped 

sion made this a fine event. ever, made their offerings more ists were animated enough, with P sychology, was- not in the same warm up the proceedings. 

Bron. appealing to the ear than the eye. Peter Donald, as anchor-man, toss- ie a gue with the rest of the layout. Jose. 

David Ross’ stentorian tones put ing in most of the . bon mots. Production, handled by William - 

tiver the pitch for the sponsor, Others included fashion coordi- Spier as producer, Andrew Me- Donald O’Connor had to go it 
OUR GOODLY HERITAGE while HugTi LaRue did an adequate nator Virginia Graham, author Cullough as .director and Boris D. a lone Sunday night (16) on “The 


OUR GOODLY HERITAGE 
With William Bush Baer 
Producer-writer: Baer 
Director: Vern Diamond 
15 Mins.; Sun., 11:30 a.ra. 
Sustaining 
WCBS-TV, N. Y. 


Donald O’Connor had to go it 
alone Sunday night (16) on “The 


job in running down the plot line. Louis Untermeyer and actress Kaplan as 'film supervisor, was Colgate Comedv Hour" (NBC). An 
Giuseppe Bamboschek’s baton work Nancy Guild. Singer Margaret smoother than the kickoff stanza, hour of O’Connor is not tough to 
was a sock asset. Gros. Whiting appeared as the name Cooke pleased w ith his usual ur- take, because here is one Sf the 


Sustaining - crn'fT AND IN OCTOBER Announcer Bob Williams handled 

WCBS-TV, N. Y. WtthMacdonald Dalv the blurbs for Mogen-David Wine 

Latest in a string of educational, S MinJ (2) ^ Iy acceptably, qoncentratmg on 

public service shows being aired r^v” frn * Glasgow Rereading the wine s usage to a 

** CBS-TV’s key N... Y. outlet, in 5 Lang 'Syne general clientele. Stal. 

‘Our Goodly Heritage’ impresses lal Si faring October were sur« ■ 

t^ a fOT N 0n Y. S v?ew d e a r y s ffa'- Vd in TIME OUT 

Newark u m 's B eolleg B £ ae of artfand 1® up flaws in camerawork mrectorfGrevel’j^AUeV 

science^ doing bSly what he ?"d 1° ^ M °"-’ 7:30 P ’ m - 

does in his own class in Bible te 1 ^ waa upheld, subjects 1 rang Sustaining 
literature at NYU— reading pas- mg f rom hydro-eiectnc schemes to WENR-TV, Chicago 

* . . . _ _ ^ *vi n ft Vi 1 aa OTlfl TOnt m 3 I I- A +rA« m 11 nn nAArltf ffiol nnn 


- nA -f „ _ r- ^ uctaujc JiCIC ID UUC ui tuv* 

gU Announcer Bob Williams handled ral w^?i d spielmg - Commer- fine young performers anywhere. 

the^blurbs C for M^en-David Wine clals for Wlllys were par ’ BnI ’ « '™s fortunate however, that he 

*’ V _ ° . . _ ■ — i «■ - urop am nwn/ifi/iAllit nil t-Un iim a r\A— 


was on practically all the time, be- 

Jimmy Durante, whenever he cause there was little else on this 
elects to reduce his kinetic cavort- show. 

ings in tele, can always click as The boy sings, dances and reads 
a .product* peddler. Schnozzola a line as if he were & script actor 
looked devastatingly beautiful (but all his life (which he has been), 
of course) in a sexy handling of And he does all of them superla- 
the Del Monte Catsup commercial tively well. What this kid needs 
along about midway in the tri- right now for the full recognition 
sponsored “All Star Revue” last that he deserves is a top Broadway 
Saturday (15) via NBC-TV. The musical in which to show off his 


sages from the Bible and* spot- card-filing machines- and football- After much costly trial and script called for him to trade tech- fullest talents. Neither Hollywood 
lighting their literary excellence ers * error, programmers of local fare niques with the regular gabber on nor TV has yet given him the back- 

And this he does exceedingly well As opener, cameras caught a have pretty generally settled on manner of product plugging. ing that he merits. 

Obviously enamored of his sub- Pair bands at the typewriter, the “how to do it” and interview But Durante certainly didn’t O'Connor’s top guest star was 
jeet matter. Dean Baer is an ani- moving in to a closeup of Scot formats as the most successful need any typescript approach when Ann Sheridan, and Miss Sheridan 
mated reader who injects consid- scribe Macdonald Daly doing the within a reasonable budget range, it came to such glamour stuff as was no help. *She fluffed a couple 
erahle life into his work. Show, emcee chores. Scrapbook tech- “Time Out,” hosted by sports gab- delicately— oh so delicately— lifting of times and failed to punch over 
in a way, fits into the one-man nique was used as contents guide, her Jack Dress, combines both ele- his pants to reveal his garters, the lines in the sketch with the 
reading pattern set for legit by newspaper headlines being used ments in pleasantly informal fash- combined with a striptease-type headliner, a weak piece of material 
Charles Laughton, Emlyn Wil- on album flaps. Lack of musical ion, and should command much at- stance, to the greater glory of in which Miss Sheridan played A 
liams, etc. background during film of Royal tention from admirers of things catsup in general and Del Monte French saleswoman in a gift shop. 

He works against a simulated Family visit to hydro-electric plant muscular. i n pa rticular. And Miss Sheridan had better shed 

set of his own study, which lends in Highlands marred this sequence, Besides being a highly compe- Show’s big number was built some of that heft, or was it the 
the correct atmosphere to the adding outdated atmosphere, tent athletic spieler, Drees is also a round the “Club Durant Opera dress that made her look that way? 

show. Emphasis is on the Bible Sports page was handled by BBC’s apparently a homecraftsman of G o pairing him with guestar Lily Patti Moore and Ben Lessy in- 

pt: lijnr^tnrn (Uam am 4-u ~ iu A n DaIam mnein ArpnlP nnilitv ann onihnci* • _ • i t__ n n’pAriH 


v v. . — ^ ^ « j j . MJ.am.uiK auuut ao a vyuuu uviuyu, * <1 

minded, but among all viev production qualities . will have to U P- as a 8°°d device to get away Within that nutty framework they O’Connor and his perennial 

Stal. be vastly slicked up a^ am ah) i ....... * 1 1 am ma aa 


Gord. 


(Continued on page 40) 


also squared away on a special 


(Continued on page 40) 


t* m m ■m ' 




• f* • % » m 




>»i4 a a « * ♦ . . 


. I •14* O 


t. •» » 


• « '» *» “* 


, . <4 


31 


Wednesday,’ November 19, 1952 



RADIO REVIEWS 


republic star time 

With Marilyn Cantor; Bill Langr, 

announcer; Dolores Gray, guest 
Producer-director: Sol Tepper 
30 Mins.; Mon.-Sat., 8:30 p.m. 
REPUBLIC STORES' 

WMGM, New York 

( Robert Whitehill) 

Marilyn Cantor has taken over 
the disk jockey stint for Republic 
Stores previously handled by Bea 
Kalmus. Like, her father, Eddie, 

who does a network (NBC) deejay 
Show, Miss Cantor shows plentj of 
show biz savvy in gabbing between 
the sides. However, her stint for 
indie WMGM differs from the 
pater’s platter-patter series in that 
she pla.es more emphasis on the 
gab and uses guests. On the edi- 
tion caught Thursday (13*), the 
visiting artist was Dolores Gray, 
with whom she conducted a hep 
Interview. 

This included chatting about 
Miss Gray’s disking for Decca, her 
musicomedy and radio experience, 
the difference between vocalizing 
for wax and for a Broadway audi- 
ence, the help she got from Mary 
Martin, etc. Interspersed with the 
talk were three Gray recordings 
(including her latest release), all 
strong items. Adding another tune 
or two might have been desirable, 
although the tete-a-tete was infor- 
mative and of interest to pop 
music fans. Miss Cantor handles 
the session in appealing fashion 
and has been around (for exam- 
ple, she had caught Miss .Gray’s 
opening at N. Y.’s Copacabana and 
in the Philly tryout of a show that 
never hit Gotham), which makes 
for a knowledgeable colloquy. Bill 
Lang delivers the plugs for the 
TV-appliarice store sponsor palata- 
bly despite the hard-sell approach. 

Bril. 


business or social life during the 
course of this half-hour local show 

The Fitzgeralds, for the preem’, 
gathered together a panel which 
comprised Claude Philippe, Hotel 
Waldorf-Astoria exec; Victor van 
der Linde, an industrialist; florist 
Irene Hayes, and coutourier Mme. 
Nicole. The panelists and modera- 
tors failed to hit a rapport that 
would have permitted this half- 
hour to roll smoothly. 

However, the general run of 
questions seemed to merit seri- 
ous attention. One of the useful 
points that seemed to have been 
inferred on the show is the sound 
assumption that etiquette seems to 
be an application of common sense 
and. elementary manners. 

The Fitzgeralds, generally a 
couple of smooth, operators, didn’t 
appear to be at their best on this 
preem. Although it was probably 
meant to provide comedy, Fitz- 
gerald’s admonition to get* off the 
commercial and get the show roll- 
ing didn t seem to be very man- 
nerly for a session that discoursed 
on manners. Another error was 
Mrs. Fitzgerald’s signoff, which 
called the program ‘’Rate Your 
Manners.” But. of course, they’ll 
soon hit their usually charming 
stride. Mrs. Fitzgerald’s commer- 
cials had considerable grace and 
ingenuity. 

The panel was cooperative, and 
tried hard to make with the witty 
badinage. The male panelists 
seemed to register best on this 
session. Jose. 


MINDY CARSON SHOW 
With Russ Case orch 
Producer: Louis Melamed 
Writer: Charles Monroe 
Director: Bruno Zirato, Jr. 

15 Mins.; Tues., .Thurs., 7:30 p.m. 
Sustaining ' 

CBS, from N. Y. 

Mindy Carson, who is adding 
lustre to her rep via her current 
stand at the Plaza Hotel’s Persian 
Room, N. Y.. is sparking a cracker- 
jack song session on the CBS net 
in a twice-weekly spot. She fol- 
lows the Jack Smith-Dinah Shore 
session on the web for a solid back- 
to-back parlay of vocalists. 

Miss Carson’s show has a 
straightforward format, featuring 
her vocals and also showcasing 
guest artists. On last Thursday’s 
show (13 1 , Duke Ellington appeared 
on the occasion of his 25th anni 
as a top bandleader and dished 
up a tasteful medley ol his hit 
compositions. 

Miss Carson. however, has 
enough charm and vocal talent to 
carry this stanza by herself. She 
has an ingratiating style without 
any tricky flourishes, and regis- 
tered strongly Thursday on such 
numbers as “Why Don’t You Be- 
lieve Me.” "I’m Beginning to See 
the Light” (an Ellington tune) and 
"Somewhere Along the Way.” Russ 
Case orch furnished tasteful instru- 
mental backing, with Miss Carson 
also handling the gab with warmth 
and intimacy. Herm. 


captured -through a flock of plat- 
ters. Among them were Charles 
A. Lindbergh’s first address in the 
U. S. after his solo flight across 
the Atlantic; Helen Morgan war- 
bling, "Bill”; A1 Jolson singing 
"Kol Nidre,” and a reading of 
"Hamlet” excerpts by John Barry- 
more. All the waxings were effec- 
tive, and the preceding commen- 
tary, penned by George Lefferts 
was succinct. 

Miss Pickens’ "live” offerings 
were "Make Believe,” "Mississippi 
Mud” and ‘You Are Love.” They 
were delivered, in standout style. 
Frank Black’s tasteful orch. back- 
ing was an important plus. 

Gros. 


MEND YOUR MANNERS 
With Ed & Pegeen Fitzgerald, 

Claude Philippe, Victor van der 

Linde, Mme. Nicole, Irene Hayes 
Producers; The Fitzgeralds 
30 Mins., Mon., 8:30 p.m. 
Participating 
WJZ, N. Y. 

Ed & Pegeen Fitzgerald, vet Mr* 
&. Mrs. radio and tele performers, 
embarked Monday (17) on an in- 
formative panel show which seeks 
to capitalize on the average per- 
son’s desire to, stick to accepted 
social mores, even without a basic 
knowledge of Emily Post. * The 
average listener will pick up a few 
hints that should aid him in his 


IT’S ALL YOURS 

With Jimmy Logan, Stanley Bax- ' 
ter, Willie Joss, others 
Producer: Eddie Fraser 
30 Mins., Mon., 7 p.m. 

Sustaining 

BBC, from Glasgow 

Comedy stint broadcast weekly 
from Scot base of British Broad- 
casting Corp., is of varying qual- 
ity. though high in. popularity with 
Auld Lang Syne listeners. It fea- 
tures young comedian Jimmy Log- 
an nephew of Ella Logan), along 
with funsters Stanley Baxter and 
Willie Joss. Logan’s comedy, while 
essentially dialectic, is pleasant 
and entertaining. 

Stanza caught (31) had many 
topical gags and sweet singing by 
thrush Margaret MacDonald. Close 
harmony vocals were neatly han- 
dled by the Six in Accord, radio 
and disk team, and entire layout 
was backed by BBC’s Scottish Va- 
riety orch under baton of .vet con- 
ductor Kemlo Stephen. Gord. 


THROUGH THE YEARS 
With Jane Pickens, Frank Black 

orch 

Producer-director: George Wallach 
Writer: George Lefferts 
25 Mins., Thurs., 10:35 n.m. 

NBC, from New York 

Producer-director George Wal- 
lach has whipped up an interesting 
wax format to surround t hrush 
Jane Pickens on her new series. 
"Through the Years.” Unusual 
twist in this platter-spinning show 
is that • in lieu of the orthodox 
disks. Miss Pickens spins platters 
representative of a specific year 
in the past. 

Through the platters, and her 
brief introductory comment, dial- 
ers get an adequate picture of 
what was going on then musically 
and historically. Series, however, 
doesn’t reljegate Miss Pickens 
solely to a narralor-deejay’s posi- 
tion. She’s given ample opportu- 
nity to pipe which is the show's 
best feature. 

On the initial broadcast Thurs- 
day (13), the year of 1927 was re- 


ANYTHING GOES 
With Dee Finch and Gene Klavan 
210 Mins.; Mon.-Sat., 6 a.m. 
Particiuating 
, WNEW, New York 

With Gene Rayburn having 
switched to a single on WNBC. his 
ex-confrere Dee Finch on the 
WNEW wake-up stanza on Monday 
(17) started working with Gene 
Klavan. Latter, who comes up 
I from WTOP, Washington, where 
he took over the old Arthur God- 
frey local stint, shows good talent 
for this kind of assignment. He 
i stacks up as a polished performer, 
i He has a flair for voice caricatur- 
; ing and teams up well with Finch. 
Finch knows the ingredients and 
can keep things running smoothly, 
without letting the whackiness get 
out of hand or degenerate into poor 
taste. 

The indie’s programmers feel 
that in the pattern originally set 
by Rayburn and Jack Lescoulie 
(who, incidentally, is still in the 
morning sweepstakes via NBC- 
TV’s "Today”) and then for a long 
span by the Rayburn-Finch duo, 
is worth hanging on to. "Anything 
Goes” is the tag and "anything 
goes” is the theme — with lotsa 
stress placed on cuteness, kidding 
the commercials, engineering and 
disK tricks, pop and off-beat wax- 
ings, and off-the-cuff ad lib fun- 
making. 

The format has paid off, with 
"Anything” racking up top or 
No. 2 ratings during its 3!/2-hour 
daily block. Thus, with Klavan 
succeeding Rayburn, it’s still 
"Gene and Dee” and the station is 
doing nothing that will disturb the 
old listening patterns. Promo- 
tionally little’ was done to herald 
the changeover, except for on-the- 

| Continued on page 38) 


GENE RAYBURN SHOW 
With Helen Rayburn 
Producer: Bob Smith 
j 150 Mins.; Mon.-Sat., 6 a.m. 
Participating 
| WNBC, New York 

Gotham key of NBC is aiming 
lo strengthen its morning , lineup, 
as the pivotal period of the broad- 
cast day, by inserting Gene Ray- 
burn into the 6-8:30 a.m. niche 
previously occupied by Bob Elliot 
and Ray Goulding. and before that 
by Skitch Henderson, Tex Antoine 
and Bob Smith (no relation to the 
producer). Rayburn ways lured over 
from WNEW, where he had been 
partnered with Dee Finch for a 
half-dozen years; Finch elected to 
stay put on the indie with a new 
vis-a-vis, and the two airers are 
now directly competitive. 

Rayburn will do all right. In 
the teamup with Finch lie had 
been the more zany half of the 
twosome, with Finch adding the 
feet-on-the-ground element. As a 
solo he exhibits an affable per- 
sonality, an ability to handle trick 
voices, a quick and spontaneous 
wit and an easy-to-breakfast-with 
manner that’s cheerful without be- 
coming unnatural. On the maiden 
run Monday (17) he wisely played 
down the antics, while the disks 
subdued the novelty kick in favor 
of stronger pop platters — tunes 
were solid, listenable items. 

He did some vocal caricatures, 
for example, introing a "Robert 
Hall” as the voice of his clothing 
sponsor. Device of interpolating a 
phrase from a record or spot into 
a commercial as a gag was also 
used cutely. Rayburn’s wife Helen 
does a bookish society matron take- 
off which will be an occasional 
feature, on the initialer gabbing 
on bird-watching. 

Jock’s ad libability came over 
as he kidded the N. Y. Times 
radio section for listing him as 
“Gene Raymond” and commented 
on a wire from NBC veepee 
Charles. (Bud.) Barry, whose house 
he recently bought. It was also 
evident in his tete-a-tete with 
Skitch Henderson and Meredith 
Wilson, who had conflicting sug- 
gestions for his theme and ended 
up playing them in obbligato. 

An advantage of his one-man 
routine is a more intimate rela- 
tion with the audience, via speak- 
ing more directly to the dialer.' He 
gives frequent time checks and 
weather capsules, and handles the 
blurbs pleasantly, tongue-in-cheek- 
ing some. Bril, 


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«?^Wn<biy, Wnveimlxr 19, 1952 




PfissiETY 

Ml i il 


Television has always had to lead a sort of trailer-camp 
existence. There never was time to find out exactly what 
it was and what it needed for fluid, efficient production 
.for television was in too much of a hurry to pause 
for station identification. 

^11 the same, miracles happened. Programs got on the air, 
in increasing dim£frsion, to ever-increasing audiences. 

It was clear at once that television was different from any 
other kind of show business — that it had driving demands 
ol its own. Speed, for instance. Last year, our New York 
studios alone produced as many hours of program 
product in an average week as the Broadway theatre does 



in a season 9 or Hollywood’s biggest studio in a ymr. 

It was clearer still that television was different from any 
other advertising medium. It brought a staggering 
complexity. . . and a thundering impact, with the most 

s 

direct and spectacular advertising results the world 
had ever seen. 

But the miracles had to come off more easily, speedily, 

economically. So we built a factory for them to happen 

in ... a factory where program product could flow on an 

assembly line, from idea to show-time. 

¥ 

It is called Television City. On November 15. 1952 

¥ ' 

in Hollywood, the assembly line began full operation. 
Ready to produce programs as they must be done today 
— with almost the speed of the light on television's 
screens. Capable of growing in any direction this 
astonishing medium may take. Providing greater delight 
for its. constantly swelling audiences . . . aiid a constantly 
better buy for its advertisers. 


S3 


$4 


RADIO-TELEVISION 


p%Rit?ft 


Wednesday, November 19 . lo-o 

^ — .—.~ — i-m_i_i ^ ■* 7 il^i 


NBC Sets Testing Service 


technicians will also be provided. 
When additional performers, crew 
or facilities are needed, NBC will 
scale the cost accordingly, but the 


Continued from page 21 


at a time, he will share the pro- 
duction session with one or more 
other clients. After the testing, be- 
fore an audience of 350 persons, 


- I — — i AVI V Ull UUUtLItVU V/ 1 l/l/V & OVilO) 

rese . rves right to hike the ' a report analyzing the results will 
$800 price if union scales are i be prepared by Schwerin and 
raised. , turned over to the agency. NBC 

Five basic sets, which c?.n be ( announced that the test service is 
modified to provide 50 different j also available to advertisers oa its 
backgrounds, will be available, I radio network, 
along with NBC’s film library. A j To point up the need for such a 


one or two-day production sched- 
ule will be worked out whenever 
NBC receives a request for the pro- 
duction of 10 or more spots. If an 


testing service, NBC revealed re- 
sults of testing of approximately 
2,000 different TV spots conducted 
by Schwerin- Research outfit, after 


advertiser wishes fewer than 10 ! gleaning information from the 


viewers, set down five basic prin- 
ciples for effective TV commercials, 
including the need to correlate the 
sound and picture; effective demon- 
stration of the product; need to 
keep the copy simple; need to use 
the right “presenter,” and to keep 
the setting authentic. 

Schwerin study concludes; “It 
becomes increasingly clear that the 
findings put a premium on good 
thinking and bold imagination. 
These principles are not tricks 
which automatically turn out good 
commercials; they merely establish 
boundaries marking off the wide 
areas in which creative initiative 
has full play. But we do feel the 
advertiser who- keeps these prin- 
ciples in mind can substantially 
raise the performance level of his 
TV commercials.” 


WWJ’c 



ft OB MAXWELL . . . Fraternity of 
Early Risers. A JliihtH at 

t 

6:30 A. M. Monday through Friday. 



JOHN MKRRIFIELD . . . News for 
Detroiters. A AiWti Jliittn at 7:00 
A. M. — 9:00 A. M. 



ROSS MyL.HOM.AND . . . Detroit’s 
most-quoted disc jockey. A Aftut 
JluUn at 1:05 P. M. Monday 
through Friday. 




l 

V ' %. £?>■$ 


#\ 

VICTOR LINDLAHR . . . "To Your 
Health.” A JLuUh at 9:15 

A. M. Monday through. Friday. 



TOM MacMAHON . . . News From 

e 

The Editor's Viewpoint. A yVW<*» 
£uUh at 1:00 P. M. and 2:00 P. M. 


1 


f. * 



k-.rA 

CHARLES PENMAN . . . The Voice 
With Music. A /Vaai at 

7:00 P. M. Monday through Friday. 


Detroit’s Station of AIb>UA JliAtcHS* 


• ® •© 




Urn 


The best in programming —for the best in listening 

THt WORLD'S FIRST RADIO STATION . . . Owreed oeJ Operated iy THE DETROIT NEWS 

fve« THE GEORGE P, HOUINGURY COMPANY 


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AM - KILOCYCLES - 3DM WATTS 
FM-qUAHHEl 24J-37.1 MEGACYCLES 



Inside Stuff— Radio 

Getting the jump on CBS-TV, which usually is sought for on ]• 
scale promotion tieins, the CBS Radio net this we$k set a deal f . 
one-shot coverage of Look magazine’s annual All-American loot/'n 
awards^ dinner, slated this year for Dec. 5. Ballyhoo splurge v 
wrapped up by John Derr, the net’s sports director, along with Ha )- 3 
Feeney of CBS Radio’s press info department and Look’s Bert Bark'^ 
With Red Barber as emcee, CBS will air the dinner in a novel nrodu 
tion designed by Derr. While- the broadcast itself will plug Look' 
CBS will benefit via a fullblown promotion campaign being staged h’ 
the mag. Show is designed to climax this season’s Saturday afternoon 
“Football Roundup” shows on CBS, which Barber narrates and Derr 
produces, and spotlight Barber’s New Year’s Day football bowl coverage 

WLIB, N. Y. t has made a tieup with Associated Grocers of Harlem 
to merchandise* the indie’s Negro-slanted block. Station has given 
AGH a 15-minute weekly series, in return for which AGH’s 190 stores 
are plugging the indie and featuring products of its bankroll ers! if^ 
designed as a plus for WLIB advertisers. 

Outlet has renovated its studios in Harlem’s Hotel Theresa and next 
week will increase its originations there to 6 J 2 hours daily. 


There’s a move afoot by friends of Lewis Allen Weiss, high in GOP 
councils, to boom him for the FCC chairmanship. He’s been a party 
worker for many years and the chairmanship can be made available to 
him on the basis of the present party ratio. After 25 years in radio and 
TV, more than a dozen of them as headmar of the Don Lee network, 
Weiss is considered one of the sharper minds in the business and a 
practical choice for the commission leadership. 

Inside Stuff-Television 

' NBC-TV’s Kate Smith show and CBS-TV’s “Big Top” were inad- 
vertently omitted from Variety’s estimated TV talent cost chart last 
week. Miss Smith’s program, aired cross-the-board from 4 to 5 p.m. 
and sponsored on a participating basis, carries a net talent and produc- 
tion cost of $3,490 per quarter-hour. “Big Top.” sponsored by Na- 
tional Dairy via the N. W. Ayer agency and aired Saturdays on CBS 
from 12 noon to 1 p.m., carries a net talent and production cost ot 
$10,600. 

Duo-pianists Arthur Whittemore and Jack Lowe setr some record 
with seven N. Y. performances last week. In addition to their regular 
TV show', Monday. Wednesday and Friday over WOR-TV. N. Y., they 
appeared twice with orchestra on “TV Dinner Date” Thursday and 
Friday (13-14), also on WOR. Tuesday (11) the pair played in recital 
at Sstatkh&rap&o&v L. I,, -on. the Community. Concert. Series there, . For 
their seventh performance of the week, they played for the New York 
Philharmonic-Symphony’s Friends Fund luncheon at the Plaza HoteL 


WWJ-TV; Detroit, and its rep. the George B. Hollingberry Co., are 
“roadshov'ing” the station’s physical talent layout across the coun- 
try via closed circuit telecasts. Station is beaming a tour of its facili- 
ties tomorrow (Thurs.) to an assemblage of agency and bankroller reps 
at the Waldorf-Astoria, N. Y., and repeats the private showing next 
Tuesday (25) for^their Chi counterparts gathered at the Blackslone 
Hotel. 


Value of radio aqd television stations in community public service 
was pointed up this week by a compilation of the free air plugs given 
charitable organizations by the network -flagship stations ip N. Y. 
WNBC and WNBT, twin keys of the NBC web, revealed that their 
Community Bulletin Board, in which they provide gratis station spots 
for grassroots orgs, such- as PTA, suburban fire departments, Boy Scout 
meetings, etc., has serviced over 150 separate associations this year 
to date, which would have a rate card- value of more than $70,000. 
This is in addition to the free time granted by the two stations to 
the regular charity drives, such as the Red Cros", Community Chest, 
etc. 

Value of the time given to the latter organization by local radio 
and TV stations was emphasized by the record of WCBS-TV, the CBS 
video web’s N. Y. flagship. During the third quarter this year alone, 
the station provided public service spots valued at $300,375. This is 
a new dollar-value high for the station, the total exceeding the second 
quarter’s by $26,620. WCBS-TV expects to continue its cooperation 
with such organizations for the rest of the year, which will probably 
bring its donated time to more than $ 1 , 000,000 worth. 


AM-TV Miracles’ 


Continued from page 25 


pound weight is expected to be re- 
duced by more than one-third. Also 
demonstrated were a portable pub- 
lic address system, portable FM re- 
ceivers, wireless phonograph jacks, 
toy musical instruments and tran- 
sistor developments in portable ra- 
dios, phonographs and auto radios. 

According to Dr. Engstrom, RCA 
doesn’t expect the transistor to re- 
place the electron tube “any more 
than radio replaced the phono- 
raph.” In fact, he added, “the mar- 
ket for electron tubes may even in- 
crease uncler the full impact of 
commercial transistors.” He said 
that there are some tasks which 
transistors perform more effective- 
ly than tubes, but that there also 
are some applications where only 
tubes will perform. 

The demonstration teed off a se- 
ries of technical conferences for 
he radio-electronics industry which 
began yesterday (Tues.). 


WHAT’S NEW? 

THE ’53 PLYMOUTH 

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on 


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1 

San Antonio — The Southwestern , 
Bell Telephone Co., started a 153 ; 
mile coaxial cable between this 
city and Corpus Christi Thursday 
13). The project has been on the 
planning boards for the past year 
and is expected to be completed ' 
within three months. At the pres - 1 
ent time, the cable will be used 
primarily for telephone conversa- 
tions, but as soon as Corpus Christi 
and other cities on the line .have j 
. outlets, then network programs! 
vull be carried. I 


PERSONALIZED 

Publicity Service 

For Budding TV Stars — Moderate Fee* 
Writ* Box V-2 121-9, Variety, 

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fire: island, 

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house, fully equipped A furnished, 
fireplace, sun deck; $7,300. 

GR 3-8576, evenings. 






35 


qfcflneeday? November 19, 1952 





\ 



Highest rated 
daytime TV 



The Kate Smith Hour 

m 

4 to 5 p. m., EST 




To reach 'and sell the women of America, you should have 
•these advantages — Kate Smith’s exclusive advantages: 

1. A rating that’s still climbing. Compare this October’s 
12.2 to last October’s 11.5*. 

2. Reaches more homes than any other daytime TV show*. 

3. Twice the sales effectiveness, per dollar spent, of the 
average TV show. (NBC’s study, "TV Today.”) 

4. No network competition. 

5. Big 57-station live network. 

9 

6. A merchandising natural. NBC’s Merchandising ser- 
vice will help you capitalize at the point of sale on Kate’s 

" famous name and faithful following. 

7. Demonstrated selling success with these famous adver- 
tisers represented now: Procter & Gamble, James Lee#,..'-' 
Nescafe, Doeskin, Block Drug, Johnson and Johnson, 
Pillsbury, Gerber, Penick and Ford, Minute Maid, Simoniz, > . 
Knomark, Glidden, Toni. 

Add the inherent advantages of television — action, prod- 
uct demonstration, personal selling — and you have the most 
assured advertising buy you can make in the lucrative wom- 
en’s market. A 15-minute segment every week on the full 
63 station network costs only $138,645, time and talent, 
for 13 weeks. 

* *Nielsen October (Average Audience) 




I 


k 

a service of Radio Corporation of America 



RATOO-TELEVISION 



PfitolETf 


Wednesday, November 19 ^ 1952 


Television Chatter 


feature role on NBC's “Aldrich 
[’Family” Friday night (21). 


‘ New York 

•jNBC press info department will 
be hard-hit by vacationing honey- 
moon staffers during the next feto/ 
months. Magazine editor Auriil 
Macfie weds wine exec Russell D\ 
Douglas Nov. 28; Helene Schuck, 

in charge of office servicing, mar- 
ries Kresge exec Richard Janssen 
Jan. 24, and on the same day, 
Christine Casserly, secretary to 
trade editor Bill Lautcn and TV 
publicity manager Don Bishop, 
weds M. Henry Launhardt. Bishop’s 
wedding plans, set for Dec. 6, were 
previously announced. 

Jerry Fairbanks, indie Hollywood 
vidfilm producer who’s also been 
prez of TV Zoomar Corp., sold his 
interest in Zoomar to Jack Pegler, 
general manager of the firm, and 
Dr. Frank G. Back, inventor of the 
lenses. Under the new setup, Pegler 
takes over as prexy and Back will 
be veepee, secretary and treasurer 
. . .Admiral Corp., new sponsor of 
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen’s, show on 
DuMont, hosted the press at the 
show*S new season preem last night 
(Tues.) . Jackie Gleason heading a 
string of CBS-TV stars who will 
participate in Macy’S annual 
Thanksgiving Day parade, which is 
to be covered by tne web from 11 
a.m. to noon. Bob Trout is narrat- 
ing the overall activities for the 
web. . . Millicent Brower set for a 


Hollywood 

■ Robert L. Welch joins NBC Jan. 
i*on deal giving him percentage 
of TV shows, both live and filmed, 
.which former Paramount writer- 
producer creates . . . Mickey Free- 
man, former pub director at 
KLAC-TV, began new chores this 
week as publicity manager for 
Hoffman Radio . . . NBC v.p. John 
K. West to Philadelphia, where his 
mother died . . . George Putnam is 
new moderator of KTTV’s “How 
Did We Meet?” and Bob Sweeney 
joins panel . . . Mimi Benzell inked 
for guest shot with Kit* Bros, on 
NBC-TV’s Nov. 22 “All Star Re- 
vue.” Bill Harmon is producer, 
Sid Kullcr director . . . Rocky Mar- 
ciano, Denise Darcel, Ben Blue and 
terpers Nelle Fisher and Jerry 
Ross appear on George Jessel’s 
NBC-TV “All Star Revue” Nov. 29 
. . . Jack Kenaston ankled KTTV 
'for same job of ■ ad-promotion man- 
ager at KNBH. 

“You’re Never Too Old,” Harry 
Koplan production on KLAC-TV 
nearly two years, has been axed 
due to lack of sponsor interest .. . . 
“Dude Ranch Varieties,” starring 
Leo Carrillo and featuring Carole 
Richards/ dehuts on KTTV, with 
Hal Davis and Bob Sheppard pro- 
ducing hour-long stanza formerly 
on KLAC-TV, and Philippe deLacy 


directing, Bill Danch writing. Con- 
tinental Lab sponsors ... Ed 
Reimers began new show. “Cinema 
Chef,” on KTTV, replacing “Mar- 
jorie Heid’s Kitchen.” 


Chicago 

Frank Paceili has taken over the 
director reins on NBC-TV’s “Hawk- 
ins Falls,” replacing Chi NBC pro- 
gram chief Ben Park, who treks 
to New York later this week to 
pitch some new ideas at the home^ 
office brass. Park continues as 
“Hawkins” producer . . . Tele pro- 
ducer Jack Brand recovering from 
burns suffered when a flash fire 
gutted his apartment . . . George 
Jennings, radio-TV director for the 
Board of Education, discussed 
“TV in Education” last week be- 
fore the City Club Forum . . . Lee 
Phillip subbing for WBKB gabber 
Luckey North, who’s recupping 
from an auto collision . . . Chi 
ABC-TV topper Jim Stirton in 
Gotham on biz . . . Gee Lumber & 
Coal bankrolling “Regal Theatre” 
vidpix Tuesday nights on WGN- 
TV. 

WNBG program director* George 
Heinemann and scripter Marv 
David have cooked up a hush-hush 
project dubbed “.Faces in the Win- 
dow” as a late Saturday night 
closer. Ken Nordijie will appear 
as. the yam spinner . . . Sue Hau- 
gen new WBKB staffer . . . Clifton 
Utley’s 10:15 p.m. WNBQ news- 
casts stAys SRO, with the First Na- 
tional Bank checking off and West- 
ern Ave. Buick coming aboard . . . 
Marks Bros. Jewelers sponsoring 
Sunday afternoon and Thursday 
night feature pix on WGN-TV . . . 





AL MORGAN SHOW 

a 

with 2% million 
sales impressions a week!* 


:v. ' 
nv/*A' 



• ' ' 

j ^ SfSSSSSSSftSJS 


AI’s back and still beating the keyboard 
In the fascinating windmill style that 
kept his network ratings riding high ! 
And he’s back pulling an average of 
229,533* viewers a day in WLW-Tele- 
vision’s rich 3*city market. 


BESr 

^0 


Jit”':*' Buys 


Average weekly rating— Cincinnati 
14.3* 

Average weekly rating In all 3 cities 
11 . 6 * 

3 peak week-days, Tues., Wed., Hilt. 

15.4* 

. Nearest competition, well established kids’ show 

6.4* 

Competition fades away when A1 moves 
into the spotlight. And there’s further 
proof of the A1 Morgan magnetism. 
Thousands tune in specifically to watch 
bis show. 

Average sets In use preceding % hour show 
17.3%* 

Average sots in u» during his show 
25 %* 


WLW-T WLW-D WLW-C 

CINCINNATI • 0AYTOM CQLUMBM* 


< * 
•> 




< 

s* 


ri 

> >3 
; V 5 

' A 


\ 

< 


let kl Morgan 
k sing a Song of 
^ Sales for you! 

t 


ARBlAtmlcen (Uitarcli Burttiv) 




P 


Warblers Carolyn Gilbert and Dan- 
ny O’Neil co-hosting a quarter-hour 
songfest on WBKB four nights 
weekly for Goebels Beer . . . South 
Side Petroleum as of Dec. 13 buys 
the Friday night segment of Tony 
Weitzel’s “Town Crier” via WNBQ. 


San Francisco 

KRON’s Dorris . Carr named 
“Sweetheart, First Class” of Navy 
Jot Fighter Squadron 93. Pictures 
in the papers ’n’ everything . . . 
Telephone company announces sec- 
ond east-to-west TV microwave 
channel to be opened in mid-Janu- 
ary. Also an additional north- 
bound and southbound channel be- 
tween here and Los Angeles . . . 
Ted Mack’s “Original Amateur 
Hour” one-nighting (29) at the Cow 
Palace here . . . Virginia Lee Bur- 
ton and her new book, “Mabelle 
the Cable Car,” getting big play 
from local cable car-boosting TV 
emcees. 

Edward Everett Horton, here in 
‘'Nina,” did a TV commentary on 
one of his 1937 films rolled by 
KGO-TV ... TV casualties: “Let’s 
Look At Fashions,” with Evange- 
line Baker; “Your Warm Friend,” 
with Anita Day Hubbard “Stars 
of Tomorrow,” with Harry Von 
Zell . . . Guy Chemey and Dick 
Foy, who worked the recent KPIX 
‘‘Wishing Well,” team again (IQ) 
for a week at the St. Francis . . . 
Phyllis Skeleton, recent mama of 
a new son, returned to her “School 
Days” program just in time to 
celebrate its second anniversary 
. . . KRON-TV chalked up three 
full years of telecasting (15) - . . . 
Frieda Hennock to speak here on 
TV educational programs Nov. 28. 


London 

“No Cross, No Crown,” by Den- 
nis Parry, will be produced Sunday 
(23) by Campbell Logan, with Basil 
Sydney and Olga Lindo heading 
the cast . . . Serialized version of 
“The Pickwick Papers” begins Dec. 
6. Adaptation is by Robert Christie 
and Douglas Allen handles produc- 
tion. George Howe is to play the 
title role . . . Rose Franken’s “An- 
other Language” will be produced 
by Desmond Hawkins next Tuesday 
(25) . . . “Mystery at Mountcliffe 
Chase,” by 13-year-old Irene Lip- 
man, scheduled for production 
next Wednesday (26) in Children's 
TV . . . “Hit Parade” on Monday 
(17) starred Geraldo and his orch, 
with Diana Coupland, Laurie 
Payne, Jean Campbell, Joan An- 
derson, Monty Norman, the Hit 
Parade Dancers, Rita Williams 
and the Music Makers . . . “Music 
For You” Nov. 28 features guitar- 
ist Andres Segovia. 


CUPP HEADS PHILLY 
DIMES DRIVE IN 3D YEAR 

Philadelphia, • Nov. 18. 
Roger. W. Clipp, general mana- 
ger of the Philadelphia Inquirer 
stations (WFIL and WFIL-TV), has 
been named campaign director for 
the 1953 March of Dimes for the 
third consecutive year. In addition, 
Clipp serves as chairman of the 
executive committee for the Phila- 
delphia chapter, National Founda- 
tion for Infantile Paralysis. 

Clipp served as chairman for 
the Dimes drive last year, «which 
raised upwards of $350,000, largest 
sum ever collected here in the 
fight against infantile paralysis. 
Plans tentatively set by Clipp in- 
clude a telethon with all three 
Philly TV outlets taking part, Jan. 
16, and a Mothers March on Po^o, 
Jan. 27. 


More Fights, Grappling 
On WOR, WJZ TV Skeds 

With expanding interest in local 
boxing and wrestling, WOR-TV, 
N. Y., this week added grappling 
from Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, 
on Mondays. Sponsored by Sun- 
set appliance stores, the matmen 
will be beamed past the usual 11 
p.m. curfew, in the 9:30-midnight 
period. 

Meanwhile, WJZ-TV topper 
Trevor Adams has optioned a 
series of fights from the Ridge- 
wood ring, for Tuesdays in the 
9-10:30 p.m. slot. This would in- 
clude name pugilists, with the two 
main-eventers each getting over 
$2,000. There’s a possibility that 
these fightcasts may be a co-op on 
the ABC-TV network. 


Jason’s Coast Stint 

Will Jason, PSI-TV director, flies 
to the Coast Saturday (22), to di- 
rect the first two films in the new 
Gayelord Hauser series. 

Currently directing the Pepsi 
Cola series, Jason will resume this 
assignment when he has completed 
the two Hauser films. 


50 New Jersey Dealers 

Briefed on UHF as WFPG 

Preps December TV Bow 

. Atlantic City, Nov, 18 

Fifty television dealers from the 
southern New Jersey area were 
briefed on what is in store when 
television comes to the shore for 
the first time, as they attended a 
meeting in Hotel Dennis here (12) 
They listened to talks by Fred 
Weber, president of the WFPG.TV 
here, and Henry E. Bowes, UHF 
field director for Philco. Weber 
has promised local TV by Dec. 20 
after recently being granted a UHF 
license by the FCC. Resort sla* 
tion will use channel 46. 

Weber promised the dealers that 
"the resort and surrounding coun- 
ties would have a full holiday fare 
of top-notch programming. He said 
that the East-West football game 
on Dec. 27 would be telecast, as 
well as the New Year’s Day Rose 
Bowl game and inauguration of 
Gen. Eisenhower in Washington on 
Jan. 20. 

He declared that WFPG-TV 
would be a major NBC affiliate, 
and would also take programs from 
DuMont and ABC. Radio WFPG is 
now an affiliate of CBS. 

Weber-calculated there are ap. 
proximately 46,000 television sets 
in Atlantic City and county and 
the three surrounding counties. 
None of these sets will be able to 
receive channel 46 without being 
converted to UHF. This problem 
has been simplified, Weber said, 
by the interest of Philco and other 
major manufacturers in markets 
which have hitherto been consid- 
ered fringe areas. 

The thousands of tall antennae 
which extend from most homes in 
the area will not be needed as far 
as WFPG-TV is concerned, Weber 
said. The station, with its 1,008- 
watt transmitter, will throw a clear 
signal as far as 35 miles from the 
resort, and he is confident that the 
Eastern Shore arid parts of north- 
ern Maryland will receive the sig- 
nal over the “water jump” — the 
wide stretch of the unobstructed 
Delaware Bay. 

Bowes said the local station is 
the first UHF station to go into 
operation on the Atlantic seaboard. 
He declared that within 18 months, 
16 sations should be received in the 
South Jersey area. 

James J. Shallow, general man- 
ager of Philco Distributors, Inc., 
Philadelphia, said that in two 
months following the first program 
on WFPG-TV, more television sets 
will be sold to area residents than 
in the preceding 12 months. Deal- 
ers were urged to school their serv- 
icemen for the streamline installa- 
tion of all channel tuners. 


Dallas — John K. Mumford. spe- 
cial agent in charge of the Dallas 
division of the FBI, assisted by 
Lee Myres of WFAA, will begin a 
series of airings on WFAA on Sun- 
days for a quarter-hour, titled 
“Know Your FBI.” 



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Today there are 105,300,000 radio acts in the U, JSj. A.* 
Virtually every home ia a radio home — apd overhalf of them 
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Radio Reviews 


Continued from page 31 


air jingles plugging" we’ve changed 
the Gene hut not the Dee.” 

Those dialers who cottoned to a 
pair <>f early birds bantering in 
the dawn - to-second - cup - of - java 
stretch are likely to stick. Finch 
is steeped in the patter pattern 
and Klavan falls in with it nicely. 
Biz of having the new Gene (who 
was selected after a hunt of sev- 
eral months and a large number 
of hopefuls were tested) “audition 
on the commercials was cutely 
handled. • BriU 


I 

vi ’ 

i 

s 


THE MIDDLE EAST STORY 
With Mohamed Kamil Abdul. 

Rahim, Bill Costello, Steve Cush- j 

insr, Ron Cochran 
Producer: CBS Radio Dept, of Pub- 
lic Affairs 

30 Mins.; Sun., 12 noon 
Sustaining 

CBS, from Washington 

Transcription radio has its 
points, but the bow program last 
Sunday (16) of -“The Middle East 
Story,” produced by the CBS Ra- 
dio Dept, of Public Affairs and 
originating in Washington, was 
sufficiently behind the spot news 
to cause embarrassment. 

Slotted at noon and with its sub- 
ject matter the strategic Middle 
East, this series is reaching for an 
acknowledged limited audience. At 
the same time, that audience is in 
many ways identical with, say, a 
large segment of readers of the 
New York Times. That very Sab- 
bath, the Times’ Page 1 story from 
Jerusalem, via its Dana Adams 
Schmidt, was headed, “Israel-Arab 
Peace Is Believed Closer.” Not one 
reference was made to Israel by 
CBS correspondents Bill Costello, 
Steve Cushing and Ron Cochran 
during the half-hour interview 
with Mohamed Kamil Abd.ul 
• Rahim,- Egyptian Ambassador -la- 
the U. S. 

On the contrary, in an otherwise 
interesting discussion on the state 
of affairs in his country, the envoy 
was put in the unfair position of 
being in conflict with some of the 
up-to-the-minute views — on non- 



Eileen BARTON 

AMERICAN MUSIC HALL end 
U.S. COAST GUARD SHOW 

EVERY SUNDAY. A1C. RADIO 
CORAL RECORDS Dir.: MCA 


[.Israel matters — of Maj. Gen. Mo- 
hammed Naguib, who took over as 
“absolute power” following the 
tfoup of last July in which King 
JTaxouk fled. 

For example, responding to a ' 
question on the Sudan, the Ambas- ' 
sadov said that hot-spot area was 
vital to Egypt, “which lives on the 
Nile,” and that Egypt has histori- 
cal connections with the Sudan that 
go back to ‘‘Pharaonic days.” In] 
the Times’ dispatch, however, the 
correspondent said that General 
Naguib “has met the British half 
way and acknowledged the Su- 
danese right to self-determination 
and he has been firm in getting rid 
of diehards of the Arab League . . . 
and has kept under control the 
fanatics of the Moslem Brother- 
hood.” The Ambassador’s reply to 
a question on the Arab League was 
brief, saying the League is “grow- 
ing as a stabilizing factor” of se- 
curity and pfeace. 

On queries pertaining to a Mid- 
dle East defense organization, 
Rahim appeared to adopt a fence- 
straddling position, saying only 
that “Egypt will be happy to co- 
operate with her friends” — but 
parenthetically referring to a hope 
for the evacuation of foreign (Brit- 
ish) troops from his country. 

Other topics dwelled on by the 
articulate Ambassador were Egypt’s 
attempts to help herself postwar, 
social reforms, economic develop- 
ment, attracting of foreign capital, 
land reform and industrialization, 
exports-imports (“we export cul- 
ture and films; we have a small 
Hollywood”), problem of the Suez 
under British occupation (“Egypt 
is ready to defend herself"), Egypt 
as a Moslem nation and thus a 
bulwark against Communism. 

Program ended on a pessimistic. 
aste in that Ambassador Rahim de- J 
dared that while the United Na- 
tions has had significant success 
in sodal and economic fields, it 
has not been so successful in the 
international arena, “but I enter- 
tain great hopes for the solution” 
of the problems “still pending.” 
Upcoming ambassadorial guests 
will be Charles Malik of Lebanon; 
Allah-Yar Saleh of Iran and Abba 
Eban of Israel. Trail. 


features which would build air 
background. 

A sharply-drawn picture of the 
game but weary Phillies (himself 
included) in the final week of their 
1950 pennant victory highlighted 
th£ last Waitkus block heard. 

Jaco. 


Radio Followups 


With the publicity-slanted feud 
between Bette Davis and Tallulah 
Bankhead, it must have sounded 
like a fine idea to have Tallu play 

Miss Davis’ role in the “Theatre 
Guild on the Air” production of 
“All About Eve” Sunday night 
(16) — especially since the role was 
allegedly a takeoff on Tallu her- 
self. Show, however, failed to 
come off as planned, as aired via 
NBC. Instead of “All About Eve,” 
it plaved more like “All About 
Tallu,” with the scripters retaining 
the basic premise or the story but 
doing considerable rewriting to 
project the Tallu character built 
up via her “Big Show” character- 
izations the two previous seasons. 
It made for a modicum of fun but 
had little of the incisive, poignant 
qualities given the 20th-Fox 
screenplay penned by Joseph L. 
Manldewicz, who adapted from a 
short story by Mary Orr. 

Guild producers backed Miss 
Bankhead with a topdrawer cast, 
but there was a little too much of 
that snarling “dahling” routine for 
maximum payoff. Aside from ob- 
viously playing up that role to the 
studio audience. Miss Bankhead 
scored in all departments as the 
famed Broadway actress who took 
a young unknown under her wing 
only to find the girl setting out to 
steal her career, her lover, et al. 
Beatrice Pearson registered in the 
“Eve” role, bringing the character 
to life neatly. Kevin McCarthy 
turned in a solid portrayal of the 
director in love with Miss Bank- 
bead. and Miss Orr herself etched 
a nice characterization of the ac- 
tress’ best friend. Alan Hewitt, 
as the acidulous drama critic, 
wasn’t as Impressive as George 
Sanders in the. film, but made most 
of his scenes count. Stal. 


THE PITCH IN SPORTS 

With Eddie Waitkus 

5 Mins.; Mon.-thru-Sat., 7:55 a.m. 

Sustaining 

WPTR, Albany 

Eddie Waitkus, first baseman for 
Philadelphia National League base- 
ball. club, goes to the radio plate 
for his initial appearances, on a 
segment of Bill Bennett’s morning 
disk show. A scoutng report would 
state that he does reasonably well 
for a rookie. 

Credits would be a clear voice, 
unassuming though friendly per- 
sonality, and obvious knowledge of 
the game. Debits would be a 
rather hard, Bostonese accent, un- 
evenness in projection, some read- 
ing stiffness, slight cloudiness of 
diction, and time limitation. Five 
minutes do not provide Waitkus 
with great opportunity to get roll- 
ing, do interviews or incorporate 


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Represented by 

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New York Los Angeles San Francisco Chicago 


DETROIT FREE PRESS IN 
BID FOR CHANNEL 62 

Detroit, Nov. 18. 

The Detroit Free Press asked the 
FCC for a license to build and 

operate a television station in De- 
troit. The application filed by 
Knight Newspapers, Inc., which 
publishes the Free Press, said the 
transmtter would be located atop 
the Penobscot Bldg., tallest build- 
ing in Detroit. At the start the 
new station would broadcast from 
5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Programs would 
cover the entertainment, news, re- 
ligious, sports, educational, agricul- 
tural and public service fields, with 
special emphasis on public service 
and educational presentations. 

Initial costs are estimated in the 
application at $255,544 and operat- 
ing costs for the first year at $418,- 
190. The applicant seeks to oper- 
ate on ultra high frequency chan- 
nel No. 62. 


ABC Inks Sponsor on New 
Aude Participationer 

ABC radio yesterday (Tues.) 
inked Alsco to sponsor a new audi- 
ence participationer, “P a y r o 11 
Party,” starting this Saturday (22) 
in the 11:30-11:55 a.m. slot. 
Agency is Max J. Jacobs. Firm 
will plug its deep-freezers and 
storm windows. 

Web has also gotten a renewal 
from General Motors on its 
Henry J. Taylor show which will 
also be .extended -to full network, 
and a renewal from Philco on Ed- 
win C. Hill. n 


Miller’s WNJR Stint 

Dave Milleivwho has been spii 
ning country music disks in th 
North Jersey-New York area fc 
10 years, has returned to WNJI 
Newark, with a Monday-Saturda 
9-10 a. m. show. 

The western music strip has 
full complement of local ban] 
rollers. 


Martindale to Hutchii 

James K. Martindale. form 
copy veepee at Dancer, Fitzgei 
& Sample, has joined the N. Y, 
flee of the Hutchins agency, 
takes over the duties of Maitl 
Jones, who resigned as Hutcl 
copy veepee some time ago. 

Martindale will report to 
Pierson Mapes, head of Hutch 
N. Y. headquarters. 


/ Wednesday, November 19, 1952 



From the Production Centres 

. ■ ■■ i Continued from page 26 -- . 


here exploiting^ his latest picture, “The Steel Trap,” but put his foot 
down on video . . . Jan Andree, .WPIT deejay, conducting series of tal- 
ent -hunts in city’s high schools . , . Russ Offhaus, former WPIT an- 
nouncer, is now general manager of WMFS in Chattanooga . . . Jeanne 
Graver, daughter of Peggy Bruce, KQV record librarian, marrying 
David Carnahan Nov. 29 ... Si Steinhauser, of. the Press, only focal 
radio-TV editor to take in the dedication of CBS Television City in 
Hollywood , . . Si Bloom back from his second Army stint, doffing his 
captain’s bars to script for KDKA. ' 

IN PHILADELPHIA ... 

Nick Clooney, Rosemary’s brother, has joined the announcing staff 
at WDEL, Wilmington, Del. . . ? Little Johnny (Merkin), midget tavern 
keeper and former film player, has new TV show on WCAU-TV, spon- 
sored by Slinky Toys . . . Sales of Television receivers in Philadelphia 
area for month of September totalled 29,728, compared with 23.409 for 
September, 1951. Totals for first three quarters of 1952 were 109.654- 
for 1951, 141,200 . . . Chet Cooper, member of the WFIL-TV product 
tion staff since May, 1951, has been named studio manager for the 
station. Cooper was a freelance in N. Y. before coming here. 

Stan Lee Broza celebrated his 26th anniversary with the IVCAU 
stations and the Horn & Hardart Co. Children’s Hour Sunday il6i. Oc- 
casion was marked by hour-long tribute from his youthful performers 
and such alumni of program as Paul Douglas aritl Ezra Stone. Broza 
also received an award from Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce for 
contributions in furthering juve talent . . . WIP’s sports editor Stoney 
McLinn is seriously ill at the Shore Memorial Hospital, Somers Point, 
N. J., where he is stricken with heart condition , . . WPTZ will tele- 
vize one of college football’s oldest and most traditional rivalries, the 
Quaker college game between Swarthmore and Haverford, instead of 
regular NCAA game Saturday (22) . , . Paul Whiteman, for the first 
time in years, has gone out on a series of one-nighters and Jimmy 
Blaine is pinch-hitting for him on the WFIL-TV Saturday “TV-Teen 
Club” program . . . Benn Squires, veteran WPTZ staffer, has been 
named to membership in the Screen Directors Guild. 


IN CLEVELAND . . . 


Ken Ward’s “Around Home,” a 10-minute, Monday-through-Friday 
pitch, moved from WNBK to WXEL . . . Ray Shoulders, WJMO, and 
Lamarr Wilson, WDOK, mulling new $75,000 all-Negro AM’er . . , 
WTAM’s sales manager William Dix has SRO on Johnny Andrews* 
“Bandwagon,” two-hour (7 to 9 a.m.) Monday-through-Friday radio 
pitch . , , -George Condon, Plain Dealer radio-TV editor, in two-week 
New York stay . . . B. F. Goodrich Co. renewed 15-minute Tom Man- 
ning TV sports show, Mon.-Wed.-Fri., WNBK, 6:30 p.m. . . . First-run 
theatres, State, Stillman, Ohio, Palace, Hippodrome, Tower, Fairmotmt, 
Lower Mall, bankrolling half-hour Sunday TV show over WXEL 
through MCA and Wyse Advertising, with disker Bill Gordon emcee. 
Show called “Lights-Camera-Questions,” presents panel of local film 
men with Hollywood star to answer questions . . . Herman Spero, TV 
producer, is joining WAKR staff . . . Western Reserve U. and WEWS 
have teamed up for' new series of half-hour educational shows. 


Y&R 


1 Why Be BALD 

L__ Continued from page 25 - - - 

H When Arr«fi»*m*ntt flHHIi 1 


duced “Gulf Theatre” folds, only a 
single entry. “Second Mrs. Burton,” 
and that a radio show, will remain 
as a “house-created” package. 

“Our Miss Brooks,” for example, 
is a CBS-TV package. Godfrey be- 
longs to Columbia. Joan Davis, 
“Life of Riley” and Laughton, all 
on film, are acquisitions from out- 
side. Ditto “Four Star Playhouse” 
and the agency’s participation in 
the NBC-TV-built “All Star Re- 
vue.” Crosby is a Y&R star in name 
only — he and show’s production 
components moving in bodily. 

Frank Telford, producer of the 
“Gulf Theatre” series (he also did 
the now extinct “We the People”), 
stays put with the agency, as do 
such other key production person- 
alities as Felix Jackson (operating 
on the Coast). Joe Scobetti, etc. 



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Wednesday, Nov ember 19, 1952 


PSazmff 

















40 


HABIO-TELKC VISION 


Wednesday, November 19, 1952 


Tele Followup Comment 

— - Continued from page 30 t 


sidekick, Sid Miller, clicked more 
on personality and verve in their 
duo bit than on material, while 
one other major number was the 
GI talk routine between Tom 
D' Andfea and Hal March, which 
was mildly effective. 

O’Connor’s production finale, in 
which he reprised old dancing 
masters like George Primrose and 
Pat Rooney, with a Broadway 
bright-lights .background, is strict- 
ly from the Friars Club files and 
should have had a little more 
imagination, though there certain- 
ly was nothing wrong in O’Con- 
nor’s performance of the number. 

Kahn. 


NBC-TV's “Philco TV Play- 
house” came through with a top- 
flight drama Sunday (16) in what 
promised to be a routine crimeller 
tagged “Parole Chief.” Based on 
the memoirs of David Dressier, 
script by Richard Sanders (who 
incidentally played a member of 
the parole board on the show) had 
plenty of human feeling and un- 
derstanding of psychology. It told 
the story of Dressier, who in 1931, 
came to the parole officer job with 
a sincere desire to help the ex- 
convicts rehabilitate themselves. 

In the first act he befriended a 
hardened parole^, only to find his 
trust misDlaced and himself played 
for a sucker. That disillusionment 
dispelled his faith in his charges, 
and the second act had him ford* 
ing a parolee to stick to the letter 
of the ’aw, with the unhappy re- 
sult of the ex-con’s being shot by 
his former gangland associates. 
The final act was the yarn of a 
youngster who had gone straight 
but -who was placed in a sharp 
conflict due to his brother’s crimi- 
nality. It gave the vehicle a sock, 
ending and underlined the theme 
of humane treatment for 'prison-' 
ers. 

Entire oroduction had a warm 
quality. Harry Towne was highly 
effective as the parole officer, a 
combination of detective and so- 
cial worker, playing it as a nice 
ordinary guy with a down-to-earth 
charm. Terry Becker did very 
well as the mistrusted parolee, 
with Leo Penn scoring nicely as 
the youth in the final sequence and 
Mario Gallo registering compe- 
tently as Dressler’s first failure. 
Perry Wilson was appealing as 
Dressler’s wife, with Donald Fos- 
ter, Allen Nourse and Sidney 
Poitier rounding out the cast. 
Poitier, incidentally, pleased as a 
parole officer, a role In which the 
Negro actor did not play a stereo 0 
type but a real person. Show 
wound up with a statement by 
George W. Smythe, a parole exec, 
asking for public cooperation in 
Strengthening the parole setup. 

Production team included Fred 
Coe as producer with Gordon Duff 
as his associate and Delbert Mann 
as director. Commercials for Philco 
were effective. Bril. 


DuMont's “Author Meets the 
Critics” Thursday (13) examined 
"Report on the American Commu- 


nist” (Holt; $3) by Morris L. Ernst 
and David Loth. With Virgilia 
Peterson as moderator, the tome 
was defended by Leo Cherne, top- 
per of the Research Institute of 
America, while Louis Budenz, 
quondam editor of the N. Y. Daily 
Worker and now a prof at Ford- 
ham U., sat in the anti seat. 

Taking up the cudgels for the 
book was attorney Ernst, who ex- 
plained his and Loth’s objective as 
an attempt to learn “what makes 
the American Communist tick,” by 
questioning 300 ex-Communists. 
He reported that their sampling 
showed that the average “ex” had 
joined the party between ages of 
18-23, came from an upper middle- 
class background and stayed in for 
a three-year span. Loth-Emst thesis 
is that Communism is not an eco- 
nomic movement but a psychologi- 
cal, religious one. 

„ All participants made clear their 
strongly anti-Communist views. 
The difference between the pro- 
ponents and antagonist of the book 
was on the method to be used in 
fighting the party. Ernst’s stance 
is that it should be made easier for 
members to leave the party, and 
he noted that as part of this “re- 
demption” policy he has found jobs 
fpr 50 ex-CP’ers. 

Budenz tagged the book an 
“essay in utter confusion” and 
said that the Ernst-Loth approach 
would curb effective dealing with 
Communism by Congressional in- 
vestigators, etc. He also scored the 
E-L attack on “vigilantism,” say- 
ing that “the ex-Communists have 
to atone” and testify openly before 
Congressional committees and in 
court. . 

Miss Peterson kept the show 
moving smoothly. Airer started 
with an anti-Communist film seg- 
ment produced some years back by 
Cherne, Bril. 


The “Eternal Light” presented 
another first-rate show on NBC-TV 
Sunday afternoon (16), with a 
dramatization of the recent best- 
seller, “Anne Frank; Diary of a 
Young Girl.” Morton Wishen- 
grad’s script captured the adoles- 
cent longing and heartbreak of the 
book, while Abby M. Bonine, as 
Anne, performed the role with 
suitable sensitivity. Setting for the 
half-hour drama adequately repre- 
sented the hiding place in which 
the Frank family escaped the Nazis 
fpr a couple of years. 

Although the story accented talk 
rather than action, 'the cast pro- 
jected the script with enough inner 
tension to sustain interest through- 
out. Peter Capell was excellent as 
Anne’s understanding father, with 
Adelaide Klein also contributing a 
standout* performance as the 
mother. In lesser parts, Robert 
Harris, Ruth Yorke, Paula Waks- 
man, Frances Carlin and Martin 
Newman furnished strong support. 
Martin Hoade directed, with Doris 
Ann handling production for the 
show. Herm. 


Hartford — Cy Kaplan, ex-World 
Broadcasting System, appointed 
sales manager of WONS here. ' 






BLOOMINGTON 


Serving a 2 BILLION $ MARKET 

34% of the PEOPLE 
34% of the FAMILIES 
accounting for 

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in ALL INDIANA 

WTTV — affiliated with all nets — maintain i 
its own micro wave relay system between 
Cincinnati and Bloomington to bring LIVE 
network bhows to viewers WTTV is owned 
and operated by Sarkes Tarzian and 

Represented Nationally by 

ROBERT MEEKER ASSOCIATES, Inc. 

N ‘ Y '° 'k ■ On c ci q o ■ Los A 'ia - 1- s ■ So- Fr fi n C n {0 


PSlOEff 


Ev Crosby Sets Details 
Of Bing Ice Cream Bow 

Everett Crosby returned to 
Gotham from the Coast early this 
week after setting details anent 
launching of the new Bing Crosby 
ice crearn^ project. Cream will 
preem in Kansas City and fran- 
chises Will be set up in other mar- 
kets. 

Prior to the death of his wife 
this month, Bing made a series of 
one-mmute transcriptions which 
will be used to plug the new prod- 
uct in those cities where it has 
distribution. 


Teachers 


z 


Continued frbm page 24 


tive steps — “get your feet in the 
water, and don’t worry about 
money” — Kyser closed with a word 
on the opportunity which educators 
have, through video, to be the me- 
dium for fusing “the knowledge of 
the few with the understanding of 
the many.” 

Commercial Warning 

Strong pleas by Dr. Lewis A. 
Wilson, 'State Commissioner of 
Education, and Dr. William Jansen, 
New York City Superintendent of 
schools, for favorable considera- 
tion of the Regents’ unified plan — 
FCC has issued licenses for six of 
the stations, requested, two others 
are being “processed,” and engi- 
neering data on an additional pair 
is being revised — were marked by 
recognition of the fact that, as Dr. 
Jansen put it, “many, if not all 
commercial stations, make some 
time available to educational in- 
stitutions.” Dr. Jansen and Ralph 
Steetle, executive director, Joint 
Committee on Educational eTle- 
vision, yrged educators to take ad- 
vantage of these availabilities. 

However, Dr. JariSen and other 
speakers insisted that the channels 
allocated by FCC to educational 
elevision — estimated at 11% of the 
total — should not be given to com- 
mercial operators — even if non- 
profit groups are not ready to “take 
up their claims soon.” Declaring 
“this threat should be opposed to 
the utmost,” Dr. Jansen said the 
mistakes which the nation made in 
giving away valuable forest land 
and water power “should not be 
made with the air waves ... a rea- 
sonable number of channel should 
be reserved in perpetuity for the 
public and for the better education 
of the public. Dr. Jansen, inci- 
dentally, cautioned against being 
“carried away by unjustified 
claims” for the role of television 
in education. 

Dr. Wilson, who enumerated the 
“unrivalled” resources of New 
York State in' colleges, public and 
primary schools, museums, libra- 
ries, historical societies and cul- 
tural agencies — tapable for the 
production and programming of the 
proposed 10 stations — said that the 
proposal called for the State to 
“build and staff them technically, 
including the program director,” 
and for local educational-cultural 
groups to program them. 

Estimated cost of construction is 
$3,000,000. The Legislature must 
vote the appropriation. Dr. Wilson 
pointed out that the body would 
wait the report of the Governor’s 
study commission, which will be 
filed by Feb. 10, 1953. Four mem- 
bers, including Assembly Speaker 
Oswald D. Heck, who introduced 
the resolution establishing the 
commission, attended the Institute. 


Showboat Disk Jockey’ 

Capt. Billy Bryant, show boat 
skipper and son of a pioneer river- 
boat Belasco, is entering the radio- 
and-tele picture, 

Bryant, whose vessel, the Golden 
Rod, homes at Pt. Pleasant, W. Va., 
will do a regular ‘ stint on indie 
WJEH, in neighboring Gallipolis, 
O. The airer, will be taped for 
10 local stations and be sponsored 
by local bankrollers. His will be a 
“showboat disk jockey” stint and 
will comprise Capt. Bryant’s rem- 
iniscences, river poems, appropri- 
ate tunes and snatches of old-time 
showboat mellers which the river- 
plying theatres featured. Deal was 
worked out with Truman A. Mor- 
ris, WJEH general manager. 

Videowise Bryan is launching a 
telefilm series, lensed on 16m, 
to recapture the fabulous legends 
of the show biz boats. 


. Milwaukee — Ivor McLaren has 
joined the producer-director staff 
of WTMJ-TV here. He previously 
served with WTCN-TV, Minneap- 
olis, and WENR-TV, Chicago. 




Television Reviews 

— Continued from page 30 .* 1 


from the formalized deckside in- 
terview sessions. 

Teeoff edition (10) came through 
with flying colors, due in large 
measure to Drees’ easy way with 
the ad libs, but also because the 
trio of guests fitted nicely into the 
freewheeling half-hour. Show 
opened with Drees showing Chuck 
Hunsinger, Chi Bear halfback, how 
he turns out his own archery 
equipment on his lathe. 

Wid Matthews, director of play- 
er personnel and TV ambassador 
for the Chi Cubs, dropped in and 
the three sat down for an inter- 
esting roundtable on the affairs of 
the two Wrigley Field teams. This 
bit even had some humor for the 
local fans during the discussion of 
the baseball bonus rule. Matthews,- 
repping a team that has finished in 
the National League bottom half 
the past several years, straight- 
faced that the Cubs stress “quality 
over quantity” in player selections. 

Gabfest broke up with the ar- 
rival of archer Duayne Gardner, 
who demonstrated his sharpshoot- 
ing ability. Added by some tight 
camera cutting, this portion held 
a lot of interest. 

A leisurely-paced affair, “Time 
Out” looks to have the stuff to 
carve a niche for itself. Dave. 


LIFE IN PHILADELPHIA 
Narrator: George Skinner 
Producers: Life magazine, WPTZ 
Director: Elmer Jaspan 
30 Mins., Fri., 2:30 p.m. 

WPTZ, Philadelphia 

Life magazine and WPTZ have 
linked forces for a new series 
highlighting various spots and in- 
stitutions in Philadelphia — banks, 
railroads, colleges, etc., along the 
line of “Life Visits an Oil Refin- 
ery.” Show is to be alive, al- 
though opener (14) was also kine- 
scoped for audition purposes in 
New York. Initial venture cov- 
ered Philly’s -“Waterfront' Pier 
98.” 

Introductory shots had narrator 
George Skinner aboard* the Ameri- 
can Export liner Exchange, giving 
a brief history of the Delaware 
River from the early 17th century, 
employing stills and a camera tour 
of the stream up to the present 
day’s “Port of Prosperity,” which 
ranged the river from the Navy 
Yard to Levittown and the U. S. 
Steel’s gigantic plant now being 
set up near Morris ville, Pa. 

Time element was v well inte- 
grated. since liner had just arrived 
from Far East only an hour and a 
half before. There were interviews 
with the captain and mate about 
che cargo, which apparently con- 
sisted of opium and gunnysack, be- 
ing traded for 50 tons of coins 
made at the Philadelphia mint for 
use as Oriental currency. Skinner 
elicited the fact that the captain 
had a side interest — he owned a 
motel. 

Interviews generally held inter- 
est, particularly Skinner’s chat 
with the 86-year-old owner of the 
dredging company, Capt. John 
Taylor, who got across a genuine 
feeling for river and ships, the re- 
sult of his 64 years on the Dela- 
ware. Talks with longshoremen 
dwelt largely on the subject of im- 
proved conditions along the water- 
front since 1929, one burly steve- 
dore commenting that things were 
going “pretty lovely now.” 

Loading and unloading heavy 
cargoes made for visual interest, 
movement more than compensat- 
ing for TV’s usual haphazard pho- 
tographic composition. The musi- 
cal background was too fast for 
lumbering cargo scenes. Men and 
things would have had to hoo and 
skip to keep time with it. Finale 
went back to the studio with a 
plug for the port from four com- 
mercial civic leaders, all of whom 
told interviewer Fred Bennett 
they were for still more expansion. 

Gagli. 


LIGHTS, CAMERA, QUESTIONS 
With Frank Murphy, Dick Wright, 
Jack Silverthorne, Max Mink, 
Leonard Greenberger; Bill Gor- 
don, emcee; Mary Castle, guest 
moderator 

Producer-director: William Boyce 
Technical director: Bruce Stauder- 
man 

Writer: W. Ward Marsh 
30 Mins.; Sun., 1 p.m. 

Participating 
WXEL, Cleveland 
Angeled by major theatres here 
and the motion picture industry, 
this new Sunday afternoon panel 
series does a lot of significant ice- 
breaking in a concentrated drive to 
make Greater Clevelanders more 
pix-minded. 

All the traditional quiz tricks are 
merged with some novel twists, 
Hollywood pin-up girls as guest 
moderators and a jury of theatre 
exhibitofs. Their pitch may be 
strictly commercial in plugging 
first-run films, but the subject mat- 
ter is neatly glamorized with tan- 
talizingly short scenes from old- 


time and new pix. They serve it up 
so palatably in a tersely paced con- 
tinuity that the first program Sun- 
day (16), despite a few bugs 
proved to have muscular puller- 
sleeper possibilities. 

Brain-truster behind the show is 
W. Ward Marsh, veteran film critic 
of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, who 
wrote it. For nearly a year he has 
been working on the idea, selling 
it to exhibs and getting exclusive 
rights from top pix distributors. 
Scenarist isn’t given any billing, 
due to controversial ban enforced 
by local publishers, forbidding 
newspapermen from doubling or 
capitalizing their byline on televi- 
sion or credit, so MCA is handling 
series for Marsh. 

Bill Gordon from WHK emcees 
and helps dramatize film questions 
sent in by video watchers, who are 
tipped off to the answers via large 
illustrated posters. Permanent 
panelists comprise Frank Murphy, 
manager of Loew’s Ohio theatres; 
Dick Wright, of Warner Bros, 
houses in this area; Max Mink of 
RKO theatres, Jack Silverthorne 
of downtown Hippodrome and 
Tower, Leonard Greenberger of 
Fairmount and Lower Mall. They 
were slightly self-conscious until 
they got into a brisker give-and-, 
take bit of crystal-bowling chatter. 

Mary Castle, shapely screen 
femme of “Eight Iron Men” (Col>, 
dressed up the starter as guest- 
star who picked prizes out of a 
“Treasure Chest.” All contribu- 
tions used rated a pair of theatre 
ducats, while winners whose ques- 
tions stumped the panel got 
prizes ranging from steam-irons to 
watches, toasters and garbage-dis- 
posal units. Grand prize will be 
given weekly for the best 100-word 
letter describing “What the Movies 
Have Done For Me.” 

Kicking off with some easy quiz 
stuff, show built up to trickier film 
riddles or charades. Some involved 
props, sound effects and good-na- 
tured gags by Gordon. Latter kept 
up almost a breathless rapid-fire 
pace in moderating questions 
about stars of oldtime flickers, 
casts of often-filmed stories, cur- 
rent Hollywood players, etc. 

Although over-crowded with 
stunts, they were tightly directed 
by William Boyce of MCA, while 
technical work by Bruce Stauder- 
man of WXEL had good showman- 
ship values. Between the clue- 
hunts, shots from two. -interesting 
pioneer films dating back to the 
Gay 90’s were shown, along with 
short preview scenes of Metro’s 
“Plymouth Adventure.” A couple 
of attractive models a n k 1 e d 
through program, which closed by 
quickie trailers on all current first- 
run pix. Staged with color and in- 
telligent variety, ' “Lights, Camera, 
Questions” fulfills its dual pur- 
posejs so well that it may stack up 
as a long-running series here. 

Pull 


St. Joseph, Mo. — Newscasters 
added to KKES staff here are Jo- 
seph Kramer, ex-KRH, Wichita, 
news chief who'll be assisted by 
Ben Hubbird, ex-KRUL, Corvallis. 
Ore. Frank Smith has joined staff 
from KCLO, Leavenworth, Kan. 


For Sale- 

LYME, CONNECTICUT, 
COUNTRY HOME 

v For someone who appreciates 
the beauty and quiet of the Con- 
necticut countryside. 

An exceptionally well-built, large 
2-bedroom home of dignity and 
charm, built by the owner for his 
own occupancy, planned with care 
in all details. 

Pine panelled 35 foot living 
room with fireplace ancf-attractive 
bay-window area for dining. Un- 
. usually fine closet, space through- 
out. Both bedrooms large and 
sunny. Tiled bath. Well planned 
kitchen has built in dishwasher. 
Socond floor unfinished but with 
piping in place for additional bath 
and space for 2 more rooms a nd 
storage area. Fully insulated — oil 
burner — drilled well. Attached 
garage and utility room. 

Priced for immediate Safe: 

$ 30,000 

Exceptionally large Listings 
Essex, .Lyme, Saybrook, Westbrook, 
Clinton, Madison and Guilford 
Properties Priced to $200,000 

NORMAN R. FOERCH 

REALTOR 

84 East Main Street 
CLINTON, CONN. 

Phone Clinton 6-2000 or 6922 


'Wednesday, November 19, 1952 


PSSzffifr 


RADIO-TELEVISION 


41 


Pubservice Video 
Comes Into Own 

Current video season is emerg- 
ing as the era in which public serv- 
ice programming is coming into its 
own. Each of the webs has come 
HD with strong entries in the edu- 
cational-cultural field, with CBS- 
tVs "Omnibus,” NBC-TV’s "Vic- 
tory at Sea” and.ABC-TV’s "Semi- 
nar” notable examples. 

One factor ^behind the greater 
emphasis on more adult fare is the 
fact that the skeins are now in a 
better financial position to shell 
out for programs in the public in- 
terest. While the networks had 
more free time to fill with educa- 
tional-cultural shows a couple of 
seasons back, they were on a finan- 
cial hook and couldn’t afford the 
window-dressing prestige series 
provide. 

Another point is the support 
which outside organizations are 
providing. In the case of "Omni- 
bus,” the Ford Foundation is not 
only putting up heavy production 
coin but also wooed in the show’s 
first sponsor, Willys. U. S. Navy 
is abetting NBC on the "Sea” op- 
eration. On ABC’s "Seminar” Co- 
lumbia U. is providing support, 
while the same chain’s new "Any- 
where, USA” comprises six half- 
hour vidfilms produced by the 
Health Information Foundation 
with the web’s advice and counsel. 
DuMont’s Bishop Sheen series, sus- 
tained last season, has Admiral 
picking up the tab for the religioso 
lecture. 

Both NBC and Columbia are 
telensing the United Nations ses- 
sions on a regular bases. In order 
to cover the UN, NBC even had to 
shell out extra coin to solve the 
knotty jurisdictional questions on 
the engineer union front. ■ ■ 

While the skeins are beaming 
programs in the "think” category, 
they are still having difficulty in 
getting some local affiliates to carry 
the sustainers. In the one-, two- 
and three-station markets, where 
the networks have a fight to get 
their commercial programs cleared, 
it’s naturally tougher to squeeze 
in a public service layout. In some 
areas, however, while an outlet 
may turn down the network show, 
the latter may provide the inspira- 
tion for the affiliate to come up 
with a similar stanza of its own, 
angled for local viewers. 

The Presidential conventions, 
election coverage and upcoming in- 
auguration are also examples of 
TV’s public affairs orientation. 
“But,” one network exec said, 
“those are the things we have to 
do. The test of our ' sincerity in 
public service programming is will- 
ingness to do the things we’re not 
’forced’ to do.” 

Ford Fund Makes Two Bids 
To Aid Cleve. EducT TV 

Cleveland, Nov. 18. 

The Ford Foundation Fund for 
Adult Education has made two 
offers to help provide for a non- 
commercial educational television 
outlet here, according to Mark 
Schinnerer, superintendent of pub- 
lic schools, spearheading a drive 
to acquire Channel 25. 

Foundation’s offer of up to $150,- 
000 is dependent upon raising 
local funds, it was pointed out dur- 
ing a meeting of educational 
groups, in an effort to expedite 
setting up of a common meeting 
ground for pursuance of an edu- 
cational license. 


FCC Sets Theatre Video 
Hearings Back to Jan= 26 

Washington, Nov. 18. 
Hearings on non-technical 
phases of theatre TV have been 
postponed by the FCC from Jan. 
12 to Jan. 26. Difficulties of wit- 
nesses in securing hotel accom- 
modations here during the inau- 
gural occasioned the delay. 

In order to expedite the forth- 
coming hearings, the Commission 
has called for information on sub- 
stance of testimony to‘ be pre- 
sented, advance exchange among 
parties of exhibits to be offered, 
and notices of appearances of wit- 
nesses who will testify. 

Agency ordered that notice of 
appearances be filed by Dec. 1 and 
lists of witnesses, summaries of 
testimony and exhibits by Dec. 22. 

Motion picture industry has 
been planning to bring around 100 
persons to testify at the sessions. 

Femme AM-TV Job Setup 

American Women in Radio & 
TV has formed a job counselling 
service to aid unemployed mem- 
bers in getting posts. Not an em- 
ployment agency, but a source of 
information and guidance, new 
service will be cuffo and for mem- 
bers only. 

Committee is headed by Lillian 
Okun of WMCA, N. Y. 


Wright iir’Famous Men’ 

Chicago, Nov. 18. 

Frank Lloyd Wright, kingpin fig- 
ure in American architecture, is 
the latest to get the NBC-TV "Fam- 
ous Men” treatment. A half-hour 
film of Wright discussing his phi- 
losophy was lensed here last week 
in the Kling Studios, under the 
production reins of Chi NBC-TV 
program director Ben Park, and 
will be beamed in a month or so 
as part of the series which teed off 
with the Bertrand Russell gabfest. 

Ballrolling queries were tossed 
at the stormy petrel of the archi- 
tectural world by Hugh Downs. 

Cleve. Jock Adds Akron 
Program Chores to Stint 

Cleveland, Nov. 18. 

Jack Clifton, d. j. at WJW, Cleve- 
land, has accepted appointment as 
program director of Akron’s 
WCUE, which he will carry in addi- 
tion to has current duties. 

Clifton is currently set to begin 
carrying WCUE’s 7 to 9 a.m. "Sun- 
shine Club” remotely from his 
Cuyahoga Falls home, along with 
full direction of programming for 
the Akron independent. 




Qmaha — Grant Plains Television 
Properties, Inc., got a go-ahead 
sign from Washington for a new 
TV station at Sioux City, la. Will 
use channel 36; 


NBC Final Reorg. 


Continued from page 25 


structure, Herbert cited the rein- 
tegration as being designed for 
"maximum effectiveness under 
present-day selling conditions.” In- 
stead of agencies and clients being 
serviced by individual salesmen, 
each will now be serviced by a sales 
unit (comprising an account super- 
visor and one or more account ex- 
ecs), which will concentrate on 
specific sales problems and devel- 
opment. Herbert added; 

"More and more, radio and TV 
are being bought and sold as com- 
plementary media. Many advertis- 
ers recognize that they must use 
both to achieve the most effective 
and comprehensive coverage. Our 
new sales organization will enable 
us to serve the immediate needs of 
such advertisers more efficiently 
and also will enlarge the scope of 
our services in participating with 
all advertisers and their agencies 
in forward planning for sales, dis- 
tribution and merchandising.” 

Web’s eastern, central and west- 
ern sales chiefs will all report to 
Frey. Edward R. Hitz, formerly 
manager of the eastern sales divi- 
sion for TV, becomes central divi- 
sion sales manager for both media. 
He’ll headquarter in Chicago. John 
Lanigan, who resigned last week 
as TV sales veepee for ABC, has 
joined NBC as eastern sales chief. 
Walter Gross, NBC’s special sales 


rep in Detroit, will report to Lani- 
gan. On the Coast, John T. Wil- 
liams, formerly western sales rep 
for NBC-TV, becomes western divi- 
sion sales manager for both radio 
and video. Frank A. Berend, now 
network sales chief in Hollywood, 
will assume a new post under Coast 
veepee John K. West. 

Also reporting to Frey will be 
Fred N. Dodge, who continues as 
merchandising division chief, and 
George MacGovern, named director 
of the newly-established sales de- 
velopment and services division. 
Reporting to MacGovern are Frank 
Reed, now manager of sales serv- 
ices for both media; Howard Gard- 
ner, manager of sales development 
and training, and Hamilton Robin- 
son, now manager of office serv- 
ices. 


Gamble’s KJR Buy 

Seattle, Nov. 18. 

Theodore R. Gamble, chamman 
of the board of Mount Rainier 
Radio and Television Broadcasting 
Corp., owners of KJR, ABC outlet 
here, has purchased the minority 
stock holdings of Stolkin, Burke 
& Corwin in the .corporation. 

Now Gamble, C. Howard Lane, 
president of the corporation, and 
J. Archie Morton, manager of KJR, 
are sole stockholders. 


HERE’S WHAT YOU GET 
FOR A BUCK IN NEW YORK! 

For every dollar you spend on 
New York radio stations, you reach 

2700 homes on W0V 


Ziv’s Back-to-B&ck Sale 

Ziv TV has sold two of its vidpic 
8eries to Hudson Dealers of Chi- 
cago for back-to-back airing in the 
Wednesday 8-9 p.m. period start- 
ing Dec. 4, via WGN-TV. 

Properties are "Story Theatre” 
jnd "Your TV Theatre.” Agency 
for Hudson is Malcolm Howard. 


2564 

homes 

oh 

2564 

homes 

on 

2380 

homes 

on 

2000 

homes 

on 

1886 

homes 

on 

1333 

homes 

on 

1136 

homes 

on 

1076 

homes 

on 

883 

homes 

on 


Station. A 
Station B 


Independent 
Independent 
Network Station A* 
Independent Station C 
Independent Station D 
Network 

t 

Network 
Network 


Independent Station -E 


Stat 
St a t 
Stat 


on 

on 

on 


B 

C 

D 



How starring on Npc's. 

all star RIVUM 
Saturdays, 1-9 p.m., IEST 

Mgt.» William Morris Agency 


Based on minimum published rates 
for one minute daytime announce- 
ments and station’s own coverage 
claims. Ratings by Pulse, Inc. De- 
tailed information on request. 

* Station breaks only 



Representatives* 
John E. Pearson Co* 


730 FIFTH AVI., NEW YORK 19 • ROME STUDIOS: VIA dl PORTA PINCIANA 4 



42 


OR€IE$THA^M(J$I€ 


P'Skiett 


Wednesday, November 19, 1952 


Jocks, Jukes and Disks 

mmmmamaiBa * a ^ By MIKE GROSS . ■ .■ i . -^wnrr, 

reverse for a zestful rendition of 


Rosemary Clooney: “You’re 

After My Own Heart”-“If I Had 
Penny” (Columbia). The tender 
piping technique of Rosemary 
Clooney comes across socko on this 
pair of ballads. “You're After My 
Own Heart” is a slick entry which 
gives Miss Clooney a good melody 
and an attractive lyric to work 
with. Should go over big with the 
platter spinners. “If I Had A 
Penny” is an • extension of its 
mate’s sentimental mood and it. 
too. gets a topflight workover. 
Percy Faith’s tasty orch backing is 
an important plus. 

Mills Bros. “A Shoulder To Weep 
On”-“Someone Loved Someone” 
(Decca). Standout harmonizing on 
this coupling of above average Tin 
Pan Alley output, gives the Mills 
Bros, a click followup to their 
high-riding “Glow-Worm.” Both 
tunes have a breakaway potential 
and it’s a tossup as to which side 
will get the disk jockey push. “A 
Shoulder To Weep On,” a finely 
constructed sentimental item which 


“I Don’t Care.” 

Frank Loesser; “The King’s New 
Clothes,” “The Ugly Duckling”- 
“The Inch Worm” (M-G-M). Three 
tunes from the forthcoming Sam- 
uel Goldwyn pic, “Hans Christian 
Andersen,” have been attractively 
packaged in a set of two disks by 
M-G-M with composer Frank Loes- 
ser on the vocals. Although pegged 
.for the kiddie market, sides should 
do well on the adult level, 6 too, 
because of their class quality in 
both "melody and lyric. Hypo from 
pic should get good disk jockey 
coverage and make it a sock com- 
mercial bet. Tunes, which relay the 
fave Andersen fables, are given an 
amiable reading by Loesser. Al- 
though he’s not an orthodox warb- 
ler, his wry delivery makes each 
side a delight. LeRoy Holmes back- 
ing is topflight. 

King Guion Orch: “Amore”- 
“Pagan' Love Song” (Coral). King 
Guion makes an impressive wax 
debut with a vibrant workover of 


Best Bets 

ROSEMARY CLOONEY YOU’RE AFTER MY OWN HEART 

( Columbia ) ; -If I Had a Penny 


MILLS BROS, . . .' A SHOULDER TO WEEP ON 

(Decca) Someone Loved Someone 

SPIKE JONES I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS 

( Victor ) * • Winter 


has been getting plenty of wax 
coverage, shows the group’s slow 
mood styling off to advantage. June 
Valli’s cut of tune on Victor label, 
incidentally, also has pull-away 
possibilities. ' ' “Someone ’ Loved 
Someone,” is in a livelier vein and 
they whip it out for payoff results. 
Sy Oliver supplies a firstrate back- 
ing. 

Spike Jones: “I Saw Mommy 
Kissing • Santa Claus"-** Winter*’ 
(Victor). Spike Jones’ Xmas novelty 
entry, “I Saw Mommy Kissing 
Santa Claus,” is a surefire bet to 
grab top spinning time on the jock 
and juke level for the next six 
weeks. Vocal, handled by George 
Rock in falsetto, is given a straight 
and effective backing by the Jones 
contingent. “Winter,” another sea- 
sonal entry and is given a typical 
Jones styllfig for good results. 

Dolores Gray: “Two Other Peo- 
ple”— “I Don’t Care” (Decca). “Two 
Other People” stands out as one 
Of the best ballads to . come out. 
of Tin Pan AJley output via Dolores 
Gray’s Charming treatment. Neat 
melodic line and clicko lyric work 
for her but she adds the impor- 
tant warmth that makes it sock 
shellac. Denny Vaughn’s treatment 
of the tune on v the indie MRT 
label is okay but tne side is ham- 
pered by an obtrusive vocal chorus. 
Miss Gray changes pace on the 


two oldies, “Amor” and “Pagan 
Love Song.” It’s a high-spirited 
group pocking plenty of musical 
excitement. Arrangements are 
imaginative and rhythmic and 
pegged for listening as well as 
dancing. “Amor” should pick up 
the most spins .while Anne Simms 
tasty piping on “Pagan Love Song” 
will get that side repeat plays. 

Vic Damone: “Greyhound”-“I 
Don’t Care” — (Mercury). Vic Da- 
mone tackles the rhythm Si blues 
item, “Greyhound,” and comes out 
on top. It’s a -driving number and 
Damone stays with it’ all the way 
belting out with force and vitality. 
Side’s impact, however, may be 
dissipated by the earlier versions 
of EUa Mae Morse (Capitol) and 
Buddy Morrow (Victor). His cut of 
“I Don’t Care” has an appealing 
bounce and should see lots of 

action on the jukes. 

Bob Carroll: “Where”-“Say It 
With Your Heart” (Comet). Bob 
Carroll has a couple of “lilting 
numbers to work with on his indie 
Ccmet label etching. Carroll’s an 
appealing warbler and Impresses 
as an okay shellac potential. 
“Where’s” lively beat makes it a 
good entry in the tune sweeps but 
average lyric will probably* hold 
it back. “Say It With Your Heart” 
blends good lyric and ingratiating 
melodic line for above average re- 


sults. Jimmy Leyden’s orch back- 
ing is? fine but hhs choral group 
intrudes a bit to often on Car- 
roll’s . piping. 

Frank Campana: “Tenderly”-“I 
Wish I r d Known” (Jubilee). Frank 
Campana is a potent comer in the 
wax field with this coupling. His 
style is another step away from 
the moaning warblings who’ve 
been dominating the field for the 
past year, Straight delivery and 
warm projection should win him 
a flock of devotees. His workover 
of the oldie, “Tenderly,” is ear- 
arresting. On the Jubilee flip, 
Campana gets plenty of mileage 
from the romantic lyric set against 
a lilting waltz. Rates spins. 

Don Cornell: “Let’s Have An 
Old Fashioned Christmas”-“I’ve 
Got The Christmas Spirit” (Coral). 
Don Cornell hits the Xmas shellac 
sweeps this season with a couple of 
strong Yule entries. Cornell gives 
them both a reverent reading and 
his big following should lap it up. 
“Old Fashioned Christmas” should 
get the most action. Norman Ley- 
den’s orch and chorus lend an ap- 
propriate backing. 

Platter Pointer* 

Desto Records has packaged 
some flavorsome, but obscure, mel- 
odies of Jerome Kern and George 
Gershwin in two long play albums 
with George Byron on the vocal. 
Byron is a standout interpreter 
of the Kern and Gershwin output 
and makes each album a show 
tune aficionado’s delight, He’s 
backed on Kern, the better of the 
two albums, by William Roy at the 
keyboard. Dick Hyman handles 
the ivories on the Gershwin set . . . 
The Fontane Sisters have a cute 
slice in “Winter’s Here Again” 
(Victor) . . , Monica Lewis has a 
strong seasonal item in “The 
Christmas Song” (Coral) . . . Ei- 
leen Barton scores with “The Night 
Before Christmas Song” on the 
same label . . . Alan Dale and Judy 
Lynn are teamed up for a bright 
waxing of “Do Baby Do” (Coral). 
The Sauter-Finegan waxing of 
“Nina Never Knew” with Joe 
Mooney on the vocal could be one 
of Victor’s big ones . . . Acqua- 
viva .has h bright instrumental in 
“Holiday In Rio” (M-G-M) . . . 
Perry Como has a sock entry of 
“Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your 
Eyes” (Victor) . . . Nancy Reed 
has an okay cut of “You’re Not 
For Me” on the indie MRT label 
. . . Xavier Cugat’s workover of 
“Yours” on Mercury is one of his 
best . . . Hadda Brooks has lively 
interpretation of “Jump Back 
Honey” (Ofceh) . . . Bing Crosby 
has an excellent slice of “Sleigh 
Ride” (Decca). 


Dot Inks Paabody 

Dot Records, indie label which 
jumped into the national wax pic- 
ture recently with the Hilltoppers 
etching of “Trying,” took another 
step in its roster-building efforts 
last week with the pacting of ban- 
joist Eddie Peabody. 

Randy Wood, Dot prez who’s cur- 
rently eyeing the publishing and 
recording scene in New York, heads 
back to home base, Gallatin, Tenn., 
next week. 


pzmETY i§ ]} es t SeJ| ers on Coin-Machines 


Week of Nov. 15 

•»»♦»»»♦♦ »♦♦♦»»* 


1. I WENT TO YOUR WEDDING (10) (St. Louis) . 
^ 2. WHY DON’T YOU BELIEVE ME (3) (Brandon) 

<1 3. YOU BELONG TO ME (11) (Ridgeway) 

;; 4. TRYING (G) (Randy Smith 

5. GLOW WORM (7) (Marks) 

^ 6. LADY OF SPAIN (12) (Fox) 

: ; 7. JAMBALAYA (11) (Acuff-R) . , ; . ] I . . . 

8. WISH YOU WERE HERE (14) (Chappell) .... 
^ 9. MEET MR. CALLAGHAN (Leeds) . ..... 

V, 10. IT'S IN THE BOOK (1) (Magnolia) 


: Patti Page 

Joni James 

( Jo Stafford 

(Dean Mar fin 

Hilltoppers 

Mills Bros 

Eddie Fisher 

Jo Stafford 

Eddie Fisher 

Les Paul-Mary -Ford . . . 
Johnny ' Standley 


.Mercury 

..m-g-m ;; 

Columbia - ► 
. . Capitol 


Dot T 


.. Decca -► 
. . .Victor HI 
Columbia 
. . Victor - ► 
..Capitol 
. . Capitol * l 


Second Group 

II TAKES* TWO TO TANGO (3) (Harman) 

| : BLUES IN ADVANCE (Hollis) ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

;; KEEP IT A SECRET (Shupiro-B) ; 

II I LAUGHED AT LOVE (Redd Evans) 

I; MY FAVORITE SONG (Jack Gold) 

•* BECAUSE YOU’RE MINE (3) (Feist) 

- ► 

’ • HIGH NOON (9) (Feist) 

; ; STRING ALONG (Regent) . . 

; ; EARLY AUTUMN (Cromwell) 

- I COMES ALONG A-LOVE <Shaplro-B) 

II INDIAN LOVE CALL (Harms) 

“ OUTSIDE OF HEAVEN (B.V.C.) ; 

II SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY (8) (United) 

« ‘ HALF AS MUCH (8) (Acuff-R) 

•4 to 

: : AtJF WIEDERSEII’N (17) (Hill-R) 

- YOU’LL NEVER GET AWAY (Bourne) 

II MY LOVE AND DEVOTION (Sliapiro-B) 


Pearl Bailey 

. Dinah Shore. 

. Jo Stafford 

Sunny Gale : 

. Georgia Gibbs 

\ Nat (King) Cole 

‘ ( Mario Lanza 

\ Frankie Lame 

' ( Bill Hayes 

. Ames Bros 

. Jo Stafford 

.- Kay Starr 

. Slim Whitman 

. Eddie Fisher 

j Nat (King) Cole .... 
* / Tony Bennett 

. Rosemary Clooney . . , 

l Vera Lynn 

.*') Eddy Howard 

. D. Comell-T. Brewer 
. Perry Como 


. Coral - . 
Victor "| 


. Columbia * 6 
, ... Victor 
. .Mercury l| 
...Capitol 66 
....Victor II 
.Columbia "| 
MGM l„ 


.... Coral | | 
Columbia * 6 
. . . Capitol I n 
. . Imperial I I 
....Victor “ 

. . . Capitol - ► 
. Columbia | 6 

. Columbia - h 

, . London -- 
..Mercury 

to 

.... Coral < - 
Victor II 


f I Figures in parentheses indicate number of weeks song has been in the Top 103 I 

' f H fHM M > f M » H fto 


Longhair Disk Review 


Strauss: “Der Rosenkavaller.” A 
handsome, high-grade recording of 
the sumptuous Strauss opera, re- 
corded (complete) by the Munich 
State Opera in Munich in 1944. 
(Vox, 4 LPs, $23.80). Lush album 
has the right Viennese flavor, with 
some distinguished singing, espe- 
cially by Viorica Ursuleac (Mar- 
schallin), Ludwig Weber (Ochs), 
Adele Kern (Sophie) and Georgine 

von Milinovic (Octavian). Clemens 
Kraus conducts cast and orchestra 
with suave authority. Recording 
technically is excellent. 

Romberg: “Student Prince.” Co- 
lumbia is following up its success- 
ful “Merry Widow” album with 
this equally fine recording, using 
sttffne participants (LP, $5.45). 
Dusty perennial still has plenty 
appeal when as carefully prepared 
and as tastefully performed as 
here. Dorothy Kirsten and Robert 
Rounseville sing the leads, latter 
sometimes straining a little. “Deep 
in My Heart” duet is still the liigh- 
spot. Genevieve Warren, Clifford 
Harvuot and others add okay sup- 
port under Lehman Engel’s baton. 

Bron. 


Jack Walker has been named 
publicity director of Shaw Artists. 
Walker also tops the publicity set- 
up for Atlantic Records. 


Metop to Pass Up St Louis 
Spring Visit; Orch Nixes 
70G Guarantee on 4 Dates 

St. Louis, Nov. 18. 

Because execs of the St. Louis 
Symphony Society refused to guarl 
antee $70,000 for four perform* 
ances of the Metropolitan Opera 
Assn, next spring, when the N. Y. 
group goes on tour, the skedded 
engagement was cancelled last 
week. Met management said it 
couldn’t .travel unless it got a guar- 
antee for $20,000, or at least $18,- 
000, a performance. 

The Met was guaranteed $40,000 
last May and realized more than 
$68,000 for four performances in 
the Henry W. Kiel Auditorium, ac- 
cording to William Zalken, local 
symphony secretary. While Zalken 
did not blame the Met for going 
where it could get the most money, 
he termed the requested guarantee 
“too much of a gamble.” Zalken 
also stated that the local organiza* 
tion would have to take in between 
$85,000 and $90,000 to “come out 
even.” The Met’s last local visit 
was its sixth in seven years. 


Captain Stubby and his crew 
headline the entertainment por- 
tions at the Illinois Agricultural 
Assn.’s annual convention in Chi 
today (Wed.). WLS warblers 
Beaver Valley Sweethearts vaca- 
tioning in Pennsylvania. 


Songs With Largest Radio Audience 

The top 30 songs . of xoeek (more in case of ties), based on 
copyrighted Audience Coverage Index & Audience Trend Index. 
Published by Office of Research, Inc., Dr. John Gray Peatman , 
Director. Alphabetically listed. 


Survey Week of November 7-13, 1952 


Because You’re Mine — t“Because You’re Mine”. . .. Feist 

Early Autumn . . . Cromwell 

Everyhting I Have Is Yours Robbins 

Forgetting You - DeSylva-B, II 

Frosty the Snow Man Hill Si R 

Glow Worm . ' Marks 

High Noon — +“High Noon” Feist 

I Went To Your Wedding St. Louis 

Jambalaya Acu: ff-R 

Keep It a Secret Shapiro-B 

Lady of Spain r ° x 

Lazy River Southern 

Love of My. Life Chappell 

Meet Mister Callaghan Leeds 

My Favorite Song Gold _ 

Once In a While Miller 

Outside Of Heaven. .. Bregman-V-C 

Ruby and the Pearl Famous 

Sleepytime Gal • * • Miller 

Somewhere Along Way ...United 

Stay Where You Are '• • .BMI 

Takes Two to Tango Harman 

To Know You (Is To Love You) Roncom 

When I Fall In Love Young 

White Christmas ' Berlin 

Wish You Were Here — * !,, Wish You Were Here” .... Chappell 

Why Don’t You Believe Me . . Brandon 

You Belong To Me : Ridgeway 

You’ll Never Get Away Bourne 

Yours ‘....Marks 


Second Group 


A Shoulder to Weep On . . Laurel 

Anywhere I Wander Frank 

Caravan Aimer Aca 

Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes Four-Star 

Half As Much Acuff-R 

Heart and Soul Famous 

“I” gherwin 

I’m Never Satisfied 1 Simon 

Live Oak Tree* 1 Burvan 

My Lady Loves to Dance ! United 

Nina Never Knew .Jefferson 

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer .St. Nicholas 

Sinner or Saint Wilmark 

Sophisticated Lady Mills 

South Rampart Street Parade Feist 

Thanks to^You Paramount 

That’s a-Why Santly-J 

Trying Smith 

Walkin’ By the River £>heldon 

Walkin’ My Baby Back Home DeSylva-B. H 

Walkin’ to Missouri ........ I Hawtliorncr 


Top 10 Songs On TV 

Amorada I ; 

Blue Tango ; 

Fool, Fool, Fool 

Glow Worm ’. 

Here in My Heart 

Jambalaya 

Trying 

Why Don’t You Believe Me 

You Belong to Me 

Yours 


FIVE TOP STANDARDS 

It’s a Most Unusual Day 

My Heart Sings 

Notre Dame Victory March 

Oh, What a Beautiful Morning 

On, Brave "Old Army Team 


t Filmusical. 


i 


Cromwell °- 
Mills 

Progressive 

Marks 

Mellin 

Acuff-R 

Smith 

Brandon 

Ridgeway 

Marks 


Robbins 

Leeds 

Melrose 

Williamson 

Shapiro-B 


* Legit musical. 




Wednesday* November 19, 1952 



PZvrTEty 


OBCHSSTRAS-MtSIC 


43 


SCRAMBLE AIDS CLEFFERS 


Small Pubs Hit Well-Heeled Firms 
For No-Royalty Deals to Get On Wax 

Current ASCAP-BMI rhubarb is+ ; — ; 

Anient from slveraf pSSKsI Mffler Back From Fla., 
tsfaSLnVelrther n e g ,E I Mills Europe, Morris Cal 

too many special deals, subsidies 
and artificial hypos being made by 
some BMI firms. 

Big sore spot with these pubs 
Is growing difficulty- in getting 
diskeries to cut their tunes. The 
situation, they claim, has been ag- N. Y, this week are Jack Mills, 
gravated by the unfair competition Mills Music prez who’s been in 
coming from other BMI firms that Europe for two months, and 
receive hefty annual guarantees Buddy Morris, E. H. Morris Mu- 
from BMI. This nest egg gives sic topper, who is planing in from 
the firms an unprecedented oppor- the Coast, 
tunity to make special deals with 
diskeries to get their tune on wax. 

The firms with the BMI cushion 
are reported to have worked out 
angles with the artists & repertory 
toppers in which they regularly 
accept less than the 2c per side 
copyright guarantee and in some 
instances even agree to waive roy- 
alty payment for the waxing. Rea- 
soning here is that the big money 
lies in performances and sheet on a solid holiday market in De- 
sales which, in current market, cember on the basis of early 


Mitch Miller, ' Columbia Records 
artists and repertoire chief, re- 
turns to the N. Y, homeoffice to- 
day (Wed.) after a week’s vaca- 
tion in Florida. 

Other music biz returnees to 


Christmas Tunes 
In Fast Getaway 

Music execs are now counting 


only can be kicked off by a disk- 
ing. Pubs with small guarantees 
can't afford to make these deals 
since they need coin from all 
sources to continue operation. 


strength of Christmas tunes. The 
Xmas numbers have already begun 
to show as the bestsellers for sheet 
music, jumping the usual after- 


The BMI “civil war” also is be- Thanksgiving start by about two 
i.ng sparked by the Insistence of. th* 

BMI toppers that the small firms wee * s ' u0 ™ eri ate cfescnmng me 

invest as much coin and time as s P ul ’t as the earliest getaway for 
the big-guarantee firms in the pro- the Xmas numbers in the last five 
motion and exploitation of their 0 r six years 

‘ u “f- It ' s .j» l u « f » ir <Jem*nd one Irving Berlin . s .. white christ . 
BMI-lte said, and is only building , s currently the No , 1 sea . 

ensumty. sonal entry, followed by “Rudolph 

They also allege that the strong- Th( ? Red -Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty 
er BMI firms also have worked out The Snowmon ;. .-winter’ Wonder- 

land," “Santa Claus Is Coming To 
Town’* and “Here Comes Santa 
,, ^ . * , jm ... Claus." All are holdovers from 

they can ride along with a win- p rev i ous years with no new Xmas 
ner. It s gotten so, they claim, as ye t showing up on the 

hat you can’t get a wax assignment b€sts eiier charts, 
unless you ve got an in with the 
a.&r. men. 

The . publisher-recording com- 
pany axis now revolves under the 
system of the three P’s, “Payola, 

Personality and Pals," according 
to one BMI publisher. 


deals whereby the a.&r. man ar- 
ranges to put their tunes on the 
flip side of a potential hit item so 


MARTINO-BUSSE-XATS 
IN CLEVELAND FIASCO 


PUBSB1DQINGF0R 
EXCLUSIVE DEALS 

The publisher scramble for song 
properties in current uncertain 
market is resulting in a better 
“shake" for writers. Pubs are 
steadily eyeing the left-field entries 
and are latching on to them via 
exclusive pacts or working agree- 
ments whereby they’d get first 
crack at future output. Publishers 
affiliated with both the American 
Society of Composers, Authors and 
Publishers and Broadcast Music, 
Inc., are putting in their bids for 
exclusive pacts with the new crop 
of writers who’ve Indicated a hit 
tune potential. 

Writer interest now is at its high- 
est point and although the Tin Pan 
Alley hazards for the songsmiths 
remain the same, they claim they’re' 
in a better bargaining position and 
receiving primary consideration 
from the publishing flock via the 
“romance" treatment. 

Top. example of a major publish- 
ing firm latching on to a click left- 
field writer is Shapiro-Bernstein’s 
recent pacting of Jessie Mae Rob- 
inson to an exclusive writing deal. 
Miss Robinson broke into the big- 
time via “I Went To Your Wed- 
ding," which was published by St. 
Louis Music. Her first entry via 
S-B is “Keep It A Secret," cur- 
rently getting big wax coverage. 
Other pubwrilCf affiliation .is. the 
Tommy Valando (Sunbeam Music) 
pacting of rhythm and blues tune- 
smiths Joe Thomas and "Howard 
(Continued on page 49) 


ASCAP Pubs Eye New Coin Lures 
For Young Writers as BMI Offset 


Set Prelim Plans For 

Musicers’ Frat Org 

A group of New York publishers 
and contactmen are currently set- 
ting prelim plans for the forma- 
tion of a fraternal organization 
for the music industry similar to 
The Friars or The Lambs Club. 

A committee of music men met 
last week to discuss the project, 
with a further organizational meet- 
ing slated to be held early in De- 
cember. 


Satcluno & Troupe 
Beaucoup SRO in Paris 

Paris, Nov. 18. 

Louis Armstrong’s combo clicked 
with Gallic jazzophiles in his con- 
cert last Sunday (9), He has been 
playing one-night stands around 
Cleveland, Nov. 18. Europ a e since Sept. 24. Combo 
A1 Martino, with Henry Busse’s gives a matinee and evening show 
band and The Harmonicats in a a t all stops. Paris shows were 
unit gave the Arena’s manage- sponsored by the Hot Club of 
ment a brutal b.o. shock m the , ... . ■ 

12,000-seater auditorium at thf first France, and b,z was SRO > with fer ’ 
of two performances Sunday (16). vid fans sitting on the stage around 
Only 238 persons showed up for the sextet, 
the matinee, about 15% of them on Besides Armstrong and his hot 
passes, at a $2.50 top. Evening per- trumpet there is Trummy Young 
formance was slightly better, with on t he trombone, Bob McCracken 
the total gross for both showings on ci^inet, Marty Napoleon on 
pulling a little -over $1,60D. Date pi ano Arvel Shaw on bass, Cozy 
was one of the worst fiascos ever Cole on drums and V elma Middle- 
staged here. ton for vocals and duos with Arm- 

strong. 

Outfit is due to barnstorm Bor- 
deaux, Toulouse, Rouen, Stras- 
P • . o 1 JO — bourg, Nancy, Lyon, Marseille, 

iTISCO aympn S uCdSOIl Montpellier and Lille in France, 

San Francisco, Nov. 18. and then bo P a acaos . s n 
The San Francisco Symphony terranean to concert in North Afr 
wwon, which opened Saturday rica m Casablanca Oran and Al- 
uight (15) at the Onera House 8^ ers * Then back to Europe for a 

promises to be of unusual interest.’ ^thVstate- 

After 17 years In which the sym- a 1 5 d , H 9S lbU f?!*fi? < \ 1 i c e J ,irpndv 

Phony had Pierre Monteux as reg- SI , de A ?o V * 

ular conductor, it now is officially played Scandinavia, Italy and Swit- 
leaderless, and as result this season ze; riand Welcome here has been 
the orchestra will present eight or to P s * ^ 

n »ne guest leaders. Not all these selleis and the darling of the jazz 
visting conductors are candidates clubs “ e re * 
for the permanent symphony ba- ' 

ton ng haif° 0 £ them ££*“* more 4 Writers Seek Return 

Some of the guest conductors are Qf 22 Tunes From Pub Co. 

Jorda^nf^njj^* lik n E vf, ri< l ue Four songwriters brought action 
but £ , wb0 ^de his de- agai ° n u s t Lewis Music in N. Y. 

' «nd Kart Munchinger of Germany Supreme Court last week in an ef- 

Other guests include Bruno WaP f brt ° m "Sing firm 1 ; 

, Walie^tefn, 1 Mass^mo^Frecci^'vfc^ The writers charged that the put 

t°r de Sabata and George Szell. ^ch^if had^aifed °to publish”®' 


All Guest Maestros For 


Major Diskers 
Map Big Slash 
In Deadwood’ 


With the advent of the new year, 
the major recording companies are 
planning to slash their artists’ ros- 
ter drastically. Aim will be to cpt 
away the dead weight of vocalists 
who have- failed to carry stheir 
share of sales for the past couple of 
years. 

Among the casualties will be 
some top name artists who have 
been getting heavy coin guaran- 
tees but haven’t been delivering 
saleswise. These artists will be 
either dropped or given the option 
of remaining without the guarantee 
provision. The shift in platter- 
buyer tastes over the last few years 
has put some disk companies out 
on the hook with hefty minimums 
to artists who once were top push- 
ers of wax but who since have 
slipped into secondary importance. 

Clipping of the artist rosters 
down to fighting weight will also 
serve to help cut down on the num- 
ber of releases issued by the major 
labels weekly. Better spotting of 
tunes will go to the remaining art- 
ists, who will get more attention 
and concentrated promotion. 

The majors, however, will still be 
on the lookout for promising new 
vocalists. These deals represent 
little risk for the companies since 
the young vocalists work with no 
guarantees and with royalty cuts 
or 2% to 2 Vz% under relatively 
short-term one-year pacts with op- 
tions. When these youngsters 
click, they have demanded better 
royalty deals from the diskeries 
but none has been able to bring 
back the heavy coin guarantee pro- 
visos. 


Decca Revolves 
$4,000,000 Loan 

A 

Decca Records and two of its 
wholly owned subsidiaries have 
negotiated a $4,000,000 loan with 
the First National Bank of Boston, 
it was disclosed this week. No 
cash proceeds accrued from the 
transaction, for the deal constituted 
re-financing of a similar loan made 
by the same bank on Oct. 15, 1951. 

Under the agreement, Decca 
Distributing Corp. and the Bruns- 
wick Radio Corp. issued ‘their 
promissory notes to the bank in 
the amounts of $1,000,000 and $500,- 
000, respectively. Balance of the 
loan went to the parent company. 
Bearing interest of 3 3 A%, the notes 
were inked as of Oct. 7, 1952. They 
mature Jan. 2, 1959. 

Decc^sP&edged its 406,175 shares 
of Universal Pictures common 
stock as security for the notes. 
Wax firjm also agreed to place cer- 
tain restrictions upon distribution 
of its dividends until the principal - 
and interest on all the notes are 
paid in full. This is standard bank 
loan practice. 

Decca, meantime, reported net 
earnings of $487,168 for the first 
nine months of this year, ending 
Sept. 30, after provision of $325,- 
721 for inpome tax. Earnings were 
equal to 47c per share on the 1,- 
035,533 shares of common stock 
outstanding. Net compares with 
,the. $401,793 earned in the similar, 
pefiod last year, or 52c. per share 
on 776,500 shares outstanding on 
Sept. 30, 1961. 

Decca’s gross sales for the quar- 
ter, ending Sept. 30, totalled $3,- 
839,000. 


(\ ,an Dean. M-G-M Records vo- 
booked into the Riverside 
• liieatre, Milwaukee, Nov. 21 for 
a week. 


exploit. 

The writers in the action are 
Edgar Battle, Wilmore Jones, Le 
Rby Smith' and Frame Jackson. 


♦ Faced with the quick writer pay- 
off lure of Broadcast Music, Inc., 
deals, publisher members of the 
American Society of Composers, 
Authors & Publishers are seeking 
new means of attracting young 
cleffers into their stables. One ma- 
jor ASCAP publisher is readying 
a radical new plan under which 
it would give writers a cut on per- 
formance coin that would exceed 
ASCAP’s standard 50% division 
between publishers and writers. 

Situation is especially acute for 
ASCAP firms that are now romanc- 
ing the hillbilly tunesmiths. Since 
ASCAP pays off predominantly on 
network plugs, which are the main 
revenue source for the Society, the 
hillbilly writers have been shying 
away, since their tunes are mostly 
plugged 1 on small indie stations. 
Under BMI’s system of logging the 
small stations and the disk jockey 
spins at a payoff, rate to writers 
of 4c per plug for local shows 
and 6c for network shots, the hill- 
billy writers stand to make quick 
killings with BMI deals. 

ASCAP’s distribution system pre- 
cludes a spectacular performance, 
payoff since only 20% of the„wrlt- 
ers’ fund is based on current per- 
formances. The other 80% is based 
on a five-year performance average, 
an availability factor and seniority. 
Under this setup, it would take a 
writer at least five years to get 
substantial earnings from ASCAP, 
and then only if he produced hits 
consistently. 

Any deals for more performance 
coin for the hillbilly writers would 
be a strictly private matter between 
the cleffers and the publishers. Lat- 
ter would shell out the extra payoff 
from his own ASCAP share in or- 
der to make the ASCAP affiliation 
more attractive. 

Many of the ASCAP firms, of 
course, have solved the problem 
simply by opening BMI subsidi- 
aries. This solution, however, can’t 
be used by some of the top pub- 
lishers, many of whom are on 
ASCAP’s board, without laying 
themselves open to charges of dis- 
loyalty. These publishers, more- 
over, believe that ASCAP would be 
more beneficial to the writer in the 
long run but they still have to 
come up with answers to the short- 
term factors which put BMI In a 
better competitive position for new 
talent. 


Incumbent MPPA Bd. 
Reelected at N.Y. Meet 

The Music Publishers Protective 
Assn., at its annual membership 
infeeting in New York yesterday 
(Tues.), reelected the .incumberft 
board of directors. Abou^Q Pub- 
lishers were represented’ at the 
meeting. 1 

The MPPA board consists of 
Louis Bernstein, Saul Bourne, Max 
Dreyfus, Buddy Morris, Abe Ol- 
man, Jack Mills, George Joy and 
Bernard Good vvln. Election of offi- 
cers for the association will be 
made by the board at its Decem- 
ber meeting. 


Plugger Job Upbeat 

Evidence of upbeat in publishing 
firms’ plugging operation was fur- 
ther pointed up last week with the 
hiring ‘of several contactmen by 
Tin Pan Alley firms. 

Added to the plugging beat were 
George Gilbert by Jefferson Music, 
Burt Haber by Jack.. Gold .Music 
1 and Jack Richmond by St. Nicholas 
Music. 


1 : 


Rubinoff Won’t Play 
For Kids at 35c Admission 

Quincy, 111., Nov. 18. 

Violinist David Rubinoff cai£ 
celled his performances here last 
week because he objected to the 
low prices charged for a children’s 
matinee. 

Optimist Club, sponsors of both 
appearances, had put a 35c tag 
on the afternoon concert and vio- 
linist refused to play. Club then 
accepted cancellation of both of 
his recitals. _ 


Connec Boswell, currently at the 
Jung Hotel, New Orleans, leaves 
that spot Nov. 25 for bookings in 
Des Moines and St. Louis. 


COL EXTENDS 45 PITCH • 
VIA KIDiSK ALBUMS 

Columbia Records is extending 
its move into the 45 rpm extended 
play field with release of several 
of its kidisk albums via the new 
type platter. A special drive on 
the 45 rpm EP’s in the kidisk field 
will be made for the anticipated 
heavy Christmas trade. 

Col execs have pointed out to 
their field force that the 45 rpm 
kidisks represent’ a big market po- 
tential since many of the 45 rpm 
players .were originally sold as 
kiddie machines. 


Out-of-Court Settlement 

•# 

By Lindner Vs. Morris 

A copyright infringement suit 
brought by Edmund Lindner 
against E. H. Morris Music was set* 
tied out of court last week just 
before trial was scheduled to open 
in N. Y. Supreme Court. 

Lindner, who claimed to owrt the 
rights to a German marching tune, 
“Das Neu Deutschland," charged 
that Morris infringed on his copy- 
right with a tune, “Tomorrow* 1 * 
published in 1947. 

Ajemans* N.Y. Concert* 

Maro and Anahid Ajeman, long- 
hair violin and piano sister team, 
will present a survey of three cen- 
turies of chamber music in a seriei 
of three concerts at Town Hall, 
N. Y., Nov. 23, Dec. 7 and Dec. 2\. 

Anahid Ajeman is the wife of 
George Avakian, Columbia Record! 
jazzicologist and director of th# 
diskery’s pop album repertoire. 


MUSKSTmAS-MUSU; 


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Wednesday, November 19, 1952 




OttCllKSTRA-MUSIC 


45 



Scoreboard 

OF 


Small British Publishers Fading 
Out of Biz With Influx of U.S. Firms 


TOP TALENT AND TUNES 

mma, ' ■ i _ . ^ 

Compiled from Statistical Reports of Distribution 
Encompassing the Three Major Outlets 

Coin Machines Retail Disks Retail Sheet Music 

as Published in the Current Issue 

for 

" ' ' WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 15 — • 


NOTE: The current comparative sales strength of the Artists and Tunes listed hereunder is 
arrived at under a statistical system comprising each of the three major sales outlets enu- 
merated above. These findings are correlated with data from wider sources, which are exclusive 
with variety. The positions resulting from these findings denote the OVERALL IMPACT de - 
veloped from the ratio of points scored: two ways in the case of talent (disks, coin machines), 
and three ways m the case of tunes {disks, coin machines, sheet music). 


POSITIONS 
This Last 
iveek. week. 

1 1 


2 2 


3 4 

-4 •• a 

5 6 

6 5 

7 9 

8 8 

9 10 

10 7 


POSITIONS 
This Last 
week. week. 


1 

' 2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 


1 

2 

4 
3 
9 

5 
8 

10 

• • 

6 


TALENT 


ARTIST AND LABEL 

JO STAFFORD (Columbia) 


PATTI PAGE (Mercury) 


EDDIE FISHER (Victor) . 


MILLS BROS. (Decea) 

JONI JAMES (MGM) 

HILLTOPPERS (Dot) 

JOHNNY STANDLEY (Capitol) . . . 

PEARL BAILEY (Coral) 

MARIO LANZA (Victor) . . . . 

LES PAUL-MARY FORD (Capitol) 


TUNE 

fYou Belong to Me 
j Jambalaya 
[Keep it a Secret 

fl Went to You* Wedding 
■I You Belong to Me * 
[Conquest 

[Wish You Were Here 
■j Lady of Spain 
[Outside of Heaven 

Glow Worm- 

Why Don’t Ypu Believe Me 
. Trying* 

. It’s in the Book 
Takes Two to Tangb 
Because You’re Mine 
Meet Mr. Callaghan 


* 


TUNES 


TUNE PUBLISHER 


I WENT TO YOUR WEDDING : .St. Louis 

YOU BELONG TO ME Ridgeway 

GLOW WORM E. B. 'Marks 

JAMBALAYA "I Ac,uff-R 

WHY DON’T YOti BELIEVE ME Brandon 

TRYING Randy Smith 

BECAUSE YOU’RE MINE Feist 

TAKES TWO TO TANGO Harman 

LADY OF SPAIN Fox 

WISH YOU WERE HERE Chappell 


RETAIL SHEET BEST SELLERS 






New York, M.D.S. 

■ k ■ 1 • 

Chicago, Carl Fischer 

Los Angeles, Morse M. Preeman 

Boston, H. N. Homeyer 

Philadelphia, Chas. DuMont 

Kansas City, Jenkins Music Co. 

■ : h 

Minneapolis, Schmitt Mus. Co. 

St, Louis, St. Louis Music Supply 

San Antonio^ Alamo Piano Co. 

; 

Seattle, Capitol Music Co/ 

Rochester, Neisner Bros. 

Indianapolis, Pearson’s 

T 

O 

T 

A 

L 

P 

0 

1 
N 
T 
S 

Survey of retail sheet music 
sales based on reports obtained 
from leading stores in 12 cities 
and showing comparative sales 
rating for this and last week. 


National 

Rating 

This Last 
*k. wk. 

Week Ending 
Nov. 15 

Title and Publisher 

1 

1 

You Belong to Me (Ridgeway) . 

• 4 « 

1 

1 

1 

1 

7 

1 

1 

1 

1 

5 

1 

2 


2 

2 

I Went to Your Wedding (Hill-R). 

6 

2 

4 

2 

6 

3 

• • 

2 

2 

1 



85 

3 

3 

Jambalaya (Acuff-R) 

• • 4 

• • 

3 

3 

5 

1 

2 

• 4 

3 

4 

3 

D 




4 

Because You’re Mine (Feist) . . 

ft ft 4 

8 

5 

5 

10 

• ♦ 

5 

3 

6 

3 

mm 

a 

u 


5 

7 

Glow Worm (Marks) 

4 « 4 

7 

4 

6 

• 

4 

6 

2 

5 

5 

4 

6 

• • 


6 

6 

Wish You Were Here (Chappell) . . 

» • 

9 

10 



4 

4 

4 

6 

• 

t 

3 

37 

7 

5 

Half As Much (Acuff-R) 

• * • 

• • 

• • 

2 

3 

8 


• • 

9 

U 

4 

• • 

ft 4 

30 

8 

12 

Takes Two to Tango (Harman) 

» ft ft 

• , 

7 

9 

• 

• • 

• • 

5 

• » 

8 

2 

9 

10 

27 

9 

15 

Don’t You Believe Me (Brandom). 

.4 

• • 

• 

7 

2 

• • 

6 

ft 4 

4 4 

• 

4 

4 • 

25 


11 

Outside of Heaven (B.V.C.) 

4 • ft 

9 

6 

• 

* • 

* • 

8 

• • 

7 

ft • 

4 « 

5 

4 4 

20 

n 

13 

Trying (Randy Smith) 

ft ft 4 

• • 

• » 

• 

4 

5 

• • 

10 

ft 4 

* ft 

4 4 

• 

5 

20 

a 

8 ~ 

Somewhere Along Way (United) . . 

• • 

• • 

• « 

8 

10 

9 

9 

8 

9 

9 

10 

4 4 

16 

12 

14 

Lady of Spain (Fox) 

ft • ft 

» • 

10 

7 

* 

• > 

4* ft 

8 

4 • 

• • 

8 

8 

4 

14 

13 

{j " - 


Meet Mr. Callaghan (Leeds) . . . 

• « ft 

• • 

• • 

4 ft 

• 

ft 4 

ft ft 

4 4 

4 4 

10 

6 

4 4 

mm 


""■'.UW, 

• « 

VVhite. (Berlin)* 

• • • 

~F 

• * 

ft 

« 

• ft 

ft 4 

4 • 

4 1 

4 • 

4 4 

4 4 

4 

9 


Best British Sheet Sellers 

(Week ending Nov. 8) 
London, Nov. 11. 

Here in My Heart .... Mellin 

Isle of Innisfree Maurice 

Half as Much Robbins 

Homing Waltz Reine 

Forget-Me-Not Reine 

You Belong to Me . . . Chappell 

Sugarbush Chappell * 

Somewhere Along Way . Magna 

Blue Tango . Mills 

• Zing a Little Zong .... Maddox 

Feet Up Cinephonic 

High Noon Robbins 

Second 12 

Walkin' My Baby .... Victoria 
Auf Wiederseh’n . . . .Maurice 

Meet Mr. Callaghan Tpff 

Walkin’ to Missouri Dash 

I’m Yours Mellin 

Faith Hit Songs 

Rock of Gibraltar Dash 

Faith .Move Mountains . . . Dash 

Trust in Me Wright 

Kiss of Fire Duchess 

Day of Jubilo Connelly 

My Lov$ and Devotion . . Fields 

• - - - — - - 

Ellington, Eckstine Almost 
Trip Each Other Up At 
Carnegie, But Not at B.0. 

Concertizing jazz troupes almost 
tripped over each other at Car- 
negie Hall, N. Y., last weekend 
when tvtfo different shows, the 
Duke Ellington layout and the Billy J 
Eckstine package, played back-to- 
. i back Friday, and day nights 
(14-15) in the longhair auditorium. 
The boxoffice stamina of this show, 
biz genre, however, was demon- 
strated in the fact that the Elling- 
ton show was a near-sellout, while 
Eckstine played to capacity, each 
delivering two shows apiece at 8 : 30 
- \ *p. - im. and midnight. Eckstine 
gros3ed.*$24,000. 

r The*Ellington layout on Friday 
was in the nature of a tribute to 
the composer-bandleader on his 
25th anni as a headliner. It was 
promoted by Patricia Music in a 
publicity hookup with the Broad- 
way jazz spot, Birdland. As a re- 
sult, Ellington was framed in hy- 
■ brid layout of standard and pro- 
gressive jazz which didn’t jell fully 

irfto a musical entertainment. 

« 

Ellington’s band, however, was in 
top form for its stint. The aggre- 
gation of standout sidemen were 
swinging with a rocking beat in a 
repertory of new instrumentals and 
standard Ellingtonia. It was a 
straight, hardhitting exposition of 
big-band jazz, with Ellington fur- 
tunately eschewing the more pre- 
tentious works which have slowed 
down some of his past concerts in 
this hall. Among the standout 
items in the concert were drummer" 
Louis Bellson’s skinbeating pyro- 
“"1 technics on one of his own numbers 
and Ellington’s handling of the 
recitative in a brief and charming 
musical number, “Monolog.” 

Billie Holiday, who came. on dur- 
ing the second half of the concert, 
was by far the most imiflressive;. per- 
former of the- night. Miss Holiday 
may not have the £ame vocal abili- 
ties that she had when she worked 
’the N. Y. 52nd St. niteries years 
ago, but she is still the most dra- 
matic stylist in the business. From 
“I Cover the Waterfront” to “Fine 
and Mellow,” Miss Holiday projects 
with a flawless, effortless phrasing. 

Another solid turn was furnished 
by Dizzy Gillespie, who doubled 
between Carnegie Hall and his 
Apollo Theatre booking in Harlem. 
Gillespie delivered only one trum- 
pet solo, but it was expressive of 
the jazzman's serious talent. 3 Oth- 
erwise, he clowned with Ellington, 
who kudosed Gillespie as the pro- 
genitor of bop. 

Also in the progressive groove 
was Charlie Parker, who set his 
alto sax against a string section. 
Parker with strings has proved to 
be a good seller on disks but it still 
sounds as a curiously unsuccessful 
blending of instrumental colors. 
The Stan Getz sextet dished up ad- 
ditional cool sounds for the de- 
votees of jazz esoterica. The Amad 
Jamal trio also was featured on 
some tricky instrumental rhythms. 

On Saturday night, Eckstine cli- 
maxed his national four with the 
George Shearing Quintet and 
Count Basie’s orch with two sell- 
I out performances. Henri. 


- Influx of American publishing 
firms on the British music business 
scene has been steadily pushing 
the small London pubberies out of 
operation. According to Leslie Ab- 
bott, Southern Music’s London rep 
who’s in New York eyeing the Tin 
Pan Alley picture, it’s becoming 
more difficult for the ihdie pub to 
keep his head above water with the 
growing competition coming from 
U. S. pubs, who are setting up 
their own firms in England or tie- 
ing up with pubberies already 
ensconced there. 

In recent months J. J. Robbins, 
Bobby Mellin and Dave Dreyer 
have opened up outlets in London 
while Chappell and Leeds con- 
tinue to dominate with their flock 
of subsids. Current indie British 
pub who’s beating the American 
invasion is Michael Reine whose 
“Homing Waltz” has been heading 
the bestseller lists for the past few 
months. 

The new firms, however, have 
put the British contactman in a 
better bargaining position. They’re 
in top demand now, said Abbott, 
and unlike the U. S. plugger, their 
importance hasn't been minimized. 
The live plug, he added, is still 
the priority goal and personal con- 
tact is the 'only way to get it. 

There’s some disk jockey con- 
tact work, he admitted, but noth- 
ing like the deejay concentration 
in the U. S. Jack Johnson is the 
only Important deejay spinning 
platters on BBC, Abbott said, and 
he only has one hour a week. Ac- 
cording to an unofficial BBC rul- 
ing, Abbott revealed, the deejay 
Isn’t allowed to spin the same rec- 
ord more than three Uro.e# in nine 
shows. 

Disk saturation via the jockeys 
is virtually impossible over the 
English airlanes. Radio Luxem- 
burg, however, has developed into 
an important' outlet for pubbery 
plugging since it has about five 
hours daily beamed into England 
and the British contactmen have 
been making periodic junkets to 
Luxemburg to set their tunes with 
the- jockeys. 

Payola ban, which BBC set about 
five years ago, is still being ad- 
hered to by all the pubberies, Ab- 
bott stated. Anyone with air time 
jeapordizes his job if discovered 
taking “plug money” so the pubs 
have just stopped making the coin 
overtures. BBC also has forbidden 
orchs to accept publisher paid-for 
orchestrations. And, Abbott added, 
what should irritate U. S. publish- 
ers most about the English plug- 
ging system, especially at this time 
of the year, is the fact that the 
BBC also ruled out Xmas gifts to 
jockeys or performers. 

Krupa Back to N.Y. 

After Honolulu Date 
To Disk With Big Band 

Winding up his 10-week tour 
ivith Norman Granz’s “Jazz At the 
Philharmonic” troupe tomorrow 
(Thurs.) in Honolulu, Gene Krupa 
Will ’ return to N. Y. next month to 
tecord for Mercury with a full-sized 
bahd. Krupa, who; has been re- 
cording with a trio for the past 
jtear; . will use a big orch with 
strings on a repertory of popular 
light classics. 

The drummer plans to tour again 
with his trio early next year. 



BMI PUBLISHING FIRM 

Billy Shaw, prez of Shaw Artists, 
talent agency, moved into the mu- 
<sic publishing field last week with 
the formation of Marshall Music. 
The pubbery will be affiliated 
with Broadcast Music, Inc. 

Bud Gately will top the Mar- 
shall operation as firm’s general 
professional manager. Gately was 
formerly on the professional staffs 
of Bourne Music and Frank Music. 


GAC Inks Polka Combo 

Chicago, Nov. 18. 

General Artists Corp. has signed 
the Bill York orchestra, a Chicago 
polka group that just sliced four 
sidep for Mercury Records. 

GAC will send the unit out this 
spring and summer when the side- 
men aren’t working at their regu- 
lar jobs as ’members of the Chicago 
Symphony Orchestra. 



















Pfi&IEff 


) 


U 


Wednesday, November 19 , X952 



November 19, 1952 /^Efe/£?jnT 47 

e Greatest Xmas Novelty Since “TWO FRONT TEETH” 



orcubsthas-htsic 


PfisSffFr 


MERCURY PACTS PARKS, 
RENEWS HILL, DANIELS 

Chicago, Nov. 18. 

Mercury Records has pacted 
Bernice Parks, whose platter, “You 
Intrigue Me" on the minor label, 
Segar, created interest in her. In 
addition, Art Talmadge, artists and 
repertoire head, signed John Di 
Natolia, a protege of Perry Como. 
Singer’s name Will be changed. 

A&R topper also repacted Tiny 
Hill and Billy Daniels. Talmadge 
is also putting out an extended play 
disk for the first time with Patti 
Page, entitled “Christmas With 
Patti Page." Also on the Xmas 
release list are two Wait Disney is- 
sues, “Aladdin and the Magic 
Lamp" and “The Magic Carpet." 

Brit.’s Boyd Neel Orch 
To Make Debut in N. Y. 

The Boyd Neel Orchestra of 
England, making its first U. S. tour, 
with the Columbia Artists Mgt. 
booking, will play at Town Hall, 
N. Y., next Sunday ( (22), under 
sponsorship of the New Friends of 
Music. 

The Little Orchestra Society Is 
giving a reception to the orch 
group on Saturday (22) at Carne- 
gie Hall Gallery. 






THE ORIGINAL 

TONY MARTIN 

TUXEDO 

The slender Skinner satin 
lapels' make you look 
taller, slimmer, trimmer. 
The 2-ply imported 
worsted in midnite blue 
is lightweight enough for 
year 'round wear! Look 
for the Tony Martin 
signature on the label. 

At Better 

Dealers Everywhere 



RETAIL DISK BEST sni-gns 


National 

Rating 


P'S&IETY 

Survey of retail disk best 
sellers based on reports ob- 
tained from leading stores in 
11* cities and showing com- 
parative sales rating for this 
and last week . 


Week Ending 
Nov. 15 



& •§ 

03 p -4 

<D |2 

p a 


ctt w 

Q 'S 


tM ha 
« 


: <U 

< ft 


p a 

» 3- I 

I i I 


This Last 
wk. wk. 


Artist, Label, Title 


M I M 

q o 


illS 

Sill 

« 2 S | 

P4 g W 


<0 ft * 
6 


<u I 

• • O 
0 *2 


a # v 

111 



1 

1 

PATTI PAGE .Mercury) 

“I Went to Your Wedding" 

5 

2 

1 

5 

4 

8 

4 

10 

1 

2 

2 

i 

77 

2 

2 

MILLS BROS. (Decca) 

“Glow Worm" 

1 

9 


3 

1 

5 

7 

3 

5 

1 

3 

72 

3 

5 

JONI JAMES (MGM) 

“Why Don’t You Believe Me” 

6 

1 

• ♦ 

1 

2 

3 

2 

• ♦ 

4 4 

4 4 

4 4 

51 

4A 

4 

JO STAFFORD (Columbia) 

“You Belpng to Me" 

4 

5 



5 

4 

• • 

• • 

2 

4 • 

1 

45 

4B 

6 

HILL TOPPERS (Dot) 

“Trying" 

7 

3 

% • 

2 


2 

• 4 

6 

4 

4 4 ► 

8 

45 

5 

7 

PEARL BAILEY (Coral) 

“Takes Two to Tango" 

3 

8 

5 


6 

6 

* 4 « 

• • 

6 

3 

10 

41 

6 

3 

JO STAFFORD (Columbia) 
“Jambalaya" 

2 



7 

8 

• « 

• • 

4 

3 

9 

4 

40 

7 

8 

JOHNNY STANDLEY (Capitol) 

“It’s in the Rook". . . . „ 

.. 

.. 

6 

6 

.. 

« * 

1 

1 

7 



34 

8 

14 

EDDIE FISHER (Victor) 

“Outside of Heaven" 


6 

.. 

.. 

9 

• • 

5 

2 

8 


1 4 

25 

9 

11 

MARIO LANZA (Victor) 

“Becau6e Your Mine" 

9 

4 




7 


5 

4 4 


6 

24 

10 

16 

LES PAUL (Capitol) 

“Lady of Spain" 



4 

8 



8 


• 4 

5 

7 

23 

11 

12 

VERA LYNN (London) 

“Yours” 


10 



3 

9 

4 1 

• • 

4 4 

4 


. 18 

12 

15 

FRANKIE LAINE (Columbia) 

“High Noon" 

8 





1 


• > 

• 4 

, . i 


13 

13A 

9 

EDDIE FISHER (Victor^ ' 

• “Wish You Were Here" 

10 

■ 




• * 

• • 

• • 

9 


5 

9 

13B 


KAREN CHANDLER .Coral) 

“Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" 



2 



• « 

* • 

« • 

• 4 


4 4 

9 

14A 

• « 

PATTI PAGE (Mercury) 

“You Belong to Me" 



3 



* ♦ 

• • 

4 • 

4 4 


4 4 

8 

14B 

• • 

TOMMY EDWARDS (MGM) 

“You Win Again". . ^ . . 






• • 

3 

4 4 

4 4 


4 4 

8 

14C 

• * 

FOUR ACES (Decca) 

“Heart and Soul" 

.. 


.. 

.. 


« • 

• • 

7 

• 4 

7 


8 

15 

• • 

L. PAUL— MARY FORD (Capitol) 

“My Baby’s Coming Home” 




4 

• • 

• 9 

• • 

• 4 

4 4 


4 4 

7 

16 

16 

PATTI PAGE ^Mercury) 

“Conquest" 

• » 

• • 

7. 

• • 

• • 

10 

10 

• 4 

• • 

• 4 

4 4 

6 


’Wednesday, November 19, 1952 


Band Review 


WOODY HERMAN ORCH (15) 
With Dolly Houston 
Hotel Statler, N, Y, 

Woody Herman has passed 
through several musical transitions 
from swing to a touch of bop but 
he s back on a solid commercial 
kick with this outfit, “The New 
Third Herd." This crew has been 
around on the one-niter and loca- 
tion circuit for over a year and 
has established itself as a good at- 
traction, with Herman's rep as a 
top jazzman still undimmed. 

Herman may be commercial but 
he’s not cliche. This band has a 
fresh attack that gives it a distinc- 
tive quality in this era of imitative 
dance orchs. Herman’s crew how- 
ever, can also dish up those dan. 
sapation numbers with a clear, fa- 
cile beat needed for the Hotel Stat- 
ler’s Cafe Rouge and other hotel 
rooms of this kind. 

He has a conventional instru- 
mentation of five reeds, including 
himself, seven brass and three on 
rhythm. The arrangements are off 
the beaten track, with an arresting - 
alternation of brass and reed ieads 
over a firm rhythmic base. But 
it's not so offbeat that the squares 
are left completely in the dark. 
Herman’s orch, moreover, can also 
give out with rocking swing sounds 
that hark back to the late 1930‘s. 

Besides fronting the orch with 
his sax and clarinet solos. Her- 
man also gives this organization a 
big lift with his vocals. Herman 
was always an excellent blues 
singer and he shows equally fin© 
form on the straight ballads! Gal 
vocalist Dolly Houston also regis- 
ters strongly on her assignments, 
displaying good pipes and a per- 
sonable mike style. Hcrm. 

- t 

v • 

Feist, Witmark Sue Texas j 
Spot for Tune Infringement | 

San Antonio, Nov. 18. 

Suit to enjoin the Highland Hills 
Tavern from using the composi- 
tions “Sleepy Time Gal" and “Re- 
member Me" was filed here last 
week in U. S. Federal Court. 

The case, brought by Feist Mu- 
sic and Witmark Music of New 
York named Al J. Wiatrek, owner 
of the spot, as defendent. 


FIVE TOP 
ALBUMS 



Hollywood Cost 

. M-G-M 
M-G-M-157 
K-157 
E-157 


Nashville Notes 


Eddy Arnold’s manager, Tom 
Parker, flew to Houston last week- 
end to set advance promotion for 
star’s appearance at Houston’s Fat 
Stock Show Feb. 4-15. From 
Houston Parker will continue to 
the Coast on business and return 
to New York in advance of Ar- 
nold’s Dec. 3 appearance on Perry 
Como’s Chesterfield TV'er. 

WSM artists’ routes for next 
week include Ray Price with Okla- 
homa and Texas dates, closing at 
Charlie Walker’s Barn in San An- 
tonio (28). .Ernest Tubb booked 
for Boston; (26). Roy Acuff play- 
ing !Daytofl, Nov. 23 and continu- 
•Iftg. with Ohioifitands for the week. 
Moion Mwlliean set in Louisville 

(23) . Martha Carson has Texarkana 

(24) , Shreveport (26), and Mar- 
shall, Texas (28). Johnny & Jack 
in San Antonio (26) and Velasco, 
Texas (27). The George Morgan- 
Lonzo & ... -Oscar package in Mis-, 
souri and Kansas all week. 

Nashville package booker, A. V. 
Bamford, promoting Hank Wil- 
liams’ dates in Des Moines, Nov. 
23, and Augusta, Dec. 16. Bamford 
also has a Webb Picrce-Hank 
Thompson date set for Kansas City 
Nov. 30. Grandpa Jones, recent 
name to the WSM fold, goes to 
Ontario, Canada, for two weeks 
beginning Nov. 24. 

Fred and Wesley Rose in New 
Orleans last weekend on company 
business along with a meeting with 


M-G-M prexy, Frank Walker, who 
is currently on a two weeks dis- 
tributor o.o. trip. 

Ray Price takes guest honors 
with Red Foley on his “Grand Ole 
Opry" Prince Albert NBC’er Sat- 
urday night (22). 

Country Chatter 

Tex Ritter opened at Washing- 
ton’s Capitol Theatre Friday (14) 
with appearances in the south and 
southwest set before returning to 
Hollywood for the holidays. 

E. E. Siman, Jr., and John 
Maliaffey, officials of Missouri’s 
Radiozark Enterprises, in Los An- 
geles last week setting final plans 
for Smiley Burnette’s debut to na- 
tional TV in 1953. 

Slim Whitman of Shreveport’s 
KWKH, recently completing a 
western., tour, has . started through 
the east with St. Louis, Dayton, 
Providence, Boston, New York and 
eastern Canadian stands booked. 

The cowboy-horse act, Homer 
Harris & Star Dust, leaves Lexing- 
ton, Kentucky, WLAP Dec. 1, after 
nine- month’s of airing and per- 
sonals for sponsor Royal Crown 
Cola. The duo will begin at 
WCYB in Bristol, Va., Jan. 1, un- 
der same sponsorship. Jim Bal- 
lard takes Harris’ place with 
WLAP. 

Shorty Warren & Western Rang- 


ers are currently on a Canadian 
tour which will continue through 
November. Shortly before tour 
began, Warren bought* a Secaucua, 
N. J., night-spot which he will op- 
erate as Shorty Warren’s Copa 
Club with opening set for mid-De- 
cember. 

Jimmie Pierson recently located 
at WIBW in Topeka, with several 
shows per day. Pierson has been 
in radio for 23 years having gained 
a national rep for his 18 years 
with Jimmie & Dick, “The Novelty 
Boys." 

Moss Debuts on Merc 

Reta Moss, Negro warbler, 
makes her wax debut next month 
via Mercury Records. Although 
pact between Miss Moss and Merc 
hasn’t been inked yet, thrush cut 
her first sides for the label last 
week. 

Term pact will be signed within 
the next few weeks when Norman 
Granz arrives from the Coast." 1 



THE BOOMERANGS 

Cnrr*ntly 
THE GRANDE 
Hamilton, Ontario 


1660 fey . Now MM 



m 


his 




C 0 


R 9 



America's: Fastest 
"'Selling-Records! 


■ 

ll 

S 

i 

i 

■ 

I 

I 

H 


( Another BMI ‘Pin Up' Hit 

(Up The) LAZY RIVER 

Published by p eer 
Art Mooney 

Mills Brothers IMGM) 

Phil Harris * f Decca) 

Eaneke Victor) 

Owen Bradley * Victor) 

Coral) 

Broadcast Music, tore. Avenue, Vork * 


Avonuo * Now York 26, N.f. 
(Hutto • HouTWffo* t rorour# * «0Mt.r»L 












Wednesday, November 19 ? , 1?52 


PS&mf? 


©RCHESTttAS-IWUSIC 


49 


WHO Vc icamvu 

nut S-B also is dickering with 
several other writers for exclusive 
deals and is working out a “first- 
refusal” deal with a flock of others, 

publisher Frank Loesser, who 
operates Frank Music, hasn’t pact- 
ed exclusive deals with any writers 
but believes in giving the young 
crop the same type of guidance and 
encouragement he received when 
be was breaking in as a tunesmith. 
The writer, according to Loesser, 
is the source of the biz, and should 
be nurtured and developed. For 
the past year, Loesser has been 
advising the young team of Dick 
Adler and Jerry Ross whose latest 
entry, “So-So,” was recorded by 
Vaughn Monroe-Sunny Gale for 
PCA Victor. Loesser believes that 
the Ross-Adler combo will develop 
as an important entity in the pop 
and show tune market. 

Many other pubs are working 
along the same lines and some are 
now prowling the Nashville terri- 
tory to line up writers for exclusive 
or “first crack” deals. 

Some pubs, however, aren’t as 
eager foi writers who’ve signed ex- 
clusive pacts with the licensing so- 
cieties. Feeling is especially evi- 
dent in firms with both ASCAP and 
BMI subsids. These firms would 
like to have their writers unaffiliat- 
ed so that they can be sure of hold- 
ing on to them completely if the 
time ever comes when they decide 
to pull out of either ASCAP or 
BMI. 

LOCAL 47 OUTS SAY: 
‘IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE’ 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

Present administration of Local 
47, American Federation of Musi- 
cians, has done nothing about mass 
unemployment of tunesters here, 
A1 Marineau, candidate for prexy, 
charged in opening his campaign. 
He’s opposing incumbent John E. 
Groen, but is no longer an active 
musician, but head of an advertis- 
ing firm. 

He claims only about 1,006 of 
local’s 15,000 members are work- 
ing. Taking leaf from recent na- 
tional- elections, , Marineau says of 
present faction in power 12 years, 
“it’s tima for a change.” 


On The Way! 


THIRTY-TWO FEET 

and 

EIGHT UTILE TAILS 



It's Music by 

JESSE GREER 

Program Today Yesterday's 

S L EEP V 
HEAD 

SHAPIRO. BERNSTEIN 


MILLS MUbIC Presents 


W60 WINTEMWITEB | 

excitinoaendvtiohoe 


i 


'1 


Rx!?VICTO*20-49W 


Song Scramble 

Inside Orchestras — Music 

On fho IWu»at 

continued from page 43 

The 75th anni of the phonograph industry, which was covered ex- 

vfilflv UpDudl 

Biggs Valando also pacted writers 
TJnrio* Brown and Carolyn Lee, 

tensively in the Variety Oct. 1 issue along with RCA Victor’s 50th 
[birthday, is getting another maior treatment in thp rnrront iccno nf 



Life mag. Life’s picture-story treatment, written by Robert Wallace, 
again traces the evolution of the disk from Thomas A. Edison’s crude 
beginnings through Eldridge Johnson’s popularization of the phono- 
graph under the Victor imprint to its present three-speed high fidelity 
status. Life’s story of the disk industry is carried in eight half-pages 
of text and photos. 

Current waxings of “Yours,” revamp of the 1931 Latino fave, “Quie- 
reme Mucho,” have topped the 750,000 sal?s mark in less than three 
weeks on the market. Vera Lynn’s London waxing is leading the 
pack with 450,000 disks and Vaughn Monroe’s RCA Victor cut is run- 
ning second with 120,000. The remaining sales are being racked up 
by Xavier Cugat (Mercury); Les Baxter (Capitol); Jimmy Dorsey 
/Decca), and Ray Cura (Mercury). 

Tune, which is an E. B. Marks Music copyright, is nearing the 100,000 
Sales mark in sheet copies with this revival spurt. 


In his 18 years in the disk business, Frank Luther, kidisk vocalist, 
has sold 5,000,000 juve platters for Decca. Luther was among the 
first artists signed by Decca, joining the 'label in 1934 shortly after it 
was organized. 


I 5. 


Disk Companies’ Best Sellers 

CAPITOL AKTIST 

1. IT’S IN THE BOOK (2 Paris) r... I Johnny Standley 

MY BABY’S COMING HOME Les Paul-Mary Ford 

LADY OF SPAIN 

MEET OMR. CALLAGHAN Les Paul-Mary Ford 

TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS AND HOLD ME 

A CRAZY WALTZ . . . Helen O’Connell-Gisele MacKenzie 
WATER CAN’T QUENCH THE FIRE OF LOVE 

COMES A-LONG A-LOVE Kay Slarr 

THREE LETTERS 


2 . 


3. 


4. 


,Jo Stafford 


COLUMBIA 

1. KEEP IT A SECRET 

ONCE TO EVERY HEART 

2. JAMBALAYA Jo Stafford 

EARLY AUTUMN 

3. THE THREE BELLS ..... .Les Compagnons De La Chanson 

WHIRL WIND • ■ 

1 4. WALKIN’ TO MISSOURI Sammy Kaye 

ONE FOR THE WONDER 

5. I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS Jimmy Boyd 

THUMBELINA 


.Pearl Bailey I 


New York 

Buddy De Franco opens at Bird- 
land, N. Y., Nov. 27 . . . Eddie 
Safranski played a special mid- 
night jazz concert at the Howard 
Theatre, Washington, Saturday (15) 
with Max Roach, drums; Miles 
Davis, trumpet, and J. J. Johnson, 
trombone . . . Milton Karle han- 
dling disk promotion for Jerry Gray 
. . . Nellie Lutcher into Kovako’s 
Club, Washington, D. C., Nov. 24. 
. . . Robert Q. Lewis booked into 
Elmwood Casino, Windsor, Canada, 
Nqv. 28- . . . Elliot Lawrence play- 
ing one-niter at Ohio State U., 
Columbus, Friday (21). 


X CORAL 

1. TAKES TWO TO TANGO 

LET THERE BE LOVE 

2. I Don Cornell 

BE FAIR 

J 3. MY FAVORITE SONG Ames Bros. 

AL-LEE-O-AL-LEE-AY 

+ 4. TILL I WALK AGAIN WITH YOU Teresa Brewer 

HELLO BLUE BIRDS 

+ 5. HOLD ME, THRILL ME, KISS ME Karen Chandler 

ONE DREAM v 


DECCA 

1. GLOW WORM Mills Bros. 

AFTER ALL 

2. DON’T LET THE STARS GET IN YOUR EYES .... Red Foley 
SALLY 

3. JUST SQUEEZE ME Four Aces 

HEART AND SOUL 

4. SLEIGH RIDE Leroy Anderson 

SARABAND 

5. DEEP BLUES Red Foley 

MIDNIGHT > 

»»• 

t MERCURY 

1. I WENT TO YOUR WEDDING Patti Page + 

YOU BELONG TO ME 

2. WHY DON’T YOU BELIEVE ME Patti Page 

CONQUEST 

3. FORGETTING YOU Richard Hayes J 

FORGIVE AND FORGET 

4. IT’S WORTH ANY PRICE YOU PAY Eddy Howard 

5. SUMMER LOVE Ralph Marterie t 

RUNNIN’ SLOW 


:: m-g-m 

<► 1. WHY DON’T YOU BELIEVE ME Joni James } 

PURPLE SHADES 

+ 2. LAZY RIVER Art Mooney 

HONESTLY 

X 3. JAMBALAYA ...Hank Williams t 

V, WINDOW SHOPPING 

4. YOU WIN AGAIN Tommy Edwards J 

SINNER OR SAINT 

i '5, BE FAIR Billy Eckstine J 

COME TO THE MARDI GRAS 


:: RCA VICTOR 

- 1. CHRISTMAS DAY Eddie Fisher t 

;; THAT’S WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME 

2. BECAUSE YOU’RE MINE Ma'rio Lanza “ 

“ THE SONG THE ANGELS SING 

3. WISH YOU WERE HERE Eddie Fisher " 

THE HAND OF FATE 

1 4. EVERYTHING I HAVE IS YOURS Eddie Fisher J 

HOLD ME 

X «. LADY OF SPAIN Eddie Fisher 

OUTSIDE OF HEAVEN 

+ + * ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ + +♦+++ 


Chicago 

Harmonicats will start a new 
show policy at the Preview, 
which instead of offering continu- 
ous entertainment, will do three 
shows nightly. Group starts Dec. 
4 for a month . Lucille Reed is at 
the Windsor Club . Henry Busse 
repacted with the McConkey Agen- 
cy before going on one month con- 
cert tour with A1 Martino . Hel- 
sings is augmenting its show and 
is bringing in the Leon Sash Trio 
..Tommy Deed is set for the 
Claridge, Memphis, for two frames 
Dec. 1J2 with Henry Brandon com- 
ing Dec. 26 for a like period . . 
Don Glaser, formerly with the Ray 
Pearl band, has formed his own 
orchestra and breaks it at the Col- 
ony Club, McClure, 111., Nov. 18. 

Pittsburgh 

Lee Henry replaced Ted Perry 
as vocalist with Walter Gable’s 
band at the Ankara . . Ralph Flan- 
agan closes season at Sunset Ball- 
room in Carrolltown with Thanks- 
giving one-nighter. ...Will fylastin 

Trio plays Twin Coaches Dec. 18- 
19-20 . Jack Mahon combo opens 
indefinite engagement at Beverly 
Hills Hotel Saturday (22).. Jonl 
James couldn’t even win a Talent 
Night contest at the Copa two 
years ago. On strength of her click 
record “Why Don’t You Believe 
Me?” she’ll get $1,000 at that same 
room next week . . Baron Elliott's 
band booked solid with one-night- 
ers until after first of the year. 


Kansas City 

Thrush Mary Mayo to Holly- 
wood for a recording session at 
Capital after finishing her two- 
weelc stand at Eddys’ Restaurant 
here. She’ll be on the Coast' un- 
til Dec. 17, and is then due for the 
Statler, Washington, D. C., around 
Christmas time. Roily Rolls to 
Boston Dec. 1 for a two-week date 
at the Copley Plaza . . . Betty 
Reilly into Eddys’ Nov. 21 for a 
fortnight, with Teddy & Phyllis 
Rodriguez on the bill . . . Tiny Hill 
orch working one-nighters in the 
territory, including Tomba Ball- 
room, Sioux City, Nov. 23, and the 
Frog Hop, St. Joseph, Nov. 29. 
Crew opens the Rainbow Ball- 
room. Denver, Dec. 5, for an in- 
definite stay. 


Dallas 

Patti Page set for January stint 
in Baker Hotel’s Mural Room . . . 
Margaret Phelan opens Dec. 27 at 
Cipango Club for a fortnight . . . 
Jan Garber orch, with six acts, 
signed for Elks’ Lodge benefit re- 
vue Dec. 2 in State Fair Audi- 
torium . . . Pappy’s Showland has 
Candy Candido, Howard & Wanda 
Bell and Jimmy Palmer’s orch for 
holiday show, opening Dec. 13 . . . 
Sarnia Gnmal, after two big stints 
at Sky Club, onened Monday (17) 
in Austin, starting a Texas tour 
that includes Houston, Ran An- 
tonio and Fort Worth, with other 
towns to be added. Dancer re- 
turns to Sky Club here in a Christ- 
mas show. 


Omaha 

Jay Jaumotte orch held over at 
Cave under Hill Hotel . . Phil Spit- 
alny and Hour of Charm orch in 
at Peony Bark (15) at $2 scale. . . 
pianist Jose Vera bowed at. Ron- 
D-Voo 'in ‘Hill Hotel . Milt Herth 
Trio headed for New York’s Park- 
Sheraton after two-week stint at 
Angelo’s here . . Lambert Bartak 
and Don Casey orch week-ended 
at Peony Park and Ballerina Gar- 
dens, respectively ... Hank Winder 
band at Howells, Neb., Ballroom 
. . . Upcoming ^ at Angelo’s before 
end of year ‘are Eddie Heywood 
Trio, Errol Garner, Ella Fitzgerald, 
Pee Wee Hunt and Art Tatum. 



J0N1 JAMES 


Why Don’t 
You Believe Me 


Sings 


Purple 

Shades 


MGM 11333 
K 11333 


78 RPM 
45 RPM 


MGM RECORDS 

THE G R E AT EST .N A M E AOS IN ENTERTAINMENT 


7 C ■ S F V t N T u A 7 E NEW r O P K ? \ 





50 


VAITBKVIIJLK 


PSSUfffr 


Wednesday, November 19, 1952 


Son ja Henie N.Y. Roxy Deal Off Again 
On Her 4-a-Day Nix; Shaved Ice Co, 


The Sonja Henie deal for the j 
Roxy, N. Y., is off again. The 
skater, who was tentatively slated 
to go into that house around Jan. 

14, rebelled at doing four shows 
daily, and will continue her arena 
tour with a smaller company, play- 
Ing some Canadian dates for the ' 
time being. 

Miss Henie had been dickering 
to play the Opera House, Boston, 
but a ballet company scheduled for 
that spot couldn’t be moved, and 
other available theatres didn’t 
have sufficient seating capacity. 
As a result. Miss Henie lined up ( 
the Canuck stands and will play j 
her first dates in that country'. 

Being accustomed to two ses- 
sions daily, she felt that twice that 
number would be too much of a 
strain on her. Deal was conse- 
quently called off inasmuch as the 
Roxy felt that the theatre couldn’t 

Tess Redfield’* Mgt. Org 

Redfield & Redfield has opened 
a personal management office in 
New York. 

One of the firm’s topper, Tess 
Redfield, a former “Ziegfeld Fol- 
lies” girl, was prominently identi- 
fied with booking soldier entertain- 
ment during World War II. 


possibly come out ahead with less 
than four shows daily. ^ 

The William Morris Agency had 
been handling the Roxy deal for 
the skater, submitting her unit for 
$30,000 weekly and a percentage. 

Meanwhile, Miss Henie, with an 
abbreviated company, has pared 
down from 80 to 50 skaters includ- 
ing specialty act personnel, which 
w'ould permit her to work some of 
the ^smaller arenas and theatres. 
Permission to scale down the 
troupe was granted by the Ameri- 
can Guild of Variety Artists which, 
however, insisted that she honor 
the longterm contracts she held 
with various performers. 


Stripper, Mgr. Jugged 

Los Angeles, Nov. 18. 

Betty Rowland, stripteaser, was 
ordered by Municipal Judge Byron 
J. Walters to serve four months in 
jail for putting on an indecent | 
show. Case had been hanging fire j 
since Jan. 13 when the police ; 
raided the New Follies Theatre on 
Main St. 

Also sentenced to four months I 
was Maurice Rosen, manager of j 
the theatre. 


Acts Mul! Vegas Boycott 


Continued from page 1 



Just Concluded 

Shamrock Hotel 

Houston, Tex. 

GOOD HOOFER AT SHAMROCK 

"A young Chinos* tap artist named 
Paddy Wing is an'agil* and accom- 
plishtd performer Uaying th* cus- 
tomers 'asking for more." 

HOUSTON POST 

"Polished style of ballet tap — winds 
TorTi strong hand." ~ VARIETY — 

Currently 

Adolphus Hotel 

Dallas, Tex. 

Followed by 

Nicollet Hotel 

Minneapolis 

WM. MORRIS AGENCY 
Chicago, III. 

Pers. Mgt. 

HARRY W. LAWRENCE 

HEW YORK. N. Y. 


JAY MARSHALL 



THIS 

SPACE 

FOR 

RENT 


Mgt.: 

MARK LEDDY 


Grant’s Riviera 

RESTAURANT AND BAR 

1 58 W. 44 St., New York LU 2-4488 

WHERE SHOWBUSINESS MEETS 

* TALENT CONTEST * 
MONDAY NIGHTS 

Prize: Professional Engagement 
Duplicate Prizes AwncM hi Uhi Cam *t Tl«i 


Costly Detroit Cancellation 
Detroit, Nov. 18. 

When Sonja Henie announced 
in Washington that she was dis- 
continuing her ice show, approxi- 
mately $20,000 worth of tickets al- 
ready had been sold here and up- 
ward of $10,000 spent in local ad- 
vertising for the engagement which 
was to have begun Friday (14) at 
the State Fair Coliseum. 

It was understood that Miss 
Henie had planned on paying* $400 
a performance for rental of the 
6,400-seat Coliseum. She also had 
arranged with the Red Cross to 
donate a pair of tickets to the first 
100 donors to appear at the blood 
bank the day her show opened. In- 
stead of seats to the ice show, the 
first 100 donors received ducats 
to the Michigan Theatre to see 
‘‘Because You’re Mine.” Seats 
were donated by Earl Hudson, 
prexy of United Detroit Theatres. 

RICHMAN MAY PARTNER 
GIRO’S CAFE, LONDON 

London, Nov. 11. 

Before his return to America, 
Harry Richman opened negoti- 
ations for a partnership deal with 
Ciro’s. Discussions on the nitery 
are only in the preliminary stage 
and a survey is being prepared by 
Richman’s accountants who will 
make a full report to him soon. 

If the deal matures it will, in the 
first instance, be on a short-term 
basis from next April to the end 
of the year. During that period 
the spot will be known as Harry 
Richman’s Ciro’s and he will either 
star in the cabaret or act as em- 
cee. He will assume full respon- 
sibility for the production side of 
the business. 

The deal does not involve a cash 
investment on Richman’s part. As 
he explained before he left, he 
would be gambling for his salary. 


Canadian Takeover Halts 
$1,000,000 Ottawa Hotel; 
Owner Plans CC Nitery 

Ottawa. Nov. 18. 

Government action in expropri- 
ating his property, presumably to 
build federal structures, has forced 
J. P. Maloney to cancel plans to 
build a $1,000,000 hotel to replace 
the Standishall Hotel, destroyed by 
fire a year ago. Mavoney, who also 
owns Chez Henri, Hull eatery, and 
the Chaudierre Golf & Country 
Club, had planned to have his new* 
Standishall ready for the Christ- 
mas trade with dine-and-dance 
space for 2,500 and reinstitution of 
name show policy. 

Maloney says he intends to com- 
plete the new clubhouse at the 
Chaudieere and open a nitery on 
the second floor with a show and 
dancing. Spot is a 10-minute drive 
from Ottawa’s downtown. 


Bill Kent ARA Prexy,, 
14th Year in That Post 

Indie agent Bill Kent was named 
for his 14th, successive term as 
prexy of the Artists Representa- 
tives Assn., at its annual election 
meeting last week in New York. 
Harry Romm, of Music Corp. of 
America; Eddie Ellcort, of Lew & 
Leslie Grade’s N. Y. office; Sam 
Roberts, Chicago, and James Lana- 
gan, Pittsburgh, were elected vice- 
presidents; Howard Hausman, Wil- 
liam Mbrds Agency, treasurer; 
a;nd -indie -Milton Berger, secretary. 

• Board of governors includes the 
Officers plus Art Weems, General 
Artists Corp.; Hattie Althoff, Wil- 
lard Alexander, Nick Agneta, Leon 
Newman, Nat Lefkowitz (Morris 
Agency), Benny Kutchuk, and Lar- 
ry Gengc- flatter Senres Agency, 
representing associate members). 


Compagnons’ Concerts 

JLes Compagnons de la Chanson 
may desert the nitery circuits in 
favor of the concert platform. The 
nine-man act has been signed by 
Columbia Concerts Bureau for a 
tour starting January, 1954. 

The singing group, currently in 
the U. S., will return to France at 
the end of their tour and come 
ba£k to the U. S. next ■ season in 
time for the longhair loops. 


Nate Blumenfeld Strips 
75% Off St. Cyr’s 6G Claim 

San Francisco, Nov. 18. 

The Lili St. Cyr-Nate Blumen- 
feld hassle, which seemed headed 
for the courts, has been settled 
with Blumenfeld paying off 259c 
of $6,000 claim by the stripper. 

Squabble was ; over . burlesque 
booking orginally slated for Down- 
town Theatre, now being demol- 
ished and subsequent shifting of 
her date to T&D in Oakland. 
Blumenfeld sold contract to Eddie 
Skolak of President Theatre in ! 
Frisco which she refused to play. ! 


Saranac Lake 

By Happy Benway 
Saranac Lake. N. Y., Nov. 18. 

Out-of-town graduates who re- 
port continued good health are: 
Mary Lou Weaver, Warner Bros., 
Cleveland; Shirley Handler (Marion 
Powers), N. Y., nitery entertainer; 
“Mr. Ballantine,” always working; 
H. D. “Hank” Hearn, in the film 
business in Florida; Harry (Slip- 
foot) Clifton, newspaperman for 
past five years; Laura (Loewi Sloan 
and Walter (CBS) Romonik, both j 
at work. 

Patricia Mitchell (Grant), nitery 
entertainer and ex-patient who had 
a relapse, is now resting al the 
Raybrook (N. Y.) Sanatorium and 
doing well. Ditto Isabelle Rook, 
singing pianist from Philly, who 
ended a two-year stint in a plaster 
cast and mastered surgery for a 
nifty outcome 

Thomas L. Hamn of the Mello- 
Larks (they’re at Roxy. N. Y.) reg- j 
istered for observation routine. 

November appointments by me- 
dical director Dr. George E. Wil- 
son are: Downtown shoppers for 
all the gang. Audrey Lumpkin, 
Theresa Coppersmith, Ted Bren- 
ner, Forrest (Slim) Glenn; mail and 
specials. Bob Dutton, Shirley 
Houff, Gloria Davis; magazines and 
tradepapers Max Rosenthal, George 
(Elephants) Powers. 

Birthday greetings to William 
Nottingham, staffer of Pearl Thea- 
tre, Philly, who’s taking to tile rou- 
tine like a veteran. . 

Dr. William Stern. V. C. hospi- 
tal house medico, to Gotham for 
a series of medical meetings and 
to sap up a few Broadway produc- 
tions. between, lect ures. Our own 
Dr. Homer McCreary back from 
an extensive vacation in and 
around Pittsburgh. 

Hattie Graham planed in from 
Norwood, N. C., for her first bed- 
side chat with husband Grady V. 
Graham, drive-in theatre manager, 
and found him flashing his first 
good clinic report. 

Ray (IATSE) Van Buren, who 
mastered surgery and the rap, 
skedded for a 10-day furlough out 
of the san that he will spend in 
N. Y. with his family for his first 
trip out of the hospital- in 18 
months. 

Write to those who are ill. 


Las Vegas hotels some of the big- 
gest names in the cafe biz. 

Cueing the resentment is the re- 
cent action of Las Vegas bookers 
faced with ‘new problems by the 
opening of the Sahara Hotel last 
month and the scheduled bow of 
the Sands Hotel next month. To 
meet the expected booking has- 
sle, the talent complains, the book- 
ers divided up the existing talent 
pool. Under this new system, a 
nitery act “belongs” to a certain 
hotel and cannot play anywhere 
else in Las Vegas without a writ- 
ten release, within 18 months. Lat- 
ter is generally not forthcoming, 
even though the hotel in question 
has no plans to use the acts for 
several months. 

Playing the Ignore 

“They’re acting like a trust.” one 
act complained, “and I’m not go- 
ing to have any part of it. I’ll just 
stay out of Reno.” 

Neither talent nor percenters 
are willing to be quoted by name 
on the situation, but there is al- 
most universal agreement that a 
“wait and see” attitude will be 
adopted. If the boycott should be- 
come effective, it would mark the 
first time in show biz history that 
talent has tacked an^“off limits” 
sign on any city. 

“The actors have a legitimate 
gripe,” one talent agency exec ad- 
mitted. “They feel th^; they are 
being* sold like sacks of flour and 
they see no reason why they 
should stand for it. > As far as I’m 
concerned, I'll go along with them 
and not submit any act who com- 
plains. None of my acts will be 
dictated to by anyone — and I’m 
going to let them play where they 
want.” . . 

Whether 'the -agencies will -at- 
tempt to meet with Las Vegas 
bookers in an effort to abolish the 
system, or w’hether the American 
Guild of Variety Artists will be 

AGVA NAMES 14 TO 
COAST BOARD POSTS 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 

Seven directors and seven al- 
ternates w’ere elected for one- 
year terms to Coast branch board 
of directors of American Guild of 
Variety Artists. New board mem- 
bers are Eileen Scott,. Jimmy Val 
Gray, Bobby Vernon, Harry Rose, 
Jimmy Hollywood, Joe Mole and 
George Riley; alternates are Art 
Jackson, Michael Edwards, Larry 
Rio, Bill Foster, Alphonso Borge, 
Sid Marion and Leo Maurine. 

Because board needs time to re- 
organize, hearing for Jerry Lewis, 
skedded last Saturday (15), has 
been postponed. Comic is charged 
with violating AGVA’s ban against 
gratis performances in niteries, al- 
legedly having given one at Ciro’s. 


Case of Where Mebbe 
This Town Should Move 

Omaha, Nov. .18. 

Show biz is now practically nil 
at neighboring Council Bluffs, la., 
a city of 45,000. 

Once a big Missouri River enter- 
tainment spot, it’s now’ reduced to 
three pic houses, with all vaude, 
legit and nitery biz going to 
Omaha. 

Expanding" of Abe Sluskey’s 
Play land Park on the Iowa side of 
the Mizzou has even proved a head- 
ache to Council Bluffs show biz. 
For southwest Iow r a visitors taking 
in the stock car races, car give- 
aways, etc., at Playland generally 
wind up spending in Omaha — 
which is three miles closer the 
park than dow'nlown Council 
Bluffs. 


asked to intercede, still hasn’t 
been 1 determined. The agencies 
are unwilling to go forward with 
any drastic action, especially sinev 
some date diggers privately admit 
that they realize the Vegas inns 
have a big problem in their efforu 
to prevent raiding. 

‘Gentlemen’s Agreement* 

Some months ago, Vegas hotels 
attempted to put through a gentle- 
men's agreement on a salary limit, 
but the measure W'as soon short- 
circuited. The division of acts is 
seen as another move in this di- 
rection. 

Under the “allocation” system 
salaries are also pegged, which h 
creating an additional furore. 
Agencies point out that an act may 
have been able to. double its salary 
since its last Las Vegas appear- 
ance. The hotels, however. i n 
their efforts to keep entertainment 
budgets within certain limits, are 
trying to enforce a ruling that an 
act come back at its original sal- 
ary. 

Bookings now being arranged 
for the- Sands, and the Sahara’s 
scrambling for talent may cue a 
booker-agent meeting in the near 
future to settle the undercover dis- 
pute. If it doesn’t, the top acts 
insist that Las Vegas will have to 
depend upon secondary talent in 
the future. 



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VAUDEVILLE 


51 


WedneiKlay, November 19, 1952 


PySSnSff 


AGVA’s Position on Theatre Vaudeo 

Resolution of the American Guild of Variety Artists, governing 
conditions for a Sonja Henie date on closed-circuit theatre tele- 
vision is regarded as setting a precedent in this field. Pattern 
of future negotiations for every type of variety show on theatre 
tele may hinge on the principles set forth by the union in the reso- 
lution of which the full text, follows: 

Motion made, seconded and carried unanimously (Nov. 12): 

Whereas, a proposal has been made to the AGVA National Ex- 
ecutive Committee to set up a temporary trial rate for the exhibi- 
tion of the Sonja Henie Ice Show on so-called closed circuit the- 
atre television for a period of three consecutive days for a maxi- 
mum of two shows per day to be performed during January of 
1953; and 

Whereas, it appears the show will be exhibited in theatres where 
there are to be paid admissions charged; now, therefor 

Be it resolved, that the minimum compensation payable to artists 
engaged in this show for such purpose shall be equal to their con- 
tracted full week’s salary for the current Sonja Henie Ice Show; 
and that said minimum compensation be for the live performance 
only; and .that in addition thereto each artist shall received 10% 
of his contracted salary for each theatre in which said show is ex- 
hibited by means of the “closed circuit”; and, in addition, 

Be it resolved, that there shall be a live audience at the place 
of origination of the show, which audience shall be charged an ad- 
mission to be determined by the management, and 

Be it further resolved, that the National Administrative Secre- 
tary report to the National Executive Committee such other and 
further recommendations as to conditions which he may find are 
proper after consulting with the cast of the Sonja Henie Ice Show, 
which direction was given to him by prior action of this committee, 
and 

Be it further resolved, that the National Administrative Secre- 
tary require such additional payment for rehearsals as he in his 
judgment shall see fit; and 

Be it further resolved, that no theatre be permitted to exhibit 
this show on closed circuit in any town where there will at the 
same time, or within a period of four weeks thereafter, be shown 
any live show in a theatre or arena, and 

Be it further resolved, that said show not be exhibited in any 
theatre where there Is presently a policy of live entertainment. 


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Chi in Revival Of 


Chicago, Nov. 18. 

While there has been a crack- 
down on female impersonators in 
many parts of the country, Chi- 
cago, which has had none in its 
cafes for the past 15 or 20 years, 
has had a rash of the girl-boy 
Joints opening in the past few 
weeks. Although there are spots 
in the Windy City that cater to 
the “imps” none of the entertain- 
ers in these locations has worked 
in femme clothing recently. Now, 
several of the dailies carry ads 
“glorifying” the acts. 

Suprisir.gly, there is no law 
prohibiting femme takeoffs here, 
but back in the early 1930s, When 
several operated hei;e, they became 
so flagrant that police shuttered 
them. Since then acts specializing 
in this form of entertainment have 
avoided Chi. None of the present 
shows is on an elaborate basis, 
usually having one or two per- 
formers at most. 

Contrast in the new field is a 
falling off in the number of strip 
spots, which have been doing 
poorly of late. Four have closed 
in the past several months and it’s 
likely ' that after the first of the 
year, when license renewals come 
up, this number may double. Op- 
erators are hoping that the “heat” 
which has prevented mixing and 
strippers doffing their “all” may 
be lifted soon. Otherwise, it looks 
as if the conventioneers may have 
to go to Cicero or Ofilmut City, 
both nearby suburbs, for the more 
realistic strip clubs. Possibly, with 
the election over, some of the 
near north and west side bistros 
may come out from under the net 
and patch they have been wearing 
since .spring. 

Among the femme spots, that 
have closed, the best known, Club 
Flamingo, has been turned into a‘ 
black-arid-tan location with a “Cot- 
ton Club” type of revue. 

Wirtz leer Fat $130,000 
In 8-Day Omaha Debut 

Omaha, Nov. 18. 

Arthur M. Wirtz’s “Hollywood 
Ice Revue” grossed a hefty $130,- 
0Q0 for eight-day, 10-show stand 
(5-12) at Ak-Sar-Ben here. The 
6,200-seater was scaled to $3.60. 

Figure, while not a record for 
icers here, compares “very well” 
with past rink turnouts, according 
to Coliseum manager. Harry Fow- 
ler. There were standees at four 
of 10 shows. 

“Hollywood,” in for first time 
here, subbing for the Shipstads & 
Johnson “Ice Follies,” got .rave no- 
tices and earned a terrific . out-of- 
town draw. "Wirtz and his wife 
were in for opening night only. 


Jose Greco Ballet, Lady 
Patachou for N.Y. Waldorf 

The Jose Greco Spanish Ballet 
troupe and Lady Patachou have 
been signed for the Empire Room 
of the Hotel Waldorf-Astoria, N. Y. 
The Greco dancers will go in for 
four weeks starting Dec. 1 and 
Gallic chanteuse goes in some time 
in Janury. 

It’s the first N. Y. safe date for 
both iurng. The Greco troupe last 
season played the Palace Theatre, 
New York. 

European Agents 
Prowl U.S. in 2-Ply 
Buy & Sell Spree 

European talent buyers are in 
the midst of a new U. S. invasion. 
Currently casing acts and shows 
are Harry Foster, head of the 
Foster Agency, London; Charles 
Tucker of London arid Alessandro 
Valdez, who books throughout 
France and Italy. 

Valdez has been tying up pack- 
ages for European tours, having 
already paired Tommy Dorsey orch 
and Gloria De Haven for a Euro- 
pean jaunt starting mid-March; 
and he’ll tour Virginia O’Brien 
and the Duke Ellington orch in 
Italy for four weeks in February. 
He’s currently prowling other 
packages for tours. 

Foster is currently in Hollywood, 
while 'Tucker just returned to 
New York from the Coast. Both 
are gandering acts for placement 
at the Palladium, London, as well 
as houses in the provinces. 

Lew Grade, of the Lew & Les- 
lie Grade Agency, London, is due 
in New York shortly. He’ll be 
here to confer with Eddie Elkort, 
in charge of the Grades" U. S. 
operations. 

The foreign percenters regard 
U. S. as an increasingly important 
talent and buying source. Not 
only do they attempt to tie up 
American headliners for European 
dates, but they are selling a great- 
er number of alien acts here. The 
British percenters, as a matter of 
fact, are able to entice a great 
many acts to their offices on the 
strength of the amount of time 
they can get for them in America. 
Radio City Music Hall and Latin 
Quarter, N. Y., and the Hilton 
Hotels throughout the country are 
consistent buyers of foreign acts. 

'Holiday Ice’ Grosses 
150G in 19 Mex Shows 

Mexico City, Nov. 11. 

“Holiday on Ice-1952,” American 
company of nearly 120, grossed . 
$150,000 in 19 shows at the Plaza 
Mexico, 65,000-seat local sports 
bowl, according to Manager Bobby 
Johnson. Iceshow did not use all 
the bowl. Large sections of seats 
had to be unused because of their 
bad angle for the rink. Biz was 
good throughout the stay. Only 
one show, the last of the run, was 
televized. That was by local sta- 
tion XEWTV, with a grocery chain 
sponsoring. 

Blade spec has started a swing 
through the top Mexican provincial 
cities, opening in nearby Puebla 
City. This was “Holiday’s” first 
showing in Mexico since early in 
1949. 



New Owner Mum on Fate 
Of Gayety Theatre, Toledo 

Toledo, Nov. .18. *’ 

Abe Goodman, head of Goodman 
Realty Corp., who recently pur- 
chased the Gayety Theatre, bur- 
lesque-film house, at an auction 
conducted by the Bureau of Inter- 
nal Revenue, has yet to decide 
whether or not to reopen it. He 
was high bidder at $4,300 plus two 
mortages, latter being slightly 
more than $19,000. Government 
officials said the sum would not 
lessen by very much the liens filed 
against Jack Rubens, farmer oper- 
ator of the Gayety, and his asso- 
ciates. 

Rubens and his son, Edward, and 
Mrs. Pearl Irons were charged 
with owing $21,883 in taxes from 
March, 1951, to June, 1952, while 
Rubens and his wife, Tillie, are 
alleged to owe $1,772 in 1952 in- 
come tax, penalty and interest. 
Earlier, Rubens lost hisL 1951 auto 
at a public auction which netted 
the Government $625. 


AGVA Resolution Makes Major Pitch 
To Control Theatre TV Variety Bills 


The American Guild of Variety 
Artists has made its first move to 
control theatre televising of variety 
shows. Union last week passed a 
resolution (see accompanying box) 
which threatens to become one of 
the stormy topics within the Asso- 
ciated Actors and Artists of Amer- 
ica in the fight for control of the 
theatre TV field and one which is 
designed to establish some im- 
portant precedents .in the telecast- 
ing of vaude and ice shows into 
theatres. 

The AGVA resolution went 
through following a request by the 
Fabian Theatres circuit to okay 
a scale for televising of the Sonja 
Henie ice show from a theatre. The 

Miami AGVA Seeks 
‘Better’ Strip Law 

Miami, Nov. 18. 

In effort to leaven the new 
Miami ordinance aimed at strip- 
pers and obscene comedians, local 
branch of American Guild of Va- 
riety Artists will suggest to City 
Commissioners inclusion of provi- 
sion in all performer contracts that 
violation of the law and convic- 
tion would automatically bar them 
from all greater Miami area spots 
for one year. 

Lee Mason, repping AGVA com- 
mittee, will make the suggestion to 
the City Fathers when the ordi- 
nance comes up for final passage 
tomorrow (Wed.). Idea behind the 
proposal is to prevent* police and 
judicial moves on their own in de- 
ciding what is or is not legal in 
the display of “portions of” the 
breasts or “lower portions of the 
torso at the hipline.” 

Union will ask for striking out 
of “portions of” to clear up the 
phrasing. Another change to be re- 
quested would reduce the fine on 
conviction from a maximum pen- 
alty of $500 or 60 days in jail, for 
first offenders, to a flat $100 rap. 

St Paul Nixes License 
Of Flame, Which Appeals 

Minneapolis, Nov. 18. 

The St. Paul city council has 
revoked the license of the Flame, 
one of the town’s leading niteries, 
which was convicted of selling 
liquor to minors but which has ap- 
pealed the verdict to the state 
supreme court. 

Previously, the council had 
voted to withhold revocation of 
license pending the appeal’s out- 
come. Mayor-elect John Daubney, 
however, had made the matter a 
campaign issue and last week he 
demanded council action. 

The minors to whom the Flame 
was alleged to have sold liquor 
were members of a teenage hold- 
up gang later taken into custody. 

Henry Greene, Flame owner, 
can apply for a new license after 
30 days. 


Philly Bartenders Settle 
Pact Hassle With Cafe 

Philadelphia, Nov. 18. 

The Bartenders. Union, Local 
115, settled with Sciolla’s Cafe in 
North Philly following’ three days 
of picketing that stemmed from a 
contract hassle. 

Settlement was reached last 
week (13) in Common Pleas Court, 
where the cafe ops had sought an 
injunction. New contract was ne- 
gotiated with the union. 


Jackie Miles goes into the Copa- 
cabana, N. Y., next Thursday (27). 


union seeks to establish the prin- 
ciple that performers shall have a 
salary based on a minimum, plus 
a percentage to be derived from 
the number of participating houses. 
Union also ieks to insure that 
theatre video will not displace live 
variety shows, and that it shall of- 
fer no competition to live shows. 
Although last week’s resolution 
calls for these stipulations in terms 
of icers, it’s believed that the same 
or similar conditions would apply 
to other types of displays involv- 
ing variety acts. 

The Fabian circuit asked for a 
scale on three days of theatre TV 
of the Henie show during which 
time the troupe would do a maxi- 
mum of two sessions daily. Fabian 
proposed a week and a half salary 
for the three days. As a result of 
discussions by the AGVA na’ional 
board, the resolution governing 
this precedental show was passed 
unanimously. However, national 
administrative secretary Jack Irv- 
ing is seeking to have the board re- 
consider in favor of a smaller basic 
guarantee, but with stress on the 
percentage. 

Under terms of the resolution, 
minimum compensation would be 
equal to the contracted full week’s 
salary for the live performance and 

(Continued on page 55) 



DARVAS and JULIA 

Opened MOCAMBO 

Hollywood 

So* Ntxt Week 


ROGER 

CARNE 

and CANASTA th« Cat 

Currently Resident Season 

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE 

Johannesburg, South Africa 
Direction 

WM. MORRIS AGENCY 


FOSTER AGENCY, LONDON, 

presents 



Currently 

TOURING ENGLAND 


American Rep. WM. MORRIS AGENCY 
TAVEL'MAROUANI AGENCY. PARIS 






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52 NIGHT CXUB REVIEWS 


Hotel Pierre^ N. Y. 

Margaret Phelan, The Szonys-. 
(2), Stanley Melha and Chico - 
Relli Orchs ; $1.50 and $2 couvert. 

i 

• Margaret Phelan, ' who might 
well he billed the Norma Shearer 
of songstresses — resembling the" 
film star as strongly as she does — 
is billed officially as “thfe saucy 
sophisticate.” She is that, in 
spades, and perhaps more on the 
saucy side than sophistication. 
Reminding of a Campfire Girl 
who would make like Mae West, 
there would be a disarming charm 
in her affectation and yen to be 
a worldly woman, but fortunately 
-r-altnough, perhaps, she may look 
upon it negatively — the fates have 
endowed her with tremendous per- 
sonal charm and a sweet person- 
ality that will not be downed^. 

Admittedly nobody wants to 
pay a couvert to see Elsie Dins- 
more making like a femme milque- 
toast, but if on the other hand an 
erudite thespian like the late 
Louis Wolheim, who was a 
scholar and a savant of sorts, 
realized that he had been endowed 
with Butch Montana personality, 
who was he to fight it? Nature is 
bigger than both of us. So with 
Miss Phelan. The femme fatale 
she ain’t. She may chirp her 
French pbstcard double-entendres 
right into the rue Blondel and 
she’ll never lose the Pollyanna 
appeal. Trouble is (1), her double 
are single-entendres — there’s no 
subtlety; wham, you get the whole 
script; and (2), she’s just a nice 
girl play-acting at being a wicked 
woman of the world in song and 
her story, excepting that none 
can believe her pitch. 

That doesn’t mean that Miss 
Phelan hasn’t her moments. In 
fact she has better than that — 
she’s doing business at the Pierre’s 
Cotillion Room. But Why she feels 
she needs all this s.a. in song, 
when her own physical s.a. and 
charm could sp yrell fortify her 
song stylings on a more broadly 
■•appealing' basis' - -is- one -of these 
things. Comparisons are odious, 
especially when pinpointed as re- 
gards show biz specialists, but if 
Miss Phelan seems obsessed with 
the idea that she must punch over 
the blue stuff what about Dinah 
Shore, or Hildegarde, or Mindy 
Carson at the very nearbv Persian 
Room of the across-the-Park Hotel 
Plaza? 

. Miss. Phelan can be “the saucy 
sophisticate,” if she persists, with 
modern boy-girl songs, and she 
might even indulge in ‘‘Hussy for 
My Husband,” but she needn’t 
stoop to the bathtub genre. She 
doesn’t need it. She is an eye- 
filling philly, a competent chirp 
whose prime problem is merely a 
little judicious editing. 

Entr’acte is The Szonys (2), 
prime exponents of ballroomology 
who, in closeup of an intimate 
class environment like the Cotil- 
lion Room, show up even better. 
Theirs is a terpsichorean tour-de- 
force as they cavalcade the ortho- 
dox .and L a t fin tempos. They’re 
ideal for the class hotel circuit. 

Per usual, Stanley Melba is the 
Suave emcee as well as the No. 1 
batoner, with the Chico-Relli 
combo for the Latunes. Biz big, 
as maitre d’ Pasqual attests. 

Abel. 


tion to. repertoire for fine blues. 
^Teamwork- ends, with the' socko 
“People Keep a-Comin’ But the 
Train’s Done Gone.” 

Encore is still “Wjieel of For- 
tune”, and still adding up to big- 
gest returns for the songstress. 
And, her standard gimmick tune 
for a smash closer is “Wabash 
.Cannon Ball,” with everybody pull- 
ing the “whistle” cord. 

, Lancers are only other act in the 
show and youngsters show, more 
polish than at last appearance with 
Miss Starr. “Gypsy in My Soul” is 
lively beginner. “Lonesome Road” 
with bass and tenor featured is 
neat. Group’s imitations include 
Ink Spots, Mills Bros.j and Four 
Aces, the latter hammed for yocks. 
“Muskrat Ramble” has clever pan- 
tomime and encore is “Side By 
Side.” 

Group are energetic and full of 
action but it’s their individuality 
which is a relief from the orthodox 
gesturing of most other vocal com- 
bos today. Only mechanical action 
in this foursome is a stepback and 
bow. 

Riverside Starlets have timed 
their opener with the weather — a 
standard thunder and lightening 
bit with short, transparent slickers 
and umbrellas. Vocalist with Bill 
Clifford orch, Don Allen, does 
“Singing in the Rain,” which 
segues into “Rain” for tap number. 
This meshes with “Sunny Side of 
the Street” and “April Showers.” 

George Moro has unwrapped a 
new line number for the closer, a 
vivid, flashing samba to “Cumina.” 
A Carmen Miranda headress and 
colorful costuming provide a lively 
curtain. Mark. 


Jfrloeamlio, Hollywood 

Hollywood, NOv. 11. 
Darvas & Julia, Joel Grey 
( with Buddy Bregman ), Eddie 
Oliver Orch (7), Joe Castro Quin- 
tet; $2 cover. 


Riverside, Reno 

Reno, Nov. 13. 

Kay Starr, The Lancers (4). 
Riverside Starlets (8), Bill Clif- 
ford Orch ; no cover or minimum. 

Kay Starr and the Lancers are 
,back in this spot after six months 
almost to the day, with almost the 
same show. With some reshuffling 
of tunes and a few additions,, how- 
ever, layout stacks for a successful 
run. doing trade mainly among. tli£> 
locals. Weekends will crowd with 
Ca'iforeigns. 

Miss Starr also hit the first day 
of the winter season on the nose — 
wind and rain in town and snow 
on the -mountains knocked out the 
power right in the middle of her 
first show. But with enviable calm 
she pulled to the front of the ros- 
trum and carried on sans mike and 
at the top of her lungs. 

Show opens this time with 
“Them There Eyes,” for real Starr 
rhythm. She steps immediately in- 
to “Maybe You’ll Be There” in 
Starry-eyed ’delivery, warm and 
dreamy. Then comes a group of 
standard Starr tunes — He’s a 
Good Man To Have Around,” 
“Mama Goes Where Poppa Goes” 
and “Lonesomest Gal In Town.” 

Lancers join her for the sad 

Two Brothers.” This is the same 
Civil War background ballad that 
drew appreciation six months ago, 
with the same splendid arrangement 
of fife and drums in background. 
Ken Lane, Miss Starr’s conductor- 
pianist. keeps this number; as all 
the- rest, precise and effective. In 
^Nobody’s Business,” with the 


Excitement is the keynote of this 
■new layout and it’s .obyio.us. that. 
Charlie., Mormon,, who reaped a. 
harvest a fortnight ago by launch- 
ing Joanne Gilbert on her pro 
career, has come up with another 
bellringer. This time it’s composed 
of two acts, Darvas & Julia, who 
are new to the * Coast, and Joel 
Grey, who is comparatively new to 
show biz. 

Package provides a whirlwind 
half-hour, with DarvaS & Julia clos- 
ing in a spectacular eight-minute 
spot that combines contortion with 
terpsichore for effective results. 
Most of their tricks are in the 
breathtaking category, particularly 
the outstretched arm balancing and 
the windup in which Julia is 
thrown from a lofty height to land 
in a perfect split on stage.Tntimafe 
room’s physical limits rob the turn 
of 'some of the impact which can 
obviously be achieved with a bigger 
stage, but due easily earn salvoes. 

Grey’s turn (like that of Miss 
Gilbert two weeks ago) generates 
considerable excitement because of 
the combination of what’s on view 
and what’s in prospect. Youngster 
has the potential for a top career. 
He’s billed as an “entertainer,” 
eschewing any limiting characteri- 
zation such as comedian, mime or 
dancer — all of which he is. He too 
would be more comfortable on a 
bigger stage where his cavorting 
wouldn’t be as cramped but he 
socks across his special material 
stuff with a zest and timing that 
earn a begoff. 

Some of Grey’s material could 
stand a little sharpening, as in the 
final bars of a “What is Show 
Biz?” piece that permits him to run 
through a series of takeoffs on the 
various media but gets a little too 
sticky, .and . the “nostalgia” bit, 
frequently hilarious in dts takeoff 
qn the usual memory • binges, is a 
little too heavy .with impressions: 
He would do better to develop a 
definite style rather than lean 
heavily on apings. Rap. 

Gatineau, Ottawa 

Ottawa, -Nov-.IL. 

Gloria Ware, Maurice Colleano 
& Co. (4), The Kings & Th^r 
Ladies (6), Harry Pozy Orch. (8); 
75c admission, $1 Sat. ' 


W*ldprfr Astoria, 3V» I. 

(EMPIRE ROOM). » 

Victor Borge, t jllex Alstone and 
Mischa Borr Orchs; $2 cover, 

Victor Borge leads off this new 
date at the Waldorf with the note 
that “the only hew material I have 
is my tuxedo.” That’s not entirely 
true, though. While Borge is sport- 
ing much of. the routine which has 
made him a top entertainer in 
niferies, TV, etc,, he also has some 
classy new stuff and variations on 
some of the old which brighten 
his act even more. And the ^result 
is almost a solid hour of solid en- 
tertainment. 

For the old stuff, it’s the same 
old Borge, complete with his kid- 
ding of the classics, pratfalls, droll 
asides as he pounds the ivories, 
etc., all wrapped up with a sense 
of comedy which indicates he could 
be top-drawer almost without his 
pianistic abilities. Since he em- 
barked on his comedy career, he’s 
developed an excellent sense of 
timing which garner real yocks for 
his throwaway lines, Per usual, he 
gives a legit rendition to only one 
or two selections throughout the 
act, disdaining the patrons’ clamor 
for more of the same with a wise 
leave-’em-begging technique. 

For his new material, Borge un- 
veils a. running gag tied to the re- 
mark that the NBC symphony orch 
is playing his own symph at the 
time he’s doing his act. In order 
to listen in, he brings a portable 
radio to the stage, which he tunes 
in every so often, only to have the 
announcer come up with a time- 
signal blurbing a misspelled watch, 
,a dee jay's list of write-in names 
requesting his composition, etc. 
Synchronization of the pre-record- 
ed stuff is surefire and the laughs 
are well-earned. He also does 
some of his bookreading, bypassing 
the former phonetic punctuation in 
favor of a just-as-funny little story 
about a couple traveling through 
Siberia. He’s probably one of the 
few comics who could get away 
with such a bit, but he sells it 
solidly; , 5Rs" only fluff on the oral 
side is a couple of attempted bon 
mots he tosses off kidding the re- 
cent Presidential losers. These are 
in questionable taste. 

Borge’s 88’ing, of course, is im- 
peccable, whether, he’s doing a 
straight version of the Grieg Piano 
Concerto, “Rhapsody in Blue,” a 
Dop medfey or kidding Chopin and 
Debussy. Alex Alstone orch, held 
over from the last show and now 
renewed through January, gives 
Borge almost a complete sym- 
phonic background on these. Orch 
was slightly off opening night, 
forcing Borge himself to kid the 
musicians on the square, but it’s 
-nothing- -a - little more rehearsal 
won’t cure. 

Alstone’s 13-man crew provides 
a solid beat for dancing, mixing 
the current pops and standards 
nicely and tossing in a few waltzes 
for variety. Mischa Borr and his 
rhumba orch, as usual, are stand- 
out in the Latin terpery depart- 
ment. Stal. 


GIicz Parop, Chi 

Chicago. Nov. 14. 
Sophie Tucker with Ted Shapiro; 
Harry Mimmo , Sonny King, John- 
ny Martin , Chez Adorables (8), 
Brian Famon Orch ( 10 ) ; $3.50 
minimum, $1 cover. 


Gatineau boss Joe Saxe main- 
tains policy of top presentations 
this week With three solid clicks. 
Gloria Ware wallops the customers 
with her smooth pipes, doing semi- 
operatic and pops in pleasant bal- 
ance. Her initial booking in this 
room, she’s bound for repeats. 

Maurice Colleano & Co... could 
be Spike Jones in panto, which is 
an idea. Colleano himself, a socko 
clown, has paced his team’s rou- 
tining for maximum effect and the 
act’s running time is- brim-filled 
with laughs to begoff. 

Buddy King and his five dancing 
gals, held over, work “in a new 
Calypso routine, using strobes ef- 
fectively ih one sequence, They re- 

T - - . -T—z ' — i tain their Afro-Cuban and Oriental 

Lancers, she trades cute lyrics- with ! tepps as well to round out as fine 
e *ch of the boyS. Foursome’S' help ! a bill as Saxe' has -ever Offered. . 

“i ;:?£?/* • '■ /-'c*™.-- 

KT * 


It’s entirely fitting and a smart 
promotion move on the part of 
managing director Dave Halper 
that Sophie Tucker should be the 
star of this show. For it was 20 
years ago that Miss Tucker head- 
lined Chez Paree’s first revue. In 
the years between, she hasn’t tar- 
nished or weathered, while the 
bricks of this building certainly 
have. She has only added a -lustre 
that truly makes her “the first lady 
of the niteries.” While, of course, 
she harks back to the days of yore, 
most of her material is as fresh 
as her new poddle cut, even to a 
timely warning about the results 
of the election. 

While understanding] y most of 
the first-nighters" are followers of 
the teller of the sex mores of the 
nations, a surprising number, es- 
pecially of younger folks, kept 
emitting yelps, screams and guf- 
faws during Miss Tucker’s all too 
short 30 minutes. Basically, it’s 
the same detailing of what is 
wrong sexually with the women 
and men of today and what Miss 
Tucker can do to cure, such fail- 
ings. Ted Shapiro, the invaluable 
accompanist, seems to play more 
of a straight part, though heckling 
the singer for some good laughs. 

After two selections in the ribald 
vein, Miss Tucker gets serious and 
tells of her struggles and her hopes 
for the near future. It’s an abrupt 
and dangerous change of pace — 
that is, for most anyone else, but 
her sincerity gets her thunderous 
applause. 

Chanteuse recalls the numbers 
which she Was identified years ago 
and. ace reprised ' hits today, ring- 
ing the nostalgic bell,' She infer- 
,.l:aeeliS ne,w/tunei in’ fine - ragtime 


'Wednesday^ .November 19, 1952 


style,- VI Want, to ; Say Hello,” and 
segues 'into what is now almost im- 
mortal^ “Some of These Days,” 
‘which Has her fans cheering. After 
her 6losing plea to .be elected Pres- 
ident ih 1956 she returns to thank 
the audience and hopes that they 
will be with her in a couple of 
years when she celebrates her 50th 
anni in show biz. The saga of 48 
years brings not only a choked 
throat in the singer’s voice but 
many a ditto in the packed. room. 

Harry Mimmo, pantomimist, is a 
perfect choice for this show. Short 
and slight comedian registers with 
his .offbeat impressions of various 
types of dancers and walkers. His 
flexible face and seemingly nerv- 
ous twitch . are contagious instru- 
ments for laughter. His malaprops 
also gets yocks. 

Mimmo’s amazingly sharp take.- 
off on Charlie Chaplin in an old- 
time flicker is a good change of 
pace, and depiction of a German 
dancer who turns into a member 
of the Nazi goosestepping mob is 
also unusual. His etching of Fred 
Astaire could be cut a little. Cli- 
maxer of sculpting a man and wo- 
man reaches hits on its double- 
meaning intention for a heavy 
mitt. 

Sonny King starts off with some 
fasties and switches quickly to a 
ballad, “Wish You Were Here” 
which doesn’t register- as well. 
Young singer belts out “Donkey 
Serenade” but jazzes it UP in sev- 
eral passages. Straight rendition 
would have been more effective 
although customers give him a fine 
mitt. He follows with “Vesti la 
Giubba” from “Pagliacci” and de- 
monstrates some long, sustained 
notes for neat applause. Some of 
the fill-in chatter could be drop- 
ped. 

The line doe~ a very spirited 
job on an anni salute dance which 
recalls the chorus of 1932. Johnny 
Martin emoees and does vocal pro- 
duction number in acceptable 
fashion.- Brian Farnon’s orch plays 
the show extremely well and 
doubles on the . dance, chores, . 

Zahe< 


Sltcrry«]V etUcrlaud. N.Y 

(CARNAVAL ROOM) 

Helene Francois, flugo Pedell 
Orch, Jan . Prurtesco’s, Tzigane 
Orch; $1.50-$2.50 cover after 10. 

A repeat at this smart, intimate 
dming-supper spot, Helene Fran- 
cois is probably better known in 
this couptrv as the sister of Denise 
Darcel. There is barely a resem- 
blance between the two, since Miss 
Francois is darkly brunet and Miss 
Darcel, of course, is blonde. 

Miss Francois, who has a good 
command of English, is leaning 
towards the Gallic tunes, doing 
the by-now standard French items 
heard often in the States by Miss 
Francois’ many French predeces- 
sors who have become the Ameri- 
can vogue: These include “Mile 
du Paris,” “Tout Ca,” “Padame 
“L’Aine des Poetes,” “Malad'e 
d’Amour,” plus the pace-changing 
“I Don’t Know Why * I Love You 
Like I Do.” 

Miss Francois has a pleasant 
manner that partially compensates 
for her lack of vocal projection.' 
Her songs are much too standard 
for supper club performance, and 
it would be wise if she routined 
her act with special material and 
novelties that would take her out 
of the straight singer classification 
and into the “personality” class. 
As is, she doesn’t have the voice 
to get over on the standards, but 
she does have enough vocal equip- 
ment to put over specialties. 

Miss Francois is gowned beauti- 
fully and makes a smart appear- 
ance, but she’s taking a chance of 
losing her audience when she 
patrols the floor with the hand 
mike, because she is frequently 
engulfed in shadows. 

The two orchs, Hugo Pedell and 
Jan Brunesco, ’do a neat job for 
the straight, r Latiri and Continental 
music. ’ Kahn. 


Hotel Astor, N. Y. 

(COLUMBIA ROOM) 

. Three Suns;, no cover or .minu 


mum. 


Cafe cle Paris, London 

London, Nov. 11. 
Douglas Byng, George Smith 
Orch, Ray Ellington Quartet; $5.50 
minimum. 


Douglas Byng, noted for his 
femme impressions, exploits thes6 
qualities in his latest cabaret stint 
and while many of his songs are 
new, the act is basically unchanged. 
The numbers may be circa 1952, 
but his style is definitely of prewar 
vintage. This apparently is what 
the customers want, for they lap- 
ped it up in a big way on his open- 
ing night and brought him back 
for a couple of encores. 

Now in his 60th year, Byng pokes 
fun at his advancing years by mak- 
ing his entrance down the elegant 
cafe staircase on a wheelchair, but 
he quickly dispels any suggestion 
of immobility and moves around 
in swift and agile fashion. His 
vitality and vivacity are as prom- 
inent as ever. 

Because of the familiar motif of 
his act, Byng dresses up for each 
song. Although some • costume 
changes are of a comparatively 
elaborate character, little time is 
lost between numbers. Keynote of 
show is set by the opening number, 
“Nostalgia.” but this applies more 
ito the pattern of the act. The tunes 
revive the flavor of the 30s and are 
played on broad, farcical lines. Hit 
numbers include *;in Soho,” “What 
Are We Going To Do With Tallu- 
lah?,” '“I'm Queen of The May” and 
Flora Macdpnald.” For good meas- 
ure and for extra palm-mitting, he 
adds one of his better numbers 
from his current West End revue. 

Myro. 


Slicraton Plaza, Boston 

Boston, Nov. 11. 
Maria Neglia, Charles Carts, 
Johnny Turnbull Orch (7), Paul 
Clement Trio; $1.50-$2.50 cover. 


Typically Sheraton Plaza, this 
combo of slick violin gymnastics of 
Maria Neglia plus boff card ma- 
nipulations of Charles Cart adds 
up to pleasing entertainment. It’s 
class and the customers love it. 

Miss Neglia, an accomplished 
fiddler, manages to project her 
slyly humorous and attractive per- 
sonality throughout a program of 
such diversified numbers as ex- 
cerpts from Chopin, “Tea for Two” 
and “Hot Canary,” claiming credit 
for introing the latter in this coun- 
try. In contrast to many concert 
artists, Miss Neglia gives impresh 
she’s enjoying herself which adds 
to overall impact on ringsiders. 

Carts, the tall handsome French- 
man, last here a couple of seasons 
ago, scores handily with an array 
of bafflers spliced with light chat- 
ter. Guy’s strongest trick from aud 
reaction standpoint is distributing 
cards in. various .pockets, npn- 
chantly prodiicing .the .individual 
card requested by .customers,^ 

' Eire. 


The Three Suns make a lot of 
music for -a trio. This combo has 
been a standard hotel attraction 
for years and is one of RCA Vic- 
tor’s most consistent album sellers. 
Initial week’s solid business in this 
room, 0 which has been a problem 
child, is another, manifestation of 
the combo’s wide following and big 
boxoffice draw. 

Crew consists of Morty Nevins 
on accordion and piano; his broth- 
er, Al, on guitar and Artie Dunn 
(a cousin) on the Hammond. Out- 
put is marked 'by somewhat tricky 
but always tasteful harmonic com- 
binations with the instruments 
blending into a tightly integrated 
sound pattern. These boys have 
developed a first-rate style and it’s 
trademarked their work in both 
the lounge and wax medium. 

The Suns’ book is extensive, 
covering the full range of stand- 
ards, showtunes and current pops. 
For the after-dinner sessions, the 
music is tailored strictly for danc- 
ing with a definite iwo-step beat 
to encourage the customer hoofers. 
Dunn, on keyboard, contributes an 
occasional vocal, displaying a com- 
petent set of pipes and an ingra- 
tiatingly straightforward style. 

Hen a. 


Hotel Radissomu Mpls* 

(FLAME ROOM) 
Minneapolis. Nov. 15. 
Evelyn Knight with Ray Sinatra; 
Don McGrane Orch (8); $2.50 
minimum. 


Second visit of singer Evelyn 
Knight to the smart Flame Room 
is another happy occasion for those 
who enjoy her restrained type of 
stylized warbling and the kind of 
pop melodies which comprise her 
repertory. Her warmth, polish and 
amiability serve to make the offer- 
ings that much more listenable. 
Performer’s slick appearance, good 
humor and amusing bits of busi- 
ness are also sources of customer 
satisfaction. 

Each contribution is click®. 
Miss Knight eases her way softly# 
but with plenty of feeling and fer- 
vor, when the occasion demands, 
through “Irish Lullaby,” “Septem- 
ber Song,” “The Man Whom I 
Marry,” “St. Louis Blues,” “Tome 
and Her Bonnet,” “Snowflakes 
and' medlies of waltzes and record 
hits. Lighting, dressing, arrange- 
ments and routining bespeak class 
and solidity. Whether she’s atop 
the piano paying her respects josn- 
ingly to ringsiders, or in the centre 
of the floor, she always lands. 

Conducting the orch. and ac- 
comping her at the piano, Ray Sin- 
atra is a big assist. On his own ne 
solos an Impression of vintage 
pianola and. it’s good for nostalgic 
chuckles from the older mob. Don 
McGranp is a superior emcee ana 
h? and his orch back up the per- 
forjner ‘ ably and make, customer 
darisapation a; ttCat.' 1 flees. 


Wednesday Noveml>er 19, 1952 


NIGHT CLUB REVIEWS 


Ambaftiiadoi* I* A* 

* (COCOANXJT GftOVE) 

Los Angeles, Nov, 15. 
Blossom Seeley & Bonny Fields. 
Eddie Bergman Orch (15), $2 
cover. 

The western outpost of the 
echlne hotel circuit is conducting 
rlflsses for this three-week stand— 
«nd a generation that knew vaude- 
S l e only as an adjunct to second- 
run' films is learning why the old- 
timers speak of the two-a-day with 
moist eyes and in reverent tones. 

\lany of the current crop of 
entertainers could do far worse 
than stop in to class now and then 
and take a few lessons from Mr. 
and Mrs. Show Business— Benny 
Fields & Blossom Seeley. 

This date marks Miss Seeley's 
return to the boards after a far 
too lengthy retirement. It was cued 
in part by the recent Paramount 
film “Somebody Loves Me," based 
on the Seeley-Fields story. But 
there’s no reason why it should 
be left at that; the better bistros 
around the country could well use 
this turn 

Nostalgia, naturally, keynotes 
the act, but this is no maudlin 
collection of reminiscences; it’s a 
top entertainment offering, de- 
livered with class, savvy and au- 
thority. Fields subordinates his 
activities, soloing only for the in- 
troduction of "my wife Blossom 
Seeley” — a line he proudly an- 
nounces he had been rehearsing 
for 30 years — and walloping over 
a "Song and Dance Man" routine 
while she makes a quick change. 
For the rest of the act, he reverts 
to his old spot as keyboard ac- 
companist with an occasional vocal 
harmonic. 

Miss Seeley is living proof that 
“if you got it you never lose it.” 
Her reprising of such Seeley hits 
as “Trumpet Man," "Teasin’ Rag” 
and “I Love A Piano" is top stuff 
and she includes “Wish You Were 
Here” as a gesture to the younger 
set. This, incidentally, is an aspect 
that. the. turn might wel-1. develop- 
a little more; many of the Seeley 
ragtime tunes are unfamilar to 
the under-middle-aged ringsiders 
and consequently have less impact. 
One or two more contemporary 
numbers could be Included with 
no difficulty. 

From a strict economic stand- 
point, Miss Seeley’s long retire- 
ment may mitigate against top 
dollar response in the early stages 
of the stand, although the biopic’s 
release _ will help. But word-of- 
mouth is a cinch to bring them 
in; certainly nitery audiences can’t 
ask t or a better show. 

Eddie Bergman’s capable house 
oi ch provides backing in the same 

tas i e . t , ui « roove *s the headliners 
and the melodic dance beat simpli- 
nes the Seeley-Fields getoff gim- 
mick, in which they each capture 
ringsiders as dancing partners and 
thus invite the rest of the audi- 
ence to begin dancing*and signal 
the end of the show. Kap. 

fcl Itanolio, Lns Vegas 

Las Vegas, Nov. 13. 
Ben Blue * Co., until Syd Slate, 
Samniy Wolfe, Sandra Gale ; Don 
Cornell Carmen D f Antonio, Smith 

Vo'} ns ~ J \’ rry . Carr < El Rancho Girls 
i«». Ted Fw Rito Orch U0); no 
cover or minimum. 


Baby Back Home" and brings forth 
hands with reprise of platter, "I’ll 
Walk A lone,u In secession, he 
purrs "O Marie,” "This Is the Be- 
ginning of the End,” slicing with a 
humorous "It's a Lie,” and back to 
former moods in "My Mother’s 
Pearls" and "I’m Yours.” 

Miss D’ Antonio impresses with 
her well-stacked frame and savag- 
ery of terps. Brief costume shows 
off figure while castaneting to 
Spanish opener complete with cape 
twirls. Followup is sexy blues hip- 
tossing okay plaudits. She returns 
before the Blue spot to solo in 
Afro-Cuban line number, forming 
a striking effect with body gleam- 
ing in oil. 

Smith Twins are used mainly to 
chirp intro ditties for various acts. 
Cute idea has show flowing in mu- 
sical stream from curtain to cur- 
tain, and the gals add a nice touch. 

El Rancho Girls go rah-rah with 
college kicks to break the ice, and 
are fetchingly feathered in cerise 
for their Afro-Cuban routine with 
Miss D’Antonio. Will 

Hofei Jefferson, S t* L* 

(BOULEVARD ROOM) 

St. Louis, Nov. 12. 

Sonny Hoxoard, Bobby Jxile, Les 
Elgart Orch (7); $1-$1.50 cover. 

Management of this No. 1 down- 
town spot has made a smart move 
starting with current layout in 
switching policy from four-week 
frames to a fortnight. Thus it keeps 
pace with the top west end rooms 
that, with but few exceptions, lim- 
it stands to two weeks. Two new 
faces plus the line of lookers are 
copping plenty approval. 

Sonny Howard merits the top 
billing with a combo of impres- 
sionist-warhling, but finds lusty 
competish from Bobby Jule, a 
young juggler who manipulates 
rubber balls and Indian clubs with 
finesse. 

• Jule* in addition to his clever 
juggling, furnishes some helly guf- 
faws when he fires a cap pistol at 
a rubber, ball that escaped him and 
it flics into • a small receptacle on 
the floor. His forte is placing five 
clubs between his feet and manip- 
ulating them into the air for a 
solid score. 

Howard, in the windup, opens 
with his edition of "You Made Me 
Love You” and then goes into 
vocal miming of Laine, Satchmo 
Armstrong, Nat (King) Cole, Pinza, 
Tony Martin and Lanza. He also 
socks over impressions of Jimmy 
Durante, Eddie Jackson and others, 
and an interp of how a wax artist 
comes into his own with a special 
bit of material tagged "Mr. P.” 
For windup he returns to his nat- 
ural voice with a bit of an un- 
known singer who asserts he has 
no style but sings "from the heart," 

Sahu. 


Murk Hopkins. S.F. 

(PEACOCK COURT) 

San Francisco,, Nov. 15. 
Carmen Miranda & Ban do da 
Lua Trio, Del Courtney Orch (13); 
$2 cover. 


Elements of Ben Blue & Co., 
Hon Cornell, and Carmen D’An- 
(Onio fuse to make the current El 
■Hancho Vegas offering a . good 
draw for the two-frame span. 

Blue is a surprise returnee, hav- 
ing played this' spot only a couple 
or months ago. His company of co- 
horts has expanded to encompass 
ie excellent stooging of Sammy 
uoite, and the eye-appeal of plati- 
num blonde Sandra Gale. Syd 
c ’,°! co .urse, remains in his 
here°* as * n previous turn 

No sooner does Blue begin his 
juickie gags than Wolfe skids into 
me picture with heckling from the 
nou s e as a waiter.. Brought on- 
^ng r e. the fuzzy-haired comic pro- 
ceeds lo bat out a string of im- 
£ «i ssi0ns ’ including Ink Spots, 
■mciiman, and Ray, for okay results, 
A terp sesh with Blue interpolat- 
ng some skids around the floor 
s interrupted by Slate, who sets 
>P panto sketch to follow. This 
‘ S P tj. (,a yk°n of a recent vid skit 
\vifi ue Life on a Paris Boul,” 
3' 1 ent, re company exercising the 
jime and productive of top yocks 
ui ea ‘V va y cermet windup. 
l J; ue aa( l Slate then work their 
noke-mystie "Chandu,” with audi- 
eni e responding fully. Out of this 
gang hoofs "Old Soft Shoe” 
^compassing terps by Bleu and 

great "Charleston” for 
saivo tlnish. 

Cornell has learned the valuable 
ojunct to any platter fave’s in- 
hi?J! <>n a PPcal — humility and 

^ least, guch a flavoring 
“ioues' lus deuce. Between tunes, 
tnfoi p » 1 ers «ngagingly, the sum 
bmfi « inning him extra mitting at 
owoff. He hits, with, "Walkin’ My 


A fabulous outfit, which drippdd 
with artificial vegetation, glamor- 
izing her from headgear to six-inch 
platform shoes, was Miss Miranda’s 
big, if not only, punch in her sec- 
ond local showing, the first of 
which sent the town off on a Bra- 
zilian bat a year ago. 

Whether or not her other com- 
mitments — film. TV, etc. — were 
the cause of her lessening enthu- 
siasm for the nitery medium is 
arguable, but her impact at this 
opener was definitely on the nega- 
tive side. It looked like a hurry- 
up job with a lack of verve show- 
ing at the seams: The old Miranda 
socko was blunted by a mechanical 
rundown of her songs and even 
the Bando da Lua Trio appeared 
a little tired, or bored or uncon- 
vinced of their cwn or the custom- 
ers’ importance. Miss Miranda 
will again do better, but this 
seance indicates that there are 
times when artists ought to take 
time- out to rest- up from their 
labors. Otherwise it’s tough on 
the check-payers, couvert charges 
being 'what they are. 

Miss Miranda’s 35-minute pitch 
includes many of her old laves and 
one or two new items, of which 
"Around the Island," a Hawaiian 
speciality, is the best. A bit of. 
business which has her busy comb- 
ing her currently blonde hair dur- 
ing better than half of her stand 
is oke but palls from an overplay. 
Her opener, "South American 
Way,” passes muster and the re- 
mainder of her scoresheet is deliv- 
ered in workmanlike if uninspired 
fashion. The list includes "I Like 
You Very Much,” "Tico Tico, 
"Piano Roll Blues,” "Cuanto La 
Gusta,’’ "Yisl Yi Oh,” "Cumana” 
and "Mama Y Quiero.” 

There’s no denying Miss Mi* 
randa’s talents but in this instance 
they weren’t quite put to work. 

Del Courtney’s orch is its usual 
top for both show and footwork. 

Ted* 


PUGSnSTf 


55) 


Biltmore Hotel, L. A* 

(BILTMORE BOWL) 

Los Angeles, Nov, 11. 

The Modemaires (5), Frakson, 
The Glenns, Barri Chase & Jack 
Tygctt, Dorothy Dorben’s Adora- 
bles (10), Irene King, Hal Der- 
win Orch (12), Gene Bari Trio ; 
$1-$1.50 cover. 


Joe Faber calls this new revue 
"Spree For All” and that about 
sums up its general appeal. There 
is enough variety and balance to 
wrap up a neat package of enter- 
tainment and keep the trade com- 
ing for thernext six weeks. 

Top billing goes to the Modern- 
aires, four guys and a gal, who 
display more versatility than most 
singing ’’groups around. Their har- 
monizing is top-drawer and ultra- 
dulcet, but for a nitery stand 
they branch off into comedy, mimi- 
cry and even a go at plate-spin- 
ning. Sparkplug of the quint is 
Allan Copeland, a bright wit and 
pleasant impressionist, but the 
aping seems overdone. They , have 
a smart idea in a comedy treatment 
of cleaning up the mess after a 
party in w'hich the material could 
be sharper. Their recorded hits 
have a clean melodic flavor. 

Frakson is still toying w r ith 
lighted cigarets, coins that drop 
into a pot from nowdiere and^cards 
that pop up at the call. His ebul- 
lient personality makes his tricks 
all the more palatable. The Glenns 
are skilled torso tossers and hand 
balancers and lend a note of nov- 
elty to the well-rounded unit. 

Fronting Dorothy Dorben’s Ador- 
ables, the only line of girls in 
town and a brilliant production 
flash* are Barri Chase & Jack Ty- 
gett. She’s making her nitery debut 
and shows promise of moving in 
the best choreo circles. She dis- 
plays evidence of ballet training 
and takes he spins, turns and 
adagio leaps with all the finesse 
of an established name. Moreover, 
she is young, a looker and brim- 
ming over with enthusiasm. 

Hal Dmvfn’s crew on the stand 
backstops faultlessly and brings 
out the hoofers in hordes. Irene 
King, former cigaret girl here, is 
fast developing into a good band 
singer and makes her personality 
pay off. Gene Bari’s trio fills the 
waits comfortably. Helm. 


Cafe Soeioly, X. Y. 

Gene Baylos, Cy Coleman Trio, 
Vinni DeCampo, Hot Lips Page 
Orch; $3, $4.50 minimums. 


Cafe Society Downtown has 
some established uptown values in 
its current display. Gene Baylos 
last appeared in this area at Bill 
Miller’s Riviera in N. J.. and is set 
for Ciro’S, Hollywood; Cy Coleman 
Trio is a regular in the smart 
rooms of the upper east side, and 
Vinni De Campo <see New Acts) 
has been traversing the disk route 
for Coral and prior to that on the 
London label. The net result is 
good entertainment that should 
hypo the weekend business which 
seems fairly regular in this spot. 

Baylos is a funny citizen. His 
routines are of suclj^a nature that 
he rarely gives the same show 
twice. His verbiage is for hepsters 
but can be readily understood by 
the common gardeners. Routines 
may be formless, but he maintains 
a strong stream of chatter that 
gets ’em rolling. 

On night caught, Baylos could 
have maintained an indefinite 
stand on the floor. A vet perform- 
er, he still hasn’t reached the top, 
although he’s gained more recog- 
nition during the past year. Pos- 
sibly a little more discipline would 
make him a firmer figure. 

The Cy Coleman Trio has been 
around. Coleman, at the ivories, 
is a talented j r oungster who can 
weave intricate patterns on the 
keys. At session caught he was 
reaching, since he permitted an 
essential delicacy of musical 
thought to leave him in favor of 
gigantic chords. It went over with 
this crowd, and he probably cased 
this mob ’ correctly in -playing it 
big. However, he still showed tre- 
mendous imagination. The bass 
and drum background aided his 
cause considerably. 

Hot Lips Page, a vet maestro, is 
a top jazz figure and he livens up 
the session with his dansapation 
and showbacking. Jose. 


Latin Quarter., Heston 

Boston. Nov. 11. 
Tony Bennett (3), Jack Durant, 
Condos & Brandow, D own Arden 
Line (8) Arthur Johnson, Henry 
Kalis Orch (9), Zarcle Bros. Orch 
( 4 ) ; $3 minimum. 


Although an all-male lineup, with 
exception of Donn Arden’s slick 
chorines, current layout is top- 
notch with solid entertainment 
down the line. 

Tony Bennett, making his initial 
nitery appearance in this area, hits 
the applause meter jackpot with a 
songolog that scores from his 
walfcon. Guy has plenty bn. the ball 


with an effectiveness in socking 
across a song that should keep him 
busy In the bistro belt for some 
time. Teeing off with lively "Tak- 
ing a Chance on Love,” he follows 
with the slower-paced "Since Your 
Love Has Gone” to nifty aud re- 
action. Included in stint is his 
latest disk release, "Have a Good 
Time,” "Sing You Sinners”; his 
trademark, "Because of You.” and 
a nostalgic "Old Gang of Mine.” 
For begoff tenor slams across with 
"Cold Cold Heart.” and "Always,” 
gimmicked to serve as curtain 
speech for his solid reception. 

Layout gets off to snappy start 
with Condos & Brandow cavorting 
through a bright sesh of lerping, 
vocalizing and general nonsense. 
Boys work fast and grab salvos via 
fancy hoofing. Brandow’s im- 
presh of Louis Armstrong vocaliz- 
ing and trumpeting and Condos’ 
slick footwork while his partner 
vocalizes "Ace in the Hole” and 
accomps himself on the 88. 

Comic Jack Durant, no stranger 
here, is likewise solid with his 
laugh interlude interspersed with 
butterflies and other stylish aero. 
Guy has a zany line of gab which 
garners neat yocks. winding with 
his Greenstreet-Lorre bit. 

The gals whirl through several 
eye-appealing routines with Arthur 
'Johnson handling the production 
vocals. House band, now led by 
Henry Kalis, furnishes background- 
ing and splits customer terping 
chores with the Zarde Bros, combo. 

Elie. 


Thunder bird* Las Yogas 

Las Vegas, Nov. 14. 

Doreita Morrow, Earl Wright- 
son , MarVels (7), Christina Car- 
son, Kathryn Duffy Dansations 
(7). Al Jalins Orch <10); no cover 
or minimum. 


Booking of Doretta Morrow and 
Earl Wrightson would ordinarily 
weigh heavily toward vocalizing, 
but since this one is only for a 
week, results will balance. Short 
term is necessary to open dates for 
Dancers of Bali making their only 
nitery appearance in the U. S. next 
week — and for one frame only. 

Miss Morrow is a beauty from 
every angle. Voice is rich and vi- 
brant, and her personality is in- 
viting, warm, gracious. This oc- 
casion marks her second appear- 
ance at the Thunderbird this year, 
her former stand having been made 
prior to pic. "Because You’re 
Mine.” Following its release, name 
value of the thrush is considerably 
more potent. 

Wrightson has an honesty about 
his resonant baritoning that cap- 
tures huzzahs from everyone. He 
knows hpvv to rivet attention and 
does it from "Great Come and Get- 
It Day” through his closer, a med- 
ley of w.k. waltzes. Meanwhile, 
he sends forth with volume such 
varied fare as "Wish You Were 
Here,” "Girls, Girls, Girls.” which 
frames several tunes, and "That 
Old Feeling." Following Miss Mor- 
row’s “Poinciana." he returns to 
duet "Because You’re Mine," for 
big windup.' 

MarVels are held over with their 
exciting teterboarding. and main- 
tain the terrif pace and boffo flash. 
Also held over are the routines cf 
Kathryn Duffy Dansations. The 
Al Jahns orch is adept in all show- 
backs. Will. 


Rltz Carlton. Montreal 

Montreal. Nov. 11. 
Carmen Torres ( with Ramon 
Bastida), Johnny Gallant, Joe Set - 
tano Trio; $1-$1.50 cover. 


A familiar figure and voice to 
local opera ' fans, Carmen Torres 
is making her nitery debut in the 
Ritz cafe and after a shaky start 
is scoring with her hefty piping 
and astute showmanship. 

Opening with a bright Spanish 
melody composed by her pianist, 
Ramon Bastida, Miss Torres swings 
into a modified audience participa- 
tion routine ...that, is spirited and. 
does much to win over the skeptics 
who thought they were in for a 
heavy session of classic warbling. 

Following with “Come Back to 
Me,” also by Bastida, gal returns 
for socko reprise of "Here Is My 
Heart,” for best reception of eve- 
ning. Cole Porter's perennial, "Be- 
gin the Beguine,” done in Spanish, 
is standout and a French-English 
entry closes a solid 30 minutes. 

This is the first time the Ritz 
management has tried a performer 
with a big legit voice, and although 
patron reaction is mixed, experi- 
ment is worthwhile because of 
Miss Torres’ vibrant personality 
and obvious talents. A little less 
volume on the high notes in tills 
low-ceilinged boite would, hdp, 
however, and the inclusion of more 
than one English item would en- 
hance over-all Intirpcry value. 

House pianist Johnny Gallant 
maintains atmosphere in between 
the. dansapation moments of the 
Settano Trio. Newt. 


Bat* of JHtaflle, L. A* 

Los Angeles, Nov. 13. 
Arthur Blake, Fay DeWitt, Bill 
Hoffman «fc Benno Rubinyi, Ed- 
die Bradford Orch (5); $1.50, $2 
minimum. 


Annual return of Arthur Blake 
to this off-Hollywood neighbor- 
hood hideaway always signals peak 
business; the regulars lap up his 
mimicry and the Hollywood colony 
makes frequent excursions to see 
whom he’s satirizing this time 
around. This friendly audience 
will prove invaluable during the 
current four-month stand since it 
will give Blake a familiar coterie 
on which to try out necessary re- 
visions in his new act. 

From an idea standpoint, Blake 
has come up with what shapes as 
a promising entry in his "Night- 
mare at Mme. Tussaud’s.” It's 
skillfully staged, handled with the 
usual Blake assurance and en- 
hanced by $15,000 worth of cos- 
tumes and a City of London back- 
drop that evoke instant and audi- 
ble admiration from the onlookers. 
Unfortunately, the material doesn’t 
measure up to either the perform- 
ance or the idea. 

Blake’s idea of limning charac- 
ters in the famed wax museum by 
giving them the physical and vocal 
characteristics of film names has 
a great potential. It’s bogged down 
now by material that’s frequently 
too blue (even allowing for the 
bawdiness of the characters being 
impersonated) and from a lack of 
variety. Thus, despite the excite- 
ment engendered by the costume 
changes, portraying all six of 
Henry VIII’s wives is too much 
and Blake would have done bet- 
ter to dip briefly into several 
periods to provide a needed 
change of pace. The voices he uses 
for the various characters include 
Charles Laughton, Marlene Die- 
trich, and Mae West w'hich are 
generally good although only 
Tallulah, Ethel Barrymore and 
Bette Davis matched the usual 
Blake standard at opening show. : 

What Blake and his writer, Dora 
Maugham, come Up with in this 
16-w'eek stand can spell the differ- 
ence between a good idea gone 
wrong and a top. nitery act. Prop- 
erly handled, it could even lead 
Blake into the one-man concert 
field. But there's plenty of work 
ahead. 

With Blake as the lure, the Bar 
of Music can afford to round out 
i'. s bill with talent unknowm on the 
Coast, so comedienne Fay DeWitt 
shares the billing in the new show. 
She too suffers from a material 
shortage, each of her special offer- 
ings promising more than it de- 
livers. Satire^ on an imported 
Russky singer, for example, starts 
off strongly and then loses ap- 
peal. With better material she 
could be an okay supporting act. 

Spot’s twin piano team of Bill 
Hoffman & Berino Rubinyi con- 
tinue to round out the show por- 
tion with an admixture of classic 
and pop stuff. , Kap. 


Eddys% K. r. 

Kansas City. Nov. 14. 
Roily Rolls, Mary Mayo, Tony 
DiPardo Orch (8); $1 cover. 


Couple of new' faces are in at 
Eddys’ fancy downtown club, and 
giving the spot a moderately good 
show. Both Roily Rolls, French 
pianist-comic, and thrush Mary 
Mayo are new to this came, al- 
though Rolls has played the town 
before in a nitery stand. Combo 
classes as satisfactory fare, but 
both turns could stand a bit of 
sharpening to make the most of 
their w r ares. 

Opening quarter-hour is Miss 
Mayo's, in w r hich she warbles a 
generous assortment of pop tunes, 
ranging through the soft and ten- 
der ballads to the sprightly .rhythm 
numbers. She’s an attractive 
blonde, and her chirping comes 
through well polished, as it does 
on her Capitol platters. 

■ Miss ■ Mayo’s songalog includes 
"Dancing in the Dark.” "Here I 
go Again,” "Dark Is the Night,” 
"Many a New Day.” "Gonna Live 
Till I Die” and "Molly Malone.” 
She’s well received, but could add 
a bft Of punch with some nitery- 
slanted material and it wouldn’t 
hurt to include one or two of her 
current record releases. She’s ably 
abetted by Al Ham directing the 
Tony DiPardo orch for her inning. 

There's a wide range of tricks 
w’ith which Rolls fills his 20 min- 
utes, reaching his best heights at 
his straight keyboard work. He 
gets going with a variety of rhythms 
including samba and gypsy num- 
bers and an English ballad. Then 
combines piano with monolog to 
tell the vstory- of the Third Man.” 
"Roily’s Boogie” is his own version 
of piano rhythm gymnastics, and 
goes into another of his pianolog 
combos for a fairy story. Closef 
has the orch working with him to 
wrap up. several tup^s in simul- 
taneous harmonics. ' Qum. 



54 


Wednesday, Noveml>er 19, 1952 


VARIETY BILLS 

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19 

Numerals In connection with bills b#iow indicate opening day of show 

whether full or Split week 

Letter in parentheses Indicates circus <FM) Panchon fAareot (1) Independent 
(L* Loewi CM) Mosw (P) Paramount IK) RKO; «S) Stoll; <T> Tivoli; (W> Warner; 

iWR) Walter Read* 


NEW YORK CITY 
Music Hall (I) 2d 
Patricia Drvlie 
Hal Norman 
Los Gatos 
Rockettes 
Corps de Ballet 
Symph Ore 

Palace (R) 21 
Bobby Day 4c Babs 
Johnny Dee 3 
Bob Gentry 
Alfred & Lenore 
Chas Slim Timlin 
June Aston 
Chaz Chase 
Gautiers Tally Ho 
Paramount (P) If 
Toni Arden 
Jack E Leonard 
S Condos St J 
Brandow 
Art Mooney Ore 
Roxy (I) 1* 
Frances Langford 
Harmonica Rascals 
Jimmy Nelson 
Mello Larks 
Johnny Conrad 
Renard & Rudy 
CHICAGO 

Chicago (P) 21 
Nat King Cole 3 
Teddy Hale 
T Herbert Sc D 
Saxon 

Nancy Evans 
Congress (P) 2.1 only 
Asylum of Horrors 
Regal (P) 21 
Larry Steele Rev 


Jimmy Tyler Ore 
12 Dancing Girls 
Win! Brown 

2 Earls 

3 Chocolateers 
Margee McGlory 
Conrad St Estelle . 
Mergis Thomas 
Butterbeans 4c 

Susie 
Shon McGowan 
HAMMOND 
para (P) 22 only 
Asylum of Horrors 
PHILADELPHIA 
Earle (W) 21 
Dinah “Washington 
Bill Bailey 
Royals 

All American Jazz 
Stars 

2 Zephyrs 

PITTSBURGH 
Stanley <W) 21 
Ames Bros 
Joey Bishop 
T Sc F Vallett 
ROCKFORD 
Palace <l) 21-23 
4 Honey Girls 
Jo Ann Preston 
Cecil Sc Shirley 
Count Maurice 
Ross Wyse Jr 4c J 
Mann 

WASHINGTON 
Capitol (L) 21 
Jack Morgan St 
Jeanette 
Beachcombers 
Gil Lamb 
Lanny Ross 


Peter Brough 
Archie Andrews 
Ronald Chesney 
Henri Vadden Girls 
2 Pirates 
Ossie Noble 
Edward Victor 
Ravic 4c Babs 
Candy Twins 4c 
Eddie 

MANCHESTER 
Hippodrome (S) 17 
Ralph Reader 
Fred Stone 
Clifford Henry 
Rex Jameson 
Denis Bros 
Kirby 4c Hayes 
Richard Gilbert 
Roger Avon 
Anthony Gill 
David Main 
Janny Timpany 
NEW CROSS 
Empire <t) 17 
B 4c A Pearson 
Joe Astor Sc Rene 
Benson Dulay Co 
Dancing Hollands 
Nixon 4c Dixon 
Angellos 

J Lee 4c M Rivers 
Frank Preston 
NOTTINGHAM 
Empire (M) 17 
Winifield Atwell 
Jack Jackson 
Fayne 4: Evans 
Jimmy Wheeler 


Monarch Bros 
T & G Durant 
Peter Raynor 
R 4c M Lamar 
PORTSMOUTH 
Royal (M) 17 
Arthur English 
Eddie Gray 
Peggy Powell 
Viking 3 Sc 
Charmaine 
2 Playboys 
Cycling Astons 
Maureen Rose 
Donovan 4c Hayes 
Brian Kent 
Eileen Rogan Girls 
SHEPHERDS BUSH 
Empire (S) 17 
Harry Lester Co 
Hayseeds 

WOLVERHAMPTON 
Hippodrome <l) 17 
Josef Locke 
Archie Glen 
Jack Ross 
Nodics 
2 Sterlings 
Lynton Boys 
WOOD GREEN 
Empire (S) 17 
Nat Jackley 
Fraser Harmonica 
Co 

Karen Greer 
Mundy 4c Earle 
Ortons 

Norman Caley 
Jimmy Scott 


Eddie Snyder 
Sacasas Ore 
Ann Herman Dcrs 
Saxony Hotel 
Bobby Escoto 
Val Olman Oro 
Tano 4c Dee 
Saxonettes 
I Shore Club 

' Rosalie 4c Steve 
; Cane.v Ore 

Shoremede 
Preacher Rollo 9 
j Harbor Club 

Joe Mooney 
Helene Rivoirc 
Paddock Club 
Georgette 
H. S. Gump 
Miss Memphis 
Laurie Rainor 
Ernie Bell Ore 
Flo Parker 
Joanne Allen 


AUSTRALIA 


Cabaret Bills 


BRISBANE 
His Majesty's (TJ 17 
Armand Perren 
3 Fayes 
Pat Gregory 
Gcrd Bjornstad 
Chirbi 

Marika Saary 
Phillip Tappin 
Wim De Jong 
Jacques Cartaux 
Jimmy Elder 
Joe Whitefeousift 
Cissy Trenholm 
Terry Scanlon 
Babs Mackinnort 
Betty Sullock 
Joy Stewart 
Qlius Brox 4: 
Myrna 

MELBOURNE 
Tivoli (T> 17 
Tommy Trinder 
Mara Maurice 
6 De Paulis 
Rcy Overbury 4c 
Suzette 


Mary Priestman 
Harry Moreny 
Lloyd Martin 
Toni Lamond 
Dancing Boys 3 
Singing Girls 4 
Adorables 

- SYDNEY 
Tivoli <T1 17 
3 Daresco 
Lowe . 4c Ladd 
Frank Cook 
Bert Duke 3 
Guy Nelson 


NEW YORK CITY 


Blrdtane 
Slim Gaillard 
Blue Angel 
Alice Ghostley 
I Charlotte Rae 
Annette “Warren 
Ellis Larkin 3 
Bart Howard 

Bon Solr 

[Jimmie Daniels 


w Madmoiseiles 

Hafama" & Konarski Tony 4: Eddie 

Renita Kramer Norene Tate 

Bouna Garland W ilson 

Norman Vaughan Mac Barnes 


feonya Corbeau 
Alice Ray 
Betty Prentice 
Nudes 
Show Girls 
Boy Dancers 4c 
Singers 
Ballet 


BRITAIN 


ASTON 

Hippodrome (l) 17 
Eddie Reindeer 
Pop White 4c 
Stagger 
A1 Podesler 3 
Gretyna 4c 
Kotchinsky 
Gardner Sc Baxter 
Paulla D’Orsay 
F Whitely Girls 

BIRMINGHAM ; 
Hippodrome (M) 17 
Norman Evans 
Betty Jumel 
Canfield Smith 
Maple Leaf 4 
V 4c J Crastoman 
Bll 4c Bil 

BLACKPOOL 
Palace (I) 17 
Bill Waddington 
Suctte Tarri 
P Nichols Sc B 
Merrin 

Lizzet 4t Eddie 
Saveen 4c Daisy 
May 

Herbie Marks 
Walthon 4e Dorralne 
Royal 4c Revere 
BOSCOMBE 
Hippodrome (I) 17 
Hetty King 
Turner Layton 
Georgie Wood 
Albert Whelan 
Dick Henderson 
Mario Lloyd Jr. 
Keefe Bros Sc 
Annette 

BRIGHTON 
Hippodrome (M> 17 
Geraldine Sc Joy 
Deep River Boys 
Bob Andrews 
Dr Crock Co 
Campbell 4c 
Rogcrson 
Beryl Orde 

BRIXTON 
Empress (I) 17 
Max Wall 
Beryl Reid 
Hedlcy Ward 3 
1 Moreton 4c D 
Kaye • ■ ■ 

5 Speedmacs 
P 4: P Page 
Jean Paul 
Sherman Fisher 
Girls 

CARDIFF 
New (S) 17 
Nitwits 

Welcome Singers 
Charlie Claphan 
Joe King 

L Park Sc T Trent 
Orlandos 
Yolandas 
Merle & Marie 
CHELSEA 
Palace (I) 17 
Dorothy Squires 
Joyce Golding 
Ossie Morris 
Billy De Haven 
Rhoda Diane 
4 Burgess Bros 
CHISWICK 
Empire (S>- 17 
Gerry Brerctou 
Jack Watson 
Finlay Bros ' 
Authors Sc SwinSon 
R 4c C Wlaat 
Tommy Godfrey Sc 
Dee 

Original Peter 
Chris Sands 
Mary Meredith 
Cooper Twins 
Leslie Roberts 
Girls 


EAST HAM 
Granada (I) 17 

Les Reade 
T Lowry 4c L 
Thomas 
Lorraine 
Bob Kerns & 
MarylOu 


Cafe Society Dntwrt 

Cy Coleman 
Erskine Butterfield 
Celebrity Club 
Alan Gale 
Freddie Stewart 
Haydocks 

Copa cabana 
Billy Daniels 
Jackie Kannoh 
Paul S.vdell 
De Marios 
M Durso Lire 
Ray Steele 
Milt Page 

Chateau Madrid 
Ciro Rimuc Ore 
Chez Zizi 
L4cE Roberta 
Bob Savage 


Pat Hatton 4c Peggy 
Vadios Bros Embers 

^ ^ Joe Bushkin 


4 Graham Bros 
Joan Keen 
Irene Dickson 
Glen Arthur 
Syd Jeffery 
Peggy French 
Bertie Sellers 
Tommy Graye 
Thelma Stainsby 

Palace (I) 17 
Tommy Fields 
Gladys Hay 
Semprlni 
Harry Locke 
Max Seymour 
J 4c J Mason 
Carozells 
Harry Benet 
Nicol 4c Kemble 
EDINBURGH 
Empire (M) 17 
Betty Driver 
Tommy Cooper 
George Martin 
Kdhny Baker 
Peterson Bros 
Reg Radcliffe 
Bobble Kimber 
Godfrey 4c Kerby 
Floyd 4r B’Nay 
FINSBURY PARK 
Empire (M) 17 
B 4c J Clyde 

5 •Smith Bros 
Lcvanda 4c Van 
Jimmy James Co 
Ron Carver 
Mereaux 4c Liliane 
llcrschel Henlere 
Peplnos Circus 

GLASGOW 
Empire (M) 17 
Carroll Levi6 Co 
Violet Pretty 
Teenagers 
4 Nordics 

HACKNEY 

Empire (S) 17 
Derek Roy 
3 Falcons 
Devine 4c King 
Barnett 4c Del Rio 
Rona Ricardo 
M Woodward 4c M 
Cooper 

Yvonne Prestige 
Chas Stephen 
6 Roy Belles 
Joey Baker 
Jack Chugg 
Eddie Miles 
LEEDS 

Empire (M) 17 
Harry Roy Bd 
3 Jills 

Billy West Co 
Jackie 
Lionel King 
S 4c P Kaye 
LEICESTER 
Palace (S) 17 
Issy Bonn 


Bunty Pendleton 
French Casino 
Sugar Ray Robinson 
Ginctte Wander 
I Jane Laste 
Laura Tunis; 
Dominique 
Rudy Cardenas 
Vincent Travers 

Hotel Ambassador 
Jules Lanrie Ore 
. Hotel Astor 
Three Suns 

Hotel Biltmore 
Michael Kent Ore 

Hotel Edison 
Henry Jerome Ore 
Hotel New Yorker 
Teddy Powell Ore 
Sid Krofft 
Joan Walden 
Bobby Blake 
Collin 4c Lcemans 
Adrian Kollini I no 
Hotel Pierre 
Margaret Phelan 
Stanley Melba Ore 
Chico Relli Ore 
Hotel Plaza 
Mindy Carson 
Dick La Salle Ore 
.Continentals 

Hotel Roosevelt 
Guy Lombardo i. Ore 
Hotel St. Regis 
.Celia Lipton 
Milt Sliaw Ore 
Horace Diaz ■ Ore 
Hotel Statler 
Woody Herman Ore 
Village Barn 
Zeb Carver 
I Ted Iiuston Ore 


Patty Lee 

Mae Fadden 
Deuville 
Vocations 3 
Buddy Lewis Trio 
Sorrento 
Jack Kerr 
Charles 4c Samara 
Alan Kole Ore 
El Mambo 
Freddy Calo Rev • 
Nino Yacovino 
Lina Diaz 
Estela 

Litico 4c Mario 
Mambalettes 
Luis 4c Leonor 
5 O'clock Club 
Martha Raye 
Milt Ross 
Ted Wills 4 
Len Dawson Ore 
Versailles Hotel 
Nino RinaWi 3 


New Acts 


CHICAGO 


Chez Pare* 

Sophie Tucker 
Ted Shapiro 
Harry Mjmmo 
Sonny King 
Johnny Martin 
Chez Adorables (8) 
Brian Farnon Ore 
Conrad Hilton Hot'i 
Adele Inge 
Erie Wait* 

Diana Grafton 
Charles 4c Lucille 
CaVanaogb 
Dennis 4c Darien* 
Lillian Byers 
Yvonne Broder 
Philip Fraser 
Terry Taylor 
Donald Tobin 
George Zak 
Boulevar-denrs (6) 
Frankie Masters O 


VINNI DeCAMPO 
Songs 
10 Mins. 

Cafe Society, N.Y. 

Vinni DeCampo, who s been on ! 
the Coral label, has reached the 
status of many singers who are 
awaiting a disclick in order to hit 
the tall coin. Vocally, he has the 
qualifications. His pipes are well 
developed and his song style em- 
braces nuances that attempt to 
make him eligible for the “new 
sounds” department. 

DeCampo is highly adept at bal- 
lads, showing a good interpreta- 
tive flair and a high degree of feel- 
ing. He essays “Sorrento and a 
good rendition of temptation. 
— «. He’s similarly adept at rhythms as 

SrtteSSl by "Devil Sat Down and 
Palmer House Cried.” JOSC. 

Joe E. Howard 
Leo de Lyon 
Lulu Bates 
Bambi Linn 4c Rod 
Alexander 
Susanne 4c 
McCaffrey 
Bob de Voye 4c 
Betty Lorraine 
Earl Barton 
Tom Horgan Sc 


Edgewater Beach 
Tyrolean Singers 
(14) 

Piero Bros (2) 


VIC SPADDY 
Impressions 
12 Mins.; One 
Palace, N. Y, 

Vic Spaddy is a promising young 
impressionist with a pleasant per- 
sonality, firstrate voice and a fairly 
good script. Only drawback is that 
he doesn’t register with any dis- 
tinctive impact. That may stem 
from his familiar gallery of car- 
bons, 

He essays impressions of Billy 
Eckstine, Frankie Laine, Perry 
Cpmo, James Stewart, Louis Arm- 
strong, etc., without furnishing any 
fresh perspective. On the credit 
side, however, he does omit the 
Jimmy Durante and Peter Lorre 
takeoffs, which of course, have be- 
come so stale from overwork. 

Herm. 


LOS ANGELES 

Ambassador Hotel Frakson 


Miles BeU 
Patricia 4c Norton 
Waldorf- Astoiia 
Victor Borg* 

Alex Alstonc Ore 
MLsoha Borr Ore 
Hotel' Warwick 
Harold Sandler Ore 
Hotel Sherry 
Atetherland 
Helene Francois 
Hugo PedeU Ore 
Hotel Taft 
Vincent Lopez Ore 
Latin Quarter 
Chiquita 4c Johnson 
Murphy Sisters 
Audrey Sperling 
Paul White 
Piroska 
Caroli Bros 
Marcel Lebon 
Dagenhein Pipers 
Warren. Latona 4c 
Sparks 
Patricia Rhodes 
Pat Adair 
Art Waner Ore 
La Vie en Rose 
Phil Moore’s Flock 
Van Smith 3 
El Chico 
Rosita Bros 
DeLeon 4: Graciella 
C 4c G Galvan 
Alvardo de la Cruz 
Carlos Camacho 
Leon & Eddie's 
Eddie Davis 
Bobby Ramsen 
Argo 4c Fay 
Paul Judson 
Midge Minor 
Helen Curtis 
Art Waner Ore 
Oliver Dcrs 
No. 1 Fifth Ave 
Nancy Andrews 
Bud McCreery 
Bob Downey 
Harold Fonville 
Hazel Webster 
Old Roumanian 
Sadie Banks 
Sonny Sands 
Carolyn Carpenter 
Larry Marvin 
Joe LaPorte Ore 
D'Aquila Ore 
Park Sheraton 
Irving Fields 
Town Mt Country 
Ernestine Mercer 
Cece Blake 
Johnny Morris Ore 
La Plaza G 

Two Guitars 
Sigi Ahern 
Eli Spivak 
Misha Usdanoff 
Kostya Poliansky 
Versailles 
Edith Piaf 
Emile 1 - Petti Ore • 
Pnnohito Ore 
Village Vanguard 
Robert Clary 
Sylvia Syms 
Phil Leeds 
Clarence William 
Wlvel 
Sal Noble 
Bob Lee 


Benny Fields 
Blossom Seeley 
Eddie Bergman Ore 
Bar of Music 
Arthur Blake 
Fay De Witt 
Bill Hoffman 
Bcnno Rubinyi 
Eddie Bradford Ore 
B Gray's Bandbox 
BUly Gray 
Patti Moore 
Ben Lessy 
Charlie Bagby 
Bill Howe 

Blltmoro Hotel 
Modernaircs (5) 


GLORIA VILiLAR 
Songs 

9 Mins.;’ One 

Pa Gloria N Villar, songstress bopped 
into the Palace as the payoff for 

her contest-winning efforts on the 

Patricia Manning £ is James TV show, “Chance 
Abbott Dcrs (6) o{ a L if e time,” is a legit canary 
Trio Bassi w ith highly trained soprano pipes. 

N Brandwynne Ore g be delivers effectively in that 

groove. 

Her repertory is light classical, 
including “Love Is Where You 
Find It,” “One Night of Love 
and Victor Herbert's Italian 
Street Song.” All the numbers, 
especially the latter, give her a 
chance to showcase her good vocal 
control and her facility in the 
upper range. Gets solid mitting. 

* Herm . 


The Glenns 
Hal Derwm Oro 

Cafe Gala 

Jimmy Ames 
Jean Arnold 
Don Sheffey 

Clro'a 

Amru Sani 
The Ashtons (7) 
Dick Stabile Ore 
Bobby Ramos Ore 
Mocambo 
Joel Grey 
Darvas 4c Julia 
Eddie Oliver Ore 
Martinique Ore 


LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 


Skippy 
Olga Chaviano 
Nancy Sc Rudy 
Rocio 4c Antonio 
BaUet Corps 
Mlguelito Valdes O 
Desert Inn 
International 
Revue” 

Buddy Hackett 
Ming 4: Ling 
Tippy Sc Cobina 
Clark Bros 
Ruth Chio 
Buck Young 
International 
Lovelies 
Carlton Hayes Ore 
Last Frontier 
I.iberace 
Marilyn Hecht 
George Liberace 
Bob Sandy 
Jean : Devlyn ReVue 
Garwood Van Ore 
Lucille Norman 
El Rancho Vegas 
Ben Blue 

Don Cornell , 

Carmen D’Antonlo 
Syd Slate 
Sammy Wolfe 


MIAM1-M1AM! BEACH 


Allison Hotel 
Beachcombers (4) 
Julio Sc Mae 
Casablanca Hotel 
Milt Ross 
Louise Brown 
Julio Torres Ore 
Clover Club 
Nov-Elites (3) 

I Peggy Greer 
Barbara Drake 
S Marlowe Lino 
Tony Lopez Ore 
Cork Club 
[ Jo Thompson 
Delmonlco 
Allan French 
Crayton & Lopez 
Carlos & Mclisa Ore 
Frolic Club 
Knthic McCoy 
Don Charles Oro 
Harem Club 
Jimmy Dai 
Rusty Marsh 


Malcolm Mitchell 3 Flash Lane 
Eddie Calvert Camile Stevens 

Allen Bros Sc June Ann Mitchell 


Andoras 
Ray Allen 4c Steve 
Jafckley 4c Jee 
Jill Sc Odette 
LINCOLN 
Royal (I) 17 
Billy Whittaker 
Mlmi Law 

MAIDSTONE 
Grahada (I) 17 


Ginger tMarsh 
LoVnbardy 
Don Baker Ore 
Henry Taylor 
Julio 4c Mae 
Martinique Hotel 
Manolo & Ethel 
Danny Yates Ore 
Rose 4: Paul 
Vincente 


Monte Carlo 
Day 4c Alva 

Music Box 
BcUe Barth 
Music Box Trio 
Malayan Lounge 
Elaine Brent 
Calypsoans 

Nautilus Hotel 
Patsy Shaw 
Taylor Twins 
Sid Stanley Ore 
Rendezvous 
Fats Noel Ore 
Clitton Hayes 
San Marino Hotel 
Mac Pepper 
Arne Barnett (3) 
Gaiety Club 
Aquavena 
Dolly Miller 
Blue Drake 
Marie Stowe 
Gaiety Girls 
Bob Morris Ore 
Johntaa Hotel 
Michel Allard 
Jack Murphy 
Tony Mata* 
Itandum 

Leon. A Eddie's 
Babe Baker Revue 
Patti Lane 
BUI Gray 
Kitty O’Kelly 
Jackie icing 
Sans Soucl Hotel 
Shine 4c Stone 


JEAN DAWN 
Contortion 
5 Mins. 

Apollo, N, Y. ; 

Loose-limbed blonde Jean Dawn 
gets enough variety into her five- 
• • Flamingo- Sandra Gale . minute sesh ; of tOFSO twists to make 

‘Sans’Soruei -ii** \ her a good bet for vaude. Ga:i 

impresses as being - made of rub- 
ber from the neck down as she 
manipulates her legs around her 
head or walks on hands with her 
head tucked between her legs. 
Miss Dawn works easily through 
Day, Dawn & Dust each stunt and builds act nice .>* 

D sisters * Raya for a warm mitt * Gros. 


Jerry Carr 

Thunderbird 
Dancers of Bali 
Ni Gustl Raka 
Mrs. John Coast 
Gamelin Ore 
Sahara 

Buster Keaton 


NADJA WITKOWSKA 

Songs 

22 Mins. 

Detroit A. C. 

Miss Witkowska, tall, pretty, 
poised and well-gowned, is a color- 
atura trying out a new turn com- 
posed of musical comedy, semi- 
classical and classical. She’s aim- 
ing at the better nitery, room and 
television market, and her aim is 
better than average. 

A winner -of the Grinnell Foun- 
dation Scholarship in conjunction 
with the Philadelphia LaScala 
Opera Co., Miss Witkowska has 
done extensive concert, oratorio 
and radio work. She has a strong, 
rich and well-trained voice that 
is full and true in its extensive 
range. 

She. opens with a sprightly “Gra- 
nada.” getting immediate attention. 
Other numbers are “They Can’t 
Take That Away from Me,” ‘La 
Danza,” a medley of “Getting to 
Know .You,” “Whistle a Happy 
Tune” and “I Have Dreamed;” 
..Ad e.le’s. Laughing Song, .from “Die 
Fledermaus.” Her encore was a 
French medley of “La Seine,” 
“Autumn Leaves” and “Pigalle.” 
A second encore is “Because Your 
Mine.” Tew. 


Gene Nash 
Sa-Harem Dancers 
Cee Davidson Ore 
El Cortez 
4 Knights 


THE BOGDADI (4) 

Acrobats 
12 Mins. 

Mardoni Sc Louise I Victoria Palace, London 

Fulton Burley This Egyptian quartet of acro- 

Dave Rodgers Ore batg hag Qne of the m0 st spec tacu- 

HaS 1few pp * r Ur routines of its kind seen m 
woo W09 Stevens London. Making their local debut 

in their new Crazy Gang revue, 


Beau Jesters 
Hollywood Cover 
. Girls 
Russ Clark 
Jimmy Cavanaugh 
Bill Willard 
Jo Ann Malone 


AFTRA Nixes 

am* Continued from page 1 

20% hike, plus cutting down of 
the “included rehearsal time” (that 
rehearsal time which the producers 
get from the talent without extra 
payment, a concept which doesn’t 
obtain in the AM field, where each 
... . _ . half-hour of rehearsing is paid for). 

i . , The networks’ "best offer so .far. 


Sans Souci 
Celia Cruz 
Marta Dominguez 
Nancy 4c Rudy 
Fernandez Valencia 
Tondelayo 
Sans Soucl Corps 
de Ballet 
Roland Gcrboau 
Tropica na 
Chiquita 4c Johnson 


a standout performance which nabs 
enthusiastic response. 

Act is slick and highly polished 
George Redman ore w jfjj many tricks new locally. Two 

HAVANA - of the quartet lie on tables with 

riM vMHn their legs in a vertical position 

Zoraida Marrero I while the remaining couple ale 
Miguel Angel Ortiz | tossed about with startling rapid- 
ity. Highspot of their unique rou- 
tine is when the two acrobats pass 
each other in mid air to land snug- 
ly on the feet of their opposite 
partners. 

Act is a sure bet for vaudeville, 
revue or nitery. Myro. 


Tropicana Chorus 
Ana Gloria 4c 
Rolano 

I* Montmartre 
Facundo Rivero 
Quartet 

Lyanna 4c Renny 
Serenata' Espanola 
Ray Carson 


PORTLAND, OREGON 


Amato's Supper 
Club 

Don Cummings 
Terri Andre 
Sis Sc Sonny Arthur 
Wynn Walker Ore 
. (5) 


Clover Club 

Roberto 4c His 
South American 
Marionetta Revue 
Jimmy Vey 
Shirley Martin 
Herm Jobelmann 
Ore (5) 


New York Court 


Continued from page 5 


LES CHAMBERTYS (3) 

Trapeze 
10 Mins., Full 
Palace, N. Y. 

Les Chambertys, French-im- 
ported turn comprising two males 
and one femme, have an attractive 
trapeze act designed for theatre 
stages. Team works from platforms 
about 12 feet off the boards with 
a standard repertory of mid-air 1 
hand-changing stunts. 

Trio works fast with ' a good 


alleged, a $3,000,000 profit he made change of pace. One of the male 

on the disposal of his stock mate witb bis double and triple spins, 
rialized from “selling his position a neat getaway turn for any 

[ as officer and director.” vaude layout. Herm. 

Plaintiff stockholders, in asking 
that Hughes account for his RKO “ t 
transactions, also seek to have the Comedy 
asserted $3,000,000 profit ploughed 10 Mins. 

back into the company treasury. Pa v??l 1 i m i« E ? in c Ur ? 11 • • 1 

Dissidents in addition claim that a c ?^^ CO i : r , c< V 1 ? lc 1S 

HufYhp«? “forced” *Dore Scharv to £ood. strides in fun-making. 
Hughes lorcea lJore senary jj e moves aroun d agilely and gains 

leave the ^studio, wast c0 ??* yocks through making awkward 

rate assets by keeping Jane Bus- use 0 f height and legs. In addition, 

sell on the payroll and made ad- he cultivates the simple and inno- 

vances of ‘many millions of dol- cent manner, being fed here with 

lars” to outside producers with skill by experienced comedy foil 

“reckless abandon.” Jimmy Plant. Latter, curiously, 

Clarifying the suit in an affida- was foil to comic’s comedian 

vit, Kipnis said that “immediate fatner, w.k. Auld Lang Syne artiste 

solvency” of BKO and its subsidi- ?? V£ ; Willis, now retired. Willis, 

aries wills not involved in 'his move A comic figure wearing the 

for a temporary receivership. He tributes*’ suclT as^slFraness* 1 and 

‘^ht. could make good “se of 
to protect and preserve the bbs*- this. He is also cultivating comedy 
ness enterprises from loss and de- catchphrases 
struction and to prevent it from be- This turn’ is okay for vaude, 
coming insolvent.” Chase Bank though restricted dialectically 
was named a defendant merely be- through strong native appeal to 
cause it’s BKO’s transfer agent. Scots. Gord. 


it’s reported, is a boost for 

all categories except chorus dan- 
cers and off-camera announcers, 
whose scales would remain status 
quo. Webs are also standing on the 
present included rehearsal setup, 
although willing to cut the cuffo 
rehearsing time for dancers on 
hour-long shows from 40 to 37 
hours. Employers are also willing 
to reduce the included time for. 
off-camera announcers, but union 
spokesmen claim that this is a con- 
cession that “doesn’t amount to 
anything.” since the off-camera 
spielers don’t do much rehearsing 
anyway. 

Another demand which the chains 
have been adamant on, according 
to AFTBA negotiators, is the com- 
panies’ tagging of newscasters as 
“commentators” and thus removing 
them from the benefits of the news- 
caster category. 

Union’s Radio Demands 
In the AM division, AFTRA 
seeks a 15% hike for all groups 
except singers. Best network coun- 
terproposal so far has been a 5% 
raise, provided AFTRA backed 
down on several other demands. 
One of. the. demands, that ..the. .webs 
w’ant tossed out is the principle 
that local rates in N. Y. remain 
equal to those for network shows. 
Chains also demand elimination of 
the repeat fee for show5 recorded 
off-the-line. (At present, perform- 
ers get the live repeat fee when 
shows are taped off-the-line for 
broadcast in sogie areas, such as 
the Coasts at a later time.) 

Another issue is the union’s de- 
mand for, and the webs’ refusal to 
grant, a welfare fund supported by 
employes' contributions. 

By coincidence, the AFTRA radio- 
tele bargaining and Screen Actors 
Guild's fracas with the producers 
for filmed TV commercials are 
reaching the boiling point simul- 
taneously. AFTRA, along With 
other talent unions, has endorsed 
the SAG actions and it seems like* 
ly that SAG will back the AFTRA 
stand. The two unions, once hostile, 
apparently are now working side- 
by-side. 



Wed nesday, November 19, 1952 

single Hall) N# Y« 

Music Hall Svmph .Orch (di- 
rected by Raymond Paige), GlorUt 

**n„ r, Dnilip rnms fJ.e> 


VStRIEff 


HOUSE REVIEWS 


55 


rilbert, Patricia Drylie, Corps dc 
Mallei Los Gatos (3), Hal Nor- 
S Glee Club, Sharkey the Seal, 
pochettes: “ Plymouth Adventure 
reviewed in Variety Oct. 

22. '5?- 

The current Musfc Hall show is, 

usual, long on production effects, 
hnt it falls short of entertainment 
values. It has been staged well, 
hut there is lacking that single ex-' 
I-iting spark that has invariably 
distinguished the stage shows of 
this Rockefeller showcase. Sharkey 
the Seal garners the major plau- 
dits. which is the tipoff. 

The layout opens with an inter- 
esting “Lecuona Fantasy” as ar- 
r-ineed artd conducted by Raymond 
j> a jJ?c with the big Music Hall 
symph orch. 

This is followed by a varied en- 
tertainment under the heading of 
"Star Spangled,” and it includes, 
notably, Gloria Gilbert in her bal- 
lerina whirls plus the Corps de 
Ballet. 

Los Gatos, three rubber-bellied 
male acros, inject a sharp pace in 
the proceedings as they go through 
the various balancing stunts, most 
of them difficult and all of /them 
audience - pleasers. A Glee Club 
number following it fails to hold 
the pace. 

Then Sharkey the Seal in the 
show’s key slotting, and the mam- 
mal, as always, is a strong get- 
over with responses to its trainer, 
fin-flapping and, of special note, 
bell-playing. 

Of the production numbers, the 
"Be A Clown” finale, with the 
entire company, draws the travel- 
ers to a pleasing close. However, 
it only moderates the feeling that 
this is a very reminiscent show. 

Kahn. 


kling Eyes” and “I’ll Walk Beside 
You,” Slick harmonica work 
comes from Canadian performer 
Tommy Reilly, and Wandy Tworek, 
a young Dane, not only proves a 
top violinist but also a clown of 
special eccentric merit. 

Auditorium is good acoustically, 
though more suitable for longhair 
junkets than vaude. Strange fea- 
ture is seeing acts making en- 
trance from below-stairs alleyway, 
something like prisoners from 
subterranean cells. Cord. 

Capitol, Wash. 

Washington, Nov. 15, 
Te.v Ritter, Artini & Consuelo, 
The Reddingtons (31; “Steel Trap” 
(20th). 


Roxy, N. Y, 

Jimmy Nelson & Danny O'Day , 
Mello-Larks (4), Johnny Conrad 
Dancers (5), Bob Boucher House 
Orch; plus holdovers, Frances 
Langford, Borrah Minevitch's Har- 
monica Rascals (5) with Johnny 
Pule o; “ Bloodhounds of, Broad- 
way” ( 20th ) , reviewed in Variety 
Oct. 29, ’52. 


This looks to be the last show 
before the Roxy closes Nov. 30 to 
prepare the stage and house for 
a permanent blader to be known 
las “Iee-Colorama,” teeing off pre- 
! Christmas with the John Philip 
Sousa biopic, “Stars and Stripes 


Last Night” and “Frankie and 
Johnny.” Gets biggest reception 
for the oldie faves in her reper- 
toire, “Dinah,” “Stormy Weather” 
and “Cabin in the Sky.” She de- 
livers tender praise, in windup, for 
the supporting turns with a spe- 
cial bow to comedian Dusty Rhodes 
and house comic, George Wilt- 
shire, with whom she worked 25 
years 'ago. 

Dizzy Gillespie’s orch, which 
supplies an outstanding backing 
during the singer's stint (with her 
own accompanist, Reginald Bean, 
at the 88), opens show with a fast 
and brassy workover of “Russian 
Lullaby.” Band is reduced from 
12 instrumentalists (including the 


this vaude swansonger unfolds un- 

This is a rather lacklustre line- j 

up. Despite efficient individual | L Stubholders icact in 

stints, pace is slow and there’s no 1 11 e P re \'u°- Us layout staged 

lift to bill 1 hut lour acts, this one has five, 

HeaWlincr Tex Ritter, sans horse, i " ith hv0 holdovers playing out 
does okay with a series of cowboy 


Forever 

Despite some nice elements, i ™«*~> 


ballads in slow beat. Segment of 
audience appreciates the intimate, 
folksy quality of the performance, 
but it’s too far removed from ac- 
cepted pop style for the teenagers 
and moppets in house. High spots 
of his half dozen sagebrush tunes 
are “High Noon” and “Rye Whis- 
key.” Latter, almost at end of 
routine, livens proceedings and 
goes over well with adults. Also 
noteworthy is “Green Grow the 
Lilacs,” 


their fortnight, in Frances Lang- 
ford and Borrah Minevitch’s Har- 
monica Rascals, until Monday U7). 
On tap after the h.o. are singer 
Rosette Shaw and aero team of 
Renald & Rudy, latter moving 
over from the Music Hall although 
billed and advertised by the Roxy 
for the Friday (14) opening. 

Bill is a bit bigger than on paper 
since the Johnny Conrad Dancers 
are spotted around for two ses- 
! sions plus a single by Conrad him- 
| self. The terpers open procecd- 


Ritter, in bright blue cowboy i ings in a five-minute stanza 

1 . _ _ *' -r ii /* it . i l n 1 1 


Uglier Hall* Edinburgh 

Edinburgh, Nov. 11. 

Gracie Fields (with Bert Wal- 
ler), John McHugh, Ron Milling - 
."tm. Tommy Reillii.Wandy Tworek. 

Gracie Fields, soon to make a 
U. S. tour, proves once again that 
she is a mistress of comedy and 
song. Not so energetic as once 
upon a time, she can still enter- 
tain In no uncertain manner, rais- 
ing both tears and yocks from 
stubholders. Show is under ban- 
ner British impresario Harold 
Fielding. 

Vet thrush has a happy, homely, 
good-natured crackle in her voice, 
as homely as Lancashire hot-pot or 
a Scottish high tea. She can be 
tender as well as gay. Comedy is 
as hearty as in yesteryear, though 
star turns cartwheels on the stage 
no more. She gained greatest mit- 
ting at show caught when she 
brought a little gal up to stage and 
got her to lead the vast audience 
in her w.k. number, “Wish Me 
Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye.” 

British entertainer chooses love, 
gaiety and romance for her song 
subjects, bringing a breath of sun- 
shine into a dull Scottish Novem- 
ber. Act could be enhanced by a 
little more gabbing, building up 
the personality which she un- 
doubtedly is. Tales of her life on 
Capri, a mention of husband Bor- 
is, even a reference to her former 
days as a Lancashire mill-girl 
would click with pewholders. 

She Sings over 30 numbers, in- 
cluding many pops. Apparently it’s 
a problem finding new comedy 
songs, but star still scores solidly 
with numbers like “Put Your 
Shoes on, Lucy,” “Oh, the Wicked- 
ness of Men” and “He Wooed Her 
and Wooed Her and Wooed Her.” 
She garners warm reception in a 
medley of Gershwin tunes. Comedy 
highspot is a takeoff oh a wee 
Scotch laddie plaintively talking 
flbout restrictions in a number 
titled “What’s the Good of a 
Birthday?” For pops, the femme 
entertainer chooses “Somewhere 
Along the Way,” “You Belong to 
Me” and “I’m in Love With a 
Wonderfful Guy.” 

In between songs Miss Fields 
♦ells a story or t\vo. These are 
new and have clever tags, as well 
as being fully entertaining. She 
switches skillfully from gay to 
serious, charming as in years past 
with “The Lord’s Prayer,” “Chris 
topher Robin is Saying His Pray 
ers” and “If I Can Help Some 
body.” Her two gimmick songs 
are “Now Is the Hour” and “Wish 

Me Luck As You Wave Me Good- 
bye.” 

Star makes two appearances 
hrst before the interval for 30 
J) mutes, then after the midway 
breather for 45 minutes. She is 
gorgeously gowned, changing 
wardrobe for the second spot, 
stubholders, largely of middle- 
aged and elderly categories, give 
ner affectionate applause, as be- 
ms a great lady of the British 
taiule world. 

Host of bill is slender though 
worthwhile. John McHugh, Eng- 
usn singer, scores nicely in num- 


suit, accompanies himself on the 
guitar, and tosses in some homely 
patter. Despite warmth and au- 
thenticity, reception at show 
caught was mild. 

Terpers Artini & Consuelo are 
their usual polished, selves in an 
exhibition of ballroom steps. They 
tee off with a conventional waltz 
number, then rouse enthusiasm 
with a series of “request” terps. 
Strangely enough, despite cries for 
a mamba, that’s the one dance 
they shun. They do, however, de- 
light with short turns at the samba, 
tango, Charleston and rhumba. 
Walk off to. top mitt action of show. 
• Artie Dann scores mildly with 
his rputine of gags and song paro- 
dies. The little guy with the big 
nose exploits his Durante brand of 
humor with a nice touch. Payees 
sit on hands most of act, however, 
due largely to fact that comic has 
had virtually the same material for 
past three times around. Best bet 
is still his routine on local traffic. 
Winds up with a fast rhyme on 
lands, tagged with some novel 
yrics to tune of “There Are 
Smiles.” Does okay towards wind- 
up with galleries, but would do 
better with some new output. 

The Reddingtons, parents and 
daughter, add an audience gim- 
mick to their trampoline act in 
opening slot. There are some 
laughs and nice technique in a rou- 
tine stint. Lowe . 


Empire, Glasgow 

Glasgow, Nov. 4. 
Max Wall, Beryl ‘ Reid, Hedley 
Ward Trio, Ivor Moreton & Dave 
Kaye, 5 Speedacs, Paul & Peta 
Page, Jean Paul, Sherman-Fisher 
Girls (8), Maurice Bromley Em- 
pire Orch. 

Max Wall, eccentric British com- 
edian, is too clever a performer to 
be serious about monopolizing this 
show% as he does. He appears on 
five different occasions, at times 
for too great a length, .and result 
is he becomes tedious to majority 
of stubholders. Comic also uses 
near-the-bone material. His merit 
is an expressive mien and a body 
which he wriggles in to most un- 
usual twists and twirls. 

Wall scores to strongest effect in 
a clown sequence, being brightly 
garbed in characteristic costume 
and wearing a false red nose. In 
this segment he is assisted by Jean 
Paul, a clever gal performer and 
a looker, 

Beryl Reid proves an exuberant 
little comedienne who registers 
solidly (see New Acts). . 

Musical side of the bill is well 
upheld. The . Hedley Ward Trio is 
slick on instrumental chores in 
the modern manner. Ivor Moreton 
& Dave Kaye, w.k. as piano duet- 
ists on both BBC and Radio Lux- 
embourg, offer pop numbers and 
add a few gags. 

Novelty is provided by a dusky 
act, Five Speedacs, who do acro- 
batics all over the stage in whirl- 
wind style, and by Paul & Peta 
Page, puppeteer duo. Latter turn 
is visible while manipulating from 
atop black screen, thus interesting 
audience by showing how it’s done. 
They handle a skeleton puppet in 
luminous paint to accompaniment 
of disk playing “Dem Bones/ 
limbs being separated at appropri- 
ate points in lyric. \ 

Eight Sherman-Fisher Girls hit 
good chorine standard, adding a 
bright touch to a not-so-strong lay- 
out. Their “Danse Militaire ’ is a 
standout for precision training. 

Show has marquee value via 
radio names, but doesn't prove so 


In the follow, the Mello-Larks, 
three boys and a girl, add some 
life with pops plus a peppy “Dear 
Old Donegal” with terpolations. 
In what amounts to a self-imposed 
encore, foursome return in what 
is supposed to be a combo chirp 
and hoke on the Battle of the 
Little Big Horn, alleging there 
were actually four survivors of 
Custer’s Last Stand. The jokes 
are real corny and in bad taste as 
tied to the subject matter, and fact 
that they give a lively ride within 
the hoke to “She Wore a Yellow 
Ribbon” merely proves they’ve 
adopted the wrong link for a pitch 
that could otherwise pay off. The 
Custer tragedy seems hardly ap- 
propriate for takeoff. 

Conrad’s solo skill is evident as 
he interprets “Begin the Beguine” 
in socko whirls and one-foot piro- 
uettes, although his early knee- 
slides take some zing away from 
later cavortings in this groove. 
Overall, however, it’s a standout 
effort. 

„Jimmy Nelson, featured on Mil- 
ton Berle’s “Texaco Star Theatre”, 
with his chief wooden partner, 
Danny O’Day, is in the starring 
spot in his standard ventro that’s 
laugh-laden in spots. Danny’s 
running gag-song on “Best Things 
in Life Are Free” is calculated to 
draw yocks, and cunning is shown 
in the duo’s switching roles, includ- 
ing cigaret as traditional prop.. 
Good also is their “Rag/Mop” by- 
play with another dummy, Hum- 
phrey Higsbee, and ditto the 
finishing “Why” song with still an- 
other prop. Farfel the canine, who 
voices just the title for his bit in 
a deft example of Nelson timing. 

The Harmonica Rascals disport 
as per usual, with Johnny Puleo’s 
antics pulling the laughs. Miss 
Langford does four pops. Conrad 
group closes the show on a 
Calypso note in barefoot stepping. 
With the Bob Boucher house orch 
onstage throughout, show’s back- 
ground is static, especially so in 
the case of the dance troupe, which 
is better showcased sans rear ac- 
tion. Trau. 


and leader’s trumpet for a zany 
musical set. With Joe Carroll on 
the vocals, combo whips out such 
items as “Bluest Blues,” “Swing 
Low Sweet Cadillac,” “Oo Shoody 
Dooby” and “School Days.” It’s 
familiar Gillespie stuff but it goes 
over big. Group also elides with 
a straight instrumental rendition 
of “Alone Together” in which 
Gillespie’s trumpet licks are stand- 
out. 

Manny (Tables) Gates wins good 
reaction with his teeth-gripping 
stint. Builds from a single chair, 
which, he lifts with his choppers, 
to hoisting six tables and a chair 
via the molars. Leon Collins packs 
a wallop in his terping routine. 
Nilty turns, slides and spins keep 
aud's mitts warm. Jean Dawn, 
acrocontortionist, is reviewed un- 
der New Acts. 

Standard house comedies are 
handled by Rhodes with a capable 
-'•cist from Wiltshire and Edna 
Mae Harris. Gros. 


Empire* Edinburgh 

Edinburgh, Nov. 4. 

Jack Anthony, Jane Morgan, Mu- 
sical Elliots (31, Clark & Mur- 
ray, Patricia & Neil Delrina, Colin 
Dunn. Diana Rhodes, Frank James, 
Fraser Hayes Quartet, Bertha Ri- 
cardo , Cliff Stetson, George Kee- 
nan Orch. 


Apollo, X- Y. 

Ethel Waters. Dizzy Gille$pie 
Orch (12) with Joe Carroll; 
Manny (Tables) Gates, Dusty 
Rhodes & Co. (3), Jean Dawn. 
Leon Collins; “The Sword of 
Monte Cristo” (20th). 


i oLvit'b niLCiY ui Hum- iauiu 

oers like “Take a Pair of Spar- 1 strong in overall content, oora. 


Frank Schiffman, who’s been 
getting into somew’hat of a rut via 
| the booking of latter-day topliners 
to his Negro vaude flagship, has 
one of his brightest marquee draws 
this sresh in a -vet name, Ethel 
Waters. For her return to the 
Apollo after years in legit and 
films, Schiffman has surrounded 
her with a topflight bill which 
rounds out one of the house’s best 
layouts in months 
A seasoned trouper, Miss Waters 
compensates for a weakening voice 
with Warm projection and effective 
stage demeanor that win aud affec- 
tion and response from outset. Ex- 
cellently coiffed and garbed, Miss 
Waters takes hold from the mo- 
ment she walks on and never lets 
go. It’s an exciting sesh for those 
who remember her from her 
musicomedy and cabaret days, but 
it’s also clicko with the younger 
set. She’s solid in an 18-minutcr 
that augurs vaude and nitery fol- 


Current stage bill here is tin- 
even mixture with some acts 
standout and others n.s.g. Light- 
ing and stage settings are by no 
means top-grade, and chorines are 
scraggly and lacking in both pol- 
ish and looks. Show drags at 
times. 

Comedy lead is expertly han- 
dled by Jack Anthony, a blond 
fellow with a fast peppy style, 
much pace in gags, and an infec- 
tious sense of humor. He trans- 
mits his enthusiasm to stubhold- 
ers, making even the corniest gag 
seem live and fresh. 

Anthony has support in sketches 
from femme foil Bertha Ricardo, a 
pert blonde looker with a remark- 
able facial likeness to Greer Gar- 
son, and from Cliff Stetson. 

Modern rhythm Is offered by the 
Fraser Hayes Quartet, a native 
Scot outfit of three young males 
and a gal. Distaff member, with 
blonde fluffy hair and twinkling 
eyes, is best in her takeoff on 
Betty Hutton, and she has person- 
ality. One male’s travesty of film- 
ster George Sanders is good, but 
another member doing ditto with 
Johnnie Ray is offish. 

Gracie Clark & Colin Murray, 
Scot comedy act, strike native art- 
istry with Impersonation of small 
gal in frock and her daddy. 
Femme’s catch-phrase, “That’s Ma 
Daddy,” spoken in broad accent, 
rouses yocks to solid effect. 

Standout comedy and clowning 
comes from the Musical Elliots, 
composed of a red-nosed clown, 
his aggressive-looking wife, Hazel, 
and their daughter, Viona. This is 
.instrumental group In which wife 
henpecks her hubby with freezing 
looks while he toots back at her 
on the devices, to abundant laugh- 
ter. Miming and timing are expert. 

Jane Morgan, U. S. nitery per- 
former, is again in top form sing- 
ing pops in 20-minute spot and 
making novelty gimmick out of 
her hat-buying hobby. She scores 
again on quick return visit in her 
“It’s a New Hat from' Paris” num- 
ber; trying -~on - various - chapeaux 
of unusual and chic designs from 
(wo large-size hatboxes carried to 
the stage by couple of chorines. 
Gal is a looker and exudes person- 
ality. At show caught, she could 
have had better lighting and stage- 
setting effects. 

Graceful dancing from Patricia 
& Neil Delrina (male is a ringer 
for Rudolph Valentino), lusty 
Scot vocals by Colin Dunn, and 
pop singing by Frank James and 
Diana Rhodes round off a reason- 
ably entertaining vaude layout. 

Gord. 


Palace, JV. Y. 

Les Chambertys (3), Vic Spad- 
dy, McFarland Brown, Roy 
Benson, Tip, Tap & Toe,' Gloria. 
Villar, “Slapsie” Maxie Rosen - 
b loom (4), Ming Sing Troupe (4); 
“Something For the Birds” i20th), 
reviewed in Variety Ocf. 8, '52. 

P _________ 

With “Slapsie” Maxie Rosen- 
bloom headlining and also, inci- 
dentally, moidering Shakespeare, 
the Palace has lined up a cracker- 
jack supporting bill for one of its 
best shows in months. Bill plays 
at a fast clip throughout with sev- 
eral new acts (Les Chambertys, Vic 
Spaddy and Gloria Villar) carrying 
their weight along with the more 
seasoned turns. 

Rosenbloom is currently teamed 
with two unbilled stooges, situated 
in boxes flanking the stage, and 
one gal, Mary Warren, who works 
as Juliet to the ex-pug’s Romeo. 
Shakespeare will probably survive 
this low comedy blow but will 
vaudeville? Rosenbloom doesn’t 
have many lines to handle but he 
manages the few in okay style, even 
jabbing with a couple of ad libs, ob- 
viously not over-rehearsed, which 
break up the act. 

Rosenbloom earns his biggest 
laugh from his garb, a pantalooned 
extravaganza which sets the tone 
lor the burlesque. The tone is 
illustrated by one stooge’s crack in 
the middle of a Rosenbloom solilo- 
quy, “Maxie, you stink,” to which 
Roscnblooom replies, “I need a 
routine.” Mebbe so, but the turn 
serves okay as a clowning item 
even if it doesn’t score a kayo 
against the customers. 

Tip, Tap & Toe, in the five spot, 
are one of the bright highlights of 
this layout, giving out with trade- 
marked brand of sparkling hoof- 
ology. Combo, however, should 
cut out the encore-milking tactics 
and deliver their full routine 
instead of bowing off a couple of 
times between numbers. 

In the four slot, Roy Benson also 
clicks solidy with his magieo turn. 
Benson dresses up his excellent 
bag of tricks with slick gab and 
a sure sense of timing in his de- 
livery." Frecedihg Bensdii,' the" vCt 
comedy dancing team of McFar- 
land & Brown register nicely with 
their standard knockabout antics, 
earning laughs and a good mitt. 
In the closer, the Ming Sing 
Troupe present a good exhibition 
of contortionism and balancing of 
plates oh long sticks. Troupe com- 
prises Ming Sing and three femme 
partners, two of whom carry the 
main burden of the turn with their 
intricate body twisting. 

Les Chambertys, Vic Spaddy and 
Gloria Villar are reviewed under 
New Acts. Jo Lombardi, as usual, 
batons the show in vigorous style, 

Herm. 


AGVA Resolution 


* Philly Earle's Tyro Tieup 

Philadelphia, Nov. 18. 
The Earle Theatre here will 
lowups. stage its first amateur show Nov. 

Songalog. which Miss Waterscle- 1 28 with Clarence Robinson produc- 
livers without a break., opens with j ^ 

Winner will get a Christmas 
week booking at that house with 
j the Lionel Hampton band. 


a trifle tagged “I Ain’t Got No 
More.” * She builds steadily there- 
after with a good special material 
tune, “Move It Where You Had It 


Continued from page 51 

in addition performers would re- 
ceive 10% of the contracted wage 
for each theatre in which the tele- 
cast is shown. 

AGVA is apparently seeking to 
avoid any jurisdictional tangles 
with its sister 4A unions, particu- 
larly the American Federation of 
Television and Radio Artists, judg- 
ing by another clause in which it 
declares that the show must be 
played before a live audience 
which must be charged admission, 
scale'to be determined by the man- 
agement. - 

There were some elements in the 
union who felt this was necessary 
in order to preclude AFTRA’s in- 
sistence that a show before an audi- 
ence admitted gratis would "be sim- 
ilar to one In a studio or a theatre 
studio. However, there were others 
in the union who stated that pas- 
sage of such a clause would imply 
that shows originating before a 
cuffo audience would belong to the 
jurisdiction of another union. 

The prevailing opinion was that 
once it. is.. established that. ah., ice 
or variety show emanates before a 
paid audience in a theatre, it would 
give AGVA a firm footing in the 
field. Therefore, if a question arose 
of performing that type of pro- 
gram in front of a free audience, 
the union would have set a pattern 
for jurisdiction of variety in the- 
atre TV. 

Resolution also stipulated that no 
theatre be permitted to exhibit this 
show on closed circuit in any town 
where there will be a live ice show 
simultaneously, or within a period 
of four weeks thereafter. Resolu- 
tion also banned the icer’s display 
in a house where it would replace 
a live program. 

The Fabian interests have no ac- 
cepted the AGVA proposal. There 
will be considerable dickering be- 
fore a deal will be made, and it’s 
likely that there will be some im- 
portant changes before the show 
goes through. 


LEGITIMATE 


Steady Ad Rate Rise Hnrting Legit 
As Producers Curtail Coverage 


Another 10% increase in the ad+~- 
rate for the New Yorker mag, to I „ 
become effective next Jan, 3, illus- f 
trates how advertising costs for 
Broadway shows have risen in re-1 
cent years. In the cases of most! 
New York dailies the rates have 
nearly doubled in the last dozen I 
years, forcing producers to curtail p.: 
lineage, presumably with ill effect le; 
on attendance. ly 

Present New Yorker rate, for the s ® 
city edition, is $3.50 per line, based P 1 
on 87,500 circulation. It goes to 
$3.85 with the first issue in Janu- 
ary. Previous rates were $3.25 in "*■ 
1951 and $3.05 in 1950, based on ©£ 
82,500 average circulation for the 
two years. The rate in 1940 was 0 
$1.40 for 55,000 circulation. / 

Comparative per-agate line L* 
amusement rates for other New 
York publications for the 1952- 
1941 period include News, $3.27 
Sunday (2,356,861 circulation) and 
$2.80 daily (1,997,514), in 1952, 
and $1.80 Sunday (2,126,616) aiid 
$1.75 daily (1,796,900) in 1941; fc 
Journal-American, $1.90 Sunday m 
(1,039,550) and daily (692,509) in oi 
1952, and $1.50 Sunday (1,011,- $i 
944) and daily* (638,195) in 1941; ti 
Times, $2.20 Sunday (1,075,270) fi 
and $1.80 daily (507,281) in 1952, a 
and $1.40 Sunday (837,358) and E 
$1.10 daily (470,167) in 1941. o 

Also, Herald Tribune, $1.82 Sun- n 
day (595,563) and $1.37 daily (343,- v 
289) in 1952, and $1.20 Sunday 
(538,005) and $1 daily (330,138) P 
in 1941; World-Telegram & Sun, F 
$1.85 daily (555,017) in 1952, and ti 
$1.05 daily (395,201) in 1941 C 
(World-Telegram only); Mirror, ti 
$1.70 Sunday (1,024,080) and $1.55 f 

. . .a. 

Sunday (698,760) and daily (669,- 1 v 
430) in 1941; Post, $1.11 Sunday a 
(247,755) and $1.35 daily (372,- M 
583) In 1952, and 80c daily (227,-1 
713) in 1941 (no Sunday edition). 1 
Also, Brooklyn Eagle, 75c Sun- s 
day (149,226) and 65c daily (123,- s 
780) in 1952, and same in 1941, 
when respective circulations were i 
(90,609 Sunday, 95,573 daily); Cue ' 
mag, $2.35 (90,239) in 1952, and 
$1.35 (61,018) in 1941 > Saturday 
Review, $1.60 (109,263) in 1952, 
and 49c to 57c (depending on num- 
ber of insertions) (34,347) in 1941.1 
Little Margin 

Although — producers. ..and .their 1 j 

, pressagents realize that reducing j 
ad lineage for shows trends to hurt , 
attendance and is therefore a cost- ] 
ly economy, they often have no • 
choice under present conditions in ( 
legit. Reason is that while produc- 
tion and operating costs have mul- 
tiplied several times in the last 
decade or so/ the gross revenue 
has risen relatively little, so there’s 
less operating margin (and, of 
course, considerably less profit). 

There has been a tendency to 
reach for greater revenue by spot- 
ting shows in larger-capacity 
houses (sometimes with unfortu- 
nate effects on performance and 
audience enjoyment, as in the cases 
of “Venus Observed” at the huge 
Century and the Olivier-Leigh I 
“Cleopatras” at the Ziegfeld, last 
season). Also, price scales have 
been upped from $3 to $4 (and in 
some cases $5 weekends) for 
straight plays and $4 to $5 and 
sometimes $5.50 or $6 for musi- 
cals (the 6 figure represents a 
rise to the level of 20-odd years 
ago). 

But there is no practical way of 
increasing the number of perform- 
ances per week, so the gross in- 
come has nowhere near kept pace 
with the spiraling costs of produc- 
tion and operation.- - - 

Fact that in many cases ad 
rates have increased relatively 
more than circulation figures is 
merely another aspect of the gen- 
eral rise of prices and costs. For 
publications, too, have to meet 
higher payrolls and general prices, 
so they must raise ad rates (as well* 
as newsstand and subscription 
prices) to get by. 

158G Brooks Shift 

Brooks Costume Co. has com- 
pleted moving from its old quar- 
ters at Sixth Ave. and 44th St., 
N. Y„ to a renovated building in 
"West 6 1st St. It occupies the lower 
three floors, with offices, fitting 
rooms, dressing rooms, conference 
rooms and .large storage and work- 
rooms decorated by legi'-film cos- 
tumer Irene SharafT. 

Alterations and moving cost 
- about $153,000. 


7 P.M. Mon. Curtain Click 1 
For 'Affairs’ on Coast ! 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. ] 

Henry Duffy’s innovation of 7 j 
p.m. curtain for “Affairs of State” 
legiter last night (Mon.) was high- 
ly successful, take of $912 being 
second best Monday night since 
play began two months ago.. . 

Last week’s Monday night figure 
was $925, previous week $684 and 
Mondays before that around $800 
each. 

20G Budget For 
Touring W 

Second company of “Dial ‘M’ 
for Murder,” Frederick Knott’s 
new melodrama click at the Plym- 
outh, N. Y„ will be budgeted at 
$20,000, including bonds. Produc- 
tion will be financed from profits 
from the Broadway edition, prob- 
ably going into rehearsal about 
Dec. 1 for a tentative opening date 
of Dec. 26 in Boston and Jan. 26 
in Chicago, with a possible interim 
week in Detroit. 

Maurice Evans, star and silent 
partner of London producer James 
P. Sherwood in the Broadway edi- 
tion, may stage the touring version. 
Or Emmett Rogers, Evans’ produc- 
tion associate, may do so. Reginald 
Denham is not available to repeat 
his directing stint, being occupied 
Twith the' casting' alld staging df' his 
and Mary Orr’s comedy, “Be Your 
Age” ' 

The casting problem for the tour- 
ing “Dial” involves finding three 
J suitable male leads, one of whom 
. should be a star with b.o. draw. 

; Chi Equity library Group 

■ Into Expanded 2d Season 

■ After Last Spring’s Bow 

Chicago, Nov. 18. 
Chicago Equity Library Theatre 
: Is going into an expanded pro— 
> gram this season after a short but 
M successful tryout last spring. With-' 

* out any financial aid from New 
y York headquarters, this group, un- 
1 der guidance of Mrs. Frank Dare, 

' Equity rep here, gave a dozen per- 

* formances and came out with a 
slight profit. In addition, all the 

5 performers and directors, with the 
J exception of those with conflict- 
f ing jobd, obtained work in the 
summer stock or regular theatre. 
0 1 Chi ELT this winter will have 
H three groups: one/ a Community 
y Theatre for presentation of the 
l_ past Broadway hits; two, a Scrap- 
d book Theatre, which will present 
s scenes from the classics, and third, 
e a series of one-act plays. Carl 
h I Stone will direct the Community 
i* project, which gets under way 
© Dec. 2 in the Independence Field 
n House. 


NAT’L HEART FUND TIE 
SOUGHT BY G&S TROUPE 

Washington, Nov. 18. 
Nationwide tieup with the Heart 
Fund is being sought by ' S. M. 
Chartock for his touring Gilbert & 
Sullivan company. 

. .Idea is to . get the . performance J 
exempted from the 20% admissions 
tax, as sponsored by a non-profit, 
charitable organization. Amount of 
the tax, plus any other take above 
“reasonable expenses,” would then 
go to the charity, which would help 
to promote ticket sales. 

First contract under this plan 
was signed here last week for the 
two-week stand of the troupe, com- 
| mencing Dec. 8 at the Shubert The- 
atre. Chartock pacted the Greater 
Washington Alumnae Chapter of 
Alpha Phi to sponsor the fortnight 
stand for the benefit of the Heart 
Fund. Among the local sponsors 
are Mrs. William O. Douglas, wife 
of the Supreme Court Justice; 
i Georgia Neese Clark, treasurer of 
! the U. S., and Mrs. Agnes Myers, 

| wife of the owner of the Washing- 
<! ton Post. 

Chartock is understood to be 
contacting other alumnae groups 
of the sorority to sponsor the 
I troupe in other situations. 


Dallas Courtyard Group 
Signs Pact for House 

Dallas, Nov. 18. 

Betty Blanchard has signed pa- 
pers with A. J. Urbish, owner of 
the Oak Lawn Theatre, for estab- 
lishment bere of a theatre project. 
New resident acting group will be 
known as the Courtyard Players. 

A. G. Blanchard is prez of the 
new group; Louis J. Hexter is vee- 
pee, and Mrs. Suzie Douglas David- 
son secretary-treasurer. Miss 
Blanchard will serve as general 
manager. 

Local season is scheduled to be- 
gin by Jan. 15. Miss Blanchard , 
plans to continue the Courtyard 
Players in Shreveport, where the 
group is entering its fourth season. 

'Too Late,’ New London 
Thriller, Seen Unlikely 

London, Nov. 18. 

“Tomorrow’s Too Late,” which 
preemed at the Comedy Theatre 
yesterday (Mon.), emerged as an 
implausible thriller. Press reviews 
were unfavorable and prospects 
are poor. . 

First-nighters generally agreed 
that the competent cast, headed by 
Clive Morton, was defeated by a 
weak script. 


Legit Bits 


To a non-French-speaking play- 
goer, the Renaud-Barrault per- 
formances at the Ziegfeld, N. Y„ 
may seem fairly confusing, but 
what passes for a libretto in the 
program is a sheer enigma, and 
tres wordy. Incidentally, presenter 
Sol Hurok’s staff for the engage- 
ment includes Edward Haas as 
company manager, Martin Fein- 1 
ststa ..pressagent, Carmen CtfPjlb® 
stage manager and Wolfgang Rotn j 
scenic consultant. Back as treas- J 
urer at the Ziegfeld is Lewis H. J 
Harris,' with Irving Morrison' and 
Louis Berge assistants and Abe 
Enklewitz house manager . . . G. 

M. Loeb, of the Wall Street firm 
of E. F. Hutton, advises that he is 
among the backers of “Deep Blue 

| "ea,” some of whom were listed 
ist week, as well as of the forth- 
oming “Can-Can” and the current 
South Pacific,” “Guys and Dolls,” 
King and I” and the recent 
Gentlemen* Prefer Blondes” and , 
Carousel.” 

Actress-singer Irene Manning 
laned 'from l ast^week. to I 

Second Man” at the Empress, St. 
jouis, and the United Nations, San 
’rancisco . . . Edward Choate and I 
leorfee Ross plan a spring produc- 
ion of “Gently Does It,” a new hit 
n London under the title, “Murder 
Mistaken” . . . Pressagent Anthony 
luttitta, back in Frisco after han- 
ding Danny Kaye’s Seattle engage- 
nent, will remain under a doctor’s 
:are and revise the script of a 
lew novel . . . Nancy Walker has 
aken over the featured role of 
Gladys Bumps in “Pal Joey,” suc-' 
:eeding Helen Gallagher, who will 
vacation and then go into rehearsal 
is name star of “Hazel Flagg.” 

Chicago Stagebill, official legit 
program in the Loop, has started a 
lew feature, a double-page center 
ayout of scene pictures from for- 
mer and current shows. Spread in 
i recent issue included shots from 
‘Life with Father,” 1940; “Voice 
of the Turtle,” 1944; “Dear Ruth” 
and “St. Lazare’s Pharmacy,” 1945, 
and the current “Stalag 17” ... 
Leonard Sillman’s appeal to the 
Appellate Division to dismiss the 
breach of contract suit by scene - 
designer Leo Kerz was turned 
down last Week. Incidentally, SilJ- J 
man is due back from Europe to- 
morrow (Thurs.) ..Leroy Andcr- ; 
son and. Arnold Horwitt got $2,500 
apiece settlement of their verbal ; 
agreements ai> respective composer [ 
and lyricist of the musical version 
of “My Sister Eileen,” with Leon- 
ard Bernstein slated to supply the 
score and Betty Comdcn and 
Adolph Green providing the lyrics. 
George Abbott will direct and be 
silently associated with Robert 
Fryer in the production, which will 
star Rosalind Russell. 

Kenneth Banghart, already pre- 
paring a touring production of 
George Batson’s “Date with April,” 
to star Constanee Bennett, and 
partnered with Warren Munsell in 
the production of Warren Munsell, 
Jr.’s, “Cornin’ Through the Rye,” 
will present Faye Emerson in a 
Broadway revival of the George 
Oppenheimer comedy, “Here 
Today,? in which Ruth Gordon 
originally starred 20 years ago . . . 
Bernard Hart plans a revival this 
season of the John Murray-Alien 
Boretz farce, “Room Service,” a 
Broadway entry of 1936-37 . . . 
Richard Aldrich flew yesterday 
(Tues.) to London to handle pro- 


Wednesday, November 19* 1952 

Poem in Praise of Practically Gilbert 

(On the Occasion of His Birth , 116 Years Ago Yesterday ) 

By ALBERT STILLMAN 

William S. Gilbert, bard — 

The hero of my ditty — 

Believed in hitting hard 

Those who were sitting pretty; 

He had utter disregard 

For the pillars of hypocracy — 

The pseudo-aristocracy, 

In fact, he used to hate ’em, 

And so I celebrate him. 

To do the job in free verse 
Would be quite incorrect. 

In fact, ’twould be the reverse 
Of wh at one might expect 
From one ~who 1f s' such a filbert 
About Sir William Gilbert. 

Poet, philosopher, humorist, 

Tq whom we humbly bow. 

Compiler of that little list 

Of folks who never would be missed— 

Oh, how we miss him now! 

When Britain ruled the wave* 

In Queen Victoria’s time, 

My subject all sublime 
Was occupied in rhyme, 

And what he wrote 
Is worthy of note 
At this particular time. 

At two years old, Silly, the kid, 

Was kidnaped by brigands who did 
The deed with great temerity. 

I need not specify how glad 
I am that they returned the lad 
To parents and posterity. 

This childhood incident had lots 
To do with forming Gilbert’s plots. 

Which, as we’ve learned, 

Most concerned 
Mistaken indenity of tots. 

Because he wrote in 'vitriol, 

Queen Victoria slighted him; 

So he had to wait ’till that jolly old soul. 

King Edward, finally knighted him, 

Which more or less delighted him. 

The . Lion our. name.. a.t. seventy-one-^ . , 

A little too late to be much fun. 

We all, of course, have our favorite ops, 

But to me his absolute tops — 

I mean my unfailing passion through the years 
Has been: The Mikado, Pinafore, Ruddigore, Patience, 
Iolanthe, The Pirates, Princess Ida, Yeoman of the 
Guard, The Sorcerer, Trial by Jury and The Gondoliers. 
Naturally, any estimate of Gilbert would not be valid 
If it did not also include The Grand Duke, Thespis, • 

Utopia, Ltd., and each and every Bab Ballad. 

Thayer immortalized Casey 
Taking his final stance; 

F. P. Adams immortalized: 

“Tinker to Evers to Chance.” 

Boswell immortalized Johnson 
In three volumes on my shelf; 

But William S. Gilbert 
Immortalized Jiimself. 

His verses, heaven-sent. 

Are Gilbert’s monument 

In the hearts of the Savoy Group, 

In the hearts of the Blue Hill Troupe, 

In the hearts of the D’Oyley Cartes, 

And in lots of unorganized hearts. 

Well, they swung the Swing Mikado 
With music by Guy Lombardo; 

And they heated the Hot Mikado, which wasn’t very nice, 
And I understand they’re contemplating putting it on ice 
And calling it the Cold Mikado, 

But I’ll take the old Mikado — 

Any old Mikado, 

But particularly those in which the boys do not insist 
In “improving” Gilbert’s lyrics to; “I’ve Got a Little List.” 

He drew his final breath 

Saving a girl from drowning; 

The great clown smiled at death. 

But death — wasn’t clowning. 

He gave the heart he often hid — ' 

It was his duty, and he did. 

One more word, and then I’m through: 

Sullivan was all right, too. 


duction details on “Love of Four 
Colonels,” which he and partner 
Richard Meyers are doing with the 
Theatre Guild. Then he goes to 
Paris, and next to Madrid for a 
visit, with the JiUius Fleischmanns* 
back to Paris, London and is due. 
home in time for Christmas . . . 
Vincent Price, subbing for Charles 
Laughton as costar with Charles 
Boyer, Cedric Hardwicke and 
Agnes Moorehead in “Don Juan 
in - Hell,” will continue the assign- 
ment for the balance of the tour. 

. . . Billy Rose confirms reports he 
will lease his Ziegfeld Theatre, 
N. Y. to a Lively Arts Foundation 
for the presentation of opera in 
English, concerts, debates and legit 
productions. 

Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer, 
who start rehearsals soon in the 
Theatre Guild production of Peter 
Ustinov’s “Love of Four Colonels,” 
are already set to appear in London 
next season or the following one 
in the parts they originated in 
“Bell, Book and Candle” on Broad- 
way . . , Cheryl Crawford’s produc- 
tion of “Camino Real,” Tennessee 
Williams drama to be staged by 
Elia Kazan, may be ready for pres- 
1 entation this winter . • . Samuel 


French will handle the stock and 
amateur rights to the new Sidney 
Michaels play, “Three 'Toed Pony, 
for which agent Claire Leonard is 
dickering for a Broadway produc- 
tion . British ..actress Eileen 
Herlje arrived in New York lost 
week for a vacation and to see the 
shows. She’s due back in London 
early in January for rehearsals of 
John Gielgud's revival of Con- 
greve’s “Way of the World” . . • 
William Wymctal, manager of the 
New Orleans Opera, is in New 
York tliis week, but leaves Friday 
(21) for a conference over the 
weekend with the board of the 
Pittsburgh Civic Opera summer 
series, of which he’s managihg di- 
rector. 

A1 Dalzell, advance man for 
“The Fourposter,” has recovered 
from a slight heart attack suffered 
in Detroit last week. His doctor 
gave Dalzell the greenlight to con- 
tinue with the company. 

Nora Kaye, ballerina appearing 
currently in the Bette Davis revue, 
“Two’s Company,” returns to her 
old troupe, N. Y. City Ballet,, at 
City Center, N. Y., Sunday evening 
(23) for one appearance in “Age oi 
Anxiety.” 


November 19, 1952 


LEGITIMATE 


57 


Little Theatre, Now Bigtime, Seen 
Bringing About Drama Rebirth to U.S. 


By NED ARMSTRONG 

Washington, Nov. 18. 

There has always been and, no 
doubt* therg always will be, a cer- 
tain condescension on the part of 
the pros in legit toward the entire 
little theatre movement. There is 
fine irony in the fact that there 
is much more little theatre in 
America today than bigtime. 

Actually, too, there is a much 
fcigger audience attending plays 
presented by amateurs than the 
audience for the regular legitimate 
theatre. In terms of people, not 
dollars, there is great likelihood 
that in any week- during the win- 
ter season more people are congre- 
gated in high school auditoriums, 
university theatres, community 
theatres and assorted dramatic 
workshops, than are attending the 
various few touring attractions 
around the nation. 

Cleveland has 14 such groups 
active weekly all winter; Pitts- 
burgh a half dozen, and Washing- 
ton nearly double that. In St. Louis, 
Kansas City, Des Moines, Denver, 
Salt Lake City, Los Angeles or San 
Francisco, a variety of non-pro and 
semi-professional stages are pre- 
senting a gamut of theatrical fare 
so assorted that it includes classics 
and musical comedies, foreign 
translations, originals and popular 
Broadway successes. • 

A production last winter of “Lost 
in the Stars” at the $500,000 Kara- 
mu Theatre in Cleveland, devoted 
entirely to amateur productions of 
Negro theatre, was so simple, mov- 
ing and compelling that compari- 
son actually favored the Karamiu 
production Over the original New 

(Continued on page 60) 

American Savoyards In 
Impressive Bow; Start 
10-Week Eastern Tour 

Springfield, Mass., Nov. 18. 

American Savoyards, under 
Charles L. Wagner, ^brought their 
Gilbert & Sullivan repertory of 
“The Mikado” and “Patience” to 
the Court Square for two nights 
and matinee 10-11), getting raves 
but little biz. Playgoers’ attraction 
was start of a 10-week tour for 
organization formed out of originaT 
Mask & Lyre Light Opera Co., or- 
ganized by Dorothy Raedler, who 
heads up the new group. 

First-nighters got “The Mikado,” 
second-nighters “Patience,” and 
word-of-mouth was so good, plus 
fine press, b.o. might have been 
better on longer run. 

This is real, professional G &“ S. 
Staging is excellent, solo work 
good, with possible exception of 
Sally Knapp, who does both Yum- 
Yum and Patience. She has nice 
appearance, can act, but voice is a 
little light for the roles. Rue Knapp 
doubles as Ko-Ko and Bunthorne, 
with the latter a remarkable panto- 
vocal performance versatile enough 
to stand any comparison. 

The Raedler chorus moves about 
easily, sjngs well and looks good, 
and both productions captured the 
G & S spirit of biting tomfoolery 
even this early in the tour, which 
will swing through Wellesley, 
Princeton and other college towns 
in the east, moving into New York 
Dec. 13, to stay through the holi- 
days before taking to the road 
again. 

By the time they hit Manhattan, 
the Savoyards ought to be able to 
face up to competition, and by then 
conductor. Elizabeth D.eMartini will 
probably have speeded up the mo- 
tion a little. It dragged here in 
“The Mikado,” but was more brisk 
in “Patience.” Support frojm the pit 
is more than adequate, though; cos- 
tumes are fresh and imaginative, 
the Cirker & Robbins sets colorful 
find simple. 

For those who are fussy about 
their Gilbert & Sullivan, this is a 
good buy. Rudi. 


Lambs Repeat ‘Service’ 

The Lambs Club presentation of 

Room Service” for a single per- 
formance last week has resulted in 
J repeat date scheduled for next 
Monday (24) at the clubhouse in 
New York. Admission is free to 
members and their guests. 

Comedy revival, whose personel 
I s comprised exclusively of the 
jUmbs membership, is slated for a 
uso tour of GI installations 


Apes Moorehead Set For 
Thurber 'Hard Times’ Gab 

Hollywood, Nov. 18. 
Next in Paul Gregory’s series of 
platform presentations will be 
James Thurber’s “My Life and 
Hard Times,” with Agnes Moore- 
head, and an as yet uncast male 
star in the two roles. Piece, geared 
to play the same circuit exploited 
by Gregory with “Don Juan in 
Hell” and . “John Brown’s Body,” 
will probably be directed by 
Charles Laughton, with whom 
Gregory owns the concert rights. 

Miss Moorehead now is in Greg- 
ory’s “Don Juan” and will begin 
rehearsals when the current tour 
is completed. “Hard Times” will 
be booked to trek while “Don 
Juan” is between dates, so that she 
will be able to star in both pieces. 
“Hard Times” is tentatively set for 
an April bow. 


‘Stalag’ to Work 
East Thru Spring 

“Stalag 17,” closing its Chicago 
run Jan. 3, is booked to tour back 
east and. continue through late 
spring, when the Paramount film 
version is due for release. Mean- 
while the Jose Ferrer production 
has recently paid another $10,000 
dividend, bringing its total dis- 
tributed- profit to $92,000 on a 
$50,000 inyestment. 

Tfce Donald Bevan-Edmund 
Trzcinski comedy-melodrama will 
have played 19 weeks at the Er- 
langer, Chicago, when it closes its 
local run. It next plays a week in 
St. Louis, two weeks in Detroit, 
two weeks in Philly, a week in 
Baltimore and two weeks in Wash- 
ington, before going to Boston for 
a run of five or six weeks opening 
March 2. The film version, origi- 
nally due for release March 1, is 
now likely to be issued some time 
in May. 

The show, which involved a $30,- 
000 production cost, has earned 
$173,000 operating profits, includ- 
ing its 40% share of the $110,000 
sale of film rights. At the moment, 
it has about $40,000 in assets, in- 
cluding $31,000 available' fpr dis- 
tribution, $9,000 in bonds and $14,- 
000 in a reserve fund for prelim- 
inary tour and advertising expense, 
etc. 


TOURING BARD TROUPE 
AIDS CONN. FESTIVAL 

Hartford, Nov. 18. 
New Parsons Theatre here will 
be the kickoff spot Dec. 5-6 for a 
nationwide tour of several top 
stars in an omnibus bill, 
“An Evening with Will Shake- 
speare.” Already pencilled in for 
the tour — which will be for the 
benefit of the proposed Shake- 
speare Festival Theatre in Fairfield 
County, Conn. — are Claude Rains, 
Eva LeGallienne, Margaret Web- 
ster and Leueen McGrath. 

The tour is being sponsored by 
the American Shakespeare Founda- 
tion for the purpose of raising 
funds for the Fairfield County 
project. This will be an Ameri- 
can counterpart of Stratford-on- 
Avon in England. 

Director Mary 'Hunter" is coor- 
dinating the unit. Understood here 
that actors will receive only mini- 
mum fees and expenses. Under- 
stood also that Vera Zorina and 
Richard Whorf are included in 
plans for the unit. Miss Webster 
will direct the show. 

Stock Season for St. Pete 
With Ken Later Booking 

St, Petersburg, Nov, 18. 
The Capitol Theatre here will 
inaugurate a stock company in mid- 
January. House is currently on a 
film policy, but like many other 
picture theatres is hitting other 
show biz - media in an effort to perk 
up business. ‘ 

The Kenneth Later Agency, of 
New York, will book the shows, 
with name leads for each produc- 
tion. 


| Reggie Hammerstein May 
' Produce ‘Island’ on B’way 


Dallas, Nov. 18. 

“The Last Island,” by Eugene 
Raskin, may be produced on Broad- 
way next spring by Reginald Ham- 
merstein. Margo Jones has relin- 
quished New York rights to the 
play, but ctill plans to present it 
Jan. 12-31 at her Theatre ’52 here. 

Miss Jones will be in San Fran- 
cisco this week to participate in 
preparations for the opening of an 
arena playhouse along the lines of 
her Theatre ’52, hut is due. back 
here early in December. 


B’way Kibitzers 
Feel Their ‘Age’ 

“Be Your Age,” Reginald Den- 
ham-Mary Orr comedy being pro- 
duced by Alexander H. Cohen and 
Joseph Kipness, with attorney Mor- 
ris K. Bauer as associate producer, 
is financed at $50,000, with provi- 
sion for 20G overcall. Included in 
the budget is $6,000 spent by 
Cohen and Kipness on the play’s 
tryout last summer at the' Lake- 
wood Theatre, Skowhegan, Me. 

Odd angle on the show is that 
only three Broadway kibitzers saw 
the tryout and all will be investors 
in the Broadway production. They 
are Meyer Davis, Rita Allen and 
Saul Lancourt. “Age” is a one- 
setter, to be designed by Ralph 
Alswang, and is figured likely to 
break even at about $10,000 gross. 

Play is slated to go into rehear- 
sal Dec. 1 under Denham’s direc- 
tion, with the tryout opening 
Christmas night at the Locust, 
Philly; a further tuneup run the 
week of Jan. 5 at the Shubert, 
Washington, and the New York 
preem Jan. 14 at the 48th Street, 
after a week of previews. Set for 
the cast thus far are Conrad Nagel, 
Loring Smith and Hildy Parks. 

L’ville Mayor’s 30G Gift 
For ’53 Historical Play 
Stirs Up Some Protests 

Louisville, Nov. 18. 

Mayor Charles P. Farnsley last 
week received a number of com- 
plaints anent his gift of $30,000 
from his contingent fund to under- 
write the production of an histori- 
cal play with music, as part' of 
Louisville’s 175th anniversary cele- 
bration next year. His gift was 
directly to University Festival, 
Inc., which will produce the play, 
but instead will go to the U. of 
Louisville. 

The play, “Kentucky’s Lincoln,” 
a drama with music, was written 
by Mrs. Dwight Anderson, wife of 
the dean of the university’s School 
of Music, and is based on Lincoln’s 
associations in Louisville and vi- 
cinity. Music for the jplay was 
written by Norman dello Joio of 
New York. 

Farnsley said the play may come 
out in the black, making it unnec- 
essary to -use all or part of the 
city’s gift. Questions about the 
legality of transferring^the money 
to the nonprofit corporation caused 
the change, according to Farnsley. 
Play will be given at the city’s 
Iroquois Amphitheatre. Univer- 
sity Festival, Inc., while a non- 
profit organization, will receive no 
financial support from the Louis- 
ville Fund, which underwrites mu- 
sic and dance groups, in 1952-53. 
Promoters of the festival play 
claim they have about $10;000 in 
outright gifts, and do not antici- 
pate losing any of the city’s money. 
..Should the. .venture . show... a profit, . 
backers promise to return the $30,- 
000 to the city. , 


Tyrell Preps Tent Setup 
For Hollywood, Fla. 

Chicago, Nov, 18. 
Phil Tyrell, who has been the 
producer at the Chevy Chase straw- 

hatter, Wheeling, HI., will open a 
tent theatre in Hollywood, Fla., 
Jan. 5. He’s transporting an entire 
tent and equipment to Florida. 

For his opener he is trying to get 
Robert Q. Lewis in “Charley’s 
Aunt,” which set a record for hina 
and summer stock in the midwest. 
As yet, no director has heen pacted. 


Renato Cellini, assistant conduc- 
tor at the Metropolitan Opera 
since 1948, has been upped to asso- 
ciate conductor. 


Equity Plans Agreement Vith Brit 
Union on Basis of Membership Poll 

f 


Guild Brackets Coin 
For ‘Colonels,’ ‘Picnic’ 

The Theatre Guild is capitalizing 
its productions of “Love of Four 
Colonels” and “Picnic” as a com- 
bination venture, requiring inves- 
tors to take both entries. “Col- 
onels,” Peter Ustinov’s London 
success being presentation in as- 
sociation with Aldrich & Myers, is 
budgeted at $80,000. “Picnic,” in 
which Joshua Logan is partnered 
as co-producer and director, is 
ticketed at $75,000. 

“Colonels,” to costar Rex Harri- 
son and Lilli Palmer, with the for- 
mer directing, is scheduled to go 
into rehearsals in about three 
weeks for a probable Broadway 
opening in January. Rolf Gerard 
will design the .scenery. “Picnic” 
will start rehearsing in about two 
weeks, with Ralph Meeker as male 
lead. It opens a tryout tour Dec. 
27 at the American, St. Louis, and 
comes to Broadway in mid-January. 


See City Center 
Legit Folderoo 

Cancellation of the winter drama 
season at the N. Y. City Center ap- 
parently means the end of the legit 
activity at the civic spot, at least 
for the foreseeable future. On the 
outside chance that some founda- 
tion or private outside source 
should provide financing for such a 
project, • there- -might be ■ a- ■ short 
season in the late winter or early 
spring, but a full-scale drama se- 
ries is virtually an impossibility. 

It’s figured likely that a drama 
season wohld break even or per- 
haps make a small profit, but funds 
are not available for preliminary 
production, etc., estimated at $175,- 
000 for the three presentations. 
Ironic fact is that profits from pre- 
vious years’ legit operations have 
been used to finance the ballet and 
opera activities. 

Since the ballet and opera proj- 
ects are repertory, the physical 
productions remain available, so no 
major financing is necessary for 
each new season. But each new 
legit season requires new produc- 
tions and additional hew capital. 
Fact that production costs, about 
double those of a few years ago, 
now come to $175,000 for the sea- 
son, is what stymies continuance of 
the legit operation. 

With the dropping of the legit 
part of the Center activity, tenta- 
tive plans for a permanent acting 
company which would play a full 
season, partly on tour, appear cold. 
So does speculation about a new 
production unit to do an annual 
spring musical comedy and operet- 
ta season at the Center. 

George Schaefer, artistic super- 
visor of the drama season for the 
last five years, is going ahead with 
other legit plans, including direc- 
tion again next summer of the 
Starlight Musicals at the State Fair 
Auditorium, Dallas. He is also in 
line to stage a couple of Broad- 
way shows slated for next season. 


BOOKING GAP STALLS 
‘MATCH’ TOUR IN TEXAS 

Dallas, Nov. 18. 

Texas tour of “Strike a Match,” 
first of .a. series of . productions to 
be staged by Mel Ferrer and pre- 
sented by him in partnership with 
Charles R. Meeker, Jr., may have 
to be dropped. Show opens Dec. 
9 in San Francisco with Pat 
O’Brien and Eva Gabor costarred. 
But a late December fortnight in 
St. Louis has fallen through, so the 
company may disband rather than 
lay off two weeks before the Texas 
tour pencilled* to start Jan. 9. Try- 
out of Theatre Guild’s ‘-‘Picnic” is 
set for the St. Loo date. 

Meeker is managing director of 
the State Fair Auditorium here, 
but the project with Ferrer is a 
private deal for him. 


John Bettenbender, head of the 
Loyola U., Chicago, drama depart- 
ment, has t^ken over as director 
of the Showcase, new rep group in 
Evanston, 111. Fay Roop,. originally 
scheduled to direct* is ill in Cali- 
fornia. 


On the basis of its recent mem- 
bership poll on the subject of alien 
regulations, Actors Equity will 
probably try to negotiate a gen- 
eral agreement on the subject with 
British Equity. Idea is to eliminate 
all alien restrictions in both the 
U. S. and England, or to work out 
more liberal regulations in the two 
countries. 

Considering the recent agitation 
on alien employment in New York 
and the presumably unfavorable 
effect of the recent British Equity 
ban on Jose Ferrer’s proposed 
guest appearance with the Old Vic 
in London, the response to the 
Equity poll was surprisingly mild. 
A report of the union’s alien com- 
mittee, including pell tabulations, 
was to be considered by the council 
yesterday (Tues.). 

Although questionnaires were 
sent to 6,200 members of the union, 
of whom 1,102 returned answers, 
22 of that number expressed no 
preference on the question. While 
18% return is normally considered 
good for such a survey, it is argued 
that in this case it indicates that 
82% of the membership isn’t con- 
cerned about the problem. 

Of the answers expressing a 
choice, 54.54% favored further re- 
strictions, 45.46% opposed. How- 
ever, an overwhelming majority of 
the replies supported the idea of 
exploring the possibility of reach- 
ing an agreement with British 
Equity to abolish all restrictions or 
obtaining a mutual setup of more 
liberal regulations, particularly 
aimed at permitting young Ameri- 
can actors to train with repertory 
and stock groups in England and 
British players to have a commen- 
surate privilege, in the U. S. 

A drastic alien rule, adopted last 
summer by Equity, is in abeyance 
pending study of the question here 
and in England, or until next Dec. 
31. However, if steps toward mu- 
tual settlement of the problem are 
in the works, the measure may be 
held up indefinitely. Meanwhile, 
Equity is expected to draft a clear 
policy on the matter as a guide to 
a representative likely to be sent 
to London to negotiate an agree- 
ment with British Equity. 


Witch-Hunt Play Preem 
Bows Studio Season At 
Unrri of Minn. Theatre 

Minneapolis, Nov. 18. 

U. of Minnesota Theatre, in addi- 
tion to presenting a regular season 
of offerings, is launching a studio 
season of new and experimental 
plays in a small studio theatre. 
This will give playwrights an op- 
portunity to witness presentation 
of their opuses and afford them 
a laboratory situation . to revise 
and rewrite as they see the per- 
formance in rehearsal and actual 
production. 

Currently a new play, “The 
Windfinders,” by Louis O. Coxe, 
co-author of “Billy Budd,” which 
had a Broadway production two 
seasons ago, is being presented. 
Coxe is a U. of Minnesota associ- 
ate English professor. 

Play has as basis the 1692 witch- 
hunts at Salem, Mass., the au- 
thor’s native, city, but is meant as 
a dramatization of conflict between 
forces of evil and reason, instead 
of being historicaL 

Plot concerns a gospel minister 
who unwittingly becomes involved 
in the witch panic. His chief ad- 
versary, by allowing himself to be- 
come involved with the supersti- 
tion, uses the mounting panic to 
his financial advantage. 

All Quiet at Robeson 
Hartford Concert Scene 

Hartford, Nov. 18. 

Despite se ral threats of vio- 
lence, and c _ jsition by the City 
Cc uncil, veterans groups and 
others, a Paul Robeson concert 
here Saturday night (15) at the 
Weaver High School went off with- 
out any incidents. The concert was 
sponsored by the leftist Peoples 
Party. 

More than 250 armed police were 
stationed at strategic points in the 
area. Scores of curiosity seekers 
converged oil the scene, blit limited 
their activity to circling the school 
on foot or in cars. About GOO at- 
tended the concert. 




58 LEGITIMATE 


PSizlEfr 


Wednesday, November 19, 1952 


Plays on Broadway 


Renaud-Barrauh Co. 

S. Hurak, in association with French 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under aits* 
pices of Assn. Francaise d'Action Artis- 
tique, presentation of Madeleine Renaud 
Sc Jcan-Louls Barrault and their . com- 
pany, in dual-bill, *'Les Fausscs Confi- 
dences” and “Baptiste,*.* at Ztegffeld, 
N. Y., Nov. 12, *52; $4.80 ($8 opening!. 

LES FAUSSES CONFIDENCES 

Comedy in three acts, by Marivaux; 
staged by Barrault; decor and costumes, 
Maurice Brianchon. 


Araminte *. . . . Madeleine Renoud 

Dorante Jean Desailly 

M. Remi Pierre Bert in 

Mme. Argante Marle-Helene Dasle 

Arlequln Jean-Plerre .Granval 

Dubois Jean-Louls Barrault 

Marton Simone Valere 

Le Comte Regis OutJn 

L’Orfevre Jean-Francois Calve 

Le Valet Jacques Galland 

BAPTIST! 


Pantomime by Jacques Prevert, Inspired 
hy mime played by Debureau, “The Old 
Clothes Man”; music, Kosma; decor. 

. Mayo; choreography, Barrault; musical 
director, Pierre Boulez. 

Baptiste Jcan-Louls Barrault 

La Statue Madeleine Renaud 

I.e CFhanteur Jean Dcsailly 

La Petite Fille Elina Labourdette 

Arlequln . .. . Serge Perrault 

Le Gardion de Square Jean Juillard 

La Lavandlere Simone Valere 

• Le Bljoutier Jean-Plerre Granval 

La Duches.se Madeleine Renaud 

Les Laquals Jacques Galland. 

Pierre Sonnier 

Le Marchand d'Hablts Beauchamp 

Les Invitees . ... Simon Valere, Elina 

Labourdette. Anne Carrere 

Les Invites Jean-Plerre Granval, 

Jean-Francois Calve, Jean Juillard 


The . Broadway engagement of 
this noted Parisian repertory group 
is a must for serious students of 
legit, particularly those familiar 
with the French language. It’s 
also obviously a playgoing spree 
for'New York’s sizable Francophile 
population. For those who don’t 
care so much about esoteric stage 
lore, but merely crave an evening’s 
entertainment, especially if they 
don’t savvy Francais so easy, the 
Renaud-Barrault combo may tend 
to be. so-what. especially in the 
vast Ziegfeld Theatre. 

.... : Tbe Madeleine Henaud and Jean- 
Louis Barrault company from the 
Marigny Theatre, Paris, is t prob- 
ably the only troupe of its kind in 
the world. Not only is it a true 
repertory organization as distinct 
from stock, but it has worked out 
of its own group style of produc- 
tion and .performance, offering a 
variety of plays and techniques, 
including classics, new works and 
pantomime. 

Last week's opener was a dual- 
hill of “Les Fausses Confidences” 
(“False Secrets”) by Marivaux and 
a ballet-pantomime, “Baptiste.” 
The current week is split between. 
Kafka’s “Le Prooes” TThe Trial”)' 
and a dual-bill of two Moliere 
"comedies; “Amphitryon” and “Les 
Fourberies de Scapin” (“Scapin’s 
Pranks”). Next week brings an- 
other split between Feydeau’s 
“Ocqupe-toi d’Amelie” ‘ (“Keep 
Your Eye on Amelie”) and 
’ Anouilh’s “La Repetition, ou 
L’ Amour Puni” (“The Rehearsal, 
or Love Punished”). The entire 
fourth week offers the Gide trans- 
lation of "Hamlet.” No schedule, 
is announced for the subsequent 
weeks, if any. 

For an American audience' the 
Initial bill was decidedly uneven. 
“Les Fausses Confidences*’ ‘ is an 
early 18tli century comedy that 
shows its age, being mostly a mat- 
ter of trite situation instead of 
offering the comedy qf lines that a 
contemporary foreign audience 
might get. So while it was possi- 
ble to admire the. clean, ensemble 
style of the troupe and the indi- 
vidual playing of a few of the 
actors, even the French-happy 
patrons uncorked only occasional 
chuckles. Doubtless an experience 
. for students of the art, but pretty- 
lofty going for the pas-de-Francais 
customers. . 

“Baptiste,” on the other hand, is 
a nifty. A comedy mime not dis- 
similar. in feeling and treatment to 
some of the new, light American 
ballets, it has an infectious Gallic 
flavor without language limita- 

... tions._ And, .. .even r more than 

“Fausses,” this amusing ' six-scene 
dream adventure shows Barrault 
to be perhaps the'most flexible and 
versatile comic artist alive. Cer- 
tainly New York hasn't in present 
memory seen such expressively 
lithe and precise use k of bodily 
movement in combination with vo- 
cal and facial performance. Inci- 
dentally, parts of “Baptiste” were 
seen here in the French film, 
“Children of Paradise,” 

Although Barrault is a standout, 
the general level of the company 
is high, at least in comedy (how it 
stacks up in heavier fare remains, 
in the words of Lindsay Sc Crouse, 
to be seen). But one of the more I 
notable aspects of , the Renaud- 
Barrault presentations thus far is 
their extremely simple byt highly 
articulate physical productions. 

costumes look reasonably 
inexpensive, but appropriate and 
unusually decorative, while the 
scenery, consisting of unpreten- 
tious drops and a few rudimentary 
screens, challenge audience imag- 
ination and * obviously minimize 


construction costs and stagehand : 
payrolls. Broadway designers and \ 
producers might copy. Ho be. j 


LE PROCES 

- ( The Trial ) 

• Drama'ln two acts, adapted by Andre 
Gide and Jean-Louls Barrault from novel 
by Franz Kafka. Directed by Barrault. 
Sets by Felix Labisse. At Ziegfeld, N. Y., 
Nov. 18. *32. 


Joseph Jean-Louls Barrault 

L'Hulssicr Jean Desailly 

L'Oncle .Pierre Berlin 

L'Avocat Beauchamp 

Leni Madeleine Renaud 

Tltorclli Jacques Dacqmine 

Le Juge Charles Mahieu 

Wilhelm Jean-Claude Michel 


AS presented by the Renaud- 
Barrault repertory at the Ziegfeld, 
Kafka’s “Le Proces” (“The Trial”) 
packs a punch. Topicality, style and 
dramatic tension combine in this 
story of Joseph K., who, never 
told his crime, fights his arrest and 
protests his innocence until he 
realizes that even if he is acquitted 
at his trial, once he is accused, he 
will never be free. 

Although the gesture, inflection 
and movement which characterized 
last' week’s “Baptiste” and “Fausse 
Confidence” are present, “The 
Trial” will not be as palatable to 
English-speaking audiences, for it 
is a play that demands concentra- 
tion. Its success as an English pro- 
duction is questionable, for the 
stretch of this offering is that the 
nightmarish overall effect never 
gets out of hand, due to the subtle 
ensemble playing of a group that 
has been together a long time. It 
has likely possibilities as an art 
film a la Cocteau. 

Jean-Louis Barrault is tops as. 
co-author, director and star. Andre 
Gide . and Barrault turn KafkaT 
introspective novel into a dramatic 
! work with emotional impact. Kaf- 
ka’s somewhat convoluted prose 
becomes crisp and incisive. 

Barrault’s • direction gives the 
play a surrealistic effect,, but be. 
always keeps it within the hord-er^- 
line of belief. He brings everyday 
objects into the dream sequences, 
and heightens the scenes of ordi- 
nary life with symbolic and sound 
effects like the roar of adding ma- 
chines; 

The atmosphere gets a great as- 
sist from the somber-toned decor 
by Felix Labisse, who depicts nine 
different scenes with the action 
moving continuously from one to 
the other. Cut-outs of . crushing 
arches are lowered for the trial or 
raised to reveal the silhouette of 
the hero’s office against a blue 
cyclorama. 

Barrault brings grace, intensity 
and variety to the role of Joseph 
K., the bank clerk with a sense of 
dignity and humor who, accused, 
progresses from confident to pro- 
testing, perturbed, belligerent, des- 
perate and finally defeated. 

The supporting company is uni- 
formly fine, with standout per- 
formances by Jean-Claude Michel, 
Charles Mahieu, and Jean Desailly 
personifying the diffident and im- 
perturable bureaucrats in the serv- 
ice of “justice?’ Madeleine Renaud 
as th£ perfunctory mistress of an 
aged lawyer, played by Beau- 
champ, Pierre Bertin as the hero’s 
anxious uncle, and Jacques Dacq- 
mine as an advice-giving painter. 

Vene.' 


Scheduled B’way Openings 

“time Out for Ginger,” Lyceum, 
Nov. 26. ' 

“I've Got Sixpence,” Barrymore, 
Dec. 2. . 

“See the Jaguar,” Cort, Dec. 3. 

“Two’s Company,” Alvin, Dec. 4. 

“Whistler’s Grandmother,” Presi- 
dent, Dec: 8. 

“Grey-Eyed People,” unspecified 
theatre, Dec. 17. 

^Children’s Hour,” Coronet, Dec, 
18. 

Arthur Miller play, Beck, Jan. 7. 

“Hazel Flagg,” Hellinger, Feb. 5. 



Keys: C (Comedy), D (Drama), 
CD ( Comedy -Drama ) , ft (Revue), 
MC (Musical Comedy), MD (Musi- 
cal Drama), O (Operetta). 


“Children’s Hour” (Di — Kermit 
Bloomgarden, prod.; Lillian . Hell- 
man, dir.; Patricia Neal, Kim Hun- 

t av« cfopO 

“Grey-Eyed People” (C) — Albert 
Selden, prod.; Morton Da Costa, 
dir. 

“Intruder” (D) — Eddie Dowling, 
John MacArthur, prods.; Dowling, 
dir.; Dowling, Margaret O’Brien, 
sC&FS 

“Whistler's Grandmother” (C) — 
Anthony Hareila, prod.; Guy To- 
majan, dir.; Josephine Hull, starf 

Equity Library Show 

(Nov. 17-30) 


“Glass Menagerie” — Lenox Hill 
Playhouse, N. Y. (19*23). 


Gee Buys Concert Shares 
In Western Canada Mgt. 

Winnipeg, Nov. 18. - 
A. K. (Bill) Gee, president of 
Celebrity Concerts (Canada), has 
bought all shares of Celebrity 
Concert Series, Ltd., from Mrs, 
Fred M. Gee ahd associates. 

^Edward F. Gee has been ap- 
pointed Winnipeg manager for 
Celebrity Concerts, and James 
Cowie assistant manager and treas- 
urer. 

Celebrity Concerts now presents 
•music events in 17 western cities 
from Fort William, Ont., to Trail, 
B. C. Approximately 150 presenta- 
tions are planned for this season 
under A. K. Gee’s direction. He 
will visit New York in December 
to engage artists for the 1953-54 
season. 


Current Road Shows 

(Nov. 17-29) 


“Anonymous Lover” (Larry 
Parks, Betty Garrett) — Her Majes- 
ty’s, Montreal (17-22)* Royal Alex- 
andra, Toronto (24-29). 

“Bell, Boole and . Candle” (Joan 
Bennett, Zachary Scott) — - Para- 
mount, Baton Rouge (17-18); Rob- 
inson Aud., Little Rock (19-20); 
Aud., Memphis (21-22); Orplieuni, 
Kansas City (24-25); KRNT Thea- 
tre, Des Moines (26); Omaha, 
Omaha (28-29). 

“Call Me Madam” — Shubert, 
Detroit (17-29). 

“Constant Wife” (Catharine Cor- 
nell, Robert Flemyng, John Emery) 
—Royal Alexandra, Toronto (17- 
22); Case, Detroit (24-29). 

“Country Girl” (Robert Young, 
Dane Clark, Nancy Kelly) — David- 
son, Milwaukee (IT-22); American, 
St. Louis (24-29). 

“Don Juan in Hell” (Charles 
Boyer, Vincent Price, Cedric Hard- 
wicke,, Agnes Moorehead) — Keith’s 
White Plains, N. Y. (17); Rensselaer 
Poly tech, Troy; N. Y. (18); Muny 
Aud,, Springfield, Mass. (19); Shu- 
bert, New Haven (20-22);; RKO 
Boston, Boston (24-29). 

“Fourposfer” (Jessica Tandy, 
Hume Cronyn) — Blackstone, Chi. 
(17-29). 


“Gigi” (Audrey Hepburn) — Har- 
ris, Chi (17-22); Selwyn, Chi (24- 
29). 

Gilbert Sc Sullivan (American 
Savoyards) — College Theatre, 
Greenville, N. C. (17); Armory, 
Charlotte (18); Memorial Aud., 
Spartanburg, S. C. (19); Field 
House, Clemson, S. C. (20); Civic 
Aud., Kingsport, Tenn, (22); Ryman 
Aud., Nashville (24); Health Educ. 
Bldg., E. 1. S. C., Charleston, 111. 
(25)* Hartman, Columbus (29-30). 

Gilbert Sc Sullivan (Chartock) — 
Shubert, Phila. (17-29). 

“Good Nite Ladies” — Majestic, 
Boston (17-29). 

“Grey Eyed People” — Shubert, 
New Haven (27-29). 

“Guys , and Dolls” — Wisconsin, 
Milwaukee (17-22); Taft Aud., Cin- 
cinnati (24-29). 

W ‘I Am a Camera” (Julie Harris) 
—Orpheum, Davenport (17); Iowa, 
Cedar Rapids (18); Paramount, 
Omaha (19); KRNT Theatre, Des 
Moines (20); Capitol, Salt Lake 
City (22); Biltmore, JL. A. (24-29). 

“I’ve Got Sixpence” (Vivcca 
Lindfors, Edmond. O'Brien) — Wal- 
nut, Phila. (17-29). . 

“Maid in the Ozarks” (Bert 
WheelebL — Lyric, Allentown, Pa. 
(17-18); Rajah, Reading, Pa. (19-20); 
Auditorium* Rochester (21-22); 
Nixon, Pitts. (24-29). 

“Mister Roberts” (Tod Andrews) 
— Oshkosh, Oshkosh, Wis. (17); Or- 
pheum, Green Bay, Wis. (18-19); 
Capitol, Wis. (20); Parkway, Madi- 
son (21-22); Lyceum, Minneapolis 
(24-28); Aud., Rochester, Minn. (29). 

“Oklahoma” — Grand, Calgary 
(17-22); Metropolitan, Seattle (24- 
29). 


•‘Paint Your Wagon” (Burl Ives 
— Nixon, Pitt. (17-22); Shubevl 
-Wash.- (24-2-9).- - - 

“Paris ’90” (Cornelius Otis Skin 
ner) — Civic, New Orleans (17-221 
Music Hall, Houston (24); Texas 
San Antonio (25); Paramount, Aus 
tin (26); Majestic, Ft. Worth -(27] 
Melba, Dallas (28-29):. 

“Point of No Return” (Henr 
Fonda) — Ford’s, Baltimore (24-29’ 

“See the Jaguar” (Arthur Ken 
nedy) — Forrest, Phil. (17-29). 

“Shrike” (Van Heflin)— Nations 
Wash. (17-29). 

“South Pacific” (Janet Blah 
Webb Tilton)— Orpheum, Kansa 
City (17-22); Forum, Wichit 

(17-29)'” 17 ”~ Erlanger, Ch 

“Time Out for Ginger” (Melvy 
Douglas)— Shubert, Wash. (17-22 

“Top Banana” (Phil Silvers)- 
Taft, Cincy (17-22); Great Nortl; 
ern, Chi. (24-29); 

“Tree Grows in Brooklyn” (Joa 
Blohdell, Robert Shackleton) - 
Shubert, Chi. (17-29). 

“Two’s Company” (Bette Davii 
— Shubert, Boston (17-29): 


Inside Stuff-Legit 

Two of tho most highly-regarded Vernon Duke-Ogden Nash tunoc 
in the Botte Davis .revue, “Two’s Company,” are “Roundabout” amt 
“Just Like a Man,” but neither one was written for* the new show 
They were salvaged from the musical “Sweet ’Bye and ’Bye,” whioi 
was tried out in Philadelphia (Dolores Gray was in the cast and sam) 
“Man T ” currently done by Miss Davis) six years ago and folded there* 
Plenty of work was being done on the James Russo-Michael El Ik 
legiter in Pittsburgh last week. David Burns, who quit the Luther 
Billis role in the touring “South Pacific” two months ago, went inti 
the company and will take over, assignments of Nathaniel Frey X vlm 
exited at the end of the Pitt engagement. An additional sketch ia 
being written for Burns" but won’t go in until late in the Boston Slav 

Paul Hartman goes into tne show this week in Boston, costarring 
with Miss Davis. He succeeds Hiram Sherman. Latter had original)? 
given his notice in Detroit, then rescinded it but finally decided to null 
out anyway. In Pittsburgh, Miss Davis got another opening to replace 
the “Good Bad Girls” number which she has wanted no part of since 
collapsing while doing it at the Detroit preem. 


Dorothy Kirsten’s^debut in the “Tosca” lead at the Metropolitan 
Opera House last Wednesday (12) was more than the usual “first ” a 
career came full circle that night. Back in 1938, Miss Kirsten, an ob- 
scure member of Kay Thompson’s Rhythm Singers, got an audition 
to sing for the late Grace Moore, then a leading Met diva. Audition 
was set up through efforts of Dinty Moore, N. Y. American radio editor 
Miss Moore, who like Miss Kirsten, had come out of a Broadway 
chorus, was so impressed with the younger girl’s talent that she started 
a fund to send Miss Kirsten to Italy for two years to study voiee. At 
close of the audition, Miss Moore turned to a Variety mugg present 
and said, “This girl will someday have all my roles,” With “Tosca ’’ 
Miss Moore’s great Met success, Miss Kirsten lias completed a cycle of 
10 roles the late diva sang and which are how in the Kirsten repertoire 


Plays Out of Town 


I 5 ve Got Sixpence 

New Haven, Nov. 12. 

Gertrude Macy and Walter Starcke pro- 
duction of drama In two acts by John 
van Druten. Stars Edmond O'Brien, 
Vlveca Lindfors; features- Patricia Col- 
linge, Vicki Cummings. Directed by van 
Druten; production designed by Boris 
Aronson; costumes supervised by Burton 
J. Miller. At Sliubert, New Haven, Nov. 
12, *52; $4.20 top. 

Inez Cabral Vivcca Lindfors 

Doreen Vicki Cummings 

Dr. Ozmunian Paul Lipson 

Peter Tyndall Edmond O'Brien 

Mrs. Ent\vl)istle ‘ ...... Patricia Collinge 

C&rolyn, ... , Lois. Holmes 

Robert Gallagher Bert Thorn 

“I’ve Got Sixpence” can Jhiake a 
pretty penny on Broadway — pro- 
vided John van Druten brings his 
script polishing skill into play to 
the extent of ironing out a loose 
final act which, as of the premiere, 
threatens to lower the production’s 
overall entertainment average. 

In creating “Sixpence,” author 
has brought forth a noble experi- 
ment. Whether or not he can turn 
it into a commercial success de- 
pends on the observation noted 
above. It will be unfortunate if 
it ends up in the “almost made it” 
category, as it carries a message 
which the world sorely needs to- 
day. 

Play gets off with all the velocity 
of a plane from a flight deck, but 
it comes limping in on one engine 
in the last quarter. This may be 
due to the fact that the story falls 
back on cliches toward its climax 
instead of maintaining the fresh, 
novel approach that punctuates 
its earlier scenes. 

This newest effort can conceiv- 
ably draw from two completely 
different types of playgoers — 
(1), the type Which will regard the 
play merely as a sensational dis- 
play of frank dialog and action, 
and (2), the type which will bur- 
row beneath the- surface, along 
with van Druten, and catch the 
message which he makes an elo- 
quent stab at conveying. Latter 
is an earnest attempt to point out 
that the only salvation from the 
utter confusion that dominates 
many lives today is a oneness with 
some supreme being — a realization 
that man requires help of a nature 
beyond his own capacities. 

To expound his theories, Author 
has for central characters Inez 
Cabral, daughter of an atheist but 
herself a believer in Some sort of 
indeterminate deity, and Peter 
Tyndall, skeptic ’ extraordinary, 
whose various brushes with life 
have left him with a perverted es-’ 
timate x>L its. futility, . The . two meet . 
at the home of Peter’s aged and 
invalid aunt, a wealthy widow who 
has found mental comfort in the 
ministrations of a religious prac- 
titioner, Dr. Ozmunian. 

Romantic lightning strikes and 
the young pair immediately take 
off for a hotel room, she in the 
belief that the wondrous moment 
she has awaited is at hand, he 
about to gratify another desire. 
Girl justifies her action in the ] 
“spiritual” beauty of their union I 
but the lad sees only the transitory 
element of the experience and 
warns her that he will never be 
“trapped” 'into a marriage. When 
Inez becomes pregnant, a violent 
quarrel follows and Tyndall walks 
out of the situation. After a three- 
month period of separation, the 
two experience individual spiritual 
awakenings and curtain implies 
ultimate reunion. 

Following an obvious pattern of 
setting his Audience in a recep- 
tive mood .before- releasing the 
preachment content of his crusade 


for spirtualism vs. materialism, 
the author has. instituted such a 
wide chasm between the two moods 
of comedy and sober writing that 
it is difficult for the auditors to 
bridge the gap satisfactorily. 
Whether this is due to a fault in 
writing and directing, or just typi- 
cal resentment regarding being 
preached at, -is a moot question. 
In any case, it is at this point that 
the play suffers a severe letdown.. 
By contrast, the brilliance of the 
first act makes stanza two seem 
commonplace. 

As Peter and Inez, Edmond 
O’Brien and Viveca Lindfors carry 
long roles competently. As the 
unbelieving,* ex-Communist, semi- 
heel whose pride goeth before a 
fall, O’Brien is 'convincing for the 
most part. There’s an artificial 
ring to his breakdown scene. Miss 
Lindfors is well cast and exhibits 
thesp skill, except in a scenery- 
chewing bit wherein she calls on 
the deity for help. 

'Vicki Cummings gives solid sup- 
port as Inez’ roommate, Doreen, 
a lass who never really understood 
religion but who ends up with the 
realization that “the church is here 
to help us.” In a standout perform- 
ance, Patricia Collinge gives beau- 
tiful shading to the role of the 
invalid aunt. An unusual part that 
gets expert handling is the healer, 
played by Paul Lipson, who gives 
it exceptional authenticity. Bert 
Thorn is good as Doreen’s event- 
ual husband whose courtship had 
begun intimately but was “switched 
off” until they finally married. 
Lois Holmes adds an efficient bit 
as a maid. 

For digging into the recesses of 
frank dialog and action to build 
his foundation, van Druten daesn’t 
hesitate .to call a spade a steam 
shovel. Under less skilled guid- 
ance, some of this material might 
be regarded as offensive, even 
shocking. By contrast, some of hit 
philosophic lines reach the Heights, 

An intricate technical setup of 
sets and lighting adds considerably 
to fluid movement of story. This 
is accomplished by a central re- 
volving stage; with side areas util- 
ized for connecting scenes. Visual 
production as a whole gives evi- 
dence of freedom from any budge- 
tary restrictions. Bone. 


Seo tlie 'Vagiifii* 

. Hartford, Nov. 13. 

Lemuel Ayerfi (in association wit It HUM 
Jacobson) production of drama In oil" 
acts (six scenes) by N. Richard M™ 1 * 
-Star^ Arthur Kennedy; features 
F ord> Cameron Prud'liomme. Roy * 
Directed by Michael Gordon. 
designed by Ayers; incidental music* 
Alec Wilder. At Now Parsons, llarlfoia. 
Nov. 12, *52; $4.20 top. 

Yetter David Clarke 

Jannta Constance 1 on* 

Granjifa- Ricks • • n<, . y 

Mrs. .Wilkins Margaret BaK" 

Drive Ricks Arthur Keniuw 

Brad* Cameron Prudhont n® 

Orie Lewis SchoUe 

Frank Arthur Balanl eJ 

Mrs. Meeker Florence Sundstiom 

Wally Wilkins J £ mes M 

Andy Harry Bergm#" 

Carson Tony Kraber 


If “See The Jaguar” survives the 
rough hurdles of Broadway, i 
be because of the acting alnlits « : 
Arthur Kennedy. As it stands nov* , 
drama is too heavy for widespreu j 
public interest. It shows the nee j 
for play surgery, especially hi 11 j 
first act, which hogs down. . N ! 

Language used by playwright * 
Richard Nash is confusing. H c 
• (Continued on page oOJ 


Wednesday, November 19, 1952 


variety 


LEGITIMATE 


59 


Tandy-Cronyn Record $29,646, Chi; 
‘Gigi’ Sock $20,800, Tree’ Limp 19G 


Chicago, Nov. 18. 4' 

There are two new entries in 
Uie Chicago legit scene, but it’s 
the holdovers that are doing the 
heavy boxoffice. “Tree Grows in 
Brooklyn” got roughed up by all 
tlie critics, but as it is on subscrip- 
tion it will probably last the three- 
week Guild period. New York City 
Opera came in last Wednesday U2) 
for a run, with a heavy advance. 

"Gigi” is doing solid business 
and should stay at least into Janu- 
ary possibly forcing the Katherine 
Cornell to shift to the Selwyn in- 
stead of the Harris. "Stalag 17'* 
has jumped and "Fourposter” is a 
sellout. “Top Banana” comes in 
next week at the Great Northern 
and "Country Girl” at the Black- 
stone, Dec. 1. 

Estimates for Last Week 
Fourposter,** Blackstone (8th wk) 
($4.20; 1,534) (Jessica Tandy, Hume 
Cronyn). New house record at 
smash $29,646; last night’s per- 
formance cancelled because of Miss 
Tandy’s, illness. ■ 

"Gigi.” Harris (2d wk) ($4.40; 
1,000) (Audrey Hepburn). Picked 
up to $20,800, with Theatre Guild 
subscription; seats now selling into 
December. 

New York City Opera, Opera 
House ($4.90; 8,600). Neat $40,000 
for first five performances. 

"Stalag 17,** Erlanger (12th wk) 
($4.40; 1,334). Took a nice hop with 
$17,200; will close Jan. 3 to con- 
tinue tour. 

"Tree Growa in Brooklyn,*’ 
Shubert (1st wk) ($5; 2,100) (Joan 
Blondell, Robert Shackleton). 
Critics axed this "Tree” and small 
19G on subscription Is all for the 
week; has been overquoted re- 
cently. 



m * 

Banana 

‘Sin’ $2,600, Wash 

Washington, Nov. 18. 

Phil Silvers in "Top Banana” 
built to a profitable $39,100 for its 
second and last week at the Na- 
tional Theatre, about $7,300 over 
the initial stanza. House was scaled 
to $6 top. "The Shrike,” starring 
Van Heflin, moved in last night 
(Mon.) for two weeks. 

The new Shubert Theatre hit an 
all-time low last week for its career 
as a- legiter either under its pres- 
ent name or its previous existence 
as The Gayety. House drew a thin 
$2,600 for "Rise by Sin,” a new 
meller starring Louise Allbritton. 
Play, which was scaled to $3.60, 
folded immediately at the end of 
the single week here. The Shubert 
is dark this week, the previous 
booking of the "Time Out for 
Ginger” tryout having been can- 
celled. 


‘PACIFIC’ SOCK $34,700 
FOR 6 IN KANSAS CITY 

Kansas City, Nov. 18. 

"South Pacifie,” returning after 
more, than two years, has lost none 
of its boxoffice wallop. Musical, 
with Janet Blair and Webb Tilton 
costarred, opened its local stand 
Wednesday night (12) and knocked 
off a take of $34,700 for its first 
six performances through Satur- 
day night (15) in the 1,913-seat 
Fox Midwest Orpheum. 

Added to the $16,700 drawn in 
its final two performances Sunday- 
Monday (9-10) at the Auditorium, 
Denver, that gave the Rodgers- 
Hammerstein-Logan smash a total 
of almost $51,400 for the eight- 
performance week. It’s already 
sold out for-the current week here; 
being due to get over $51,000, and 
giving it a capacity $85,000 for. the 
14-performance local run. That 
equals the attendance rate for its 
SRO original stand here two sea- 
sons ago, when it topped $100,000 
for two full weeks. 


‘Affairs’ $13,300 in L. A.; 
‘Farfel’ Winds at 16 V Z G 

Los Angeles, Nov. 18. 

Town has only one house alight 
this week, the Carthay Circle 
where Henry Duffy’s production of 
Affairs of State” is continuing at 
Jn even keel. “Biltmore is dark 
this week following the departure. 
Saturday (15) of "Farfel Follies” 
alter a four-week run, but rekin- 
dles again next Monday (24) with 
1 Am A Camera/* 

State” hit another $13,300 last 
week, its seventh frame at the 1,- 
house, “Farfel,” grossed 
P 0 .?O° to give It a $73,500 total 
*or the four-week rim* 


‘Camera’ Click $20,900, 

' Stock ‘Time’ 12G, St. L. 

St. Louis, Nov. 18. 

"I Am a Camera” wound up one- 
week stand Saturday (15) at Ameri- 
can here with a swell $20,900 at 
$3.66 top. House had been dark 
for a fortnight. - Piece and cast, 
particularly star Julie Harris, 
copped plaudits. "Bagels and 
Yox” opened a week’s engagement 
Sunday (16) at the American with 
the SRO sign out. Jewish War Vet- 
erans council of St. Louis is spon- 
soring three performances. House 
is scaled to $3.66. 

Eva Gabor in "Happy Time” 
closed one week stand Sunday at 
Ansell' Bros, midtown Empress 
with average $12,000 at $2.50 top. 
Franchot Tone, Betsy Von Fursten- 
berg, Irene Manning and Walter 
Brooke open a week’s stock run to- 
night (Tues.) in S. N. Behrman’s 
"Second Man” at the Empress. 

Two performances Friday Satur- 
day (14-15) of Dancers of Bali in 
Henry W. Keil (Municipal) Audi- 
torium grossed a fine $12,000 at 
$3.66 top. Presentation was spon- 
sored by Entertainment Enter- 
prises. 

‘SHRIKE’ DRAWS $17,500 
FOR SEVEN IN 2 SPOTS 

Wilmington, Nov. 18. 

"The Shrike,” with Van Heflin 
as star, drew nearly $14,600 in 
five performances last Wednesday- 
Saturday (12-15) at the 1,223-seat 
Playhouse here. Joseph Kramm’s 
Pulitzer Prize drama drew criti- 
cal raves, with especial citation 
for the star and cast. In two per- 
formances Monday-Tuesday nights 
(10-11) at the Community, Hershey, 
Pa., the Kermit Bloomgarden pro-: 
duction pulled $2,900, giving it a 
gross of almost $17,500, for a small 
profit, for the seven-performance 
week. 

Elsa Lanchester’s "Private Mu- 
sic Hall,” pencilled in. for Nov. 26- 
27, is next for "The Playhouse. 

N. Y. City Ballet $38,500; 
Ballet Theatre $33,830 

The N. Y. City Ballet, in its sec- 
ond week at City Center, N. Y., 
grossed a fine $38,500 for eight 
performances ending Sunday night 
(16). Take was up from the, first 
stanza, which hit $36,000. 

The touring Ballet Theatre is 
also racking up impressive grosses. 
In a split-week last week, troupe 
took in $33,830 on eight showings, 
getting $6,370 for two in London, 
Ont., Monday-Tuesday (10-11), 
$5,960 in two at Hamilton, Ont. 
(12), and $21,500 for four in De- 
troit (14-16). Troupe has more 
splits this week, then does a full 
stanza in Montreal next week. 


‘Bell, Book’ Neat $19,000 
In New Orleans Stanza 

New Orleans, Nov. 18. 

"Bell, Book and Candle,” costar- 
ring Joan Bennett and Zachary 
Scott, grossed a satisfactory $19,- 
000 for its eight-performance stand 
last week at the Civic Theatre 
here. That followed a smash $28,- 
300 the previous week for an eight- 
show split between San Antonio, 
Austin, Houston and a one-nighter 
here, and a take of $27,300 the 
week before in eight performances 
divided between Wichita, Okla- 
homa City, Ft. Worth and Dallas. 

Shepard Traube’s production of 
John van Druten comedy is split- 
ting the current week between 
Baton Rouge, Little Rock and 
Memphis, and divides next week 
between Kansas City, Des Moines 
and Omaha. 



B’way Makes Comeback; 8 Sellouts; 
French Rep $24,000 (5), Dial’ $29,900, 
Hepburn $39,800, Sullavan $26,600 


Horton in ‘Nina’ $8,300 
6th Week in S.F. Stock 

San Francisco, Nov. 18. 
Randolph Hale has set "The Sec- 
ond Man,” with Franchot Tone, 
Betsy Von Furstenberg, Irene Man- 
ning and Walter Brooke, for a two 
week run at the Alcazar, opening 
Nov. 25. "Nina,” present show at 
that house, is town’s sole legit, ex- 
cept "Farfel Frillies” .opening to- 
morrow (Wed.) at the Curran for 
five days, first two being sold to 
B’nai B’rith. 

Estimates for Last Week 
“Nina,” Alcazar (6th wk) (C-$3- 
$3.60; 1.157) (Edward Everett Hor- 
ton). Stepped up to $8,300 (previ- 
ous week, $7,000). 

‘Paris’ $11,800 Split 

Mobile, Nov. 18. 
Cornelia Otis Skinner grossed a 
total of $11,800 last week in six 
performances over four stands. 
Starring in her . solo musical, 
"Paris ’90,” the actress pulled $1,- 
100 for a one-nighter Monday 410) 
at the.Ryman Auditorium, Nash- 
ville; added $6,500 in three show- 
ings Tuesday-Thursday (11-13) at 
the Tower, Atlanta; picked^ up an- 
other $2,400 in a one-nighter Fri- 
day (14) at the Auditorium, Mont? 
gomery, and wound up with $1,- 
800 for a one-nighter Saturday (15) 
at the .Murphy High School Audi- 
torium here. . . 

Show i* playing the Civic, New 
Orleans, all this week and then 
takes off next week for a string 
covering Houston, San Antonio, 
i Austin, Fort Worth and Dallas* 


Philly Booming; 
Ginger 

‘Don Juan 26G (3) 

Philadelphia, Nov. 18. 

Tlie lagging stage season came 
to life- this week with six shows 
garnishing local boards. All five 
playhouses are lighted, with the 
addition of a sixth in the new 
Arena theatre which the Cirele-in- 
the-Square group has set up in the 
Foyer of the Academy of Music, 

"Time Out for Ginger,” sparked 
by good reviews and favorable 
word of mouth, clicked solidly in 
its opening stanza at the Locust. 
Although originally booked for on- 
ly one week, the management and 
the house decided by Tuesday 
afternoon (ID to continue the .en- 
gagement. Decision was made pos- 
sible by the cancellation of "Rise 
By Sin,” which folded during^ a 
Washington tryout. 

Town’s strongest financial take 
came from three-day run of "Don 
Juan in Hell,” at the Academy of 
Music. Substitution, of Vincent 
Price, for Charles Laughton had no 
effect on demand and 3,000-seat 
concert hall went clean all three 
nights. Appearance was spon- 
sored by the Philadelphia Forum. 

Holdover booking, "Maid in the 
Ozarks, at the Erlanger, felt -the 
competition and dipped slightly in 
its second and final week. Last 
night’s openings Included "I’ve Got 
Sixpence,” new' John van Druten 
play .at the Walnut, and S, M. 
Chartock’s Gilbert and Sullivan 
repertory company at the Shubert. 

N, Richard Nash’s drama "See 
the Jagaur” opens a tryout tonight 
(Tues.) at the Forrest, and Circle- 
in-the-Square' Theatre tees off to- 
morrow night (Wed.) with "Sum- 
mer and Smoke,” Week’s final en- 
trant is the Penn Mask and Wig 
Club’s 65th annual production 
"Here’s Howe,” Friday (21) at the 
Erlanger Theatre. 

Estimates for Last Week 

“Time Out for Ginger” Locust 
(1st week) (1,580;. $3.90) Melvyn 
Douglas). Solid review raves and 
word-of-mouth kited comedy into 
hit class; smacko $20,400. 

“Maid in the Ozarks,” Erlanger, 
(2d wk) (1,880; $2.60) (Bert 

Wheeler). Lov-priced roadshow 
after good enough $12,000 -opening, 
dropped to second stanza to $8,900, 
.but still profitable. 

“Don Juan in Hell,’* Academy of 
Music (3 nights) (3,000; • $4.40) 
(Charles Boyer, Vincent Price, 
Cedric Hardwicke, Agnes Moore- 
head). Played to SRO $26,000. 

‘Girl’ $23,000 in Mpls.; 

Biggest Biz of Tour 

Minneapolis, Nov. 18. 

Third of the promised seven 
Theatre Guild subscription season 
offerings and playing exclusively 
here in the Twin Cities, "Country 
Girl,” with Robert Young, Dane 
Clark and Nancy Kelly, pulled a 
whopping $23,000 for six nights 
and two matinees at $4.20 top at 
the 1,859-seat Lyceum. It was the 
show’s biggest single week’s gross 
to date on its tour, which started 
oh the west coast. 

Current is "Guys and Dolls,” 
back for 10 performances in seven 
nights opening last night (Mon.) 
and continuing through Saturday 
(22). The musical pulled $78,000 
for 10 nights and 12 performances 
just one year ago here. Unlike 
last year, the show is confining its 
Twin Cities visit to Minneapolis, 
and St. Paul newspapers have re- 
fused to accept its paid ads. They 
recently reversed ■ their policy in 
this regard, and began selling 
space for shows passing up their 
city while coming' here* 


Broadway bounced back to po- 
tent business last week after the 
doldrums of the presidential elec- 
tion period, Virtually all shows re- 
sponded to the brisk pace, with 
some individual grosses jumping 
as much as $10,000 over the pre- 
vious stanza. There were eight 
solid sellouts over the lull eight- 
performance canto. Attendance was 
off a bit Monday night (17). 

Last week’s only opener, the 
French repertory group of Made- 
leine Renaud and Jeim-Louis Bar- 
rault, drew generally 5 glowing 
notices and went clean for its first 
five performances. Of the other 
recent arrivals, "Deep Blue Sea” 
was SRO for its first full week, but 
"Climate of Eden” failed to better 
its slack initial part-week. “Dial 
‘M’ for Murder” sold out all per- 
formances. 

"In Any. Language” folded last 
week, ana this week’s scheduled 
closings include “Point of No Re- 
turn” and "Climate of Eden,” 

Estimates for Last Week 

Keys : C (Comedy), D (Drama), 
CD ( Comedy-Drama ), R (Revue), 
MC ( Musical Comedy ), MD (Musi- 
cal Drama), O (Operetta ) . 

Other parenthetic designations 
refer, respectively, to top prices; 
number of seats, capacity gross and 
stars. Price includes 20% amuse * 
ment tax, but grosses are net : i.e., 
exclusive of tax. 

“Bemardine,” Playhouse (5th 
wk) (S-$4.80; 999; $21,500). About 
$17,700 (previous week $15,900). 

“Climate of Eden,” Beck (2d wk) 
(D-$6-$4.80; 1,214; $31,000),. Just 
reached. $8,900 (previous week, 
$5,200 for first four performances); 
closing Saturday night (22). 

“Deep Blue Sea,” Morosco (2d 
wk) (D-$6-$4.80; 912; $26,000) 

(Margaret Sullavan). Standee limit 
at all performances for over $26,- 
600, including three theatre parties 
.(previous week, capacity $23,600 
for first five performances and two 
previous). 

“Dial ‘M’ for Murder,” Plymouth 
(Sd wk) (D-$4.80; 1,063; $30,000) 
(Maurice Evans). Went clean at all 
shows, with party commissions lim- 
iting the take to $29,900 (previous 
week, $28,600). 

“Evening With Beatrice Lillie,” 
Booth (7th wk) (R-$6; 900; $24,500) 
(Beatrice Lillie, Reginald Gardi- 
ner). About $24,500 (previous week, 
$24,000)'. 

“Fourposter,” Barrymore (56th 
wk) (C-$4.80; 1,060; $24,996) (Betty 
Field, Burgess Meredith). Nearly 
$17,700 (previous week, $13,000). 

French Repertory, Ziegfeld (1st 
wk) (C-$4.80; 1,628; $38,750) (Made- 
leine Renaud,' Jean-Louis Bar- 
rault). Opened Wednesday (12) to 
generally enthusiastic notices; first 
five performances went absolutely 
clean at over $24,000; engagement 
is being extended beyond the origi-J 
nally scheduled four weeks. ^ 

Gilbert & Sullivan, Hellinger 
(4th wk) (C-$4.80; 1,507; $40,113). 
“Iolanthe” drew $22,500 as the 
closing bill, bringing the total gross 
for the four-week engagement to 
$84,700; closed Saturday night (15), 
to tour. . - 

“Guys and Dolls,” 46th ..Street 
(104th wk) (MC-$6,60?>L319; $43,- 
004). Back to standee limit* at $44 r 
400 (previous week,” $3&,Q00). 

“In Any Language*”* Cort> (6th 
wk) (C-$4, 80; ,*lr,056>: $27,700) (Uta 
Hagen). Almost $10$00 (previous, 
week, $10,300); folded Saturday 
night (15) after 45 performances, 
at a loss of about $67,000. 

“King and I,” St. James (86th 
wk) <MD-$7.20; 1,571; $51,717) 

(Yul Brynner). Back to capacity, 
$51,700 ^previous week-,--$44r;900>. 

“Male Animal/’ Music Box (29th 
wk) (C-$4.80; 1,012; $25,903, (El- 
liott Nugent, Martha Scott, Robert 
Preston). Just under $18,000 (pre- 
vious week, $10,300).' 

“Millionairess,” Shubert (5th 
wk) (C-$6-$4.80; 1,361; $39,000) 

(Katharine Hepburn). Getting the 
standee limit, almost $39,800 (pre- 
vious week, $38,700). 

“Moon is Blue/’ Miller (89th wk) 
(C-$4.80; 920; $21,586) (Donald 

Cook, Barry Nelson, Janet Riley). 
Nearly $13,200 (previous week, $9,- 
600). 

“Mrs. McThing,” 48th Street 
(32d wk) (C-$4.80; 925; $22,927) 
(Helen Hayes). Over $21,300 (pre- 
vious week, $16,000). 

• “My Darlin* Aida,* Winter Gar- 
den (3d wk) (0-$7.20-$6.60; 1,519; 
$51,881). Almost $44,000 (previous 
week, $44,400). 

“New Faces,” Royale (27th wk) 
(R-$6; 1,035; $30,600). Just, missed 
$30,000 (previous week, $23,500). 

I “Pal Joey/* Broadhurst ’(46th 


wk) (MC-$6.60; 1.160; $39,602) Vi- 
vienne Segal, Harold Lang). Just 
over $39,000 (previous week, $31,- 
000 ). 

“Point of No Return,” Alvin 
(44th wk) iD-$4.80-$6; 1,331; $37,- 
924) (Henry Fonda). Topped $24,- 
500 (previous week, $17,900); clos- 
ing Saturday night (22) to tour. 

“South Pacific,” Majestic (187th 
wk) <MC-$6; 1,659; $50,186) (Mar- 
tha Wright, George Britton). Just 
under $46,000 (previous week, $35,- 
200 ). 

“Time of the Cuckoo,” Empire 
(5th wk) (D-$6-$4.80; 1.082; $25,- 
056) (Shirley Booth). Went clean 
again, with party commissions lim- 
iting the take to $24,200 (previous 
week. $24,200). 

“Wish- You Were Here,” Impe- 
rial <21st wk) <MC-$7.20; 1,400; 
$52,080). Nearly $52,200 (previous 
week. $49,800). 

OPENING THIS WEEK 

Greek National Theatre, Hellin- 
ger <D-$4.80; 1.507; $40,113) (Alex- 
is Minotis, Katina Paxinou). Guth- 
rie McClintic presentation o f 
Greek group in repertory, opening 
tonight (Wed.) with "Electra” and 
next week offering "Oedipus Ty- 
rannus.” 

“Severn* Year Itch/* Fulton (C- 
$4.80; 1.063; $23,228). Courtney 
Burr & Elliott Nugent production 
of George Axelrod play, featuring 
Tom Ewell and Vanessa Brown; 
opens tomorrow night (Thurs.). 


Itch’ $19,5(10, Hub; 

‘Temptation’ Okay 

Boston, Nov. 18. 

Big noise this week is Bette 
Davis’ "Two’s Company,” which 
bowed into the Shubert last night 
(Mon.) for two-weeker, with tickets 
at a premium. "Temptation of 
Maggy Haggerty” looks okay in 
second frame with "Good Nite 
Ladies” skidding in fifth week at 
Majestic. "Don Juan in Hell” bows 
into RKO Boston for the week of 
Nov. 24. 

Estimates for Last Week 

“Good- Nite Ladies/* Majestic 
(4th wk) ($3.60; 1,100). Near $12,- 
500 for fourth stanza. 

“Seven Year Itch/* Wilbur (2d 
wk) ($3.60; 1,200). Jumped to sock 
$19,500 for final week. 

“Temptation of Maggy Haggerty/* 
Brattle (1st wk) ($3.60; 454). Not 
bad $4,500. 


‘SIXPENCE’ FAIR $10,800 
IN NEW HAVEN TRYOUT 

New Haven, Nov. 18. 

Premiere of "I’ve Got Sixpence,” 
costarring Edmond O’Brien and 
Viveca Lindfors, at Shubert last 
Wednesday-Saturday (12-15) drew 
only so-so biz. Mixed reaction to 
the John van Druten play was re- 
flected at the boxoffice, with fair 
window sale ' following opening 
night. Take for five performances 
af $4.20 top was almost; $10,800. 

There’s 0 good 1 advance "Don 
Juan in Hell,” due fiext Thursday- 
Saturday (20-22), with Vincent 
Price subbing for ' Charles Laugh- 
ton. * Next”<week gets preem of 
“Grey Eyed- People,” Nov. 27-29, 
then house has nothing further 
booked until "Business Is Busi- 
ness, ’’.due Christmas night. 


‘Madam’ Neat $36,400, 

In 1st Detroit Week 

Detroit, Nov. 18. 

"Call Me Madam,” featuring 
Elaine Stritch and Kent Smith, 
grossed a good $36,400 at the 
2,050-seat Shubert last week in the 
first of a three week run. . 

The Cass, currently dark, re- 
opens Nov. 24 with Katharine Cor- 
nell, Robert Flemyng and John 
Emery in "Constant Wife.” 


‘Okla.’ 33G in Canada 

Saskatoon, Sask., Nov. 18. 

"Oklahoma” had a healthy eight- 
performance split last week with 
a total of just under $33,000 be- 
tween the Capitol, Regina, and the 
Capitol here. 

Theatre Guild musical is play- 
ing the Grand, Calgary, all this 
week and goes to the Metropolitan, 
Seattle, next -week*/ < 

* • * \ • 4 -v 


60 


LEGITI91ATE 


Wednesday, November 19, 1952 


Plays Out of Town 


Continued from page 51 


See The Jaguar 

vides the dialog of his characters 
between abstractions that try to be 
poetic and down-to-earth gab of 
the people he deals with. When his 
characters speak in the latter vein, 
they are real and convincing. 

The writing, of Nash is strong 
and stirring. So are his characters. 
He has created with skill invigor- 
ating characters of the southwest 
mountain regions. Basically, “Jag- 
uar” is the story of human con- 
flicts and emotions and of man s 
cruelty to man. 

Play revolves about a gentle 
schoolteacher (Arthur Kennedy) 
who tries to live by a law of prin- 
ciple and conduct in an area that 
knows only brute strength and 
power. He is in love with the 
daughter (Constance Ford) of the 
landowner tyrant (Cameron Prud- 
’homme). This man controls his 
mountainside with an iron fist. 
Everyone is under his domination 
because they owe him money. He 
sets the laws and they live by them. 

He is opposed to the school- 
teacher’s presence in the area be- 
cause he is upsetting the people 
with thought processes. Ultimate- 
ly the school-teacher is killed while 
bucking the code of the area. 

Michael Gordon turns in an ex- 
ceptional directorial job. In this 
he is aided by a highly competent 
cast. 

Very convincing is the moun- 
tain scene in which the tyrant’s 
daughter threatens to kill her un- 
born illegitimate child after her 
father had threatened the school- 
teacher. Miss Ford does a fine act- 
ing job. along with Kennedy. Prud- 
'liomme is convincing in his role. 
Hoy Fant, in the type of role pop- 
ularized by Gabby Hayes, is also 
- topnotch. James Dean i$. good as 
a weak-minded boy. 

Phillip Pine, does well, as do 
David Clarke and Margaret Barker. 
The outdoor mountain sets of Lem- 
uel Ayers are outstanding. EcJc. 


Cornell Warn $27,500 

On Week in Montreal 

' Montreal, Nov, 18. 

“Constant Wife” with Katharine 
to be a buster, and all ends hap- Cornell in the lead drew $27,500 
pily. ■ last week at Her Majesty’s with 

The author, assisted by one of this 1,704-seater scaled to $3^94. 
the most imaginative and complex Betty Garrett and £arry Pa 
sets (by John Blankenship) to ap- are current with Anonymous 
pear in some time, starts off by Lover. ’ Ballet Theatre op 
creating authentic atmosphere and Monday (24 » for one week, 
authentic characters. But he does — - " , n 

not maintain the expectancy of the 'V/tAfplt SviTUmflllV li 66111 
opening scenes, and shortly the OCOltfl l iwn 

play begins to come apart because 
of the too mingled elements and 
the incongruity of the character 
of Fergus, who is never convinc- 
ing 

The girl (nicely played by Phyl- For the ft 
is Love) isn't any too convincing of the fall s ° n » N. Y » a Y a J 
either. The best character, aside Ballet unveiled George , 
from Maggy Haggerty herself m chine’s Scotch Symphony at City 
a superb realization by Evelyn Center, N. Y., last Tuesday (ID- 
Varden, is that of the quack done Set to three movements of Men- 
by Ray Walston, whose command delssohn’s Scotch Symphony, the 
of the stage is accentuated by per- ballet is a charming work, npt one 
feet delivery and timing. ' Leon 0 f Balanchine’s major creations or 
Janney does well with an eccentrid a stirring achievement, but an at- 
who tends to confuse the issue, tractive, modest choreographic 
and there are excellent bits by Con f ec ti 0 n nevertheless, that will 
William Hansen, Maxine Stuart ^ G pleaSan t, permanent spot in 


Adds Pleasant Highland 
Touch to N.Y. Terp Season 


and Salem Ludwig. Don Hammer . reoertorv 
as Fergus manages very well, but | ““S' 
the character is an impossible one 
to give any verity to. 


Temptation of Maggy 
Haggerty 

Cambridge, Nov. 18. 

Brattle Theatre production of play in 
two acts (4 scenes) by James McGee. 
Directed by Martin Ritt. Scenery and 
costumes, John Blankenship. At Brattle 
Theatre, Cambridge, Nov. 18, '32. 

Tom Davis William Hansen 

Maggy Haggerty ......... Evelyn Varden 

Julius Zuppa Salem Ludwig 

Lola McLaughlin Phyllis Love 

Johnny Malloy Ray Walston 

Ruthie Maxine Stuart 

Mrs. Grizwald ........... Mary Jackson 

Jerry Ryan Leon Janney 

Fergus Haggerty Don Hanmer 

In the off-Broadway vein, “Temp- 
tation” stands as a nearnmiss by a 
\ playwright who might well de- 
velop into a first-class craftsman 
with a lot of inventive fancy and 
a good deal to say. It wouldn’t 
have a chance on Broadway, but 
nonetheless it reveals much of the 
unruly power that Tennessee Wil- 
liams showed in his “Battle of An- 
gels” a decade or more ago. 

Main trouble with it as it stands 
now is & faulty story line that takes 
a set of strong and vital characters 
through a series of episodes that 
verge now on the mystical, now on 
the symbolic, now on the signifi- 
cant and now on the melodramatic. 
In the end it leaves the audience 
much too aware of its flaws to 
cause them to be really moved, 
touched or satisfied. 

Play opens as Maggy Haggerty, 
a blowsy but vigorous-minded 
lodging-house proprietor, awaits 
the return of her son, Fergus, who 
ran away from home a dozen years 
before at the age of 13. Fergus, 
through occasional letters, has told 
of his exploits as a sailor during 
the war, and has achieved the sta- 
tus of a hero in his mother’s mind, 
as well as in that of a wraith-like 

girl. .who Jives in the house 

The hero's return is looked upon 
as a threat to a quack pyschiatrist 
who occupies the first floor and 
who hopes to con Maggy out of 
her savings by means of black 
magic. 1 The son, however, turns 
out to be a runt who’s never been 
farther away from N. Y. than Hell’s 
Kitchen, which disillusions Maggy 
to the extent that she repudiates 
him and falls into the con man’s 
black magic. But Fergus turns out 


A combo romantic-classic ballet 
with no definite s^ory theme, the 
. • u i i j work has a colorful first movement 

The production is first-class and Patricia Wilde’s bril- 

the direction by Martin Ritt is lu* io ne- a noetic second 

SW'SSS! 

Fng pfece tM^evealf^'go^ddlal feelingly by- MariaTaUchief and 
of originality, integrity and force Andre Eglevsky, and a i fin 1 
but only within the frame-work of works m an ensemble into graceiui 
the experimental theatre. Elie. dance steps with Highland ovei- 

tones. . 

Troupe is being augmented this 
An Anonymous Lover week with return of Diana Adams 
(HER MAJESTY’S, MONTREAL) and Hugh Laing, back from a film 
Montreal, Nov. 17. stint in Europe, who’ll appear Fn- 
With a small cast, single set, day and Saturday (21-22), and by 
plenty of. innuendo and breathless Nora Kaye (now in the Bette 
pace, Louis Mandel’s production of Davis revue, “Twos Company ), 
An .Anonymous Xave>” cinch*. .whoUl. appear . Sunday . 
eroo for roadshowing. Heading up in “Age of Anxiety.” Bron. 
this lightweight comedy by Vernon 
Sylvaine is the latest man-and-wife 
theatre combo of Ldrry Parks and 
Betty Garrett, and both are ex- 
cellent in their respective parts. 

“Lover” concerns the plight of a 
well-meaning author (Parks) who 
unintentionally writes his best 


Little Theatres Now Big Time 


Continued from page 57 


BETTE’S ‘COMPANY’ BIG 
41G NEW Pin RECORD 

Pittsburgh, Nov. 18. 
Bette *Davis show, “Two’s Corn- 
friend’s wife into the lead of his pany,” last week gave the Nixon 
just-opened play. Friend’s wife a new high for the season, getting 
(Miss Garrett) takes exception to a sizzling $41,000 at $5.20 top ($4 
personal inferences; fights with plus 30% in federal and city taxes) 
her husband; finds out during the and $5.85 for Friday and Saturday 
fight that he has been unfaithful nights. Une'ncouragmg 6 notices 
to her several years ago, and then didn’t seem to hurt much for revue 
vents her wrath on the unsuspect- built steadily down the stretch and 
ing author and his conniving wife, in final two performances grabbed 
who supplied the intimate facts almost $11,000. Show is still being 
that made the new play a success, revised and recast. / 

Standout in the midst of this The take for the Davis starrer 
froth is Miss Garrett, whose clicko topped that of “Top Banana, the 
theatricalisms are apparent Nixon’s previous top-notcher, by 
throughout. She is hilarious when better than $3,000. ‘Twos Corn- 
attacking the bewildered and sex- pany” opened to a mail order and 
shy author after celebration of window advance of around $27,000. 
their temporary marriage break- “Paint Your Wagon” is current, 
ups. Her sense of timing and gen- with Bert Wheelers Maid in the 
eral show savvy do much to pull Ozarks” coming in Monday (24) as 
the play together last-minute replacement for can- 

Parks plays it broad and fast at celled “Jane ” which folded on 
all times, handling a rather stereo- road. Nixon then has Van Heflin 
typed part with vigor, although } n “The Shrike, and Henry Fonda 
sometimes overdoing doubletakes *n “Point of No Return set in sue 
and unnecessarily milking for cession, 
yocks. George Hall convinces at 

all times, his suave appearance Jaguar Lively $9,500 (4) 
and refreshingly restrained per- T TT j o 1*4. 

formance garnering nice reception. In UarttOra opilt-WCCK 
Helen Baron as the author’s wife Hartford, Nov. 18. 

with the jealous, protective inclina- i n four performances last Thurs- 
tions is attractive, but maintains day-Saturday (13-15), “See The 
a dithering breathless level that Jaguar” grossed an excellent $9,- 
tends to- become slightly monoto- 500 at the New Parsons here. It 
nous. was a breakin date for the N. Rich 

Parks has staged a fast-moving a rd Nash play. A strong subscrip- 
legiter that is smooth and enter- tion sale plus b.o. draw of Arthur 
taining. Script has been neatly Kennedy*Aided considerably. Usual 
adapted from the original London top of $4.20 prevailed, 
presentation to the American way, House plays art films until Nov 
and set by Salzrrfan of a typical 28, when it preems an omnibus bill 
Connecticut country home is work- “An Evening With Will Shake 
able and honest. speare,” of readings by Claude 

VLover” is a doubtful, film pos- Rains, Eva LaGallienne, Margaret 
sibililfr as it now stands, unless Webster, Leueen MacGrath and 
much rewriting is done, Deleting others 
the main topic of conversation, 
the business of husbands being un- 
faithful and of past and present 

affairs, would leave little London, Nov. 11 

Following the current tour, a p C ^r hi 16 

New York try is tentative for the Comedy Theatre by The Trouble- 

New Year, but general tightening makers.” a play by U. S. author 
and firmer direction will be need- George Beliak, came to an end last 


U. S. Play Exits London 


ed before this is attempted. 

Newt. 


> 



GAB CALLOWAY 

Sportin' Lift 

"PORGY AND BESS" 

Now— STOLL THEATRE, LONDON 

"Cob Calloway give* 'Sportin' Life' a wel- 
come comic tWi*t” W. A. DARLINGTON 

Mgt.: BILL MITTLER, U11 Broadway. Now York 


Saturday (15>. Because there was 
no other house available, the pro- 
duction has folded. It opened 
originally at the Strand Theatre 
Sept. 16 but was compelled to 
move out for “The River Line.” 

Its transfer to the Comedy was 
agreed in advance for a maximum 
of three weeks because another 
play was scheduled for opening 
last night (Mon.). Negotiations for 
another West End house have 
been unsuccessful and the com- 
pany has been disbanded. Play 
starred Gene Lyons, American TV 
actor, who copped rava notices 
from the London crix. 


York job. A production of “Pres- 
ent Laughter” in Pittsburgh Play- 
house last winter quite essentially 
lacked certain polish, but the tim- 
ing left nothing to be desired, and 
virtually every laugh was captured 
by a telling performance .in the 
part of an amateur who lias acted 
for six straight seasons with Fred 
Burleigh. 

True Renaissance 

In Washington the other eve- 
ning, Arena Theatre presented 
Noel Coward’s “Tonight at 8:30,” 
including “Fumed Oak” and “Still 
Life” in the repertory. All that 
can be said, and perhaps all that 
should be said, is that the skill 
and satire of Noel Coward came 
to life on that amateur stage for 
250 persons; and the brilliance of 
this playwright became apparent to 
an audience of youngsters (mostly 
in their 20s) who could not pos- 
sibly have seen Coward and Ger- 
trude Lawrence do these plays. 

There is so much talk, and there 
has been for the past five years, 
about restoring the theatre to its 
former glory, of uplifting the 
spoken drama from the doldrums, 
and bringing about a general re- 
form. 

It is quite possible, however, 
that all this is happening without 
any committee or group doing very 
much about it, and that the true 
renaissance of the spoken drama is 
occurring nightly and throughout 
the land in this much neglected 
realm of little theatre. 

A brief analysis of the values in- 
volved may provide some clue to 
whatever trend lies buried in this 
situation. 

The first element involved is that 
in this great literate nation there 
is, an .enormous cultural .demand 
or theatre. This public (a minor- 
ity, but a determined minority) 
wants to go to the theatre and it 
will patronize, and learn to love, 
any dedicated group providing it 
with the cultural fare it "seeks. 

A large aspect of this cultural in- 
vest lies in the classics and near- 
classics, as has been proven when 
he professional theatre occasion- 
ally does a fine production of an 
important old play. 

Another phase of this public 
hunger for theatre lies in the gen- 
eral demand (outside of New 
York) for living productions of re- 
cent Broadway successes, the sort 
of plays John Mason Brown often 
has to tell his wide lecture audi- 
ence were not good enough box- 
office-wise to lour. Just the Brown 
lectures alone would be enough to 
stimulate interest in these half-hits 
of Broadway. 

However, there are many other 
avenues of public discussion, in- 
cluding the literary magazines, and 
some syndicated columnists. In 
short, the production of last sea- 
son’s cultural or artistic success in 
Des Moines or Dallas is pre-sold 
to a small but determined audi- 
ence; there is a public for it. 

And, as Arena Stage in Wash- 
ington. and Pasadena Playhouse 
in California, and hundreds of oth- 
er little theatres everywhere have 
discovered, people just like to go to 
the theatre and keep themselves 
properly informed and stimulated, 
and since the road is suffering at- 
trition, and less and less seems 
able to fill the cultural void, the 
semi-pro and amateur theatre is 
the logical place to turn to. Cer 
tainly, Fred McConnell’s three lit 
tie theatres in Cleveland, some 
times playing nightly to 1,300 per- 
sons while the Hanna is dark, 
should be a clue to what is going 
on in a lesser vein in other com 

munities. 

Little Drama Bayous 

The trend then, if, indeed that 
is what it may- be called, is for 
Phoenix-like rebirth of cultural 
theatre in the hundreds of little 
bayous of drama, away from the 
troubled and tormented main- 
stream of bigtime commercial the- 
atre. 

Naturally, the evolution of this 
movement is essentially slow and 
painful, as in many cities the off- 
Main Street theatre is almost en- 
tirely neglected by the press. How- 
ever, in . cities ^like Cleveland, 
Pittsburgh, Washington, Boston— 
where the press sometimes gives 
the local drama equally careful at- 
tention with bigtime . legit — this 
new little theatre movement takes 
giant strides. 

In what way does all this little 
theatre activity apply to perform 
ers and technicians in the bigtime? 

For one thing, it should indicate 
that the attitude of condescension 


is at least out of joint. The little 
theatre is actually the big theatre 
in the inland. 


Free, Liberal Voice 

For another, and to those who 
are truly devoted to the drama as 
a great liberal voice, it should be 
apparent that the freedom and un- 
restricted operational field of liuie 
theatre is the place to organize and 
evolve the theatre of tomorrow. 
Various programs to reform the 
spoken theatre have almost always 
emanated from within the struc- 
ture of the confined’ bigtime legit 
— such as the American National 
Theatre & Academy. 

There is no question that one as- 
pect of ANTA’s ideals was entirely 
sound — the grouping of the tribu- 
tary theatre. Essentially, conflicts 
arose between the dedication of 
amateur and pro. However, ANTA 
did inspire such organizations as 
the New England Theatre Confer- 
ence, which, new virtually broken 
away from ANTA, and entirely au- 
tonomous, can function effectively 
on a regional basis. The NETC 
will have an important future. And, 
of course, there is a bridge, if in 
none other than Elliot Norton, 
drama critic of the Boston Post, 
who is chairman of the New Eng« 
land group. 

One plan now being discussed by 
the tributary groups calls for ap- 
plication to a foundation for funds 
to bring all this amateur operation 
into proper, focus. Another plan, 
discussed recently in Boston, calls • 
for establishing an agency for a 
businesslike distribution of new 
and worthwhile scripts for multiple 
productions by university drama 
departments and thereby laying an 
important bridgework for the phys- 
ical production of new playwrights. 

Another very valuable service 
could exist in the distribution of 
talented performers and craftsmen 
of theatre into these various tribu- 
tary dramatic groups, and a study 
of the organized professional the- 
atre with a thought of relaxing 
some of the more severe restraints. 
Many community theatres would 
be vastly stimulated if they could 
support second-lead players from 
the Broadway legit with their ama- 
teur companies. They would be 
able to attempt a more advanced 
type of production, and, what is 
equally important, give a minimum 
income of a continuous nature to 
many fine ptayers~whor ‘often sit 
around for months in New York 
waiting for “the right part.” 

Some general understanding of 
the true value of little theatre in 
the overall national scene is* neces- 
sary to break down many miscon- 
ceptions of these important, small- 
money dramatic groups. 

Whether or not an actual work- 
ing basis for free flow of talent 
from professional to amateur is 
evolved will not, however, retard 
seriously the renaissance of theatre 
throughout the nation in this little 
bigtime community theatre. 


‘Roberts’ Okay $17,800 
In Week of Splits 

Milwaukee, Nov. 18, 
“Mister Roberts” coined a satis- 
factory profit last week on a total 
gross of $17,800 for eight perform- 
ances over four stands. The Tod 
Andrews starrer pulled $4,100 for 
two performances Monday-Tuesday 
(10-11) at the Palace, Rockford, 
111.; added $4,000 on a one-nighter 
Wednesday (12) at the Rialto, Jo- 
liet; and wound up with $9,700 for 
five showings Thursday-Sunday ‘ 
(13-16) at the Davidson here. 

Leland - Hayward - --production is 
splitting the current week between 
Oshkosh, Green Bay, Manitowoc 
and Madison, and divides next 
week between Minneapolis and 
Rochester, Minn. 


‘Wagon’ Mired at $15,000 
In Slow Cincy Season 

Cincinnati, Nov. 18. 
Cincy’s first musical of the sea- 
son, “Paint Your Wagon,” struck 
a $15,000 rut last week in the 
000-seat Taft . Theatre. Top was 
$4.92, and $5.54 Saturday night. 
Same house has Phil Silvers m 
“Top Banana” this week. , 

Of three plays in ahead oi 
“Wagon,” the only winner was i 
Am a Camera,” shaping a disap- 
pointing start for the season. 
semester lias increased booking 
over 1951-52, when engagemems 
were not bunched and didn t sea 
until mid-December after Shubci 
arid unions settled a wage dispu 


WwlnewlaT, November 19, 1952 


PftfZlETY 


LITERATI 


61 


Literati 


Holt’s Stock Divvy in Stock 

«pnrv Holt & Co. last week dis- 
tributed 3 stock dividend of one 

niinnn share for each 20 shares 
outstanding, to stockholders of rec- 

“stockholders entitled to a fraction 

* a share were paid in cash, cal- 
culated^t the rate of $7.87 V4 per 
gliare (price on the N.Y. Guru rax 
change, Oct. 17>- 

Devastating Ticture’ 

Lillian Ross’ "Picture <A Story 
About Hollywood)” (Rinehart; 
£> 50) is even more devastating re- 
portage in cohesive book form than 
fn its original New Yorker series. 
Fact that the same blow-by-blow 
labor pains undoubtedly would 
iliow up with equal disillusionment 
in such mundanfe industries as put- 
ting together a new hardware store 
item or a piece of furniture, is ig- 
nored but then, who cares about 
nuts and couches excepting if of 
the Hollvwood brand. There’s more 
clamor in the travail that goes into 
an illfated item called “The Red 
Badge of Courage” than in putting 
together a new automobile model. 
Taken out of context, or even in 
context, almost any industry would 
expose itself rather iconoclastical- 
Iv if held up fo the same ultra 
candid Ross treatment, but it looks 
better in celluloid. 

Since The New Yorker series it 
has been said by Metroites, around 
whose film this saga is scripted, 
that Miss Ross “imagined” some 
of the things, but there is no dis- 
puting the ring of authenticity 
throughout. This is clinical report- 
age on Hollywood, a first in its in- 
side stuff attendant to a film from 
cradle to screen. As such it’s in- 
formative. Its appeal as enter- 
tainment reading has long since 
been attested to. when first pub- 
lished in the weekly mag last 


Around the World.” This new one 
is the result of 18 months’ world 
travel. Also somewhat in the show 
biz idiom is the Bernarr WEacfad- 
den biog, “Dumbbells and Carrot 
Strips,” . by Emile Gauvreau and 
Mary (Mrs. Bernarr) Macfadden, 
postponed until the spring. And 
Albert Spalding, the violinist, has 
himself authored a romantic novel, 
“A Fiddle, a Sword, and a Lady,” 
which despite its title is said to 
be merely a “romantic novel,” de- 
void of any autobiographical infer- 
ences. The virtuoso some years 
ago also wrote a non-fiction piece 
for the old Holt Co. (before the 
present Ed Rigg management^, so 
this is not his first literary flyer. 

Also in the neo-show biz idiom 
is the forthcoming “Nieman-Marcus 
Story,” also via Holt, by Frank Tol- 
bert, city editor of the Dallas 
Morning News, due this spring. 


Leo Lerman, Ann Barzel, Miss Pal- 
mer, Chujoy and others. Tenta- 
tive publication date is April 15, 
’53. 

Knopf is also bringing out, next 
March, Chujoy’s history of the 
N. Y. City Ballet, titled “The N. Y. 
City Ballet: A Story of an Achieve- 
ment.” 




SCULLY’S SCRAPBOOK :: 




By Frank Scully ++ 


♦ ♦4+ + 4 M 4. 


■ Hollywood. 

The hysteria caused by the first showing of Cinerama in a Broadway 
Nieman-Marcus Vs. L-M j house reminds me that all this happened before, but to different people 

timer dismiss tte^? 000 000 • in a different way and at a different time in the history of show biz. 
libel action brought by Nieman- iThe details which have not changed are these: the showing took place 
hat m j ^ ^ ------- p in a theatre, it involved photographs of moving objects (a train in- 

stead of a scenic railway), it made people scream and it changed the 


spring. 


Abel. 


Gert Lawrence Biog Reissue 

Richard Rodgers and Oscar 
Hammerstein 2d will write the in- 
troduction, foreword, eulogy and 
possibly also assist in updating “A 
Star Danced,” a revised postmor- 
tem edition of Gertrude Law- 
rence’s autobiography, originally 
published by Doubleday in 1946. 
Because the cycle of show biz 
books, of late, have done so well 
Bill Buckley, veep of Henry Holt 
& Co., and executive editor Wil- 
liam Raney are working out a deal 
with Fanny Holtzmann, attorney 
and air executoruf the iate- actress’- 
estate, for the updated version 
which may be followed by an an- 
thology of “appreciation” pieces 
on the star who died recently. 

Incidentally, since Holt’s click 
with “Show Biz (From Vaude to 
Video),” by Abel Green and Joe 
Laurie, Jr., that house is bullish 
on show biz-flavored books. Rich- 
ard Gehman, mag writer, is doing 
one about Sardi’s restaurant. 
Stephen Longstreet, who did the 
libretto of the Broadway musical, 
“High Button Shoes,” and .who au- 
thored “Beach House,” a thinly 
disguised Hollywood story for Holt 
last summer, is bioging Lauritz 
Melchior under the title of “The 
Great Dane.” Longstreet is pro- 
lifically. grinding out two others 
for Holt before the Melchior chore, 
which is for next fall; first “The 
Studebaker Story,” which includes 
100 years of Americana as paral- 
leled by that automotive product, 
and in the spring he has “The 
World Revisited” due, as a sort of 
sequel to a former (Simon & 
Schuster) travel book, “Last Man 


Cleve. Press Shindig 

With Henny Youngman and 
Kukla, Fran & Ollie headlining a 
12-star card, the Cleveland News- 
paper Guild and Cleveland Press 
Club staged (15) the most, success- 
ful “Page One Bali” in the event’s 
seven-year history, 

Youngman emceed the two-and- 
one-half hour show before a record 
crowd of 1,000 in Hotel Carter. Be- 
sides the Kuklapolitan* Players, 
other artists who appeared were 
Dick Haymes, Buddy Greco, Billy 
Shepard and Bibi Johns; the Tom- 
my Wonder-Margaret Banks dance 
team; starlet Mary Castle; pianist- 
songster Johnny Andrews; accordi- 
onist Gene LaMarca and the Four 
Woodsons, the latter closing the 
shindig. 

Clint Noble’s band furnished the 
music. Robert C. Stafford, presi- 
dent of the Guild, and Jack Sheri- 
dan, Press Club prexy, were in 
charge. *■'■■■ 



When Is A Bestseller? 

Anomalous situation on best- 
seller lists, in which some fast- 
moving titles aren’t included, is 
decried by Publishers’ Weekly. 
Journal points out that while 
Harper’s “Tallulah” has been top- 
ping several lists, including the 
N. Y. Times’ and PW’s, With 
Variety reporting its sales as oyer 
70,000, Nelson’s “Revised Standard 
Version of the Holy Bible” (which 
has sold over 1,000,000) and Holt’s 
Dennis the Menace” cartoon, book 
(with sales over 50,000) don’t show. 

Explanation appears to be that 
many stores don’t Hst ..Bibles., new. 
cookbooks, novelty items and car- 
toon tomes, such as Simon & 
Schuster’s “I Go Pogo,” (another 
current fave), to the chart com- 
pilers. 


Marcus, Texas department store, 
and 53 'employees came up in 
N. Y. Federal Court yesterday 1 
(18). Plaintiffs, who claim they 
were libelled by Lait-Mortimer’s 
“U.S.A. Confidential,” amended 
their complaint after Judge Thom- 
as F. Murphy in August had dis- 
missed the complaint brought by 
the individuals although allowing 
the complaint by the store to stand. 

Decision is expected in a month 
or two. 

Attorney Hyman I. Fischbach fens 
Lait-Mortimer had contended that 
the .complaint filed by Paul, Weiss, 
Rif kind, Wharton & Garrison for 
the plaintiffs, was defective, among 
other reasons, because the plain- 
tiffs .attempted to sue a class.; 
Legalite for the authors argues 
that since ‘the remarks were made 
about “some salesmen” and “some 
models,” no individual salesman or 
model can claim libel. He -also con- 
tends even if the book said some- 
thing about “all salesgirls,” the 
group is too large for any individ- 
uals to bring an action. 

Should the amended complaint 
be tossed out, plaintiffs might file 
again. If complaints are permit- 
ted td stand, case probably 
wouldn’t come up for trial for an- 
other 18 months. 

At yesterday’s hearing a motion 
was made by N-M for a court or- 
der to exclude the press when 
L&M are on the stand in pre-trial 
examination. LgcM vigorously op- 
posed the motion and insist their 
testimony be taken publicly. 

.. Crown, which published “U.S.A.,” 
got itself off the legal hook by 
taking full page^ads in several key 
dailies apologizing' to N-M and its 
employees and thus was not made 
a defendant in the suit. 


SEP ‘Revolt* Attacked • 

The Saturday Evening Post has 
been asked to make a public retrac- 
tion of statements concerning for- 
mer Mayor of Philadelphia S. Davis 
Wilson, contained in the second ar- 
ticle in Roger Butterfield’s series, 
“Revolt in Philadelphia,” printed 
in its Nov. 15 issue. 

Demand was made by Attorney 
Joseph Sharfsin, representing the 
widow of Wilson. Sharfsin was 
City Solicitor during Wilson’s , re- 
gime (1936-39). In the letter sent 
both to Butterfield and Ben Hibbs. 
editor of the Post, Sharfsin picked 
out four references which he 
branded “false, outrageous and 

In his letter Sharfsin told But- 
terfield: “In my judgment, you 
reach the uttermost limits of cow- 
ardice and malice when you single 
out a departed soul as the victim 
of your sick imagination.” 

Cedric Adams* Click Book 

It’s fitting that a multiple-threat 
writer-broadcaster like Cedric 
Adams would whip up a “Poor 
Cedric’s- Almanac” - in the breezy 
manner that he does. It’s full -of 
quips, nifties, sagacities and 
absurdities— -rich in humor that be- 
speaks a full life and a keen ob- 
servation. Arthur Godfrey did the 
intro and Bob Hope the postscript, 
but Adams, of the Minneapolis 
Tribune Adamses, and a Twin 
Cities institution on AM&TV, 
doesn’t need this window-dressing 
to sustain his Doubleday ($3.50) 
book. And a good money’s worth 
it is too. Abel. 


CHATTER 

Jane Froman is doing a byline 
uplift series for. Coronet, starting 
in the January issue. 

Hannibal Coons doing a humor- 
.ous travel book for Holt, which 
may be titled ^‘Hannibal’s Travels.” 

S. J. Perelman’s profile of Fred 
Allen, titled ‘The Great Sourpuss,” 
in the December issue of Holiday 
magazine. 

Robert I. Stanfield, of Levittown, 
N.Y.” preppuig a weekTy bulletin” 
of business, advertising and mar- 
keting news. 

A. D. Elden upped to prexy of 
Ideal Pictures Corp., subsidiary of 
Esquire, Inc., succeeding A. L. 
Blinder, new Ideal board chairman. 

Penguin Books is publishing a 
special pocket edition, of Shaw’s 
“Androcles and the Lion,” to co- 
incide with release of RKO’s film 
version. 

San Diego Variety mugg Donald 
Freeman, radio-TV editor of the 
Union, launched a survey of jazz 
course at U. of California Exten- 
sion, in San Diego. 

Justice William O. Douglas will 
be main speaker at the National 
Book Awards ceremony in N. Y. 
Jan. 27. Harper’s ed Frederick 
Lewis Allen will be m.c. 

Henry McLemore, McNaught 
syndicate writer, doing a new book 
for Henry Holt & Co., as is Betty 
(INS) Betz, whose subject is. a 
“Teen-Age Cookbook.” 

Jocko Maxwell, sports director 
of station WWRL, Woodside, L.I., 
has an article, “Ramblin’ Round. 
Golfdom,” in the current issue of 


course of show biz. 

I am not thinking of “The Great Train Robbery” but a documentary 
of the Black Diamond Express, a famous train of the ’90’s. 

The showing took place in Tony Pastor’s new 14th St. Theatre, N. Y., 
on March 23, 1896. The American Vitagraph, a company consisting 
of J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith, two young Englismmen, 
had collected a few shorts, each 50 feet long. The program consisted 
of a fire engine answering a call, the roll of waves on the beach, cable 
cars on Broadway and the shocker as a finale — the Black Diamond tear- 
ing down the tracks toward the audience. 

It is generally accepted, in America at any rate, that Edison in- 
dented the motion picture camera and that later when asked if a patent 
should be taken out for the foreign markets, he wanted to know how 
much it would cost. When told it would cost $150 he is said to have 
replied it wasn’t worth it. 

This presents Edison as a starry-eyed inventor with no sense of values, 
But the fact is that he couldn’t have patented it abroad because, as 
Smith points out, E. J, Marey had already invented a motion picture 
camera in France and had shown it to Edison when Edison was abroad 
introducing his incandescent lamp at the Paris, exposition. 

At home Edison left assistants trying to photograph moving pic- 
tures on a cylinder similar to that used in his phonograph. But when 
he saw Marey’s motion picture camera he ordered all work at the 
Orange lab to be halted on the cylinder idea. When he got home he 
proceeded to follow Marey’s type of camera, which in time became 
the Edison kinetoscope. 

But nobody, it seems, had worked out a projector for screens. Until 
Albert Smith same along and worked out his non-flicker shutter and 
setting-device, motion pictures were doomed to die before they could 
have risen to the status of chasers. 

Hot Subject 

Another thing that might have sent the whole industry up in smoke 
was the highly inflammable character of the celluloid film. This meant 
that if the film ever got stuck it would go up in flames. * This was true 
until Smith devised a water cell to be placed in front of the film-gate 
and thus absorbed the hot rays of the arc ‘light behind the film. 

' As ‘ nothing, 'hot even in '‘those days,' seems able to : stand up on its 
own feet, it was Jim Blackton’s job to come on the stage and set the 
mood for the Black Diamond Express. The mood was terror and panic. 
You would think that an audience seeing a smoking monster rushing 
down on them for the first time would create its own terror, but the 
bylaws of the Lily Gilders’ union has always held to the contrary. 

While Smith held a frame of the train on the screen, Blackton be T 
gan to condition the audience. “Ladies and Gentlemen,” he would 
say, “you are now gazing upon the photograph of the famous Black 
Diamond Express. In just a moment, a cataclysmic * moment, my 
friends, you will see this train take life in a ‘marvelous and most 
astounding manner. It will rush toward you, belching smoke and fire 
from its monstrous throat.” 

Blackton had much more to say, but at this point he was usually cut 
off the air because Smith at the projector was watching the water cell 
getting hotter and hotter, and when it began to boil he knew if he 
waited a second longer the Black Diamond Express would go up in 
smoker -Bo- "whHe -Biacktott was still- feeding Ihe peasants fear,— Smith- 


This ya c an'i beat — the book with the 
built-in all-star castl More than 50 
Pieces by the who’s who of show biz 
^"gleaned from Variety's anniversary 
wsues by that old mugg, Abel Green, 
$3,50 af all booksellers 


Knopf’s Dance Volumes 
Alfred A. Knopf has signed to 
publish “Dance News Annual, 
1953,” first of a series of annual 
books discussing various phases of 
the international dance scene, via 
contributed articles. Tofhe, ~edi- 
ted by Winthrop Palmer and Ana- 
tole Chujoy, exec editor and edi- 
tor -publisher, respectively, of 
Dance News, a ballet tradepaper, 
will have special departments, plus 
18 articles by John. Martin. Walter 
Terry, A. V. Coton, Pierre Michaut, 


the Metropolitan Golfer. 

Actor Jean Hersholt, is trans- 
lator of “The Complete Andersen,” 
just jublished by Heritage, the 
first collection of the entire works 
of Hans Christian Andersen in a 
single volume 

Brig. General Frank L. Howley, 
who had command of the Berlin 
Airlift, is writing a book, “Ger- 
many Revisited” for Holt. He is 
currently in charge of fundraising 
for New York Univ. 

While on his own INS-Amencan 
Weekly assignment as a roving re 
porter, Larry Newman signed Eric 
Ambler to write whodunits for the 
Hearst weekly magazine. The Brit- 
ish mystery author will turn in his 
stuff as he finds subjects. 

Hans Fallada’s “The Drinker” to 
be published by Didier Nov. 24. 

Hillis Mills, senior editor in 
charge of entertainment of Time 
magazine, left N. Y. Monday (17) 
for Hollywood to look over Holly- 
wood product and personalities. 

Some 250 Gotham newspaper- 
men paid their own dough ($7.50 
each) to fete George Wellbaum, re- 
tiring N.Y. Telephone v.p. of pub- 
lic relations, at a cocktailery given 


was forced to get the train moving. 

This was the signal for Blackton to rush to the wings where its. was 
his job to beat on dishpans, pie-plates, metal-sheeting . and large hollow 
pipes all designed to make that Black Diamond Express sound as if 
it were thundering all over the audience. 

Express Scores T.K.O. 

Pursued both by the oncoming train and this racket, audiences in- 
variably became panic-stricken. Wopien screamed, babies bellowed 
and men gripped their seats. 

On the second showing an assistant manager rushed into Smith’s 
booth ai^d yelled to him, “Turn it off! Women are fainting.” - ‘ 

It looked right there as if the Vitagraph company was out of biz. 
But they must have been pretty fast talkers, because at the end of the 
interview Tony Pastor ordered the showing continued and arranged 
for an ambulance at the entrance to rush over-wrought patients to the 
hospital. According to Smith, the ambulance proved top publicity for 
the picture. It stayed on at $500 a week for four weeks. 

How the inventors of Cinerama came on their discovery is still 
something of a trade secret, but how Smith got over the problem of 
reducing a flicker in pictures he has often explained and never so well 
as in “Two Reels and a Crank,” which has just been published by 
Doubleday. It is Smith’s story of the early days of the industry, writ- 
ten in collaboration with Phil Koury, once of the Kansas City Star, 
later press agent for Cecil B. DeMilie,, and now an attorney in Kansas 
City. • . * 

Of the pair that started Vitagraph, Smith and Blackton, later to be 
joined' by “Pop” Rock, only Srtjith remains to view the wonders of 
Cinerama. They parlayed $936 iri 10 years into, a million dollar biz 
in Flatbush. That was years before Hollywood was ever heard of. 

Rosy-cheekod and white-haired, with a lively sense of humor, Smith 
lives today in a beautiful home a few blocks beyond Grauman’s Chinese 
in Hollywood. It is on a street called Camino Palmoro and runs only 
a few block* f ram Holly wood ..Blvd. toward, the . mountains. 

It is hard to believe that whatever opulence Albert Smith enjoys 
today was not derived from Hollywood. As early as 1899 his friends 
flagged him with predictions indicating that the day of flickers was 
over. Audiences were tired of them, he was told, and he and Black- 
ton would be smart to salvage what they could out of Vitagraph with 
a quick sale. 

Box Car Figures of 1910 

But they held on to their company, and by 1910, when the names 
DeMilie, Goldwyn and Lasky fell on the average ear far more faintly 
than a far-off breeze, Vitagraph’s net profit was $665,372 and in 1920, 
its peak year, the firm did a gross business of $6,193,519.06. 

Previous to the first world war their earnings abroad were three 
times what they were in America. At home they were netting fat 
profits, though when they made a five-reeler, like the .“Life of Moses,” 
no house would take more than a reel a week. 

That Cinerama may be more sensational than Vitgraph’s showing 
of the Black Diamond Express I have no doubt, but can the terror and 
thrill audiences experience be any greater? Once Smith photographed 
Fournier driving a French car along Coney Island Blvd. at 60 miles an 
hour. That was on May 8, 1901. Nearly half a million spectators 
watched a maniac racing by at a mile a minute. Many fainted. In fact, 
the great speed caused Fournier to black out when he slowed down. 
Doctors had to carry him from the car. 


Hotd el BiI?mo h re B laT a wfdn°e7da 0 y I . S° V™ §ee, in human experience nothing changes, essentially. _ Only 
(12). Wellbaum was plaqued. •* m details. 


62 


CHATTEK 




WedncBday, November 19, 1952 


Broadway 


Armand Deutsch, Metro produc- 
er, in and out of town within a few 
days. 

Joel Swenson, ex-Hays office and 
ex-pic flack, in p.r. department now 
with General Foods. 

Valerie Bettis, who just wound 
up a stint in Columbia’s "Love 
Song," in from the Coast. 

* Eddie Foy, Jr., mending in Hark- 
ness Pavillion after another in a 
series of stomach operations. 

Jerry Pickman, Paramount ad- 
pub veepee, back from the Coast 
after a series of studio confabs. 

David Coplan, managing director 
of International Film Distributors 
of London, in for three weeks. 

William R. Ferguson, former 
Metro exploitation chief, took off 
for Europe for four months of 
touring. 

William M. Pizor, Lippert Pic- 
tures foreign chief, huddling on 
the Coast with prexy Robert L. 
Lippert. 

Jewish Theatrical Guild’s Dave 
Ferguson rarin’ to go again after 
recovering from p'neumonia at 
Polyclinic. 

Joe Schoenfeld, editor of Daily 
Variety, back to the Coast after a 
fortnight’s eastern quickie busi- 
ness-vacation trip. 

Jack (ex-Copa) Entratter jun- 
keting the N. Y. press by air to 
Las Vegas on Dec. .16 for the preem 
of his new Sands Hotel. 

Blue Angel boniface Herbert 
Jacoby presenting the first N. Y. 
exhibition of paintings by Jean 
Paul Brusset at the Hugo Gallery. 

Bella Kreisman, secretary to 
Warner Bros. International Corp. 
veepee-treasurer John J. Glynn, 
engaged to Samuel Kandel. No 
date’s been set for the wedding. 

Emil Friedlander, chairman of 
the board of Dazians, Inc., has 
been named chairman of the 
amusement division of the Na- 
tional Jewish Hospital at Denver. 

.. Morey Goldstein, Allied Artists 
general sales manager, trained to 
the National Allied convention in 
Chicago yesterday (Tues.), where 
he’ll join veepee Harold Mirisch. 

Julius Weinstein, father of Mrs. 
Sylvia Sullivan, wife of Daily News 
columnist and CBS-TV’s "Toast of 
the Town’’ producer, Ed Sullivan, 
died at age 90 Sunday (16) in New 
York. 

Joe Glaser’s Boston terrier, Ch. 
Fritzie Regards of Pequa, won the 
Davis trophy at the Boston terrier 
show for the second straight year. 
He’s the Associated Booking Corp. 
prexy. 

Stirling Silliphant, who leaves 
his 20th-Fox p ost^ as^eastern p ub- ^ 

come an indie producer, was 
luncheoned by 20th’s ad-pub staf- 
fers last week. 

Elias Lapinere, who rejoins 
Metro Jan. 1 as special publicity 
rep in Europe, arrives from Paris 
tomorrow (Thurs.) on the Liberte 
for confabs with Loew’s Interna- 
tional homeoffice execs. 

William A. Scully retired Uni- 
versal sales manager, in from his 
Flqrida home to attend the Mo- 
tion Picture Pioneers dinner Nov. 
25, honoring his longtime business 
associate Nate J. Blumberg. 

Lyricist A1 Stillmkn, a foremost 
Savoyard in the U. S., again ad- 
dressed the Gilbert & Sullivan 
Society of America last - night 
(Tues.) at the Hotel Claridge on 
the occasion of Sir W. S. Gilbert’s 
116th anniversary. 

Rby O. Disney, prez of Walt 
Disney Productions, and ad-exploi- 
tation director Card Walker in 
from the Coast over the weekend 
for sales huddles with RKO dis 
tribution toppers on "Peter Pan." 
Pair plan a two-weelc stay. 

Virginia Mayo and her mate 
Michael O’Shea, arrived in town 
Monday (19) from the Coast 
Actress will be guest today (Wed 
at combined 26th anni of Para 
mount Theatre and opening there 
of her latest picture, "The Iron 

.Mistress.’.’ 

Danny Kaye, star of Samuel 
Goldwyn’s "Hans Christian Ander- 
sen," arrived from the Coast Mon- 
day (17) to attend benefit showing 
of the film on Nov. 24 at the Crite- 
rion Theatre for the Will Rogers 
Memorial Hospital. Picture preems 
the following day at the Criterion 
and Paris Theatres. 


tween newly-opened Stork Club 
and ABC Music Hall. . 

Comedie Francaise honoring 
Charles Chaplin officially at gala 
of Moliere’s "Don Juan." 

Graham Greene here to present 
his new play, "Living Room," to 
Bruno Coquatrix which he would 
like to have done by Daniele De- 
lorme. 

Lil Armstrong, who is bicycling 
between cellar club Metro and 
Spivy’s East Side, to Brussels for 


a SnH' of Fnrv" (UA) anti- 1 ! S’ P« Engle to play Queen Victoria 

in his current British production 


lynch film, refused a dubbing visa 
here because of its violence. It 
will be released only in its original 
version. 1A1 .. 

Eric Johnston here to settle the 
lagging Franco-American pic talks. 
All European Motion Picture Assn, 
of America reps have been called 
here for parley. 

Jean-Pierre. Gredy and Pierre 
Barillet have completed new com- 
edy, "White Queen," but are hold- 
ing it until Gaby Sylvia finishes 
present engagement in hit comedy, 
"Duchess of Seaweed." 

Fernandel finishing up "The 
Butcher of Valorgue" and then 
goes into "The Return of Don 
Camillo." Then two other pic roles 
await him in "Don Quixote" by 
Marcel Pagnol, and an untitled 
film of Rene Clair. . 

Eileen O’Dare, Danny Ray, Arno 
Bros, and possibly Louis Arm- 
strong into for one-week replace- 
ment show at Lido Nov. 27 when 
current revue goes to Marrakech, 
Africa. Roger Bernheim signed 
deal to take Lido show as package 
to Africa. 


London 


James * Carreras, Exclusive s 
chief, hosted a press reception to 
Howard Duff, who arrived last 
week to star in a new British pro- 
duction. . . 

Maurice Chevalier’s one-man 
show, which has been a sellout the 
last three weeks at the Hippo- 
drome, moved to the Princess Mon- 
day (17).* . . 

Dame Sybil Thorndike mked by 


Pittsburgh 

By Hal V. Cohen 
"Don Juan in Hell” opens four- 
night stand Dec. 1 at Syria Mosque. 

"Guys and Dolls" booked into 
he Nixon for three .weeks begin- 
ning Jan. 12. 

Dorothy Claire opens Monday 
24) at Carousel as Anniversary 


Week headliner. 

Bill* Roberts, Playhouse hous.e , . , . _ „ 

manager, shoves off for the Army Distribution setup, appointed man 
pn A nf this week aging director of the Italian com- 

Catholic ^Theatre Guild has Pany. He succeeds Ralph Smith 
dropped "Playboy of Western who resigned because of bad 
World" in favor of "Kind Lady." health. 

Mrs. Alan Young’s mother due 
tiome next week after being with 
comic’s wife when she had her 
baby. 

Maurice Turet in town ahead of 
Maid in Ozarks" and Ned Arm- 


of "Melba," which he is making for 
United Artists release. 

After the successful launching 
of "Porgy and Bess" here, Robert 
Breen planed to N. Y. last week- 
end for a quick visit, but expects 
to be back within a week. 

Cyril Edgar, director of Walt 
Disney British organization, left 
for N. Y. last weekend for con- 
fabs with ' homeoffice execs. He 
will stay in the U. S. several weeks. 

Richard Addinsell signed by pro- 
ducer David E. Bose to write the 
score for his new Technicolor opus, 
“The Sea Devil,” which has been 
sold to RKO for world distribu- 
tion. . 

Having failed to get the Equity 
okay for the starring role in a 
British film version of Cocteau’s 
"Intimate Relations." Jessie Royce 
Landis sailed for N. Y. last Fri- 
day (14). 

Arthur W. Kelly spent a few 
days here last week in confabs with 
Charles Chaplin and United Artists’ 
execs on release plans for "Lime- 
light." Film is now in its fifth pre- 
release week at Odeon, Leicester 
Square. 

An advance party led by direc- 
tor Harry Watt planed to Nairobi 
last week to prepare for Ealing’s 
next African production, tentative- 
ly titled. "West of Zanzibar,” 
which will be produced in asso- 
ciation with Schlesinger interests. 

C. W. P. MacArthur, currently 
operating from London headquar- 
ters as western hemisphere man- 
ager of J. Arthur Rank’s Overseas 


exempted from this order, It is be- 
lieved that the crackdown will 
force some theatres to reduce the 
number of shows each day. ■ 

Pressure is being exerted on the 
central board of censors to apply 
uniform rules of censorship on 
both Indian and foreign films. Ap- 
plication of India’s standard of 
censorship would probably result 
in over 75% of all foreign pix 
being kept off the Indian screen, 
it is claimed. 

In association with German tech- 
nicians, a Bombay firm has set up 
a raw film manufacturing plantain 
Mysore State. Both Mysore State 
and India governments would sub- 
scribe $5,000,000 each towards the 
plant’s establishment. Originally 
the India government was inter- 
ested in starting such a plant at 
Poona with U. S. interests but the 
plan fell through. 


Washington 


By Florence S. Lowe 

Yehudi Menuhin this week’s so- 
loist with National Symphony. 

Anita Ellis, filrp voice of Rita 
Hayworth, Vera-Ellen, etc., a long- 
run click at Old New Orleans nit- 
cry. 

Muriel Rahn here in a concert 
version of "Carmen Jones" at Car- 
doza, town’s largest Negro high 
school. , 

Military brass, civic leaders and 
press bid to a joint Republic-War- 
ner Theatre preem of "Thunder- 
birds” tomorrow (Thurs.). 

Radio execs and local drama 
press corps feted at an Academia 
preview of "The Happy Time" by 
Trans-Lux manager Vincent Iorio. 

Paramount reps Bernie Smith 
and Jules Epstein in for a Penta- 
gon powwow on military coopera- 
tion for a modern version of "Billy 
Budd," tentatively titled “The 
Slot." 

Charles Munch, maestro of Bos- 
ton Symphony, honored with Or- 
der of Commander of the French 
Legion of Honor in a post-concert 
ceremony conducted by French' 
Ambassador Henri Bonnet. 


Rome 


By Helen McGill Tubbs 
Edouardo Spadaro, Italo actor, 

ivi<uu ui v^&ai.iv.a auu ncu mm- - , . 

cimnif Tipi-p rlriinrihestiriE? "The 'loft for film work m JMadrid. 
Shrike" drumDeating ine "Mata Hari" (M-G) making the 

Joey Bishop added to Ames rounds of cinemas here on reissue 
Bros.-George Arnold ice show Antonio and Rosario booked for 
opening at Stanley tomorrow two days at the Four Fountains 
(Thurs ) Theatre, 

Boglcer Joe Hiller had a miracu- , pucia Bose replaced Gina Lollo- 
lous escape when his" car skidded brigida m '"Women Without Ca- 
on the boulevard and was de- mellias. 


molished. 



By Les Rees 

Evelyn Knight at Hotel Radisson 

F1 c? le Dl?, < i m ni«K iiarf T an of Paris and Dublin to start re- 
st. Paul Club Colony had Jan i-q.-c,.!. mnciMi 


Vittorio Gassman rehearsing 
"Hamlet" in Italian for Nov. 24 
opening. 

Gypsy Rose Lee and June Havoc 
in for a few days from England 
and North Africa. 

Ella Logan left for N. Y. by way 


August for a week 
Clyde McCoy into Prom Ball- 
room for one-nighter. 


hearsals for 
‘Maggie." 
"Actress of 


coming musical, 
Truth," pictorial 


St Paul Civic ODera Co pre- stoi Y of Ingrid* Bergman’s life, 

sentiag P ‘Xa Traviata" ** Geza HerczeB 

Penny Singleton into Hotel an ^ Nancy Claik. 

•Nicollet Minnesota Terrace. , Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra 

James Miller back with “The here briefly before going on to 


Country Girl” at the Lyceum. 


North .Africa where she will co- 


Hollywood 


Lisbon 

By Lewis Garyo 
Cinema S. Luis has reopened 
with "Cyrano" (UA). 

Cinema S. Jorge' launched its 
fall season with "Where No Vul- 
tures Fly" (U). 

Cinema Monumental has set "An 
American in Paris” (M-G) to open 
its new season. 

Vasco Santana Co. back at the 
Variedades with last summer’s hit, 
"The Man with Money," an old 
German farce. 

“The Siren/’ -ft play-by - Argen- 
tine author Alexandre Casona, now 
at the Monumental, stars Laura 
Alves, Assis Pacheco and Raul de 
Carvalho. 

James Upshaw and Lidia Ku- 
prina, American ballroomologists, 
who have been touring Spain and 
Portugal for the last six months, 
are a hit at the Estoril Casino here. 

"Rosa," a revue by Fernando de 
Carvalho e Tavares Belo, opened 
the fall season at the Teatro Aven- 
ida. Starring Eugenio Salvador 
and Milu, the show is doing very 
well. 


Robert Fellows returned from 
Vera Cruz. u 

Bonnie Allen recuperating after 
tonsillectomy. • er 

Norman Taurog laid up afW 
dental surgery. r 

Richard Anderson to Mexico for 
two-week siesta. 

Lex Barker to Sun Valiev on a 
skiing expedition. 

Sam Katzmans celebrated their 
24th wedding anni. r 

Mervyn LeRoy reelected nrexv 
of Hollywood Park. y 

John' Hodiak and Anne Baxter 
vacationing in Acapulco. 

Stan Laurel to Las Vegas to look 
over the nitery situation. 

Betty Furness in town to line 
up material for her TV show. 

Margaret Whiting to San Luis 
Obispo to entertain servicemen. 

Kurt Katch resuming his fUni 
career after three years in N.Y 

Nicholas Bros, in town after a 
six-month tour of South America. 

Lorens Marmstfedt in from 
Sweden for huddles with Sol Les- 
ser. 

Kay Walsh vacationing in San 
Francisco before returning to Eng- 
land. 

Harry James back in town after 
six weeks of midwestern one- 
nigh ters. 

Sam Engel returned to his 20th- 
Fox desk after three weeks off 
for surgery. 

Frederick Brisson to Washing- 
ton to show his "WAC" picture at 
the Pentagon. 

Bing Crosby sponsoring the 
Dixie Crosby Foundation to aid 
cancer sufferers. 

Dawn Addams guest of honor 
at annual luncheon of Jewish 
Home for the Aged. 

George. Murphy to Pittsburgh as 
guest of honor at the Variety Clubs 
International Convention. 

Dewey Martin to Mexicali to 
study bullfighting for his next role 
in "The. Sun Also Rises." 

Gail Hillson in from Binghamton 
to line up next summer's talent for 
his Triple Cities Playhouse. 

Karl Freund awarded a fellow- 
ship in the Society of Motion Pic- 
ture & Television Engineers. 

Edmund Grainger cited by the 
Third Marine Division for staging 
a show for 2,000 Leathernecks. 

Arch Oboler and Robert Stack 
spoke on third dimensional filming 
before the L.A. Advertising Club. 

Bob Hope^, awarded a bronze 
plaque by the United British Serv- 
ices Club for entertaining British 
troops. 

William Melniker stopped off at 
Metro enroute to Australia on 
business for Loew’s International 
theatre department. 

Larry Finley -and Larry Kolpack 
will lead an entertainment troupe 
to Korea Jan. 15, with an okay by 
the Hollywood Coordinating Com- 
mittee. • 


Exotic dancer Amarah, banjoist star with Clarke Gable in “Me- 
Jose Silva and dancing Darrell gambo. 

Sisters at Heinie’s. I 17“ 

Pianist Jesus Maria Sanroma innia 

soloist with Minneapolis Sym- lUUia 

phony for all-Gershwin concert. "Scaramouche" (M-G) is doing 
Ted Mack & Original Amateur goe^ ^ playing simultaneously in 
Hour Winners ; at Auditorium for Bombay, Calcutta and Delhi, 
one-mghter this week, scaled to Bombay pix producers are nego- 
$2.40. tiating with Japanese film interests 

Alvin, burlesque, shuttered until f or joint production of pictures in 
after Christmas. Pre-holiday clos- India. 

ing is several weeks earlier than ^ blaze in the vaults of the Film 
usual thisrtime. Division in Bombay caused an es- 

We<;la Gallez “5 J? P^biirgh timated $20,000 damage to films 

Monte Carlo after concluding six- an(J waste material 


month return engagemMit at Hotel 
Minnesotan Panther Room 


> 


Paris 

Akim Tamiroff here to do 13 TV 
films for Bill Marshall. 

Guy Gautier, French pic player, 
being tested here for Hollywood. 

Robert Dhery, stage and pic ac- 
tor, into new Cabaret Agnes Capri. 

Eileen O’Dare into the Lido 
show, doubling from her Folies 
Bergere stint. . 

Greco, left-bank Rose Rouge’s 
singer, into right-bank Carrere’s 
plushy nitery. 

Colette to adapt "Fourposter" as 
legit vehfcle for Jean Marais and 
Madeleine Bobinson, 

Dany Daubersoit doubting b*» 


Portland, Ore. 


Metro has finished its "Seeing 
Is Believing" convention in Bom- 
boy. Similar confabs will be held 
in Madras and Calcutta this month. 
Bombay state government will 
By Ray Feves set apart 15% of the amount re- 

Les Brown orch set • for two- alized. from levy of an entertain- 
niter (21-22) at Jantzen Beach Ball- ment tax for the development of 
room. drama and other stage arts. 

Skinny Ennis orch passed Indian film groups now are fol- 

through town working one-niters lowing the yen for film festivals by 
in the Pacific Northwest. drawing up plans to hold an Asian 

Don Cummings, Terri Andro, Film Festival. It would be only for 
and Sis & Sonny Arthur held for pix produced in Asiatic countries, 
a Second week at Amato’s Supper "Emperor’s Baker," the Czech 
Club. film, which is being dubbed in 

Ginger Britton, Terry Lane, Hindi for distribution throughout 
Candy St. Clair, and Francis Du India, is the first Czech pic io be 
Bay sharing top honors at Star shown in this country at regular 
burlesque. theatres. 

Walter Hoffman, Paramount Central Board of Censors chair- 
field man, in town for several days, man has warned India producers 
Alan Wieder, ex-RKO Northwest that any intimate bodily contact 
rep, now ditto for Metro. scenes will be sharply scissored. 

Now that the Danny Kaye show This is in addition to the absolute 
grossed a sizzling $53,000 in six nixing of all kissing in films shown 
at the Paramount, Evergreen and in India. 

other ohains are scratching their Lack of rainfall has prompted 


Scotland 

By Gordon Irving 

Deep River Boys inked for an- 
other return date to Glasgow Em- 
pire Dec. 15. 

Harry Bright to direct this sea- 
son’s "Humpty Dumpty" panto at 
Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow. 

Jill Manners, revue actress, to 
be Principal Boy in pantomime at 
Alhambra Theatre, Glasgow. 

Cosmo, < Glasgow art theatre, 
screening three-dimensional pix 
for two weeks opening Nov. 17. 

Hazel Court and Dermot Walsh 
due at His Majesty’s Aberdeen, 
Nov. 24, in stage version of “Smil- 
in’ Through." 

Emile Littler’s "Blue for a Boy," 
with Fred Eniney, Eve Lister and 
Austin Melford, set for King’s, 
Glasgow, Nov. 10. 

Louise Boyd, Scot thrush, in 
vited to sing at Cecil Rhodes Cen- 
tenary junket at Bdlawayo, South 
Africa, next summer. 

Fred Dalgarno, 75, retiring after 
34 .years as doorkeeper at Empire 
Glasgow’. He is a familiar face to 
hundreds of , 0 U.S. acts. 

R»ger Livesey, British actor, in 
Glasgow to see his wife, Ursula 
Jeans, in Bridie play "Baikie Chari- 
vari" at Citizens’ Theatre. 

George Lee,, WB Scot manager 
and pioneer of film trade here, re 
tiring at end of month; will be 
succeeded by Balfour Reekie. 

Emlyn Williams set for return 
week starting Dec. 8 at Lyceum 
Theatre, Edinburgh, in readings 
from Charles Dickens’ "Bleak 
House." 

Alec Finlay, Scot comedian, and 
vaude unit due to plane in to 
Prestwick airport from America 


Chicago 

Showcase Theatre, Equity stock 
newie, opened in Evanston. 

Dancers of B^li one-nighter Sun- 
day (16) was an advance sellout. 
Mary Castle in for personal with 
Eight- Iron Men" at the United 
Artists. 

Max Gendel in town looking 
over sites for the next Cinerama 
ocation. 

'Mike Sloane and Paula Stone in 
: or the Nov. 24 opening of "Top 
Banana" at the Great Northern. 

Greer Garson in with sonie 
Hollywood celebs'" for the Allied 
States Theatres convention here. 

Sophie Tucker honored last 
week by the Central Lions club 
for her "contributions k to hu- 
manity." 

Joan Fontaine and new hubby, 
Collier Young, in for the wedding 
of Collier’s brother, William, last 
weekend. 

Marshall Migatz, operator of the 
Salk Creek summer theatre here, 
ill in Wadsworth General Hospital, 
Los Angeles. 


heads about other stagers. This the Madras government to order a. 

was the first vaude in nearly 15 cut of 25% in the use of electricity, j soon after coast-to-coast tour o' 

Although broadcasting has been 1 Canada and U.S. 


Dallas 


By Bill Barker , 

Theatre ’52 reviving "Hamlet 
for three weeks Monday (24). 

Don Cherry inked for first Crys- 
tal Charity Ball here Dec. 6. 

Ernie Rudy orch in for a fort- 
night at Pappy’s Showland. 

Sigmund Spaeth in for talk be- 
fore Knife & Fork Club members. 

Kessler, suburban filmer darx 
for a year, remodeled for .churcn 
use. , 

David Guion left his Pennsyl- 
vania farm to winter at his home 
here, 

Dallas Symphony opened new 
season in SMU’s McFarlin Audi- 
torium. t 

Ted Mack’s "Original Amateur 
Hour" stageshow set for Dec. 4 m 
Fair Aud. , 

Gene Autry troupe showing 
twice ' in State Fair Auditorium 
one-nighter. , . „ 

Molly Picon honored at 
Adolphus banquet by Bonds to 
l Israel campaigners. 


PfaziEfr 


Wednesday, NovenAei* 19, 


1952 


UPT’s $30,000,000 


Continued from page 4 


,.. pan away others from competing 
networks. It's also likely that ABC 
will take steps to come in for a 
larger share of representation in 
program formats of outlets in 
single and dual station markets. 

it would not be surprising if the 
consummation of the ABC-UPT 
merger brings a revival of talent 
raids in the network field, with 
intensive competition for services 
of high audience pulling names. 
Major innovations in program de- 
velopment may also be ushered in 
by the theatre-network combine. 

(Examiner Resnick points out in 
his decision that since its divorce- 
ment frojn NBC in 1943, ABC has 
increased its radio affiliates from 
168 to 298, boosted its sales from 
$18,800,000 to $53,350,000, invest- 
ed over $6,000,000 in radio facili- 
ties, built five TV stations and ac- 
quired other TV facilities at a cost 
of $ 11 , 500 , 000 , and developed a 
TV network with 64 affiliates. 
However, because of the need to 
use its capital for plant expansion, 
it could not hold some of its top 
radio talent in competition with 
CBS “capital gains’* offers. 

“There is a reasonable basis for 
belief.” the examiner found, “that 
if ABC were able to take more 
risks and to spend more money 
on programming, over a period of 


What FCC Decision Does 

, Washington, Nov. 18. 

Here’s the effect of the initial 
decision, when finalized by the 
Federal Communications Com- 
mission of Examiner Leo Res- 
nick on the Paramount package 
hearings: . 

1. Approves the merger of 
the American Broadcasting Co. 
with Paramount Theatres and 
formation of American Broad- 
casting - paramount Theatres, 
Inc. (AB-PT) as the merger 
company, of which ABC will 
be a division. 


2. Clears the license status 
of Paramount Pictures* KTLA 
(TV) station in Los Angeles, 
thus opening the gates to TV 
of motion picture anti-trust 
violators. 


\ 


3. Holds that Paramount 
does not control DuMont, per- 
mitting. each company to 
Its full complement of five 
owned-and-operated TV sta-^ 
tions. 


4. Okays acquisition by CBS 
of WBKB-TV, Chicago, giving 
the web its third o-and-o TV 
station. 


time it would build larger audi- 
ences, which in turn would result 
in more station clearances for TV 
programs and more wide-coverage 
AM stations as affiliates”). 

DuMont Plans 

In deciding that Paramount Pic- 
tures, which owns a 25% interest 
in DuMont, does not exercise con- 
trol over the latter, Resnick’s rul- 
ing paves the way for DuMont to 
obtain its full complement of five 
owned-and-operated TV stations 
(it now has three). It’s to be ex- 
pected, therefore, that DuMont 
will soon file for additional sta- 
tions or seek to acquire others 
through purchase. 

With the shot-in-the-arm pro- 
vided by resolution of the control 
issue, it’s also likely that DuMont 
will move vigorously to improve 
its position in the network field. 
Dr. Allen B. DuMont testified at 
the hearings that the web would 
he expanded to nationwide scope 
&s the number of TV stations in- 
creases. 

Resnick’s finding that Para- 
mount’s violation of the anti-trust 
Jaws does not disqualify the com- 
pany as a broadcast licensee vir- 
tually removes all roadblocks to 
invasion by the motion picture 
producing industry in the televi- 
?u 0n It’s to be expected, 

therefore, that Paramount, Which 
operates KTLA (TV) Hollywood, 
and other studios will now either 
I® 11 ? in contests for channels in 
m a Jor markets or seek to purchase 
stations. 

It s recalled that Warners had 
; ucd /o purchase KLAC (TV) in 
J^ngeles from Mrs. Dorothy 
j cnifr several years ago, but failed 
get approval of the transfer be- 
aJr? FCC’s then-undetermined 
h'tru.st policy. And in the early 
:* ys nf postwar TV licensing, it’s 
remembered, 20th Fox filed but 
thdrow applications- for five sta- 


tions when it appeared TV was too 
much of a risk. 

Finally, the decision, upon af- 
firmation, gives CBS a third o-and- 
o TV station with the $6,000,000 
acquisition of WBKB, Chicago, 
purchase of which -is contingent 
on approval of the ABC-UPT n f - 
ger. Aside from obtaining a hign- 
ly profitable property (the station 
earned' $1,600,000 last year), the 
network will be in a position to 
expand its audience in the mid- 
west and to increase Chicago’s im- 
portance as an originating point 
for programs. 

As pointed out in Resnick’s de- 
cision, CBS’ purpose in acquiring 
WBKB is “to strengthen its opera- 
tions and its competitive position 
as a network.” 


ASCAP Cleffers 

; Continued from page 1 ; 


ing asked to shell out 5% of their 
ASCAP earnings for a period of 
three years. Many of the cleffers 
have signed up for the deduction 
and fund is expected to go over 
the $500,000 mark if the present 
rate of growth is continued. 

Some of the major publishers 
see a dangerous development in 
the existence of a special writers 
fund. They believe it will give the 
administrators of that fund too 
much power which might eventu- 
ally be turned against all pub- 
lishers and not only BMI. 

If any fight against BMI is to be 
made, the publishers believe that 
ASCAP should carry the ball offi- 
cially. They point to the current 
action to get an amended consent 
decree from the 'Federal Courts, 
with regard to blanket licenses 
for TV stations, as the right di- 
rection to take in defending 
ASCAP’s best interests. 



Legit Financing 


Continued from page 1 


be more receptive toward backing 
legit shows. 

If- Broadway management circles 
Interpret the situation correctly, 
there should be a fairly quick pick- 
up of new production within the 
next-.couple. ... of ... months. .With, .an 
estimated two dozen or so proposed 
new shows pretty much stalled re- 
cently by lack of sufficient coin, 
.any substantial loosening of invest- 
ment capital should bring tangible 
results. Reports of a flurry of new 
money since the election lends a 
degree of substantiation to this 
trade theorizing. 

From a boxoffice standpoint, 
however, there has been no indica- 
tion of a basic change since the 
election. Grosses on both Broadway 
and the road were much better last 
week, but that was presumably a 
natural reaction to the severe 
slump of the two preceding weeks, 
when television coverage added an 
unprecedented element to . the 
usual boxoffice downbeat of the 
pre-election and election stanzas. 

And while the boxoffice pace was 
markedly faster last week, it still 
wasn’t up to the tempo of the two 
weeks immediately prior to the 
election slump. Also, a marked 
slackening of both attendance and 
advance window trade Monday (17) 
indicated that the current week 
may taper off a bit. The traditional 
pre-Christmas lull is due to start 
after next week, immediately fol- 
lowing Thanksgiving. 


L Coward-Martin 

Continued from page Z 

the sale of liquor, which was at 
regular cafe prices. 

Every prominent Anglo-Ameri- 
can actor in town, together with a 
sprinkling of diplomatic and so- 
ciety names supported the function 
and wildly applauded the Coward- 
Martin 60-minute cabaret. Rarely 
have two artists had suefi an en- 
thusiastic and responsive audience. 
They kept yelling for more — and 
they got it in generous portions. 

Coward’s solo cabaret stint close- 
ly followed the pattern of his sum- 
mer show. His “Bad Times Are 
Just Around the Corner” again 
highlighted a sparkling routine. 
Miss Martin started with “Johnny 
One Note,” which admirably dem- 
onstrated her wide vocal range, 
and after a selection of pops, in- 
cluding a “South Pacific’’ hit, she 


63 

OBITUARIES 


MARRIAGES 

Joan Fontaine to Collier Young, 
Saratoga, Cal., Nov. 12. She’s the 
film actress; he’s a producer-di- 
rector. 

Antoinette Gonzales to Ed 
Smarden, Los Angeles, Nov, 10. 
She’s an actress; he’s a TV pro- 
ducer. 

Claudine Vemeuil to Manuel 
Rosenthal, Paris, Nov. 2. He’s 
symph conductor. 

Doris Ann Kuthy to Eugene 
Thomas Arneel, Nov. 15, Flushing, 
N. Y. Bride is on staff of Music 
Corp. of America; groom is Gene 
. of Variety. 

Mrs. Talia Fairchild Soper to 
Harold M. Manser, New York, Nov. 
14. Groom is veepee of Caravel 
Films. 

Margaret Sheridan to Paul Wild- 
man, Phoenix, Nov. 14. Bride is a 
screen actress. 

Sally O’Neill to -James Kenaston, 
Las Vegas, Nov. 10. Bride is for- 
mer screen actress. 


BIRTHS 

Mr. and Mrs. Rex Reason, daugh- 
ter, Glendale, Cal., Nov. 10. Father 
is a screen actor. 

Mr. and Mrs. Howard Yeager, 
daughter, New York, Nov. 8. Father- 
is in composing room of Variety. 

Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Horwitt, 
daughter, New York, Nov. 12. 
Mother is former dancer Joan 
Bower; father is musicomedy writer 
and tele scripter. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ira Heyman, 
daughter, Culver City, Cal., Nov. 
11. Father is a Metro film editor. 

Mr. and Mrs. Len O’Connor, son, 
Nov. 6, Chicago. Father is a Chi 
NBC AM-Ty newsman. 

Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Weaver, Jr., 
son. San Antonio, Oct. 31*. Father 
is manager of a drive-in theatre 
there. 

Mr. and Mrs. Martin Baum, 
daughter, Bayside, L.I., Nov. 10. 
Father is of Baum-Newbom, New 
York talent agency. 

Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Bailey, son, 
Hollywood, Nov. 13. Father is a 
radio director. 

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Siracusa, son, 
Burbank, Cal., Nov. 9. Father is a 
drummer in the Spike Jones band. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Finkel, daugh- 
ter, Los Angeles, Nov. 12. Father 
is a TV director: 

Mr. and Mrs. Sy Whitelaw, twins 
(son and daughter), San Francisco, 
Nov. 1. Father is KCBS sales ex- 
ecutive there. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Clark, daugh- 
ter, San Francisco, Nov. 2. Father 
is announcer there. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Burns, son, 
Pittsburgh, Nov. 11. Father is a 
cameraman at WDTV. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Davy, daugh- 
ter, Pittsburgh. Nov. 10. Father is 
a deejay on WJ^S. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Glenn, 
daughter, Pittsburgh, Nov. 9. 
Father is with Bill LeRoy orch. 

Mr. arid Mrs. .William R. Baltz, 
daughter, Pittsburgh, Nov. 6. 
Father is the son of Dorothy Baltz, 
pressagent for Pittsburgh Opera 
Co. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Finkel. daugh- 
ter. Hollywood, Nov. 10. Father is 
a director for ABC-TV and son of 
Bill Finkel, Chief Barker of Pitts- 
burgh Variety Club Tent No. 1. 

Mr. and Mrs. James O’Neill, son, 
New York. Nov. 13. Father is with 
William Morris Agency TV depart- 
ment and formerly of 20th-Fox 
publicity. 

Mr. and Mrs, Mortimer Hall, 
son, Santa Monica, Cal., Nov. 12. 
Mother is Ruth Roman, screen 
actress; father is manager of 
KLAC. 

Mr. and Mrs. Myron Barg, son, 
Chicago, Nov. 11. Father Is disk 
jockey and son of Erwin Barg, vet- 
eran ' Chicago head of Robbins 
Music. 

Mr. and Mrs. Selig J. Seligman’, 
daughter, Cincinnati, recently. 
Father is veepee-general manager 
of Northio Theatres Corp. 

Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Mann, 
daughter, Nov. 16, N. Y. Father 
is alternate-week director on NBC’s 
Sunday night “Television Play- 
house.” 

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Case, son, 
Burbank, Cal., Nov. 14. Father isj 
manager of Fox-West Coast Globe 
Theatre. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stuart L. Daniels, 
daughter, Oct. 19, New York. He 
is public relations chief for Pren- 
tice-Hall. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lou Alter, daugh- 
ter, Nov. 17, N. Y. Mother is 
former opera singer Jean Gib- 
bons, father is a composer. 


was joined by Coward in a 15- 
minute duet session. Highspot of 
this session was a zingy version of 
“Baby It’s Cold Outside ” in which 
Coward recalls: “It’s never been 
so cold since ‘Pacific I860.’ ” This 
reference to his postwar flop, in 
which Miss Martin starred in Lon- 
don, hit the laughter jackpot. 

• -'Myra. 


FRANCES LEW ANDO 
Frances Lewando, w.k. vocal 
coach and wife of Ralph Lewando, 
music critic of the Pittsburgh 
Press, died in Pittsburgh Nov. 15 
after a long illness. She had been 
in ill health since suffering a stroke 
in March, 1951, but was showing 
considerable improvement when 
the end came unexpectedly while 
her husband, also a teacher, was 
downstairs giving a lesson. 

Mrs. Lewando studied for four 
years under a scholarship at the 
Vienna Conservatory, and was an 
authority on German lieder and 
vocal production. Among her pu- 
pils were James Melton and Jane 
Pickens. She went to New York 
in 1949 to coach Miss Pickens for 
her role in “Regina,” operatic ver- 
sion of “The Little Foxes.” 

In addition to her husband, she 
leaves a sister. 


JOSEPH F, QUILLAN 
Joseph F. Quillan, 68, veteran 
vaudevillian, died of cancer Nov. 
16 .in Hollywood. He was the 
father of Eddie, Joe, Buster, John, 
Marie, Sally Jane, Rose Anne, Mar- 
garet and Diane, all of whom were 
in show biz at various times. He 
quit vaude in 1927 when his chil- 
dren entered pix. After appear- 
ing in two films, he retired to be- 
come their business manager. 

In addition to his four sons and 
five daughters, his wife, Sarah, 


GEORGE M. VAIL, 

George M. Vail, 81, partner in 
Chester Rakeman Scenic Studios, 
builders of legit, and tele scenery, 
died Nov. 14 in New York. He 
founded the Vail Scenic Construc- 
tion Co. in 1910 and was its prez 
until it became the Rakeman Stu- 
dios two years ago. Vail built the 
sets for “George White’s Scandals,” 
“Ziegfeld Follies,” “Madame Sher- 
ry,” “Oklahoma,” “Kiss Me, Kate,” 
“Bloomer Girl,” “Voice of the Tur- 
tle,” “Mr. Pickwick” and CBS-TV 
shows. 

Surviving are his wife and a son. 


GEORGE H. TUCKER 
George H. Tucker, 49, former 
Broadway columnist for the Asso- 
ciated Press, died Nov. 16 in Para- 
mus, N. J. Tucker authored the 
AP column, “Man About Manhat- 
tan,” from 1933 until he went 
overseas as a foreign correspondent 
during World War II. Before join- 
ing the AP, he had been with the 
publicity department of Loew’s, 


In Memory of 
My Beloved Husband 

Robert Elliott 

November 15. 1951 

—RUTH 

Inc., in Columbus, Des Moines and 
Omaha. 

Surviving are his wife, a son and 
his parents. 


UNA ABELL BRINKER 
Una Abell Brinker, V8, retired 
legit actress, died Nov. 12 in New 
York. She appeared with Sarah 
Bernhardt, Mime. Modjeska and 
Maurice Barrymore. At one time 
she put on her own repertory as 
leading lady and" manager of the 
New Century Theatre, Newark, 
and later appeared with Corse Pay- 
ton at the Lee Avenue Theatre, 
Brooklyn. She was the widow of 
Jacob H. Kahn, legit producer. 
Two daughters survive. 


E. JOHN GREER 
E. John Greer, 61, Santa Fe, 
N. M., owner of five theatres, died 
recently at his Los Angeles h6me, 
where he had moved about a year 
ago for his health. 

Survived by three sons, E. John, 
Jr., Nathan and Charles, in the 
exhib business with their father, 
and his wife and three daughters. 


VINCENT SCOTTO 
Vincent Scotto, 76, French com- 
poser, died Nov. 15 in Paris. Among 
his tunes are “J’ai Deux Amours” 
and “La Petite Tonkinoise.” Jose- 
phine Baker popularized the former 
and revived the latter. 

Scotto also had composed many 
operettas. '■ 


MARTHA MORRIS 
Martha Morris (Mrs. Orie J. 
Gerard), former dancer and pan- 
tomimist, died Nov. 16 in Tarry- 
town, N. Y. She was featured in 
several Hanlon Bros, musical shows 
in the 1890s and in musicomedies 
on Broadway. 

Her husband and a daughtei 
survive. 


R. B. (DANNY) CREEDEN 
Ralph B. (Danny) Creeden, 65, 
veteran vaude and nitery comic, 
died in a Boston hospital Nov. 12. 
He began his show biz career al 
age of 15 and for many yean 
played the Keith and Pantages cir- 
cuits, taking time out to serve 
overseas during World War I. 

Survived by son, daughter, 
brother and eight sisters. 


JOHN GOLL 

John Goll, 75, secretary-treasurer 
and former president of Indianap- 
olis Local 3, died in Indianapolis 
Nov. 13. Goll, a drummer, played 
in Indianapolis Symphony Orches- 
tra'’ as well as in house bands of the 
old Park and English Theatres be- 
fore retiring 10 years ago. 

Wife survives. 


ANDRE OLIVEROFF 
Andre Oliveroff (ne Oliver Smith 
Grymes), 65, former member of 
Anna Pavlova’s ballet troupe, died 


He collabed with John Gill on 
the ballerina’s bio, “Flight of the 
Swan.” 


R. FRANKLIN RODGERS 
R. Franklin Rodgers, 55, treas- 
urer and a founder of Theatre ’52, 
Dallas, died Nov. 10 in Forrest, 
Miss., of a heart attack. A former 
director of Civic Playhouse and 
Dallas Little Theatre, for which he 
designed sets, he was a partner of 
designer Jed Mace in a Dallas in- 
terior decorating house. 

Surviving are his mother and 
two brothers. 


HUGH PROSSER 

Hugh Prosser, 46, film character 
actor, was killed Nov. 8 in a motor 
crash near Gallup, N. M. 

Among his recent films were 
“The Greatest Show on Earth,” 
“Treasure of Los Canyon,” “Bend 
of the Riyer” and “The Golden 
Horde.” 


LOLA E. FRINK 

Lola Elizabeth Frink, 52, former 
Ziegfeld actress, died in Chicago 
Nov. 15. She was featured in sev- 
eral Joseph Santley musical pro- 
ductions before retiring in the ’30s. 

Survived by a brother and two 
sisters. 


CLARENCE C. CONVERSE 
Clarence C. Converse, 84, scenar- 
ist for early motion pix, died Nov. 
12 in Englewood, N. J. He also was 
a freelance writer. 

His wife survives. 


Ralph Kinder, 76, organist and 
choirmaster, died Nov. 15 in Bala, 
Pa. He recorded for RCA Victor 
• with many opera stars. 


Lenore R. Sanders, staffer in 
United Artists’ - homeoffice • press- 
book department for more than 10 
years, died Nov. 15 in New York. 


Mother,. 84, of George Schwartz, 
operator of the World and Paris 
Theatres, N. Y., died Nov. 14 in 
New York. 


Sara McCIung, 80, one of the first 
motion picture studio school teach- 
ers, died Nov. 10 in Hollywood. 


John C. Roche, 59, retired stage 
and screen actor, died Nov. 10 in 
Hollywood. 


Sister, 30, of Harry L. Goldman, 
general manager of WROW, Al- 
bany, died Nov. 9 in that city. 


Fred Ryder, 71, cinema pro 
prietor. died in Manchester, Eng- 
land, Nov. 1. 


Joseph S. Rumsey, 63, musician, 
died in ©allds NOv. 7.’’ 1 • 



formerly of the Owens Sisters, 
London Music Hall team, survives. 


Nov. 14' in Oxford, Miss. He had 
toured with Mme. Pavlova from 






MSr TE ff 


Wednesday, November 19, 1952 





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Martha 

WRIGHT 


Exclusive Management 

BARRON POLAN 

» 

444 Madison Avenue 
New York, N. Y* 


Personal Manager 

T. W. BAUM FELD 




\ C % * < O • *• 



* •’> 7« tr \j 


FILMS 


RADIO 


VIDEO 


MUSIC 

. 

STAGE 



VOL. 188 No. 12 


SSSSrt^SSdl^cS matter^ December S^lSPat * the Pok^tSce^ Y^^.^under *& 2f*S Tar'ch i C gS' 

COPYRIGHT, 1952, BY VARIETY, INC.. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 

NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1952 


PRICE 25 CENTS 


NEW FRAMES FOR OLD NAMES 


Tough to Stay on Top in Disk Biz 
As Novices Keep Knocking Off ‘Yets’ 


The disk industry is increasingly* 
assuming a will o' the wisp na- 
ture for recording. . artists. The 
new names, who have cropped up 
during the past few years and have 
eased the vets from the hit lists, 
are now being forced .to make room 
for still newer names. 

But unlike the vets their clicko 
ride is short-lived as compared 
with the five-to-10-year highriding 
span of their predecessors. There 
is no longer any. pat formula for 
producing hit shellac and even a 
solid name doesn't guarantee sales. 
According to one trade e$fcc, “a 
singer is only as good as<his cur- 
rent disk." ^ 

Top example of the wide-open 
opportunity for new names is re- 
cent skyrocketing of Joni James 
on the M-G-M Records label with 
her etching of "Why Don't You 
Believe Me." An unknown sev- 
eral months ago, Miss James cur- 
rently is topping the best seller 
charts around. the country and her 
disk looms as M-G-M’s hottest plat- 
ter in years. In a little more than 
a month on the market it's already 
neared the 750,000 mark. 

Interesting trade phenomenon is 
that Patti Page, who cut the tune 
for Mercury, is trailing Miss 
James in sales. Miss Page, who’s 
still a top-selling artist, as at- 
tested by her etching of "I Went 
To Your Wedding," was given "Be- 
lieve Me" as a covering item for 
Merc so the diskery could cash 
in on the M-G-M noisemaker. Up 
until now Miss Page had been call- 
(Continued on page 45; 


RCA Again May Bankroll 



RCA Victor may reverse its de- 
cision to keep out of the financing 
of legit musicals with Irving Ber- 
lin's planned musicalization of 
Cleveland Amory's best-selling 
tome, “The Last Resorts." Victor's 
last backing .entry was "Wish You 
Were Here,” which is paying off 
now but got off to a shaky start. 

New project would reunite Ber 
lin with Howard Lindsay and Rus- 
sel Crouse,/ who did the book for 
"Call Me Madam," and Ethel Mer- 
man again as star. It’s expected that 
Miss Merman this time would be 
available to record the original 
cast album for Victor because her 
Decea pact would run out by then. 



Danny Thomas Re 
TV: Its ‘For Idiots’ 


St. Paul and Mpls. Mayors 
Peel Protocol for a Hot 
Hassle on Civic Virtue 

Minneapolis, Nov. 25. 
_When St. Paul Mayor John 
Daubney halted stripper Darrella 
at the Club Capitol and, explain- 
IJJS his action, told the press that 
. this is not Minneapolis or Chi- 
cago," he touched off a verbal ex- 
plosion by Minneapolis Mayor Eric 
Hoyer and Police Chief T. R. Jones 
Much led to a debate as to which 
C . » T / S better for an exotic dancer. 

th r * s . no ^ ou ^ °*- Lhe ordinary 
mat this woman chose St. Paul 

S “ le H r s t place," said Mayor 
«oyer when asked to comment on 
ayor Daubney’s statement. “She 
tered .» wllere her bread was but- 

Affirmed Police Chief Jones: "I 
agree with Mayor Daubney. St. 
mv?t! l , s n °t Minneapolis and that's 
L* the reason Darrella had 
S elf hooked into St. Paul. I’m 
h a „ e , no Minneapolis club would 
n ave hooked her.” 

e » ( ,! re or fi er tng the Darrella act 
Pn n„ Ma / 0 . 1 ’ daubney had St. Paul 
th« Ce • ^'hief Neal McMahon warn 
ery ' hut- this was disre- 
Mnvrt AJ -ter issuing his order, 
St p. , aulm ey served notice that 
*aul floorshow performances 
Continued on page 63) 


Detroit, Nov. 25. 

Danny Thomas blew into ' town 
last week with some" brash state- 
ments about television. 

He said such things as: "Televi- 
sion is for idiots! I don’t like it. 
It’s a medicine show. It has low- 
ered the standards of the enter- 
tainment business considerably. 
Through it people go shopping by 
a twist of the dial. The youth of 
today are . growing up without 
knowing what real entertainment 
is. Within a few years people will 
come screaming out of their houses 
to ‘get away from that box’.” 

Margaret Russell, in her story in 
the Detroit Times, noted that 
Thomas "took time out to reFtew 
his fight with television with one 
(Continued on page 40) 


House Red Probers Okay 
Tele for Some Hearings; 
Less Stress on H’wood 

Washington, Nov. 25. 

House Un-American Activities 
Committee will permit some of its 
hearings to be televised during the 
83d Congress, which convenes Jan. 
3, according to Rep.- Harold Velde 
(R., 111.). 

Velde, slated to be committee 
chairman next year, also reaffirmed 
his previous statement that the 
committee will spend less time on 
Hollywood and more on labor 
unions and colleges in the next 
Congress. 

Television will return because 
Rep. Sam Rayburn, who ordered 
the video ban on House Committee 
sessions, will no longer be Speaker. 
Rep. Joe Martin, slated for Speak- 
er post, has gone on record for 
permitting each committee to de- 
cide whether or not its sessions 
should be televised. 


OFFBEAT BOARDS 


By MIKE KAPLAN 

Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

In the constant prowl for enter- 
tainment that will tempt the most 
jaded palate, show’ business is 
coming up with its own refutation 
of the old saw on "you can’t teach 
an old dog new tricks." Show biz 
veterans in ever increasing num- 
bers are learning new tricks — and 
ne,w routines — as they switch to 
media they have never before at- 
tempted or from which they have 
long been absent. 

Results of the growing trend 
toward hanging w.k. names in dif- 
ferent or long-vacated frames are 
yet to be determined, but the 
major talent agencies feel the 
idea has enough merit to .warrant 
careful consideration of offbeat 
bookings. 

The trend, significantly, is 
toward the live entertainment 
field. The much-heralded “debuts" 
of various film names in telepix 
aren't considered part of the 
switch since essentially, from a 
thesp’s standpoint, it’s still simply 
(Continued on page 50) 


TV Needs Top Writers to Escape 
Ifwood-Type ‘Debacle’: Sherwood 


Radio 2-1 Over 

TV as ASCAP 

\ 

Revenue Source 


Although performance coin from 
television has been climbing rapid- 
ly in the last couple of. years, radio 
is still far and away the main 
source of revenue for the American 
Society of Composers, Authors & 
Publishers. It’s estimated that 
ASCAP will earn slightly over 
$8,000,000 from radio this year 
whil^the video take will be in the 
neighborhood of $4,000,000. 

This two-to-one ratio, however, 
compares with a three-to-one ratio, 
in favor of radio last year when 
(Continued on page 45) 


Ike's a Musician, Too 

Chicago, Nov. 25. 

American Music Conference 
last week revealed that the 
music loving public will in- 
herit another musician in the 
White House. Trade organiza- 
tion reported that Mrs. Dwight 
D. Eisenhower went into a 
music store in the south seek- 
ing a harmonica in March, 
1945, when the mouth organs 
were still scarce. A sales rep 
for a New York music whole- 
saler overheard the clerk re- 
luctantly turn her down and 
offered to turn over his lone 
item in his stock. Month later 
he received a note from the 
General thanking him and say- 
ing “I know I shall get a lot 
of enjoyment of it." 


RTMA Puts '53 TV 
Set Output at 6,400,000 

Chicago, Nov. 25. 

Sales managers of the member- 
companies of the Radio-Television 
Manufacturers Assn, held their an- 
nual guessing game at the organi- 
zation’s winter meeting here last 
week and came up with the average 
“guestimate" that TV production 
during 1953 would be 6,400,000 
sets. • ’ 

Peak production for the industry 
was in 1950 with 7,500,000 se's. 
Output currently is geared close 
to 10,000,000 units if projected on 
a 52-week basis. 


Report O’Dwyer s 
Mex Pix Biz Post 


Mexico City, Nov. 25. 

William O’Dwyer, U. S. Am- 
bassador to Mexico, reportedly 
will resign shortly after the first 
of the year to become general 
counsel and/or general manager of 
a new central distribution agency 
to be formed under Mexican gov- 
ernment sponsorship. The distrib 
organization, it’s said, would han- 
dle domestic release of all import- 
ed films. *> 

Lending further credence to the 
report that O’Dwyer may move 
into the film berth is the fact that 
he’s currently building a home in 
a swank suburb of Mexico City. 
This is an indication he intends to 
remain in the Mexican capital. 
Formation of the new central dis- 
tribution outfit is- bruited less than 
two mopths after the Mexican 
Congress passed a law requiring 
every theatre to devote 50% of 
its playing time to native product. 


* Bjr ABEL GREEN 

“It might have been a different 
story in Hollywood too if they, in 
the early 1920s, did more about 
engaging expert writers directly 
for the medium," says Pulitzer 
playwright Robert E. Sherwood as 
a footnote to his new National 
Broadcasting Co. television writ- 
ing deal. 

“By the same token," Sherwood 
adds, “TV is doing all right too, 
but possibly the idea of engaging 
potent playwrights to script di- 
rectly for the medium may be the 
insurance TV needs to circumvent 
any parallel debacle, such as Hol- 
lywood experienced. Hollywood 
was only saved by a new inven- 
tion, the advent of sound. That is 
when Hollywood started paying 
those fabulous sums for hit plays 
and novels, and the $5,000-a-week 
screenwright came into existence." 

Because Sherwood felt that the 
TV medium requires this sort of 
creative writing insurance, he so 
expressed himself at a social din- 

continued on page 18) 

DeMille B’way Legit Hits 
Spark New-Style Dance 
Troupe; U.S. Tour Mapped 

A new kind of dance-theatre 
company, unlike any other type of 
ballet or terp troupe heretofore on 
the road, will go out on tour next 
season, under name of Agnes 
de Mille Dance Theatre. Company 
of 35, including 18 dancers, some 
singers and an orch will be as- 
sembled and trained by Miss 
de. Mille, and presented on a na- 
tional tour by Sol Ilurok. Most 
unusual angle of the troupe will 
be its Broadway tie, in what’s be- 
lieved to be a new direction in the 
field of dance. 

Dance works from Broadway mu- 
(Continued on page 63) 



MID-WINTER ITINERARY 


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LAST FRONTIER HOTEL 

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Wednesday, November 26, 1952 



Pushing for Educ’l TV Stations 


Washington, Nov. 25. 

A new organization to push de- 
velopment of educational TV sta- 
tions was formed here yesterday 
(Mon.) with Milton S. Eisenhower* 
brother of president-elect, and 
Marion B. Folsom, treasurer, of 
Eastman Kodak, as co-chairman. 

The group, called the National 
Citizens Committee for Education- 1 
al Television, has been in process | 
of formation for several weeks. It j 
will hold its first formal meeting i 
Dec. 3 in Chicago. Members of , 
its steering committee include Dr. I 
Edgar Fuller, Chairman of the Na- 
tional Council of Chief State 
School officers; Raymond Wittcoff. 
St. Louis manufacturer; Irving 
Salomon, retired San Diego busi- 
nessman; and C. Scott Fletcher, of 
the Fund for Adult Education, an 
independent body established by 
the Ford Foundation. 

Executive director of the. Citizens 
Cpmrilittee is Robert Mullen, i'or- 

. . (Continued on page 63) 

♦ t 

Broadway Assn. Need Not 
Worry- About Burlesque 
‘Coming Back’ at Holiday 

The Broadway Association’s fear 
that burlesque is coming back to 
the Stem through the back door, 
because of the shows at the Holiday 
Theatre,’ N. Y., just isn’t so. What’s 
on exhibit there is just “innocent 
merriment,” and not much of the j 
latter word either. It may be that 
the Broadway Ass’n feels that pro- 
ducer Michael Rose has been going 
ahead on the gradual introduction 
of burlesque too rapidly. The cur- 
rent show indicates that he’s taken 
several steps backward. 

The comics, Jack Diamond and 
Mandy Kaye, both burley vets, 
could have done their stuff at a 
church picnic. There are lots of 
skits in the burlesque catalog that 
could be presented before the Ep- 

worth League. 

__ \ 

The current show doesn’t even 
have a strip, which is unthinkable 
for any house attempting to entice 
the Mihskyphiles. The closest is the 

(Continued on page 54) 


BAKER’S Bi. BLASTS 
NO HELP TO B.O. PULL 

Buenos Aires, Nov. 18. 

Josephine Baker continues doub- 
ling as an entertainer and political 
lecturer and propagandist here. At- 
tendance at the gabfests is h 
‘'must” for all Argentine state per- | 
son n el. But none of the gabbing 
is doing singer any good as an en- 
tertainer, and grosses at the Maipo 
Theatre, at which she appears in a 
revue dubbed “Voila Josephine,” 
aren’t too .hot Belief is current 
that singer has been hired by the 
government to make pro-Peron, 
anti-U. S. blasts. 

Following up three lectures 
already delivered on racial discrim- 
ination. she now has another 
scheduled at the Colon Opera The- 
atre, titled “The Torch,” which has 
the late Eva Peron as its theme. 
As there is no record of Miss 
Baker’s ever having met Mme. 
Peron, presumably material for 
the lecture has been supplied to 
her by the Information Ministry. 

Sinatra’s $10,000 Plus 
Per Week at N.Y. Nitery 

Frank Sinatra’s two-week en- 
gagement at the French Casino, 
N. Y. tonight (Wed.) is at the rate 
of $10,000. per week, hotel accomo- 
dations and ' transportation ex- 

t penses from the Coast for his 
Gotham stint. Since coming under 
| the wing of Abe Lastfogel, William 
Morris topper, Sinatra has inked 
a one-pic-a-year pact with Metro 
and has tested for a role in Co- 
lumbia’s forthcoming “From Here 
To Eternity.” 

Incidentally, the Tetter received 
s by the U. S, Customs Dept., tip- 
(•ping them off that Sinatra had 
i bought home diamonds on his re- 
j cent return from Africa, where he 
; had been with his wife, Ava Gard- 
' ner, who is there filming a pic 
I for Metro, was from a crank. 


' Artliur L« Mayer 

who thoHld know detail* why 

It’s Still (x 
$3,000,000,000 
Business 

•ft * * 

one of the many editorial feature* 
in the upcoming 

47 lh Anniversary Number 
of 

P'SrIety 


♦ ♦ f » ♦ » M ♦ M » f ♦ M » » 4- M -M f M f H I M + 

This Week’s Football 


x 


>4 4 .4-4.4. 4 HARRY WISMER 4-HT14 ♦♦♦♦ ♦ # m 

COLLEGE 

GAMES SELECTION *PTS. 


Colgate-Brown 


14 

12 

27 

18 


14 

13 


FORD MAPS 250G 
50THANN1TV 
HOOPLA 

Probably the biggest and most 
expensive television show ever 
staged is being lined up by the 
Kenyon & Eckhardt agency as part 
of Ford Motors’ 50th anni celebra- 
tion next June. While plans are 
still only in the earliest talking 

stage, they tentatively call for a 
two-hour extravaganza to be aired 
simultaneously on both the NBC 
qnd CBS video webs, with a total 
time and talent cost of over 
$250,000. 

There’s a possibility that legit 
producer Leland Hayward may 
supervise production on the show, 
und^r the aegis of his newly- 
formed Hayward Productions, 
which was incorporated earlier 
this month to package both legiters 
and radio-TV productions. No 
format has yet been decided on, so 
that final budgeting will depend 
both on that and .on the number of 
stations both networks are able to 
clear. Ford, of course, would be 
forced to pay preemption costs to 
sponsors of any regularly-schedul- 
ed programs cleared for the Ford 
show. 

K&E spokesmen said this week 

show off the planning boards by I STEIN STILL BELIEVES 

the first of the year. 



11/24 


(Thurs.) Colgate 

A trying year. 

Comell-Penn (Thurs.) Penn 

Munger will last longer than his critics. 

Texas A&M-Texas (Thurs.) Texas 

Longhorns have great team. 

Miami (Fla.)-No, Carolina (Fri. nite) Miami 

Hurricanes have too much for the weak Tarheels. 

Army-Navy Navy .... rr ... . 

Midshipmen continue spell over Cadets. 

Boston College-Holy Cross Holy Cross. ..... 

Two spirited teams, 

NYU-Fordham Fordham 

Rams have improved each week. 

Alabama- Auburn Alabama 21 

Crimson Tide enjoying the good old days. 

Baylor-RIce Baylor 6 

George Sauer deserves a break. 

Georgia-Georgia Tech Ga. Tech 14 

A blaze of Glory for Teck and Dodd. 

Mississippi-Miss. State Miss 12 

Ole Miss priming for Sugar Bowl. 

So. Carolina-Wake Forest South Carolina 3 

Gamecocks have it. 

SMU-TCU SMU 7 

Swinging down memory lane. 

Texas Tech-Tulsa Tulsa 28 

Oilers a gre'at scoring machine. 

Tulane-La. State Tulane 14 

Green Wave proudly ends season. 

Vanderbilt-Tennessee Tenn 7 

Vandy will give a real tussle. 

Wra. & Mary-Virginia Virginia 10 

Cavaliers have enjoyed better years. 

Notre Dame-USC USC 7 

This game should be televised. 

Oklahoma A&M-Oklahoma Oklahoma 7 

Closer than you could imagine. 

Washington- Wash. State Washington 

Washington too much for state rivals. 
PROFESSIONAL 

Giants-Steelers Giants 

Benners is the man. 

Lions-Packers (Thurs.) Lions 

Detroit has edge, at home. 

Bears-Texans (Thurs.) Bears 

Homeless, Winless Teams. 

Rams-49ers Rams 

L. A. hotest team at the moment. 

Cards-Eagles Eagles 

Jim Trimble all hail! 

Cleveland-Redsklns Browns 

; Redskins lack depth. 

SEASON'S RECORD 
Won, 262; Lost, 77; Ties, 16; Pet., .768. 

Games played Saturday unless otherwise stated. 

*Point margin represents selector’s choice. 




20 


10 


20 

12 


14 


Herb Shriner Again Set 


VAUDE MAY RETURN 


Gift Subscription 

Enclosed find check or m.o. 

for $ Send Yoriefy for 

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NAME 


Pointing to the abnormal grosses 
of Martin & Lewis, Danny Kaye 

For Motor Sports Show £ e d 

Herb Shriner, Hoosier comic on vauder had top attractions, Jules 
NBC-TV for Old Gold, will stage C. Stein still believes that “a ren- 
his second International Motor aissance of round actors is not so 
Sports Show at Grand Central Pal- far away.” He has long, felt that 
ace, N. Y., April 4-12. Outstanding the reflex from pix, and the upbeat 
cars, foreign and domestic, will be and intimacy created by TV’s per- 
featured. sonalities reaching into the home, 

First IMSS drew 125,000 admis- would awaken a new vogue for in- 
sions, with 200,000 aimed at next person talent. 


spring. A rival show will be held 
in Madison Square Garden in Feb- 
ruary. 


There’s no reason why only in 
saloons "the American public can 
see the top names,” says the Music 
Corp. of America board chairman. 
Occasionally in the deluxe vaud- 


Minn. Knows Gary Cooper, fiimers, of course, you get them, 


-o AJ. mu n i„ 1 too, but there is a great need for 

.Better lnan Ben. L/larK family entertainment in that direc- 


tion. It may be a long time coming 
but I think vaudeville has a ter- 
rific chance to come back in the 
not-so-distant future.” 


Minneapolis, Nov. 25. 

Minneapolis Sunday Tribune’s 
Minnesota Poll of Public Opinion 
has brought out that five times as 
many Minnesotans know that Gary 

Cooper is a film star than know | ril Aloclran Da l A 

that Gen. Mark Clark is the Ameri- | * HHIIlCo iildomUl UfllC 

can general commanding United 
Nations forces in Korea. 


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Sunday Tribune revealed that 
when Minnesota Poll interviewers 
asked a representative cross-section 
of the state’s men and women to 
name the UN commander in Korea, 
only 18% knew the answer. But 
when they asked “Who is Gary 
Cooper?’’ 90% gave prompt and 
correct replies. 

Article pointed out that Cooper 


With GIs for Xmas 

Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

Johnny Grant will lead a troupe 
of 10 entertainers on a tour of 
military posts in Alaska and the 
Aleutians for the Christmas holi- 
days under auspices of the Holly- 
wood Coordinating Committee. He 
previously made two trips • to 
Korea. 

Troupe, leaving Dec. 19, includes 


« • i ill* nrn _ • XA VUMV« AVM T V. Ah/f AllWlUViVU 

has just celebrated his 25th anni- j ane Erazee, Ginny Jackson, Tony 
versary In pix Gen. Clark who Love „ 0 Elizabeth Talbot Martin, 
rose to military fame in World War Mar Castle Susan Cabot> Susan 
II, became commander in Koreo 
last spring. The poll showed that 
more men than women in the state 
know who Gen. Clark is, but there 
was virtually no difference in the 
proportion (nine out of 10) able to 
identify Cooper. 


Morrow, Eddie Samuels and Fred 
and Bobbie Brown. 


Jes’ Call Me Prof 

It’s Professor Arthur Kober. 
Playwright-humorist starts a 
plays-films-books discussion class at 


Kup’s Names in Chicago 
A 45G Harvest for Vets 

Chicago, Nov. 25. 
Irv Kupcinet, columnist for the 
Chicago Sun-Times, brought in 
Jack .Benny, Van Johnson, Tony 
Curtis, Janet Leigh, Bob Crosby 


Rhonda Fleming, Rita Gam and 
the New School for Social Re- Billy Van for the annual Harvest 
seaich, N. Y., in February. It s a Moon Festival, which was sold out nt, m auswero 
15-week course, two hours per a week ago, grossing $45,000 for token 'fee. Yermi Stern controls 
week. hospitalized vets.. the world rights.- 


Harry Green Giving 
‘Welcome Stranger’ 

A Touch of the Irish 

Harry Green, the American 
comedian, a longtime resident in 
England, flew into New York 
Thursday and sailed back to 
ondon Saturday (22) aboard the 
Mauretania. He came over to 
clear rights for “Welcome Strang- 
er,” Aaron Hoffman’s comedy, 
whose lead character was created 
by the late George Sidney — uncle 
of the Metro producer-director of 
the same name — on Broadway in 
1920. 

Green for years has been doing 
the comedy in England, South 
Africa and Australia. Cohan & 
Harris originally produced it. 
Comedian’s plans for “Stranger’' 
include a wearin’-of-the-Green 
chore with the Irish Players in 
Dublin, in a rewritten version to 
be titled “Shamrock for Luck.” He 
would play the original role — 
only this time as the only Jew in 
the Irish village of Beillykillduff. 
The original play was a New 
England setting. 

Incidentally McQueen Pope, the 
Reuters correspondent, is cur- 
rently polishing a biog on Green 
titled “Everything Happens to Me,” 
which Heinemann will probably 
publish in England and Simon & 
Schuster may do in the U. S. 
Green enjoys an unusual friend- 
ship with the royal family. Win- 
ston Churchill, and other British 
notables. 


Green's London Bar 
p London, Nov. 25. 

Comedian Harry Green has 
taken over operation of the fash- 
ionable Ciro's bar. 

He has gone to the U. S. to im- 
port the Santa Claus illusion 
which Michael Todd, the American 
producer, invented for one of his 
World’s Fair stunts in New York 
— a double-lens effect which re- 
duces the size into a “Santa Claus, 
or “fortune-teller,” or a nude — 
there are variations to the stunt-'' 
who grants the wishes of the P uD ‘ 
lie, or answers questions fo r 


Wednesday, November 26, 1952 



Pfii&n&F? 


PICTCBHS 


I 


PAR 



51* 



NETWORK 


Depinet ‘Embarrassed’ by Reports Of 
His RKO Return; Knows Nothing of It 


Ne d Depinet says that it's get-+ 
ling embarrassing, "even with my 1 
wife along with friends who wire 
me and phone me congratulations 
nn something I know nothing 
About " This refers to the reports 
J? his return to RKO as "chair- 
man’' or “president." 

Depinet has not heard "directly 
or indirectly" from Howard Hughes 
or Tom Slack, his personal attor- 
ney “and I'm certainly not calling 
up the Coast on rumors. I'm sure 
they know where to reach me. What 
Variety said last week still goes; 
until I know what the deal is, with 
whom I’m associated and how muclvj 
control I would have, I just can't] 
make any comment because I have 
had no negotiations with the new 
owners of RKO, nor have I seen 
any emissary from them (meaning 
the Ralph E. Stolkin group), Mr. 
Hughes, or any of the past owners. 

“And I’m not doing anything un- 
til I know more. I must say it is 
high time that they did something 
about it because they must get 
somebody. To me it would person- 
ally be a terrible thing if RKO 
slid down to nothing; That in my 
opinion is unnecessary. I am sure 
that our colleagues in the picture 
business think so also, and I be- 
lieve that the industry at large 
would want to help the company, 
and even our competitors would be 
eager to lend a helping hand., But 
if they think they got me in their 
vest pocket, they’re cockeyed. I 
don’t say that I might not take 
(Continued on page 20) 


Eddie Davis 

combines two yrtah into 

A Jolson Story and a 
Cantor Story 

* A ft 

or Interesting byline feature in the 
47 th Anniversary Number 

of 

P'Sriety 




Ohio Solon Admits 
Pic Censorship Is 
On the Way Out 


'GUYS' AUTHORS EXTEND 
DEADLINE ON PIC PRICE 

Deadline for the authors of 
“Guys and Dolls" to state to Para- 
mount their price for the- film 
rights to the Broadway musical hit 
has been extended to next April 1, 
partly because there is no hurry to 
make a deal and partly because 
the authors don’t think the mar- 
ket is any too good right now. 

Par, which owns "The Idol of 
Miss Sarah Brown," the basic 
Damon Runyon story on which 
"Guys and Dolls” Is based, has a 
15% interest in the show and first 
refusal rights on .filming the musi- 
cal hit. The original contract called 
for the authors to name their price 
two years after the opening. The 
tuner’s second anniversary was 
Monday (24). 

The deal gives the authors the 
right to sell “Guys and Dolls” to 
companies willing to outbid Par. 
They cannot, however, sell for a 
price less than the one turned 
down by Par. 

It’s understood that while several 
filmeries are interested in the 
property, which can’t be brought 
to the screen for several years any- 
way, the price for it isn’t likely to 
exceed more than $500,000. “Har- 
vey” brought $1,000,000 and “Annie 
Get Your Gun” $650,000, but that 
was some years ago and the market 
has slipped since then, with the 
studios hesitant to shell out big 
corn for plays, particularly for 
musicals which are expensive to 
produce. 


Columbus, O., Nov. 25. 

In a surprising and totally unex- 
pected admission, a member of the 
Ohio Dept, of Education said Sat- 
urday (22) that film censorship is 
almost definitely on the way out in 
Ohio, and inferred the department 
would lose its pending court battle 
to retain scissoring rights. The Di- 
vision of Film Censorship is under 
the Dept, of Education. Both are 
headed by Dr. Clyde Hissong. 

The statement came from Dr. 
Clyde Miller, head of the depart- 
ment’s audio-visual division, which 
receives its funds to support and 
expand its million-dollar educa- 
tional film library from censorship 
fees. The library, with 3,250 titles, 
is one of the largest in the country. 
With four cases against .the Divi- 
sion of Film Censorship now pend- 
ing before the Ohio Supreme Court, 
and with recent U. S. Supreme 
Court decisions favoring film free- 
dom as a precedent, a pessimistic 
mood pervades the education de- 
partment, Dr. Miller flatly stated. 

“I feel almost sure we’re going 
to lose it,” said Dr. Miller, refer- 
ring to funds from censorship fees 
which support his division. The 
average $250,000 annually collected 
from exhibs by the censorship divi- 
sion is split three ways— $40,000 to 
$50,000 to the censorship division 
for operating expenses; half of the 
remainder, about $100,000, to the 
state general revenue fund, and 
the other $100,000 to the audio- 
visual division. 


SHIPPING TRIALS 


Georgia Exhib Notes It's Cheaper 
to Ship Corpse Than Film 


Thomasville, Ga., Nov. 25. 

Pointing up high shipping costs 
tor films, Nat Williams, exhib of 
tnomasville, Ga., notes that it’s 
cheaper to ship a corpse than a can 
celluloid. 

In a letter to Theatre Owners of 
America general counsel Herman 
i,, I,ev y< Williams says: “Quitman 
onf 4 fron * here. They have 

et a $2.52 rate on a feature film 

Jj, ere to there, or over 10c a 
Tlle . y will haul a corpse for 
W 5 mile * 1 can 2 et a bow- 
tul 8eci , c ? r P se » can set film can be- 
nif^ n hls .I e Ss, and reuse indefi- 
iwu , savin S ?.4c a mil® on hauls. 
p nt know life expectancy of a 

haf? Se ’ l)ut should recover profit 
before he wears out.” 


FOR TELE 


Possibility that Paramount Pic- 
tures may launch the fifth major 
TV network, and in so doing em- 
bark on production of films for 
television and open up some of its 
old product for sale to TV, was in- 
timated this week by veepee Paul 
Raibourn. Also prexy of Para- 
mount TV Productions, Raibourn 
said the entire situation is depen- 
dent on a final okay by the Federal 
Communications Commission of 
the projected United Paramount 
Theatres - American Broadcasting 
Co. merger. 

In a report recommending the 
merger two weeks ago, FCC ex- 
aminer Leo Resnick found that 
Par’s stock interest in DuMont 
does not represent control, as the 
Commission had originally charged. 
If the FCC now accepts that recom- 
mendation, Par will be able to file 
for four more video stations, to be 
operated along with KTLA, which 
it presently owns in Hollywood. 
And with five owned-and-operated 
stations as the bulwark of a fifth 
*TV network, Raibourn hinted that 
Par not only might start produc- 
tion of vidfilms but also might 
utilize some of its old film product, 
either features or short, for its 
stations. 

Since no definite move can be 
(Continued on page 22) 

Rep to Release 
Oldies for TV? 

Republic Pictures may be the 
first big Hollywood studio to sell 
its backlog of feature film oldies 
to television. Earl Collins, head of 
Rep’s vidfilm subsidiary, ‘ Holly- 
wood TV Service, was in N. Y. 
from the Coast last week talking 
an exclusive deal for some of Rep's 
old product with CBS-TV and, 
while no deal has been signed yet, 
it’s understood that CBS is pre- 
pared to pay upwards of $100,000 
for an unspecified number of films. 

Rep had talked about opening 
(Continued on page 22) 


Kramer Loses Complete Autonomy 
As His Col Pix Have Yet to Show Profit 


Charlie Williams 

has a whimsical short story titled 

The President Was 
Stagestruck 


an amusing byline piece In the 
forthcoming 

47th Anniversary Number 
of 

y&RlETY 


Use Blocked Coin 
To Finance U.S. 
Vidpix Abroad 


Backdoor entrance into British 
vidpix. production, is being made by 
the major U. S. filmeries via coin 
frozen in England. Majors as well 
as indie producers are employing 
the blocked coin to finance tele- 
films being produced In England. 

Filmeries are not forming sub- 
sid companies but are lending the 
coin to indie producers for vidpix 
that will eventually be seen on 

American screens. Completed films 
are distribbed by outfits in the 
U. S. with some of the coin find- 
ing its way into the coffers of the 
American firms. 

Outfits in Britain making films 
for the American market don’t 
want to bring in U. S. money, fear- 
iiig that they’ll have difficulty get- 
ting the coin out in dollars. Use of 
frozen coin comes in handy for 
payment of technicians, players, 
studio rental, etc. 


I+- Complete autonomy formerly 
enjoyed by Stanley Kramer at 
Columbia in the selection of story 
material has been altered. Stipula- 
tion as well as other changes in 
Kramer’s pact were agreed to fol- 
lowing talks in New York last week 
between the producer and prexy 
Harry Cohn. Feeling of Cohn as 
well as other Col execs was that 
Kramer’s pix were not commercial 
enough and, as a result, there’ll be 
confabs on future properties. 

It’s no secret that Col has been 
unhappy about the Kramer output. 
While agreeing that his pix were 
“artistic successes," it’s noted by 
Col and admitted by the Kramer 
org that none of the producer’s pix 
thus far for Col has been a profit- 
maker. Col has also felt that 
perhaps Kramer was overextending 
himself in an effort to turn out 
six pix a year under the terms of 
his original contract, which ha* 
been in force for 18 months. Ac- 
cordingly, an agreement has been 
reached for, Kramer to limit his 
outfit’s activities to three or pos- 
sibly four pix annually. Producer 
has been keeping pace with the 
’six-a-year figure, having completed 
nine films in 18 months, three of 
which are yet to be released. 

Cutdown in the Kramer unit's 
production sked will also mean a 
cutback in the operating costs of 
the producer’s orgi 
Col’s official announcement made 
no mention of an amended pact, 
(Continued on page 54) 


National Boxoffice Survey 

Trade Still Slow; ‘Snow*’ Again Champ, ‘Zenda* 2d, 
‘Plymouth* 3d, ‘Mistress* 4th, ‘Because* 5th 


CHI MAYOR REFUSES TO 
OVERRULE ‘MIRACLE’ NIX 

Chicago, Nov. 25. 

A police decision which bans ex- 
hibition of the controversial Italian 
film import, “The Miracle," ' will 
not be overruled by Mayor Ken- 
nelly, it was disclosed this week. 
Explaining his refusal in a letter 

to the American Civil Liberties 
Union, Hizzoner stated .that the 
Chicago Police Department Cen- 
sorship Board reviewed the picture 
Oct. 10 and unanimously recom- 
mended that itjbe banned because 
“it is immoral and obscene." 

Despite a U. S. Supreme Court 
ruling that “The Miracle" is not 
sacrilegious, Chicago police orig- 
inally banned the picture in June 
on the grounds that it “features 
immorality and exposes a religion 
to ridicule and derision." ACLU 
immediately protested and ar- 
ranged private screenings to sam- 
ple public opinion, "Of a total of 
546 who have seen the film and 
answered our questionnaire," the 
organization asserted, "541 opposed 
the ban while only five upheld it." 


Biz is very sluggish at most first- 
runs this session, with pre-Thanks- 
giving influences, including early 
Xmas shopping, cutting in. How- 
ever, lack of strong product un- 
doubtedly is a very vital factor 
currently. Rainy weather and con- 
tinued mild temperatures also are. 
damaging. 

“Snows 6f Kilimanjaro" (20th), 
although largely on extended-rum 
this week, still is holding onto No. 
1 spot. It is being closely pursued 
by ‘‘Prisoner of Zenda" (M-G), 
which is inclined to be uneven on 
first batch of representative, dates. 
Third position is being captured 
by “Plymouth Adventure" (M-G), 
which also is a bit spotty. “Iron 
Mistress" (W-B), just starting out, 
is a strong fourth-place winner. 

“Because of You" (U), already 
tabbed as a money pic by exhibi- 
tors, is showing enough to capture 
fifth position although in only four 
key cities covered by Variety. 
“Miracle of Fatima" (WB) is fin- 
ishing sixth, with "Everything I 
Have Is Yours" (M-G) seventh, 

“Lusty Men" (RKO) and “Ivan- 
hoe" (M-G) round out top nine list 
in that sequence. Latter has com- 
pleted most of its key dates on 
first time around. 

“Quiet Man" (Rep) tops the run- 
ner-up films, with “The Promoter" 
(U), “Pony Soldier" (20th), “Opera- 
tion Secret" (WB) 'and ‘Hellgate" 
(Lip) next. Last three named are 
very spotty. 


New fare just starting this stan- 
za is not too promising. "Thunder- 
birds" (Rep) was nice on preem 
in Washington. "Hangman’s Knot" 
(Col) is fair in Providence and okay 
in Pittsburgh. "Flat Top" (AA) 
looms okay in Frisco and mild in 
Louisville. ‘‘Limelight" (UA), still 
sock in two N. Y. houses, looks big 
in Frisco and Toronto. 

"K.C. Confidential" (UA) shapes 
stout in Philly and okay on hold- 
over in Chi. "Bloodhounds of 
Broadway" (20th), mild in N. Y 
looms slow in Providence. “Steel 
Trap" (20th) locks disappointing 
this week, with several fair to light 
sessions. 

“Full House" (20th) Is stout in 
Chi and good in N. Y. “Hurricane 
Smith" (Par), mostly slow to fair 
currently, is good in St. Louis. 

“Horizons West" (U), okay in 
Minneapolis, looms solid in N. Y. 
“Something For Birds". (20th) is 
rated oke in Denver and Baltimore. 

“MQntana Belle’’ (RKO), trim in 
Buffalo, is slow in Providence and 
mild in K.C. and Minneapolis. 
“Turning Point" (Par), fine in De- 
troit, looks fair in N. Y., Portland 
and Providence and sluggish in In 
dianapolis and Philly. 

"It Grows on Trees" (U) shapes 
fair in Buffalo. , “8 Iron Men" 
(Col) likewise is only fair in Frisco. 
“Duel at Silver Creek" (U) looms 
good in Omaha, 

(Complete Boxoffice Reports on 
1 -Pages 8-13) 


METRO SLATED TO BUY 
JOHN PATRICK PLAY 

Negotiations for Metro to ac- 
quire screen rights to John Pat- 
rick’s dramatization of the Verne 
Schneider novel, “The Tea House 
of the August Moon," are at the 
completion stage. Play was to have 
been produced on Broadway thi* 
season by Maurice Evans, but be- 
cause of Evans’ preoccupation with 
“Dial ‘M’ for Murder," current 
Broadway hit of which he Is the 
star, “Tea House" may not be pro- 
duced until next season. 

The play is set against the post- 
war occupation period on Okinawa, 



Trade Mark Registered 
FOUNDED BY SIME SILVERMAN 
Published Weekly by VARIItY, INQ. 

Harold Erichs, President 
154 West 40th St. New York 30, N. Y. 
Hollywood It 
6311 Yuoca Street 
Washington 4 

1292 National Press Building 
Chisago 11 

912 No. Mlonigan Ave. 

London WC2 

6 St. Martin's PL, Trafalgar. S<*. 


SUBSCRIPTION 

Annual $10 Foreign — $tt 

Single Copies 23 Cents 


ABEL GREEN, Editor 


Vol. 188 


>0 


No. 12 


INDEX 

Bill* 54 

Chatter 82 

Film Reviews 6 

House Reviews 55 

Inside Legit 56 

Inside Pictures 17 

Inside Television 34 

International 10 

Legitimate 56 

Literati * . 81 

Music 42 

New Acts 53 

Night Club Reviews 52 

Obituaries 83 

Pictures 3 

Radio-Television 28 

Radio Reviews 30 

Record Reviews 42 

Frank Scully 61 

Television Reviews 35 

TV-Films 26 

Unit Reviews 54 

Vaudeville 50 

DAILY VARIETY 
(Published in Hollywood by 
Dally Variety, Ltd.) 

$15 a Year. $20 Foreign 


4 


ncrruRES 



Wednesday, November 26 , I952 


‘Carmen on Theatre TV Seen Aid 
In Chain of Events to Boost B.O. 

Now that the idea of presenting-f - ■ 


the Metropolitan Opera’s produc- 
tion of “Carmen” via theatre tele- 
vision has had a chance to sink 
in, exhibitors around the country 
are hailing it as a “fine idea” which 
might answer a number of their 
boxoffice problems. If the show, 
to be aired Dec. 11, presages their 
getting two or three such theatre 
TV events each month, according 
to big-screen exhibs it could very 
well mean a revitalization of in- 
terest in film-going by the so-called 
“lost audience” and also a means 
of attracting new patrons who have 
never previously been film fans. 

Some 30 houses to date have 
signed with Theatre Network TV 
to carry the opera and about 20 
others are expected to tie in, de- 
pending* on whether they can clear 
the necessary coaxial cable and 
local loop connections with Ameri- 
.can Telephone & Telegraph. Thea- 
tres for the most part are selling 
reserved seats for the affair, scal- 
ing their prices from $1.20 up to 
$4.80 in some spots, although the 
average range is from $1.80 to 
$3.60. Exhibs report a good sale 
to date, with some of them having 
tied in with local civic and cultural 
groups to aid in promoting the 
event as a community cultural af- 
fair. 

General exhib optimism was 
voiced this week by Norman El- 
son, prez of the Embassy Newsreel 
Theatres, whose Guild, “N. Y., will 
carry the opera. Refuting the 
charge of some Hollywood indus- 
tryites that theatre TV will dis- 
place their product, he believes it 
can benefit Hollywood by bringing 
new' patrons to the boxoffice. In. 
addition, he said, it’s only on spe- 
cial events such as the “Carmen” 
deal that big-screen houses bypass 
film for the night. When they 
televise boxing and other sports 
events, he pointed out, the theatre 
TV program is usually carried as 
an adjunct of the regular film pro- 
gram. 

Elson also sees theatre TV pos- 
sibly building new. talent for films, 
same as home TV has done. Just 
as home video helped build the 
boxoffice potential for Dean Mar- 
tin and Jerry Lewis, he noted, the- 
atre TV may create film possibili- 
ties among the opera performers 
(or legit, when Broadway ‘plays are 
made available to big-screening). 

(Continued 0^ page 22) 

20th Story Analysts 
In N.Y. Form Unit In 
Coast Guild Tieup 

Six screen story analysts, all 
staffers at 20th-Fox’s N. Y. story 
department, became affiliated this 
week with the Screen Story Anal- 
ysts Guild of California with the 
formation of their own Chapter, to 
be known as the Screen Story An- 
alysts Guild of New York (SSAG- 
NY). 

Affiliation culminates a 10-year 
attempt to have the analysts on 
both coasts united in one org. In 
the new setup, SSAG-NY members 
are also tied in with the Screen 
Writers Guild, which is directly af- 
filiated with SSAG of California. 
Fox staffer Peter Reid is prexy 
of the new group. 

Readers were formerly affiliated 
with white collarites of the Screen 
Office and Professional Employees 
Guild. However,, when SOPEG dis-. 
banded and office help jpined the 
IATSE affiliate, the Motion Picture 
Homeoffice Employees Union, 
Local* H-03, the analysts voted to 
remain unffiliated and began their 
drive, to tie in with the Coast 
readers. 


U Execs Fete Blumfaerg 

Universal execs, representing 
the company's foreign and domes- 
tic organization, honored Nate J. 
Blumberg, U board chairman, at 
lueheon Friday (21). Occasion 
was Blumberg’s 40th anniversary 
in the industry and his selection as 
“Motion Picture Pioneer of 1952.” 
The Motion Picture Pioneers feted 
Blumberg at their annual dinner 
in N. Y. last night (Tues.). 

U tribute was hosted by Alfred 
E. Daff, exec vcepee, who toastmas- 
te red. Speakers included prexy 
Milton R. Rackmil, William Goetz, 
studio head; Americo Aboaf, for- 
eign general sales manager, and 
Daff. 


‘Carmen’ TV at $7 

Pointing up public interest 
in the theatre televising of 
“Carmen” Dec. 11 from the 
stage of the Metropolitan 
Opera, N. Y„ the Guild The- 
atre, N. Y., has sold more 
* than 100 seats for the event 
at a straight $7 tab, with only 
a lobby easel used for adver- 
tising. Guild management has 
set aside . 300 of its 500 seats 
for the Met execs and other 
personalities who want to wit- 
ness the show via big-screen, 
so has only another 100 . to 
sell. 

Several houses are playing 
up the event as the “real 
thing.” Walter Reade’s St. 
James, Asbury Park, N. J., 
will have its own “dress 
circle,” a la the Met, with all 
tickets carrying thp notation, 
“Dress Optional.” ^Lee Thea- 
tre, Fort Lee, N. J., incidental- 
ly, is being equipped for the- 
atre TV and will carry the 
opera as its first big-screen 
event. 

Won't Replace 
Rank on U Bd. 

J. Arthur Rank and G. I. Wood- 
ham-Smith, the two remaining reps 
of the Rank Organization on the 
Universal board, have resigned and 
will not be replaced. Third* Rank 
rep, Robert S. Benjamin, already 
has resigned. He quit the U board 
simultaneously with taking on the 
board chairmanship of United Art- 
ists. 

Since Benjamin also won’t be re- 
placed, the U board will shrink to 
10 persons with Decca, which owns 
42% of the U common stock, rep- 
ped only by Milton R. Rackmil, 
Decca and U prexy. 

Resignation of the Rank direc- 
tors had been expected ever since 
Rackmil went to London last June 
and acquired . Rank’s 134,375 U 
shares, representing 14% of UV 
outstanding common stock. Shares 
were held by General Cinema Fi- 
nance Corp., one of the Rank in- 
terests. Terms of the deal called 
for $2,200,000 in cash plus $500,000 
in the' form of five non-interest 
bearing promissory notes dated 
June 19,1952, and good for $100,000 
each. Notes are payable yearly on 
the anniversary date. 

Previous to purchasing the Rank 
holdings, Decca already owned 
271,800 shares, equalling 28.3% of 
the outstanding U stock. Added to 
Rank’s 14%, this gave Rackmil 
42.3% and made him the major 
shareholder In the company. 

New U board will include Rack- 
mil, N. J. Blumberg, Preston Davie, 
Alfred E. Daff, Albert A. Garth- 
waite, Leon Goldberg, R. W. Lea, 
John J. O’Connor, Budd Rogers 
and Daniel M. Sheaffer. Board met 
in N. Y., Monday (24) and acted on 
the Rank rep resignations. 


Disney’s British Chief 

Returns to London 

Cyril Edgar, director of Walt 
Disney Productions’ British organi- 
zation, returns to his London head- 
quarters the end of the week after 
confabs -with- prexy Roy Disney and 
other execs at the company’s New 
York office. 

Huddles were held to map sales 
techniques for upcoming Disney 
product in the British market. Gen- 
erally, however, the company’s re- 
lease pattern in that territory is 
much the same as in the U. S., for 
the firm has such merchandising 
avenues as its own music publish- 
ing outlet, licensing setups, etc. 


Front Back to Paris 

Isy Pront, Paramount’s super- 
visor of dubbing in Paris, returned 
to France over the weekend after 
a two-we&k stay in the U. S., much 
of it at the Coast studio. It was 
Pront’s first trip to this country. 


Ben Hogan, Sammy Snead, 
Jimmy Thompson and Byron Nel- 
son signed as golf pros for the 
Martin-Lewis picture, “The Caddy,” 
at Paramount. 


20TH EYES MUSIC HALL 
AS TOP-PIX OUTLET 

With the Roxy, Ni Y., going to 
National Theatres under the di- 
vorcement provisions of the con- 
sent decree, 20th-Fox is eyeing 
Radio City Music Hall as a poten- 
tial outlet for its top pix. Future 
is likely t<? see 20th competing 
with Metro for Music Hall honors. 
The Roxy had previously been a 
20th-Fox showcase. 

First 20th pic to play the Hall 
under the new setup is “Tonight 
We Sing,” the Sol Hurok biog, 
which is slotted for a February 
opening. It follows a solid line of 
M-G product, including the cur- 
rent “Plymouth Adventure,” the 
forthcoming “Million Dollar .M er “ 
maid” (the Christmas show) and 
“The Bad and the Beautiful.” 

The Hall’s Robert Downing has 
his eye on 20th’s “Call Me. Madam,” 
which may become the Easter at- 
traction, and the studio’s “Gentle- 
men Prefer Blondes.” Negotiations 
for “Madam” are in progress. 

Top Names io Tribute 
To L B. Mayer at 2d 
Milestone Award Feed 

By JOE SCHOENFELD 

Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

The Screen Producers Guild, 
continuing in the cycle of pioneers, 
presented its second Milestone 
Award last Wednesday night (19) 
to Louis B. Mayer at a plushy din- 
ner attended by more than 700 at 
the Biltmore Hotel Bowl. Last 
year, the infant SPG’s first Mile- 
stone Award went to Jesse L. 
Lasky. 

However, unlike the more senti- 
mental tribute paid to Lasky, who 
at that time was on the rise of 
his motion picture graph with the 
very successful “Great Caruso” 
(M-G), the Milestone tribute to 
Mayer was more like a Friars’ Sat- 
urday night. Only Norma Shearer, 
the ex-Mrs. .Irving Thalberg, and 
Joe Schenck, along with the guest 
of honor, sounded serious notes 
from the rostrum. 

George Jessel was toastmaster, 
such a natural chore for him that 
Jack Benny described him later as 
the “only man I know who leaves 
his house every morning wearing 
a tuxedo and carrying a pitcher o’f 
water.” In his very opening, and 
Just —be fo r e int r o ducing Schenck 
for latter’s brief eulogy of Mayer, 
Jessel confessed that this was his 
303d speech this year, during 
which “he had talked about every- 
thing from the amoeba to the Dem- 
ocratic party — both of which are 
now approximately the same size.” 

Jessel was introduced to the 
tuxed-’n’-gowned assemblage by Sol 
C. Siegel, presideht of the SPG. 
Siegel didn’t think Jessel needed 
an abundance of words, but Jessel 
evidently thought he was too brief. I 
When the toastmaster got to his 
feet, he remarked that Siegel’s 
speech sounded as though it had 
been written by Senator Joe Mc- 
Carthy. 

In bringing Schenck on as the 
first speaker, Jessel paid tribute to 
the 20th-Fox executive in the fol- 
lowing manner: “Ladies and gen- 
tlemen, they just do not make guys 
any more on the square as Sam 
Harris, William Morris, Sime Sil- 
verman and Joseph M. Schenck.” 
The latter paid particular tribute 
to Mayer’s business acumen and 
leadership in the picture industry. 

Later, in the only other serious 
speech other than Mayer’s, Miss 
Shearer talked of her relationship 
with Mayer through her stardom at 
Metro and as the wife of “Prince 
Charming J1 (Irving* Thalberg). She 

(Continued on page 22) 


Minn. U Permits Red Pic 

Minneapolis, Nov. 25. 

Yielding to protests that fol- 
lowed the banning of the Soviet 
Union-Red China film, “New 
China,” and charges that censor- 
ship was being instituted, the U. 
of Minnesota has decided to permit 
its showing after all. 

Previously, the committee which 
previewed it had decided “it is of 
such a blantantly propagandists 
nature that it has no place in any 
program under university aus- 
pices.” 


N. Y. to Europe 

Vance Henry 
Kenneth Later 
Isy Pront 
Linda Scott 

. j£bB-W.oplf, 


i 




With Decca Records* now holding a 42% interest in Universal 
any thought of a merger between the two companies is definitely 
, odt, according to Milton R.. Rackmil, Decca and U prez. “There’s 
no need for it any more,” he said. 

‘ Merger idea was pushed energetically by Rackmil earlier this 
year, following his purchase of 263,700 shares of U common and 
32,500 of its warrants, representing a 26% voting interest. It was 
pushed into the background, hut not entirely discarded, when 
Decca acquired J. Arthur Rank’s entire JL4% interest in U for 
$2,700,000 of which it paid $2,200,000 in cash. 

Original merger plan had called either for an exchange of stock 
or the acquisition of Decca assets by U. Latter procedure was 
favored because it would have required orily 51% stockholder ap- 
proval. Okay by two-thirds of the stockholders would have been 
necessary for the stock exchange deal. Rank Was opposed to the 
merger idea from the beginning. Meld could have been pushed 
through anyway but might have entailed a possible proxy fight 
and minority stockholders’ suits. 


Harry Warner in N. Y. 
For Homeoffice Huddles 

Harry M. Warner, Warner Bros, 
prexy, arrived in New York from 
the Coast over the weekend for 
homeoffice talks and also to view. 
Cinerama. 

Production topper Jack L. War- 
ner planed back to the Coast Sun- 
day (16) following a week’s Gotham 
stay. He’s due back in New York 
Dec. 27 for his daughter’s coming- 
out party. 

While in Gotham, Jack Warner 
held top-level talks with Warner 
engineers on its own three-dimen- 
sional process. Two engineers came 
on from the studio for the palaver. 

300 RKO-ites 
Get 4% Hike 

Despite uncertainty over RKO’s 
future, approximately 300 RKO 
homeoffice white collarites re- 
ceived a 4% pay hike starting 
Friday (19). Boost applies to all 
office employes who have been on 
the payroll for six months or more. 

Increase results from the two- 
year pact, signed in November, 
1951, between the film company 
and the Motion Picture Home Of- 
fice Employees Union, Local H-63, 
IATSE, which called for the auto- 
matic boost at the expiration of 
one year. RKO was the only corn* 
pany having a pact with the union 
calling for a definite increase; the 
wage clauses in pacts with the 
other filmeries calling for a boost 
based on the cost-of-living index. 

RKO this year is following its 
usual custom of giving all em- 
ployees a half-day off between 
Nov. 24 and Dec. 19 for Xmas 
shopping. Letter to that effect, 
signed by personnel chief Robert 
Goldfarb, went out to all staffers 
this week. 


Jack Donahue’s Widow 
Loses 350G Suit Vs. WB 

Salt Lake City, Nov. 25. 

Mrs. Alice M. Donahue, widow 
of dancing star Jack Donahue, and 
her daughters, Barbara and Con- 
stance Donahue, lost a $350,000 
suit here last Friday (21) against 
Warner Bros., Intermountain The- 
atres, Inc., and Arch E. and C. E. 
Overman, operators of the Camark 
Theatre. 

Action was based on the showing 
of WB’s “Look for the Silver Lin- 
ing,” which, the plaintiffs contend- 
ed, violated a Utah law prohibiting 
the use of a deceased person’s 
name or picture for trade purposes, 
without consent of the heirs. 

Plaintiffs argued that much of 
the picture was fictional and could 
not be regarded as a true por- 
trayal of Donahue’s professional 
career. 

Case was tried before a jury in 
Third District Court, before Judge 
Ray Van Cott, Jr. 


N. Y. to L. A. 

Alan Dinehart 
Y. Frank Freeman 
Betty Hutton 
Milton Lazarus 
Jerry D. Lewis 
Walter Picjgeon 

Europe to N. Y. 

Leo Freedman 
Eileen Herbie 
Valerie Hobson 
Jessie Royce Landis 
Patrice Munsel 
Alexander Paal 
George Ross 


Distrib Hearings 
To Depend On 
GOP Senate Unit 

Minneapolis, Nov. 25. 

Whether there will be any more 
hearings “to determine if some 
solution can be reached for a fair 
and equitable distribution of films” 
hinges upon the new Republican- 
dominated U. S. Senate Select 
Committee of Small Business per- 
sonnel, according to U. S. Senator 
John Sparkman, who points out 
that after Jan. 3 the sub-commit- 
tee will have a new chairman. 

This situation was explained by 
Sparkman in acknowledging a 
communication from Ted Mann, 
former North Central Allied presi- 
dent and operator of two Twin 
Cities loop first-run theatres and 
other houses. Mann called upon 
the subcommittee on small busi- 
ness to make an immediate inves- 
tigation into the manner in which 
competitive bidding is being con- 
ducted in the film industry. He 
also asked for a probe into alleged 
violations pf antitrust laws and 
violations of the consent decree’s 
spirit by conducting the sale of 
one picture on the purchase of an- 
other, and fixing ' of admission 
-prices. 

Charging competitive bidding is 
“replete with dishonesty and skull- 
duggery,” Mann offered to appear 
before the subcommittee and tes- 
tify. 

In reply, Sparkman thanked 
Mann for “bringing to our atten- 
tion the problems confronting the 
exhibitors in the Minnesota area,” 
and said “the complaints are in 
line with those received from other 
sections of the country.” 

Results of the investigation, 
which started last June, will be 
presented to the new committee 
chairman upon his appointment 
after Jan. 3, “at which time it will 
be determined whether or not fur- 
ther investigation and possible 
hearings will be held,” Sparkman 
advised Mann. 


L. A. to N. Y. 

Robert Alton 
Max Arnow 
Richard Barstow 
Earl Blackwell 
Joe E. Brown 
Norman Cook 
Howard Dietz 
Eddie Dukoff 
Nina Foch 
Howard Freeman 
Tay Garnett 
Richard Greene 
Dean Jennings 
Julian Johnson 
Nunnally Johnson 
Henry Koster 
Peter Levathes 
Henry Levin 
Allan Livingston 
Harry McMahan 
Tom Morton 
Charles Moskowitz 
Edward Muhl 
Mary Murphy 
William S. Paley 
Bill Pierce 
Paul Raibourn 
Gene Raymond 
Stanley Rubin 
Donald Saddler 
Oscar Saul 
Eddie Sherman 
Walter Slezak 
Joseph Vogel 
Harry M. Warner 
Minor Watson 
Richard Whorf 
James Wong Howe 


j 


\ 


l 

1 


\ 

i 


i' 

l 


Wednesday, November 26 i 1952 


PUSniEfr 


MCTCRBS 


MCCARTHY OUT 



MPEA SHIFT? 


Indie Group’s Defiance 

In an attempt to destroy what they consider unwarranted high- 
percentage, advanced-price pix, a group of indie exhibs is pre- 
pared to defy distrib sales terms and offer the pix at the regular 
admission tab. Exhibs, associated with Allied States, are set to 
take a loss on the pictures in order to point up the situation to the 
public, it was indicated. 

Plan, as evolved this week, calls for the exhibs to book a pic- 
ture at whatever terms the distrib requests. Although the terms 
call for a hiked wicket tab, the exhibs plan to charge their normal 
b.o. rate. In areas where they are day-and-dating the film with cir- 
cuits and other theatres within the same travelling distance, ex- 
hibs are set to take ads in the local newspapers pointing out that 
thcv are offering the picture at the ‘‘regular” admission price. 
Thu sly, it’s argued, the public will note that the same picture is 
being offered at the same time at different admission prices. Ex- 
hibs feel they’ll be able to lure biz away from the other theatres 
as well as provoke a situation that’ll make distribs think twice be- 
fore designating a pic as a “special.” 


‘Phony’ Advanced-Price Pix Major 
Allied Beef in Arbitration Turndown 


Despite the apparent conclusive ♦ 
nix of the industry arbitration plan 
by the Allied Assn, of Motion Pic- 
ture Exhibitors at its Chicago con- 
vention last week, the exhib org 
can be brought back to the confer- 
ence table and is willing to discuss 
the issues involved, it was authori- 
tatively learned this week. Allied, 
it was indicated, is not opposed to 
arbitration per se, but wants the 
distribs to ask “just what are the 
abuses and trade practices you are 
complaining about and what can 
we do to reach an equitable solu- 
tion?" 

Although Allied has harped on 
the question of including the ques- 
tion of film rentals in the arbitra- 
tion plan, Allied at the moment is 
more burned at what it terms 
“phony advanced-price pictures.” 
Recent flood of pix designated for 
special, advanced-price handling 
was the straw that broke the cam- 
el’s back, according to Allied. 
Films especially singled out were 
Warner Bros. “The Miracle of Fati- 
ma” and 20th-Fox’s “The Snows- of 

Kilimanjaro,” which Aitteditesf 

claim do not warrant the high-per- 
centage, advanced-price designa- 
tion. Metro, it was pointed out, got 
off the hoqk by announcing a re- 
vised sales policy for “Ivanhoe,” 
calling for regular terms on sub- 
runs. 

II was stressed that it was the 
distribs’ handling of current prod- 
uct, not arbitration* that forced Al- 
lied to walk out. There was an 
intimation that if the distribs 
hadn’t come out with the recent 
advanced-price pix, Allied might 
have given its nod to the arbitra- 
tion plan, “It pointed up the fact 
that arbitration was weak in con- 
trolling distributors,” a spokesman 
declared. 

Although the arbitration system 
contains a clause permitting each 
distrib to issue only two advanced- 
price pix annually, Alliedites argue 
(Continued on page 24) 

Joe Kaufman Heading 
Cinerama Theatre Setup 

Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

Producer Joseph Kaufman, who 
"as named by Louis B. Mayer as 
head of theatre operations for 
Cinerama; left over the weekend 
to line up a house in Chicago for 
exhibition of the new process. 
Dudley Roberts returned to N.Y. 
following huddles with Mayer and 
Meriari C. Cooper. 

Cooper, who designed the pat- 
tern for Cinerama’s opening in 
|\V.. briefed Kaufman on that 
blueprint, and producer will follow 
the plan for future openings. 

Kaufman, who produced RKO's 
Sudden Fear” as an indie, also 
co-produced “Pandora and the Fly- 
jog Dutchman” with A1 Levvin for 
jwetro release. Previously he had 
been a producer at Monogram, and 
belore that a buyer with Balaban 
& Katz in Chicago. 

iMne>t L. Scanlon, RKO studio 
manager, resigned that post to be- 
eoine Cinerama treasurer. Scanlon, 
V ] ° assumed the RKO post in 
^muar\, 1951, swinging over from 
^-‘bnick, where he had been vee- 
1 co-treasurer, started his film 
Cdrccr as RKO auditor in 1931. 


Await Allied Bd. Meet 

Although a willingness to 
discuss further the arbitration 
issues has been expressed both 
by distribs and Allied, no offi- 
cial action can be taken by the 
exhib org until after its board 
meeting. Latter is slated for 
Jan. 12 in New Orleans. 

However, nothing stands in 
the way to prevent discussions 
and to work out, if possible, 
revised proposals. These, in 
turn, would be presented to 
the board at the N. O. con- 
clave. 


Split Opinion 
On Revisions 
Of Arbitration 


Allied Stales’ turndown of the 
industry arbitration plan brought 
forth this week a variety of opin- 
ion as to whether the plan can be 
promulgated without the coopera- 
tion of the indie exhib org. Dif- 
ferent views were also voiced in 
both distrib and exhib quarters 
concerning the adoption of revi- 
sions which would placate dissi- 
dent Allied. 

The door is still open for dis- 
cussions, but doubt was expressed 
that the distribs would go along 
with some of the proposals ad- 
vocated by Allied. The film rentals 
questions is an especially thorny 
one. A highly-placed film attorney 
who took part in the arbitration 
confabs declared that he was sur- 
prised that the film rentals ques- 
tion had come up, since it had been 
“pretty much thrashed out” at tfie 
confabs. He added that there 
would be definitely “no throwing 
in of the sponge because Allied 
quit,” but he noted that the film 
(Continued on page 20) 

DAFF ON GLOBAL TOUR 
DEC. 19 FOR 4 WEEKS 

Alfred E. DatT, Universal’s exec 
veepee; is set for another globe- 
circling trip starting Dec. 19. He 
plans to be back in N. Y\ within a 
month. On route. Daff will hold a 
series of sales meets with U per- 
sonnel in Europe, the Far East and 

Australia. „ YT 

Daff and Milton R. Rackmil, U 
prexv, have been conferring in 
N. Y. with various studio execs in 
for the Motion Picture Pioneers 
dinner last night (Tues.», when 
Nate J. Blumberg, U board chair- 
man, was honored as “Pioneer of 
the Year.” Among those who flew 
in for the occasion were David 
Lipton, William Goetz. Edward 
Muhl and Al Horwits. Daff leaves 
Saturday (29) for^the Coast, wheie 
he remains two weeks to dis- 
cuss various studio matters and 
strengthening production - sales 
ties. 



TON DUE 10 
SPLIT DIVISION 


Major shakeup of the Motion 
Picture Assn, of America’s interna- 
tional division is in the* offing, 
with proxy Eric Johnston tighten- 
ing the reins when he returns 
from his South American trip 
early in December. 

Current intention, hinted at by 
Johnston both during his recent 
visit to Europe and at the last 
Motion Picture Export Assn, board 
meeting, when he reported on the 
French-U. S. deal, is split the 
division into three regional sec- 
tions, each headed by a supervisor 
at the N. Y. home office. MPAA 
prexy also wants to add economic 
experts to the field staff to ad- 
vise Assn, negotiators in the field. 

Reorganization would see the 
N. Y. execs reporting directly to 
Johnston, temporarily at least. In 
all his references to the new setup 
Johnston has failed to mention 
John G. McCarthy, MPAA v.p. in 
charge of the international divi- 
sion, who, is believed set to ankle 
the MPEA soon. 

Relationship between Johnston 
(Continued on page 55) 


ACLU Offers Pixites 
Its Services to Fight 
Pressure Groups 

American Civil Liberties Union 
today (Wed.) offered its services 
to top exhibitors and distributors 
throughout the country to combat 
pressure group drives aimed at cen- 
sorship of motion pictures. 

In letters to more than 200 in- 
dustryites, the organization’s Na- 
tional Council On Freedom from 
Censorship outlined a three-point 
program of assistance as follows: 
1. “To report to us all instances in 
which films have either been, by 
public officials, censored or with- 
drawn fr<jm exlnbitim-due to pres- 
sure group action; (2) the oppor- 
tunity and our facilities to discuss 
with us your problems of booking 
motion pictures which have been, 
or are under attack; and (3) to ad- 
vise us of the booking dates in 
specific localities of all such films.” 

Move swiftly followed the Na- 
tional Council’s recent action in 
alerting all ACLU branches and 
state correspondents to “support a 
local film exhibitor’s booking pro- 
gram” by organizing local cam- 
paigns against pressure groups. 
These bodies, the Council assert- 
ed, had been responsible for more 
suppression of controversial films 
than had official governmental cen- 
sorship boards. 

In writing to the exhib-distribs, 
Council executive secretary Clif- 
ford Forster emphasized that “we 
believe motion picture exhibitors 
have a special relationship to the 
public because of the medium in 
which they operate . . . They hold 
a position to the community simi- 
lar ;: to that of newspaper publish- 
ers and are to that extent con- 
cerned with the public interest.” 


PCC Nearing Goal 

Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

Permanent Charities Committee 
of the film industry has announced 
pledges amounting to $931,380 
thus far in the 1953 campaign. 

Ultimate goal is $1,225,000. 


Feuer-Martin Sue 20th on Use 
Of ‘Guys-Dolls’ Label in Pics Ads 


Justman, Pathe Settle 

Los Angeles, Nov. 25. 

Joseph Justman. chief of Motion 
Picture Centre studios, and Pathe 
Laboratories reached an out-of- 
court settlement of the latter’s 
suit over a promissory note for 
$10,000. Case was dropped from 
the court calendar when Justman 
agreed to pay $12,692, including 


20th-Fox was named defendant 
in an infringement suit brought in 
N. Y. Supreme Court this week 
by Cy Feuer and Ernest H. Martin, 
producers of the Broadway musi- 
cal, “Guys and Dolls.” Action seeks 
unspecified damages and an injunc- 
tion to restrain the film company 
from allegedly using the title, 
“Guys and Dolls,” in advertising its 
recently released picture, “Blood- 


interest and other costs 
Note was issued in 1951 by Calm- 1 hounds of Broadway.” 
enga Productions, then producing j Claiming 20th-Fox’s use of their 
“Johnny One Eye,” and guarantees title is “unauthorized and illegal,” 


by Justman. 


Distribs Would 
Make Arbitration 
Pitch to Allied 


Distrib reps in mapping the ar- 
bitration system are willing to 
make the first approach in getting , 
together with leaders of Allied 
States Assn, to mull revisions in 
the arbitration plan. Distribs feel 
that the time has been reached to 
cement the breach in dislrib-exhib 
relations aqd to avoid or curtail 
the costly lawsuits which, they con- 
tend, are benefiting only the law- 
yers. 

Importance placed by distribs 
for launching an arbitration sys- 
tem was seen in the effort made by 
Motion Picture Assn, of America 
prexy Eric Johnston to Allied prior 
to its convention which nixed the 
plan. Johnston gave verbal assur- 
ance, then confirmed it writing to 
Allied leaders that the door was 
open for changes. In his letter, 
which was read, to the Allied .board. 
Johnston also noted that the split 
between distribs and exhibs was 
getting out of hand and that the 
time had been reached for both 
sides to get together. 

Distrib quarters were taken com- 
pletely aback by the Allied turn- 
down of the plan. There had been 
some expectation of suggestions 
for revisions, but the wholesale re- 
jection came as a shock, especially 


Feuer and Martin charge that the 
major is “obviously trying to cap- 
italize upon the great success of • 
the Broadway musical.” Plaintiffs 
assert that this is clearly evident 
for in the “Bloodhounds” advertis- 
ing there’s a constant reference 
made to “the screen’s big Broad- 
j way musical.” 

I Through' wrongful use of the 
j “Guys and Dolls” tag, the complaint 
states, 20th-Fox is “guilty of un- 
fair competition” since the public 
will be misled into confusing the 
picture with the stage musical. 
Such confusion, it’s contended, will 
substantial and irreparable 


! cause 

injury” to, the road tour and Broad- 
way run of "Guys” and “seriously 
interfere” with its potential film 
value. 

Repping Feuer & Martin in the 
suit is the law firm of Reinheimer 
& Cohen. Alleged infringement, 
it’s said, was previously brought 
to 20th-Fox’s attention but it con- 
tinued the practice. 


House to Delve 
Further Into U's 
Tax-Rebate Case 

Washington, Nov. 25. 

House tax investigators will 
probably go further into the Uni- 
versal Pictures tax rebate case, 
they've indicated, after Treasury 
Secretary John Snyder admitted 
in a letter to them that he stepped 
in to speed up action in the case. 
House Committee wants to bring 
Snyder before it for questioning, 
before he steps out as boss of the 
Treasury Dept, next Jan. 20. 


since Allied general counsel Abram ; Universal sought a $20,000,000 
F. Myers played a leading role in I ^r^jnd on excess pr< ^ ls taxes 

paid 1941-46; it finally got a rebate 
of under $3,000,000. Some months 
ago the House Committee brought 
out that U had heavily romanced 
I the Revenue Bureau official sent 
j to L. A. to look into the claim, 
; even paying his wife's plane fare 
■ to the Coast to join him for Christ- 
Hollywood, Nov. 25. j mas. This man recommended the 
Opposing counsel began final ar- j entire $20,000,000 refund but was 
guments today (Tues.) in the RKO- i overruled. 


(Continued on page 17) 

FINAL ARGUMENTS IN 
JARRIC0-RK0 SUIT 


Paul Jarrico litigation after a final 
day of testimony in which the 


In his letter to the Congression- 
al probers, Snyder said he had no 


Richard Mealand 

appraises England’s big show 

Coronation 

t 

Coming Vp! 


an interesting editorial feature 
in the forthcoming 

47th Anniversarx Number 

of 

P'S-HIETY 


defense attempted to establish the I interest in the merits of the Uni- 
value of screen credits. Superior 1 versal claim, but that he always 
Court Judge Orland II. Rhodes j sought speedy determination of 
may render a verdict tonight ! eases. O n ® committee member, 
though that’s just a remote possi- . **cp. Carl T. Curtis, of Nebraska, 
bilitv ! told newsmen: I am aware of pub- 

Monday’s testimony was high- 1 re P°rts that a member of 

tween** RKO SSSi’v tot iXrt"- 

man and Frances Inglis, exec see- facts” ^ ^ 

retary of the Screen Writers Guild, r . , . , . c 

who was subpoenaed as a Jarrico ; VLw iinnon" 

witness. Groman quoted t\ o m\ s- Universal studio rep in Washing- 
paper writers, Florabel Mini, of ton Horton said he had no con- 
i the Los Angeles Mirror. and \\ ll- : Rec> tj on with the case, never han- 
l ham H. Mooring, of the Catholic • f ax ma tters for the company. 
I Tidings, as ^ opining that Las - an( j ^at j le had a i ways specifically 
i Vegas Story, UNO iilm which is avoided discussing studio biz with 
' the basis of the suit, wasn t much his father-in-law' 

: of a film anyway and questioning la mer in lav. 

i why a writer should w'ant his*name i 

I on it. Miss Inglis reiterated a writ- TA fllPc Qfrllro 

; er’s credo that “a credit is a UX UIV 5 Jll lhC 

! Jarrico ’s claim for $350,000 dam- ' Action Ys. Drive-Ins 

| ages was whittled down to $100.-: Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

1 000 early m the trial by Judge . , , . 

I Rhodes, who eliminated a demand • IATSE s general exec board has 
■ for $250,000 in exemplary damages okayed strike action, it necessary. 
' and limited the suit to one for ! to obtain contracts with local 
breach of contract. ! drive-ms by Moving Picture Op- 

; The appearance of Howard ■ er alors, Local 150. 

, Hughes on the witness stand was ; Deal has been s t y m i e d by 

: the signal for hot exchanges be- j union’s demand for two men in 

tween opposing lawyers, inter- i booth whenever ozoner plays 
I (Continued on page 22> first-run. 


FILM REVIEWS 


P^OHETY 


Wednesday, NovcmBer 26, 1952 


6 


Hans Christian 
Aiidtemn 
(SONGS — COLOR) 


Charming: fairy tale, not biopic, 
about Danish story-teller; im- 
portantly presented for top 
key dates. 


Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

RKO release of Samuel Goldwyn pro- 
duction. Stars Danny Kaye, Farley Gran- 
ger, Jeanmarie; features Joey Walsh. 
Philip Tonge, Erik Bruhn. Roland Petit. 
John Brown, John Qualen, Jeanne 
Lafayette, Robert Malcolm, Peter Volrian. 
Directed by Charles Vidor. Screenplay, 
Moss Hart; based on story toy Myles Con- 
nolly; words and music, Frank Loesser; 
camera (Technicolor), Harry Straining: 
choreography, Roland Petit; musical di- 
rector, Waiter Scharf; editor, Daniel 
Mandell. Previewed Nov. 17, ’52. Running 
time, 112 NUNS. 

Hans Christian Andersen Danny Kaye j 

Niels Farley Granger 

Poro Jeanmarie 

Peter Joey Walsh 

Otto Philip Tonge 

The Hussar — Danced by ... Erik Bruhn 
The Prince in “The Little Mermaid” 

Ballet Roland Petit 

Schoolmaster John Brown 

Burgomaster John Qualcn 

Celine Jeanne Lafayette 

Stage Doorman Robert Malcolm 

Farmer George Chandler 

First Gendarme Fred Kelsey 

Second Gendarme Gil Perkins 

Lars Peter Votrlan 


Tonge, John Brown and John 
Qualen. 

The lavish budget allotment 
given the picture by Goldwyn is 
evident throughout. Behind-the- 
camera credits taking advantage of 
the lush physical assets are Harry 
Slradling’s Technicolor lensing, 
the costuming, art direction and 
l he musical direction of Walter 
Scharf, Brog. 


( Town 

(SONGS) 


Routine western with Dennis 
Morgan; average returns in 
the duals. 


“Hans Christian Andersen” is a 
charming fairy tale about the 
Danish master of the childhood 
fantasy, done with the taste ex- 
pected of a Samuel Goldwyn pro- 
duction and importantly presented 
for the attention of top key situa- 
tions. Bright grosses can be antici- 
pated. Continued strong selling 
right down the line is indicated if 
returns -are to be profitable. 

The presentation has a storybook 
quality bearing no resemblance to 
reality as it takes the viewer into 
the realm of fairyland for 112 
minutes of humor, song and ballet. 
There’s much in the film for the 
kiddies still young enough to have 
unbridled imagination and 'for 
adults who appreciate a different 
type of show. 

Danny Kaye, setting aside his 
usual antic drolleries and comedy 
airs, does a very fine job . of the 
title role, sympathetically project- 
ing the Andersen spirit and philos- 
ophy, which is the premise of the 
story. No attempt at biography is 
toade so the imaginative produc- 
tion has full rein in bringing in 
songs and ballet numbers to round 
out the Andersen fairy tales told 
by Kaye. Socko is ‘‘The Little 
Mermaid” ballet, a spectacular dis- 
play of motion picture artistry and 
ingenuity backed by the music of 
Franz Liszt. Using six sets that 
range from a witch’s underwater 
cave to a prince’s castle, the num- 
ber’s impact comes both from its 
lavish staging and from the chore- 
ography talents displayed. 

.The “Ice Skating” ballet and the 
colcflHul “No Two People” also im- 
press. A fourth ballet is a fantasy 
involving Kaye, Jeanmarie and 
Farley Granger, which does nothing 
but pad the footage and could 
easily be eliminated. Roland Petit, 
who dances the prince in “Mer- 
maid,” designed all the ballets. 
Numbers use 28 supporting danc- 
ers, among whom are featured 
Erik Bruhn, Bette Uitti and Jack 
Claus. On the song side, the pifir 
ture has the topnotch talents of 
Frank Loesser contributing “No 
Two People,” “Everywhere I Wan- 
der,” “The King’s New Clothes,” 
“The Inch Worm,” “I’m Hans 
Christian- Andersen,” “Wonderful 
Copenhagen,” “Thumbelina,” and 
“The Ugly Duckling,” all given 
first-rate vocal treatment by Kaye. 

Film serves as an introduction 
for Jeanmarie, French ballerina of 
pert personality and fair ballet 
talents who sells her dances with 
vivacity rather than the effortless 
grace expected of a ballerina. 
Granger plays her bombastic hus- 
band and ballet director in the 
story portions of the film. Joey 
Walsh, New York moppet actor, is 
good as the lad apprenticed to 
Hans the cobbler. 

Charles Vidor’s direction Of the 
Moss Hart 'screenplay, based on a 
story by Myles Connolly, follows 
a simple line in keeping with the 
plot simplicity and stress on sym- 
pathetic charm. Plot is as illogical 
as a fairy tale. Opening finds Kaye, 
a simple cobbler in a small Danish 
village, in bad with the school- 
teacher because the children would 
rather gather at the river to hear 
his fairy tales ' than go to school. 
Learning that he is to be chased 
out of town, young Walsh pers- 
uades Kaye to take a trip to the 
big city of Copenhagen. There the 
cobbler falls in love with a beauti- 
ful dancer, pens her a love story 
which is later used for the “Mer- 
maid” ballet, discovers she loves 
her husband despite the displays 
of vtolent tempers, and returns to 
his village a wiser, and now well- 
known, teller of tall tales. 

A high point in the filming of 
Andersen’s tales is “The Ugly 
Duckling,” sung by Kaye to little 
.Peter Votrian, a wistful, shaven- 
headed boy. Among others in the . 
cast who register Jjtfefly are Philip 


Warners release of Bryan Foy produc- 
tion. Stars Dennis Morgan, Philip Carey, 
Amanda Blake; -features Rita Moreno, 
Paul Picerni, Roy Teal, Jay Novello, 
George O’Hanlon, Bob Wilke, Sheb 
Wooley. Directed by Noel Smith. Written 
by Tom Blackburn; camera, Ted McCord; 
editor, Thomas Reilly; music, William 
Lava. Previewed Nov. 18, '52. Running 
lime, 71 MINS. 

Mike McGann Dennis Morgan 

Ben Curran Philip Carey 

Marian Amanda Blake 

Quoli Rita Moreno 

Pcpe Paul Picerni 

.Tudd Hastings Ray Teal 

Felipe Rojas Jay Novello 

Shiloh. George O’Hanlon 

Kecno Bob Wilke 

Miller Sheb Wooley 

Governor Charles Meredith 

Joe Merv Griffin 

Easy A. Guy Teague 

Bayo Boyd ’Red’ Morgan 

Storekeeper Jack Kenney 

Depicting the efforts of a Texas 
gun-thrower commissioned by the 
governor to curb open hostilities 
between a group of small ranchers 
and a northerner who has bought 
their land from under them, “Cat- 
tle Town” drags a weary path of 
unexciting action through its 71 
minutes. Presence of Dennis Mor- 
gan in the top role brightens the 
footage somewhat, but film is gen- 
erally unimpressive. 

Ray Teal plays a rich northerner 
wlio has purchased vast lands from 
the state of Texas and goes to the 
governor for help In ousting the 
small ranchers who resent being 
dispossessed of their property, Mor- 
gan is sent to see that the ranchers 
make no trouble, since Teal is 
legally in the clear, although not 
morally, in running them off his 
property. When Teal seizes their 
cattle, too, ranchers declare war, 
and this is the situation when Mor- 
gan arrives on the scene. 

By buying up all the - guns in 
Questa, where Teal makes his 
headquarters, and later tricking 
Teal’s men into giving up -their 
arms when they raid the wagon- 
train of the dispossessed ranchers, 
Morgan finally is able to bring 
about peace, but not before Teal is 
killed in « cattle stampede his men 
start in a move to . wipe otlt the 
departing ranchers. 

Morgan warbles a number of tra- 
ditional songs, including “Dixie,” 
“Marching Through Georgia,” “The 
Bonnie Blue Flag*’ and “The Cow- 
boy,” well enough rendered but 
serving to halt all action until he 
finishes. Neither his nor the other 
principals’ roles have been well 
characterized in the Tom Black- 
bum script, which keeps their per- 
suasiveness at low ebb/ Teal comes 
closest to a straightforward per- 
formance, and Rita Moreno is okay 
as a flashy Mexican miss. Philip 
Carey, and Amanda Blake, Mor- 
gan’s costars, have little , to do. As 
Teal’s henchmen, Bob Wilke and 
Sheb Wooley are properly heavy.. 

Bryan Poy’s production super- 
vision is decidedly spotty, having 
given story development the once- 
over-lightly treatment. Director 
Noel Smith manages to get in some 
pretty good licks in an overlong 
saloon fight and the stampede, but 
otherwise suffers from inept script- 
ing. Technical credits are okay. 

Whit. 


Desperate Search 

Program suspense drama for 
companion b o o kings; with 
Howard Keel, Jane Greer, 
Patricia Medina. 


Hollywood, Nov. 24. 

Metro release of Matthew Rapf produc- 
tion. Stars Howard Keel, Jane Greer, 
Patricia Medina; features Keenan Wynn, 
Robert Burton, Lee Aaker. Directed by 
Joseph Lewis. Screenplay, Walter Doni- 
ger; based on novel by Arthur Mayse; 
camera, Harold Lipstein; editor, Joseph 
Dervin. Previewed Nov. 19, '52. Running 
time, 71 MINS. 

VinceHeldon Howard Keel 

•.Julie Jane Greer 

N° ra Stead Patricia Medina 

‘Brandy’* .... Keenan Wynn 

Wayne Langmuir Robert Burton 

Lee Aaker 

“ ane t Linda Lowell 

Lou • ■ Michael Dugan 

Stewardess Elaine Stewart 

Detective Jonathan Cott 

Ed Jeff Richards 

MGM’s programmer production 
unit contributes a suspense drama 
with familiar names for the gen- 
eral dual-bill market. While the 
patly contrived suspense comes 
over okay, the picture is strictly 
a routine offering. 

Howard Keel, Jane Greer and 
Patricia Medina are the three stars 
involved in the adult dramatics, 
while little Lee Aaker carries off 
the jqv.e meHer. phases jp the Mat- 


thew Rapf production. It’s a fam- 
ily-slanted plot, scripted by Wal- 
ter Doniger from a novel by Ar- 
thur Mayse, and Joseph Lewis’ 
direction hammers home as much 
tension and suspense as possible. 

Plot is concerned with the 
search for two small children lost 
in the Canadian wilderness after 
the plane on which they were pas- 
sengers has crashed. Spearhead- 
ing the search is Keel, the kid’s 
father; his present wife, Miss 
Greer, and the ex-wife and moth- 
er, Miss Medina. Mixed with the 
drama of the search is another 
conflict angle dealing with Keel’s 
inferiority complex caused by the 
self-assurance of the ex-wife, a 
famed aviatrix, and how he snaps 
out of it in time to save his chil- 
dren. 

Film makes much of the perils 
faced by the two kids, only sur- 
vivors of the crash, as they spend 
several days and nights alone in 
the mountains and in constant 
danger from a cougar. There’s 
some high drama in the finale, 
when Keel arrives just in time to 
save them from the cat. 

As the plot doesn't play with 
too much redence, the players 
have a Jfhrd time making their 
roles believeable. Keenan Wynn, 
as Keel’s friend, and Robert Bur- 
ton, air official, haven’t much to 
do. Young Aaker gives his part 
an appealing “little man” touch. 
Linda Lowell plays his younger 
sister, but the character is so ob- 
noxiously presented that, at one 
point, young Aaker remarks: “Why 
wasn’t I born an only child,” a 
sentiment with which audiences 
will agree. 

Camera work and other techni- 
cal contributions are acceptable. 

Brog. 


Abbott and Costello - 
Meet Captain Kidd 

(SONGS-COLOR) 


Typical A&C broad comedy, 
with Charles Laughton; okay 
: b.o. 


Hollywood, Nov. 20. 

Warner Bros, release of Alex Gottlieb 
(Woodley) production. Stars Bud Abbott, 
Lou Costello, Charles Laughton; features 
Fran Warren, Hillary Brooke, Bill Shirley, 
Leif Erickson. Directed by Charles Le- 
mont. Written by Howard Dhnsdale and 
John Grant; camera (Supercinecolor), 
Stanley Cortez; editor, Edward ^Mann; 

songs. Bob Russell, Lester Lee; music 
score, Raoul Kraushaar. Previewed Nov. 
17, *52. Running time, 70 MINS. 

Rocky Stoncbrldge Bud Abbott 

Oliver Johnson Lou Costello 

Captain Kidd / . . . Charles Laughton 

Capt. Bonney Hillary Brooke 

Bruce Martingale Bill Shirley 

Morgan Leif Erickson 

Lady Jane „ Fran Warren 


This is a comedy pirate saga, 
dressed up in Supercinecolor, that 
should entertain the Abbott & 
Costello following. Abetting the 
comics in making this a mad romp 
of knockabout fun is Charles 
Laughton, and his name adds to 
the general market possibilities. 

Presentation is a 70-minute suc- 
cession of gags and six songs as 
put together under Alex Gottlieb's 
•production supervision. There’s not 
much rhyme or reason to the plot, 
other than to permit the comics to 
cross quips and cutlasses with 
Laughton’s Captain- Kidd while 
Charles Lamont’s direction keeps 
pace with the cutups. 

Tunes by Bob Russell and Lester 
Lee come over pleasantly through 
the vocaling . of Bill Shirley and 
Fran Warren. Easiest listening are 
“North of Nowhere” and “Speak to 
Me of the Tall Pine.” Others, more 
situation pieces, are “Meet Captain 
Kidd,” “A Bachelor’s Life,” “We 
Sail Tonight” and “Away Aye-Ay- 
Aye-O.” 

Abbott and Costello play a 
couple of strays on the pirate island 
of Tortuga trying to get passage to 
America when they become in- 
volved with Captain Kidd, a treas- 
ure map and Captain Bonney, the 
comely femme buccaneer. A&C, 
entrusted with a love letter from 
Fran Warien to Shirley, bumble 
around until it gets mixed up with 
the treasure map and eventually 
everyone is after them and the loot. 
Story pace stops on occasion for 
the songs, but picks up noticeably 
when the comics are on and clown- 
ing again. Kiddie fans will find 
there is too much music to 'suit 
their tastes, but the physical fun- 
making of A&C will be much to 
their liking. Mixed in are a num- 
ber of very amusing routines, such 
as a Wave that splashes Costello, 
that prove to be stout laughgetters. 

Laughton hams delightfully, 
thoroughly fenjoying himself in 
abandoning longhair dramatics for 
low comedy. Hillary Brooke is a 
mighty fetching Captain Bonney 
and Leif Erickson romps through 
his part as Kidd’s villainous mate 
and also exhibits a robust baritone 
£ th ? T group songs, Disk artist 
Fan Warren is introduced and, 
while she and Shirley do well by 
the singing, they fail to score 
otherwise. 

Stanley Cortez’s Camera work is 
good, but the tints are not con- 
sistent. Other technical Credits are 
okay. . k, k. . Brog:. 


Against; AH Flags 

(COLOR) 


Pirate swashbuckler, with 
action, romance and Errol 
Flynn, Maureen O’Hara. Okay 
b.o. 


Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

Universal release of Howard Christie 
production. Stars Errol Flynn, Maureen 
O'Hara; features Anthony Quinn, Alice 
Kelley, Mildred Natwick, Robert War- 
wick, Harry Cording. John Alderson. 
Directed by George Sherman. Screenplay, 
Aeneas MacKcnzie and Joseph Hoffman; 
from story by MacKenzlc; camera (Tech- 
nicolor). RussoU Metty; editor, Frank 
Gross; music, Hans J. Salter. Previewed 
Nov. 18, *52. Running time, 83 MINS. 


Brian Hawke 

Spitfire Stevens 

Rpc Brasiliano ...... 

Princess Patma 
Molvina MacGregor , 

Captain Kidd 

Cow 

Harris 

Jones 

Sir Cloudsley 

William 

Captain Moisson . . . . 
Captain Hornsby . . . . 
Barber 


Errol Flynn 

. . . Maureen O’Hara 

Anthony Quinn 

Alice Kelley 

... Mildred Natwick 
... Robert Warwick 

Harry Cording 

. . . John Alderson 

Phil Tully 

.. Lester Matthews 

Tudor Owen 

. . . Maurice Marsac 

James Craven 

James Fairfax 


As an entry for the regular mar- 
ket, “Against All Flags” has okay 
b.o. chances. It is a pirate swash- 
buckler, with Errol Flynn and 
Maureen O’Hara furnishing the 
action and romance and Techni- 
color the eye-pleasing tints. 

The Howard Christie production 
features the usual and familiar 
round of sea action, some boudoir 
didoes and the other values ex- 
pected of buccaneer adventure fea- 
tures. Both George Sherman’s di- 
rection and the screenplay by 
Aeneas MacKenzie and Joseph 
Hoffman take a tongue-in-cheek at- 
titude towards the plotting at 
times without minimizing the 
story’s chief concern with swash- 
buckling movement. 

Plot is the one about a naval 
officer who goes to the trouble to 
i be cashiered so he can get in with 
the pirates and scout out fortifica- 
tions in their stronghold. Suspected 
as a spy by one pirate leader, he 
is saved from death by another, 
a beautiful femme buccaneer, and 
romances her while carrying* out 
his secret work. More feminine 
charms are tossed into the plot 
when the pirates capture the pri-. 
vate ship of the Mogul of India 
and seize his daughter and a dozen 
harem gals. While trying to hide 
the princess’ true identity, the spy 
arouses the jealousy of the femme 
pirate and his game is almost up- 
set before he can spike the fort’s 
guns and let a British warship 
take over. As ' a reward for his 
heroism, he gets custody of the 
femme buccaneer for a happy finale 
clinch. 

Flynn’s heroics as the spy come 
over properly and he teams niftily 
with Miss' O’Hara for the roman- 
tic phases. She takes handily to 
the color and costumes. Anthony 
Quinn, as the suspicious pirate cap- 
tain, does a flamboyant job. Alice 
Kelley’s dimpled cuteness and 
harem garb for the princess role 
are attractive. Mildred Natwick, 
Robert Warwick, Harry Cording, 
John Alderson and the others do 
their share. 

The lensing by Russell Metty, 
the editing by Frank Gross and 
the Hans J. Salter music are 
among the good credits. Brog. 


Thunderhirds 

(SONGS) 


Overlong service picture for 
the secondary situations. 


Republic release of John H. Auer pro- 
duction. Stars John Derek, John Barry- 
more, Mona Freeman, Gene Evans. 
Eileen Christy, Ward Bond; features 
Barton MacLane. Directed by Auer 
Screenplay, Mary C. McCall, Jr., from 
%tory by Kenneth Garnet; camera, Reggie 
Lanning; editor, Richard L. Van Enger; 
music, Victor Young. Tradeshown, N. Y., 
£?S V '.. 20 ' ' 52< Running time, 98 MINS. 

Gil Hackett . John Derek 

T John Barrymore, Jr. 

Lt. Ellen Henderson Mona Freeman 

Mike Braggart Gene Evans 

Mary Caldwell Eileen Christy 

Sgt. Logan Ward Bond 

Sgt. Durkee- Barton MacLane 

Pfc. Sam Jacobs Wally Cassell 

Calvin Jones Ben Cooper 

Keith Watson Robert Neil 

Pvt. Wes Shelby .....> Slim Pickens 

Cpl. Ralph Mogay Arrtiando Silvestre 

Pvt. Charles Klassen Benny Baker 

Pvt. Lou Radtkc Norman Budd 

Mrs. Jones Mae Clarke 

Cp!. Ray, Hanford Sam McKim 

Mrs. Ray Hanford Allenc Roberts 

Capt. Norton Richard Simmons 

Lt. Hammond Walter Reed 

Marie Etienne Suzanne Dalbert 

Mrs. Mike Braggart .... Barbara Pepper 

Pvt. Jim Lastchance Pepe Hem 

Pvt. Joe Lastchance Victor Mlllan 


With wartime exploits of practi- 
cally all otherbranches of the serv- 
ice already well recorded by Holly- 
wood, Republic has elected to put 
the National Guard before the cam- 
eras. In “Thunderbirds” an Okla- 
homa National Guard devision gets 
what amounts to a “play-by-play” 
account of its basic training, cam- 
paigns in Europe and triumphal 
return to the U. IS, 

Film shapes up as pretty tedious 
fare. Exploitation may help grosses 
to some extent but it appears' that 
this entry will find its market 
largely confined to the secondary 
situations. There are some 'familiar 
names in the cast.- Unfortunately, 


'-“'-.J wy uuor SPrin* 

that not only i«r cliche-ridden but 
weighted down with sentiment. 

Oklahoma's “Thunderbird” divi 
sion is called up in the summer #5 
1940. With its activation go lone 
time friends John Derek and John 
Barrymore, Jr., both of whom are 
romancing Eileen Christv. Aeeom 
panying them through training and 
the subsequent European battles 
are several other lads all from 
the same small town. 


Combat scenes at such historical 
points as Salerno, Anzio, Cassino 
and Sicily are authenticated by use 
of actual wartime clips. Fighting 
in this Mediterranean theatre 
serves to point up the mental and 
physical strain to which the Na- 
tional Guardsmen were subjected 
Their successful drive through 
Italy, southern France and into 
Germany in itself would furnish 
ample story material. 

But the Kenneth Garnet storv as 
screen played by Mary McCall Jr 
has injected all sorts of maudlin 
situations that detract from the 
battlefield drama. Script even has 
top sarge Ward Bond emerging as 
the father of Barrymore. Latter 
thought pop was a World War I 
hero who died at St. Mihiel. But 
Bond, a court-martialed West 
Pointer, later fraudulently enlisted 
in the Guard to vindicate himself. 

Performances of' both Derek 
and Barrymore are much too the- 
atrical - to have much resemblance 
to the average infantryman at the 
front. Bond is much more believ- 
able as the veteran topkick. Miss 
Christy has little to do as the 
hometown gal who wins Barry- 
more.* Likewise, Mona Freeman 
,>has only a few scenes as an Army 
nurse in snaring Derek’* affec- 
tions, Good support is provided by 
Gene Evans, Barton MacLane, 
Wally Cassell and Ben* Cooper, 
among others. 

Producer-director John H. Auer 
supplied adequate physical man- 
tling. On the other hand his direc- 
tion failed to overcome deficiencies 
of the script. Editing of Richard L. 
Van Enger is much too loose, for 
the 98 minutes running time is way 
overlong. Reggie Lanning’s camera- 
work is effective as are Victor 
Young's score and other technical 
credits. Two public domain tunes 
are inserted in the footage. Gi.lb, 


The Pickwick Papers 

(BRITISH) 


Dickens* classic done by top 
British cast; shapes as hefty 
b.o. at U.S. arty houses. 


London, Nov. 12. 

Renown release of Langley-Minter pro- 
-duction. Stars James Ma.v ter, Nigel 
Patrick, James Donald, Kathleen Harri- 
son, Hermione Baddeley, Harry Fowler; 
guest stars, Joyce Grenfell, Her-tnione 
Gingold, Donald Wolfit. Directed by 
Noel Langley. Screenplay, Noel Langley; 
camera, Wilkie Cooper; editor, Anne V. 
Coates; music, Antony Hopkins. At Gau- 
mont, Haymarket, London, Nov. 12, '52. 
Running time, 1*9 MINS. 

Mr. Pickwick James Ha.vier 

Mr. Winkle James Donald 

Mr. Tupman Alexander Gauge 

Mr. Snodgrass Lionel Murton 

Mr. Jingle Nigel Patrick 

Rachael Wardle Kathleen Harrison 

Mrs. Leo Hunter Joyce Grenfell 

Miss Tomkins Hermione Gingold 

Serjeant Buzfuz Donald W'olfit 

Mrs. Bardell Hermione Baddeley 

Sam Weller Harry Fowler 

EmUy Waddle Diane Hart 

Isabel Wardle Joan Heel 

The Irate Cabman William Hartnell 

Miss Witherfleld ......... Athene Seyler 

Job Trotter Sam Costa 

Tony Weller ............ George Hobey 

The Fat Boy Gerald Campion 

Mr. Wardle Walter Fitzgerald 

Grandma Wardel ....... Mary Mcrrall 

Stlrgeon Raymond Lovell 


A front-ranking cast has been 
assembled for filmization of this 
Dickens classic, and even the small- 
est bits have been filled by prom- 
inent artists. The result is a pres- 
tige picture which will do credit to 
the industry and might reasonably 
attract a patronage quite new to 
the trade. With carefully selected 
situations, it should do standout 
biz, and looks well set for hefty 
returns from arty houses in the 
U.S. 

The -adventures of,, Mr, Pick- 
wick (James Hayter) and his hench- 
men have been deftly adapted for 
the screen by Noel Langley. His 
treatment retains much of the orig- 
inal incident. The main .characters 
are faithfully drawn. The finished 
film emerges as good Dickens and 
good cinematic entertainment. 

By its ’adherence to the original, 
the film is naturally episodic in 
character. There is none of the 
conventional story link as the pic- 
ture follows the members of the 
Pickwick Club on their adventur- 
ous tour across England in search 
of knowledge and human under- 
standing. The encounter with Mr. 
Jingle (Nigel Patrick); the unscru- 
pulous ne’er-do-well with the stilt- 
ed turn of phrase; the famous lit- 
erary fancy dress breakfast; tne 
engagement of Sam Weller < Harry 
Fowler); the breach of promise 
suit brought against Mr. Piekwic* 
by his former ^housekeeper and 
subsequent sojourn in Fleet prison 
are among the typical incident* 
(Continued on page 18) 


Wednesday* November 26, 1952 


PStelEff 


nvrvnm 


7 



Receivership Move by Stockholder 
Group at RKO Deferred to Dec. 10 

i 



N.Y. Labs Look to Color Video 
To Get ’Em Out of the B&W Lag 


Metro’s Classical Eye 

Metro, which has filmed such 
classics as “David' Copperfield” 
and “A Tale of Two Cities," may 
again be dipping into the literary 
masterpieces of yesteryear for film 
material. So far this month the 
company has entered claims to 
more than a dozen tags to. tradi- 
tional yarns with the Motion Pic- 
ture Assn, of America’s Title 
Registration Bureau. 

List includes “The Cloister £nd 
Hearth,” “Rob Roy,” “The Scarlet 
Letter,” “William Tell,” “Helen of 
Troy.” ‘In His Steps,” “Henry IV,” 
“The Mill on the Floss,” “Rubaiyat 
of Omar Khayyam,” “Moby Dick,”. 
“The Tell Tale Heart,” “History of 
Tom Jones,” “Two Years Before 
the Mast” and “Vanity Fair.” 


Caught between the decline of 
black-and-white pix and televi- 
sions’s exodus to the Coast, New 
York labs are worrying about the 
future. They’re hoping that color 
TV will be their salvation. 

The labs are spending about $1,- 
500,000 in converting to color, but 
unless color TV develops, they’ll 
have to fight it out among them- 
selves in the extremely limited 
color market represented by indus- 
trial, advertising and other com- 
mercial pix. 

Main trouble is that, for the mo- 
ment, the various new color proc- 
esses are still not competitive 
price-wise with Technicolor or Su- 
per-Cinecolor when it comes to fea- 
ture pix. This in turn is keeping 
producers from turning cameras in 
the east on color films. B & w 
feature work in N. Y. is shrinking 
in the same proportion in which 


Vigorous opposition to a move by+ 
minority stockholders to place 
RKO Pictures in temporary re- 
ceivership was expressed Friday 
(9) by an array of legal talent at 
a" hearing before N. Y. Supreme 
Court Justice Henry Clay Green- 
berg. But in order that “inter- 
ested parties” may have an oppor- 
tunity' to participate in the case, 
the court granted an adjournment 
until Dec. 10. 

Friday’s hearing arose out of 
a derivative stockholders’ suit 
brought in N. Y. Supreme Court 
Nov. 13 by Eli B. Castleman, Mar- 
ion B. Castleman and Louis Feuer- 
man against RKO, several of its 
subsidiaries, and Howard Hughes. 
In conjunction with the action, the 
plaintiffs obtained an order from 
Justice Greenberg directing RKO 
to show cause why a temporary re- 
ceiver should not be named. 

In asking an adjurnment, RKO 
attorney Albert R. Connelly cited 
three reasons why a time extension 
should be granted. Firstly, he 
said. RKO directors Sherrill Cor- 
win and Edward Burke, who are on 
the Coast negotiating to reconsti- 
tute the board, will be back shortly 
to submit affidavits. Secondly, 
“producers, major stockholders, 
bank representatives” and others 
.have expressed a desire to be 
heard. ' 

For his third point Connelly said 
that he believed the RKO board 
would be “completely reconsti- 
tuted” soon and would be available 
'for appearances before the court. 
His plea for a postponement of ar- 
guments on the receivership appli- 
cation was echoed by Isidor J. 
Kresel. an observer for RKO stock- 
holder David J. Greene. 

in suggesting that Dec. 10 be set 
for a future hearing, Kresel told 
the court that “we are utterly op- 
posed to the application.” He add- 

(Continued on page 18) 

MCA Prez Lew Wasserman 
In London to Direct Plans 
For Agency’s New Building 

London, Nov. 25. 
Music Corp. of America prexy 
Lew Wasserman flew in over the 
weekend to supervise the plans of 
the 139 Piccadilly office building 
(five floors, basement and garage), 
which the agency just , bought and 
.will occupy by next May. It will 
concentrate all of MCA’s activities 
in one central building. MCA is 
.presently a merger of the old My- 
ron Selznick, Ltd., agency, Cecil 
Tennent, Linnitt & Dunfee and 
Jacobson & Paye (variety acts). 
MCA Is locally operated via a 
group form of direction. 

Wasserman is supervising the 
physical setting up of the" new 
building, which also includes a 
small apartment for traveling MCA 
execs or other VIP’s usage. Inci- 
dentally, the building, which was 
formerly Lord Byron’s mansion, 
later part of a telescoped three- 
building setup which was a small 
but fashionable Mayfair hotel, and 
latterly cut up again into separate 
office buildings, has 39 windows 
lacing Green Park. This is the 
route of the Coronation, Board 
chairman Jules C, Stein and his 
"ife and their two daughters plan 
visiting London at that time. Pres- 
ent MCA officials are in the old 
Empress Club. 

David (Herman) Stein has now 
taken occupancy of the new MCA 
Bldg, in Paris, near the Arc d’Tri- 
°mphe, which also houses his per- 
sonal apartment. MCA on the 
Continent has a" working accord 
\yUh CMR, a 100-year-old agency 
run by three women— the initials 
stand for Ci-Mu-Ra (cinema, music 
nail and radio). CMR is very ac- 
jjve in French and other foreign 
turn production. 

C. Stein envisions Europe as 
* market for touring American 
u ructions “where entrepreneurs 
re willing to take certain risks on 
Percentages” with the U. S. stars. 

hat is where he figures MCA is In 
Position to service on financing and 
other details. 


Paal Back From Britain 

Indie producer Alexander Paal 
arrives in New York today (Wed.) 

from England, where he turned out 
“Four-Sided Triangle” and “There 
Is No Escape.” While in the U. S. 
he’ll set distribution deals for the 
pictures and disclose product plans 
for 1953. 

A Barbara Payton starrer, “Tri- 
angle” was directed by Terence 
Fisher. It has a score by Malcolm 
Arnold. “Escape” has Paul Henreid 
and Lois Maxwell in top roles. 
Fisher directed this one, too. 

$4,777,766 Loss 
At RKO During 
9-Month Period 

Graphically pointing up RKO’s 
need for immediate reorganization 
and getting the studio into produc- 
tion pronto is the company's- third- 
quarter financial report issued this 
week. It shows a loss of $4,777,- 
766 for the nine-month stanza 
ending Sept. 27. This compares 
-with a loss of $145,904 for the 
same period of 1951. For the three 
months ending Sept. 27, the net 
loss was $1,064,932 as compared 
with a profit of $588,816 for the 
third quarter of 1951. 

On the basis of the current 
statement, it appears certain that 
the filfnery will end up 1952 with 
a deficit of over $5,000,000. 'This 
will be the fifth time since 1947 
that RKO will have ended up in 
the red. At the conclusion of 1951 
company showed a consolidated 
net profit of $334,627, but this was 
due to the unfreezing of $3,000,000 
of blocked currency. Company 
showed losses of $5,832,000 in '50, 
$4,218,680 in '49, $5,596,154 in '48 
and $1,787,417 in '47. Figures prior 
to 1950 (divorcement became ef- 
fective Dec. 31, 1949) are based on , 
separate operation of the produc-* 
tion and theatre companies. 

Seek 200G From Amus. 

In Rogers Host) Xmas Push 

Goal of 150,000 signers of 

“Salute” scrolls and $200,000 in 
contributions has been set for the 
amusement industry under the 1952 
“Christmas Salute,” aimed at rais- 
ing money for the Variety Clubs’ 
Will Rogers Memorial Hospital in 
Saranac Lake, N. Y. 

Brochure sent out by R. J. 
O’Donnell, “Salute” chairman, out- 
lines three plans to raise the coin 
and help the hospital. Sam Switow 
is national exhib chairman and 
Charles Feldman national distrib 
chairman for the 1952 drive. 


EK Yanks New Emulsion 

Eastman Kodak, after putting 
out its new color negative film 
stock, has quit making the emul- 
sion and- has withdrawn it for 
further laboratory research. 

First and only pic to be made 
with the color negative, which is 
called Tungsten balance film, is a 
documentary on the fishing fleet 
putting out from Newfoundland. 
It was produced by the National 
Film Board of Canada and proc- 
essing and printing are being han- 
dled by the Tri-Art Laboratories 
in New York. 

Tungsten balance negative re- 
portedly reduces costs at the shoot- 
ing end by about 15% in that it 
registers with ordinary lighting 
and eliminates the need for arc 
lamps. When both Tri-Art and 
Eastman agreed that the negative 
still had certain shortcomings, the 
emulsion was pulled. 


Company chieftains in New' 
York are sharply divided over the 
disposition of current earnings un- 
der the new French film agree- 
ment. Different interpretations of 
w'hether and how the U. S. dis- 
tribs can move out coin in excess 
of the $120,000 a month allowed 
by the French stem from the 
vagueness of the pact on this 
point. 

Agreement so far is only in let- 
ter form and hasn’t been seen by 
any of the company's foreign 
execs. Besides the $120,000, total- 
ing an annual $1,440,000 in steady 
remittances, Motion Picture Ex- 
port Assn, members could also 
move a maximum of $425,000 ad- 
ditionally, provided they avail 
themselves of their privileges un- 
der the incentive bonus plan. 

Latter involves setting up an 
$850,000 fund in France. Out of 
this, the distribs can finance 
French production, buy French pix 
for distribution, etc. Half of the 
amount thus invested is to be 
made available by the French in 
dollars. 

The big puzzle is. what happens 
to the rest. Maximum total remit- 
tance annually is $1,865,000. That 
leaves about $4,000,000 in earned 
coin since the annual remittable 
share of the U. S. distribs comes 
to almost $6,000,000. 

Since the deal, as outlined^ igt- 
nores disposition of the $4,000,000, 
some execs interpret this to mean 
that the industry will be permitted 
to make continuing deals at the 
capital account rate. This would, 
in effect, liquidate all MPEA 
funds in France by next July 1, 
when the new one-year deal runs 
out. 

Other p'oint of view is that 
earnings over and above the $1,- 
(Continued on page 18) 

lFE's New Video Unit 
Not So Sure Dubbing 
Supplies U.S. Answer 

While Italian Films Export is 
betting heavily on dubbing Italian 
pix to gain wider distribution in 
U. S. theatres, IFE’s new television 
division isn’t so sure that lip synch 
is the answer. ^ 

Ralph Serpe, who's to head the 
TV setup, said in New York Satur- 
day (22) that his division will con- 
centrate primarily on developing 
TV film production at the various 
Italo studios and not on the release 
of dubbed Rome imports to video. 
He explained that the dubbing 
process “just isn’t perfect enough 
for sponsors and the audience.” 

He wouldn’E comment on how' 
this fitted in with IFE’s plans to 
dub six to eight pix a year into 
English at IFE's new N. Y. studios. 
Assumption would be that dubbing 
imperfections On the small TV 
screen would be multiplied on the 
large theatre screen. Serpe, who 
among other things has been' the 
U. S. rep for the Ponti-Di Lauren- 
tiis studios in Rome, said he had 
come . to. his conclusions, about dub- 
bing following a thorough study 
of the matter. Apart from dubbing 
quality, IFE is also concerned 
about exhib reaction. 

TV film production in Italy is 
much cheaper than in the U. S., 
Serpe stressed. A quality feature 
pic can be turned out at around 
$15,000, exclusive of big name 
costs. Plans call for American stars 
to appear in TV reelers made in 
Italy. Dialog of lesser players may 
(Continued on page 63) 


Par’s Clooney Exclusive 

Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

Rosemary Clooney inked^'a new 
exclusive pact with Paramount 
over the weekend. 

*. Thrush stars with Bing Crosby, 
Fred Astaire and Vera-Ellen in 
“White Christmas” next, then in 
“Aw r ay We Go,” both produced by 
Robert Emmett Dolan. „ . 


IA Membership 
Sought in Push 
For N.Y. Council 

First step has been launched in 
setting up a Motion Picture Coun- 
cil of New York, similar to the 
Hollywood AFL Film Council, 
with a drive set for an overall 
organizing job aimed at snaring 
all eastern film laborites into the 
IATSE fold. IA execs mapping the 
eastern unit have indicated that 
although m^iny N, Y. film pro- 
ducers are doing work with Na- 
tional Assn, of Broadcast Engi- 
neers and Technicians craftsmen, 
no jurisdictional disputes are ex- 
pected during the organizing pe- 
riod. 

Another .aspect in establishing, 
the Council would be to line up 
many indie producers who, it’s 
claimed, make pix without union 
help. Eventual aim of the Council 
is to establish one basic agreement 
with eastern film-makers, pat- 
terned after the Hollywood basic 
deal. Once the Gotham Council is 
sufficiently organized, it’s ex- 
pected that it will attempt to make 
its first deal with the Film Pro- 
ducers Assn, of New York. 

IA prexy Richard Walsh has 
made it known to the N. Y. labor- 
ites that he considers the forma- 
tion of an eastern Council as ex- 
tremely desirable. As a result, reps 
of the various N. Y. locals have 
been conferring to set up a con- 
stitution as well as financing. 


Mayflower Descendants 
Find Weed in ‘Plymouth’ 

Washington, Nov. 25. 

Possibility that the Society of 
Mayflower Descendants may lock 
in controversy with Metro over the 
accuracy of “Plymouth Adventure” 
is hinted here. - 

D.C. Chapter of the Descendants 
has already joined battle. The 
300-member unit voted -a resolu- 
tion. last week denouncing alleged 
smear on the reputation of Doro- 
thy Bradford. In the film, the gal 
— portrayed by Gene Tierney — 
suicides over the rail of the May- 
flower because of a love involve- 
ment with the vessel’s captain 
(Spencer Tracy). 

Ex-Congressman Maurice Thatch- 
er, Deputy Governor General of 
the national Society of Mayflower 
Descendants, led the denouncing. 
He said Governor Bradford’s wife 
was “eminently respectable” and 
that no scandal, such as pfortrayed 
on the screen, ever occurred. 
Thatcher is descended from Wil- 
liam Brewster, the colony's first 
pastor. Thatcher claimed the film 
is taken from a book which teed 
off on the reputation of Priscilla 
Mullins. He said her descendants 
raised the roof and this caused 
Metro to shift the angle to Mrs. 
Bradford because she drowned ap- 
parently without leaving descend- 
ants to defend her good name. 


color is taking over at the produc- 
tion end. By the end of t953, 
about 70% of all product should be 
tinted. 

The big eastern labs appear 
mostly interested in the Eastman 
negative-positive color. It’s being 
used as Warner Color by WB on 
the Coast but few other feature 
pix are using the process. Print 
cost on Eastman color comes to 
6.5c per foot compared to the 5.33c 
charged by both Techni and Super- 
Cinecolor. 

Of the N. Y. labs, Pathe already 
has installed machines to handle 
Eastman color, and De Luxe is go- 
ing ahead with plins to do like- 
wise. Consolidated . Labs has the 
Trucolor process, which uses East- 
man color negative at the camera, 
then makes separation positives 
and negatives, and release prints 
on Du Pont color positive, Tri- 
Art Labs is the N. Y. pioneer in 
Eastman color processing. The lab 
is planning a $250,000 expansion 
program for handling 16m process- 
ing and printing. 

N, Y. lab execs, enviously watch- 
ing film, pouring into Coast plants, 

(Continued on page 22) 

" - r ■ 

Exhibs Stress One Rep 
Can Book Films For 
Flock of Theatres 

Distrib complaint that trade 
showings were poorly attended 
drew an answer this we'ek from 
exhibs who pointed out that one 
man viewing the film can book the 
picture for a 100 or more thea- 
tres. Trade showings are com- 
pulsory under the Government’s 
consent decree and is regarded as 
necessary for bidding. Screenings 
have been costing the fllmeries 
plenty coin, and their argument has 
been “why hold them if nobody 
shows up.” 

Exhibs, on the other hand, point 
out that many circuits have their 
own screenings, making it unneces- 
sary for their reps to attend the re- 
gional showings. In addition, many 
exhibs, they note, have formed 
buying and booking combines 
whereby three or four reps can 
book for 400 theatres. It’s pointed 
out, for example, that four men 
can book for the entire Detroit 
area. Furthermore, it’s noted that 
exhibs are relying more and more 
on the trade press, who have upped 
their coverage of screenings. 

HORNBLOW ANKLING 
M-G, EYES INDIE PROD. 

Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

After 10 years as a producer at 
Metro, Arthur Hornblow, Jr., will 
ankle the lot next March, on ex- 
piration of his contract to go into 
indie production. He will take a 
leisurely trip around the world 
before formulating his future 
career. 

Hornblow’s latest completed pic- 
ture is “Million Dollar Mermaid.” 
Currently he is editing “Remains 
to be Seen” and prepping “Rose 
Marie” as his last chore on the 
Culver City lot. 



PICTURE CROSSES 


_ _ _ 4 

’Wednesday, November 26, 1952 


‘Because’ Solid $25,000 Paces L.A.; 
‘Trap’ Fairish 12G, ‘Raiders’ OK lit 
‘Zenda’ Mild 14G, len’ Slow 17G, 2d 


Los Angeles, Nov. 25. - 

First-run boxoffice pace is con- 
tinuing its downbeat here this 
Stanza, with heavy rains Saturday 
(22) cutting into trade. Early 
Xmas shopping also is not helping. 

However, ‘‘Because of You” is' 
doing very well with $25,000 or; 
near in three theatres. “Steel; 
Trap” is rated fairly okay $12,000 
in three small-seaters. “The Raid- 
ers” looms about average $11,000 .J 
in one situation. 

Most holdovers are winding up 
this frame to make way for a flood 
of new bills for Thanksgiving. 
Second round of “Lusty Men” in 
•three spots is mild $17,000. “Pris- 
oner of Zenda” looks light $14,000 
in two locations, second session. 

Estimates for This Week 

Hollywood, Downtown, Wiltera 
<WB) (2,756; 1,757; 2.344; 70-$1.10) 
—-“Because of You” <U). 'Okay 
$25,000. Last week, “Operation 
Secret” (WB) (8 days), $20,600. 

Globe, Vogue, Loyola (FWC) 
(782; 885; 1,248; 70-$ 1.10)— “Steel 
Trap” (20th) and “Yukon Gold” 
(Mono). Fair $12,000. Last week, 
'“Something for Birds” (20th) and 
“Night Without Sleep” (20th) (8 
days), $10,600. 

Los Angeles Paramount (UPT) 
(3,200; 70-$1.20)— “The Raiders” 

<U) and “Black Castle” (V). Aver- 
age ' $11,000. Last week, with 
Holly Par. 

•Orpheum (Metropolitan) (2,213; 
70-90) — “Canyon Passage” (Indie) 
and “Frontier Gal” (Indie) (re- 
issues). Dull $5,000. Last week, 
with Hawaii. 

Loew’s State, Egyptian (UATC) 
*(2,404; 1.538; 70-$l. 10)— “Prisoner 
Zenda” (M-G) and “WAC From 
Walla Walla” (Rep) (2d wk). Light 
$14,000. Last week, $21,500. 

Hillstreet, Pantagcs, Rite (RKO- 
FWC) (2,752; 2,812; 1,370;' 70- 

$1.10) — “Lusty Men” (RKO) and 
“Strange Fascination” (Col) (2d 
wk). Mild $17,000. Last week, 
$27,900. 

Los Angeles, Chinese (FWC) 
(2.097; 2,048; 80-$1.50)— “Snows 

Kilimanjaro” (20th) (5th wk). Fair 
$13,000 in Anal 5 days. Last week, 
$18,600. 

United Artists, Wilshlre (UATC- 
FWC) (2,100; 2,296; 80-$1.50)— 

•‘Quiet Man” (Rep) (8th wk-6 days)., 
— DnR-$6^ Q 0 r Last — week r -$7^i>(Hl- — i 

Hollywood Paramount (F&M( 
tl,430; 90-$l .50) — “Ivanhoe” <M-G)!| 
(7th wk-6 days). Medium $7,000. 
Last week, with L.A. Par, $16,000. 

Four S^ar (UATC) (900; 80-$1.20) 
— “Androcles” (RKO) (4th wk-6 
days). Oke $4,000. Last week, $5,- 
400. 

Canon (ABC) (533; $1.20)— “Full 
House” (20th) (10th wk). Slim $2, 
200. Last week, $2,500. 

Fine Arts (FWC) (679; 80-$1.20); 
—“Promoter” (U) (3d wk). Mild 
$4,200. Last week, $5,200. 

Hawaii “(G&S) (1,106; ,60-90)—. 
'•‘Carrie’ 1 (Par) and “Hurricane 
Smith” (Par) (2d wk). Scant $2,400. 
Last week, with Orpheum, $10,200. 


Broadway Grosses 

11 " V 

Estimated Total Gross 

This Week $446,000 

„( Based on 21 theatres ) 

Last Year .$650,800 

( Based on 20 theatres ) 


Pro?. Marks Time; ‘Knot’ 
Dull $6,500, ‘Belle’ Same, 
‘Quiet’ Bangup 7?G, 2d 

Providence, Nov. ‘25. 

Biz is just under-par at about 
all first-runs this week awaiting 
the Thanksgiving Day holiday. 
RKO Albee with “Montana Belle,” 
Strand with “Happy Time,” Majes- 
tic with “Bloodhounds of Broad- 
way” and Metropolitan with “Turn- 
ing Point” all shape slow. Loew’s 
State has “The Quiet Man” for a 
second stanza, and still good. 

Estimates for This Week 

Albee (RKO) (2,200; 44-65) — 
“Montana Belle” (RKO) and “Be- 
ware My Lovely” (RKO). Slow 
$6,500. Last week. “Snows of Kili- 
manjaro” (20th) (2d wk), big $11,- 
000 at upped scale. 

Majestic” (Fay) (2,200; 44-65) — 
“Bloodhounds Broadway” (20th) 
and “Gambler and Lady” (Indie). 
Light $6,500. Last week, “Opera- 
tion Secret” (WB) and “Tromba, 
Tiger Man” (Indie), nice $9,000. 

Metropolitan (Snider) (3,100; 44- 
65) — “The Savage” (Par) and 

Born to Saddle” (Indie). Opened 
Monday (24). Last week, “Turning 
Point” (Par) and “Rosie the 
Riveter” (Indie), mild $5,000. 

State (Loew) (3,200; 44-65) — 

Quiet Man” (Rep) (2d wk). Good 
$7,500. First week was neat 
$14,000. 

Strand (Silverman) (2,200; 44-65) 
— “Hangman’s Knot” (Col) and 
“Love Island” (Regal), pull $6,500. 
Last week, “Just for You” (Par) 
(2d Wk),‘NG $1,500 'in 4 days. 


‘Everything’ Tall 

SUM Indpls. 

Indianapolis, Nov. 25. 

Biz has levelled off at first-runs 
here this stanza, raw weather keep- 
ing some patrons at home. But 
“Everything I Have Is Yours” is do- 
ing nicely at Loew’s to lead the 
city. “Pony Soldier” at Indiana 
and “Turning Point” at Circle are 
only fair* 

Estimates for This Week 

Circle (Cockrill-Dolle) (2,800; 50- 
76) — “Turning Point” (Par) and 
“Voodoo Tiger” (Col). So-so 
$8,000. Last week, “My Pal Gus” 
(20th) and “Toughest Man in Ari- 
zona” (Rep), hefty $13,500. 

Indiana (C-D) (3,200; 50-76) — 
“Pony Soldier” (20th) and “Wild 
Geese - Calling” (Indie). Modest 
$9,000. Last week, “Springfield 
Rifle” (WB), $9,500. 

Loew’s (Loew’s) (2,427; 50-76) — 
"Everything I Have -Is Yours” 
(M-G) and “Apache War Smoke” 
(M-^G). Sturdy $11,000. Last week, 
“Assignment in Paris” (M-G) and 
“Golden Hawk” (Col), $8J)00. 

Lyric (C-D) (1,600; 50-76)— “Hur- 
ricane Smith” (Par) and “Yukon 
Gold” (AA). Tepid $4,500. Last 
week, “Tarzan’s Savage Fury” 
(RKO) and “Under the Sea” (RKO), 
fair $5,000. 

Omaha Fine But ‘Smith’ 

Fair $9,500; ‘Dud’ Good 
- 7|G,Tatima ? Hot8G,2d 

‘Omaha, Nov. 25. 

Only two new bills in town this 
week but biz is on the upswing. 
“Hurricane Smith” is fairish at; 
Orpheum. “Duel at Silver Creek” 
looks good at the Omaha. “Miracle 
of Fatima” is getting a terrific play 
in this Strong Catholic center, with 
second round at the Brandeis still 
big after a sock opening week. 

Estimates for This Week 

Brandeis (RKO) (1,100; 35-$l)— 
“Miracle of Fatima” (WB) (2d wk). 
Great $8,000 after smash $12,500 
opener. 

Omaha (Tristates) (2,100; 20-70) 
— “Duel at Silver Creek” (U) and 
“Horizons West” (U). Good $^,500. 
Last week, “Caribbean” (Par) and 
“Feudin’ Fobls” . (Mono!, $7,000. 

Orpheum (Tristates) (3,000; 20- 
70)— “Hurricane Smith” (Far) and 
“Anything Can Happen” (Par). 
Fairish $9,500. Last week, “Every 
thing I Have Is Yours” (M-G) and 
“My Man and I” (M-G), $10,000. 

State (Goldberg) (865; 25-76)— 
“Greatest Show” (Par). Holding at 
great $5,000 after $4,500 for first 
6 days. 


‘Mistress’ Rousing 13G, 
Buff.; ‘Belle’ Trim 12G 

Buffalo, Nov. 25. 

First-run biz is sticky here this 
week, with few strong entries. 
“Iron Mistress” was solid in first 
round at the Center while “Mon- 
tana Belle” is rated trim* at Cen- 
tury. “My Pal Gus” is sluggish 
at the Buffalo. 

Estimates for This Week 

Buffalo (Loew’s) (3,000; 40-70)^ 
“My Pal Gus” (20th) and “Sky 
Full of Moon” (M-G). Dull $8,500. 
Last week, “Pony Soldier” (20th) 
and “Park Row” (UA), nice $12,000. 

Paramount (Par) (3,000; 40-70) — * 
“Blazing * Forest” (Par) and 
“Tromba the Tiger Man” (Lip). 
Slow $9,000 or less. Last week, 
“Operation Secret” (WB) and 
“Marry Me” (Indie), $8,500. 

Center .(Par) (2,100; 40-70) — 
“Iron Mistress” (WB) (2d wk). 
First * week ended Saturday (22) 
was strong $13,000. Last week, 
“Cleopatra” (Par) (reissue), $10,000 
in nine days. 

Lafayette (Basil) (3,000; 40-i70)— 
“It Grows on Trees” (U) and 
“Never Take No for Answer” (In- 
die). Fair $8,000. Last week, “Be- 
cause of You” (U) ' and “En- 
chanted Forest” (Lip) (reissue), 
solid $13,000. 

Century (20th Cent.) (3,000; 40- 
70) — “Montana Belle” (RKO) and 
“Beware My Lovely” (RKO). Trim 
$12,000 or better. Last week, 
“Cairo Road” (Indie) and “Brook- 
lyn Gorilla” (Indie), $9,000. 

‘Every thing’ Oke 

$12,01)0, Det. Ace 

Detroit, Nov. 25. 

Biz continues slow here, with 
holdovers applying the brakes . in 
many situations. Only exception 
looks to be “Snows of Kiliman- 
jaro” which may equal or better 
its fourth week with current (5th) 
stanza at United Artists. “Ivanhoe” 
is off some in its seventh week at 
the Adams. “Springfield Rifle” has 
lost its spring in second week at 
the Michigan. Newcomer “Steel. 
Trap” is only fair at the Fox.. 
“Everything I Have Is Yours” also 
new, looks okay at the Madison. 
“Turning Point” shapes average at 
the Palms. 

Estimates for This Week 

Fox <Fox-Detroit> (6,000; 70-95). 

—“Steel Trap” (20th) and “Under 
Red Sea” (RKO). F air $20,000. 
Last week, “Pony Soldier” (20th) 
and “Faithful City” (RKO), $17,- 
000 . 

Michigan (United Detroit) (4,000; 
70-95) — “Springfield Rifle” (WB) 
and “Wife’s Best Friend” (20th) 
(2d wk). Down to $12,000. Last 
week, fair $17,500. 

Palms (UD) (2,961; 70-95)— 
“Turningx Point” (Par) and “Actors 
and Sin” (UA). Average $13,500. 
Last week, “Yankee Buccaneer” 
(U) and “Toughest Man in Ari- 
zona” (Rep), $14,000. 

Madison (UD) (1,900; 70-95)— 
“Everything I Have Is Yours” 
(M-G) and “Navajo” (Lip). Oke 
$12,000. Last week, “Untamed 
Women” (UA) and “Jungle” (Lip), 
$8,500. 

United Artists (UA) (1,900; 95- 
$1.25) — “Snows of Kilimanjaro” 
(20th) (5th wk). Up to solid $12,- 
500. Last week, $12,200. 

Adams (Bala ban) (1,700; 95- 
$1.25)— “Ivanhoe” (M-G) (7th wk). 
Down to $6,500. Last week, fast 
$ 8 , 000 . 


Cold Sloughs Cmey Biz; * 1811088 ’ 

NG 4G, ‘Gus’ Hep 8G 



Cincinnati, Nov. 25. 

First spell of winter weather 
chilled downtown biz over the 
weekend. “Iron Mistress” is a good 
Albee grosser this stanza and 
looms ahead of other new bills, 
“Operation Secret” shapes modest 
at the Palace. “My Pal Gus” at 
Capitol looks pleasing for this 
smaller house, Keith’s is way off 
stride with “Way of Gaucho.” 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro” and 
“Quiet Man” are doing okay on 
holdover. 

Estimates for This Week 

Albee (RKO) (3,100; 55-85)— 
“Iron Mistress” (WB). Good $14,- 
000. Last week, “Snows of Kil- 
imanjaro” (20th) (2d wk), at 75c- 
$1.10 scale, $11,500. 

Capitol (RKO) (2,000; 55-85)— 
“My Pal Gus” (20th). Pleasing 
$8,000. Last week, “Caribbean” 
(Par), $8,500. 

Grand (RKO) (1,400; 75-$1.10)— 


“Snows of Kilimanjaro” (20th) 
(m.o.). Nice $6,500 for third down- 
town stanza. Last week, “Battle 
Zone” (AA) and “Rose Bowl Story” 
(AA), $7,000. 

Keith’s (Shor) (1,500; 55-85)— 
“Way of Gaucho” (20th). Disap- 
pointing $4,000 or close. Last 
week. “Bloodhounds of Broadway” 
(20th), nine days, oke $8,000. 

Lyric (RKO) (1,400; 55-85)— 
“Quiet Man” (Rep) (m.o.). Fine 
$5,000 on third, week downtown. 
Last-week, $6,000. 

J PaIacc <&KO) (2,600; 55-85)— 
“Operation Secret” (WB)'. Mod- 
erate $9,000 in 8 days. Last week, 
Iron Men” (Col), $8,500. 


Frisco Still Slow; Plymouth’ Brisk 
20G, Pony’ Sad 13G, ‘Limelight’ 9G 



Key City Grosses 

Estimated Total Gross 

This Week .$2,047,600 

(Based on 24 cities, 211 the- 
atres , chiefly first runs, Includ- 
ing N. Y.) 

Total Gross Same Week 

Last Year $2,804,000 

( Based on 24 cities, and 210 
theatres.) 


'Because’ Bright 




Kansas City, Nov. 25. 

Moderate week is on tap in keep- 
ing with the calibre of many of 
new pix. Leader likely will be “Be- 
cause of You,” doing nicely in four 
Fox Midwest houses. Stiff competi- 
tion through Sunday from Shrine 
Circus. “Plymouth Adventure,” 
looks oke at Midland. 

Estimates for This Week 
Kimo (Dickinson) (504; 50-75) — 
“Tales of Hoffman” (UA) (2d wk). 
Sturdy $2,000„ Will go a third. Last 
week, $2,600. 

Midland (Loew’s) (3,500; 50-75) 
— “Plymouth Adventure” (M-G) 
and “Red Snow” (Col). Timely 
booking is pleasing $12,000. Last 
week, “Prisoner, of Zenda” (M-G) 
and “Harem Girl” (Col), fine $15,- 
000 in 9 days. 

Missouri (RKO) (2,650; 50-75)— 
“Montana Belle” (RKO) and “Red 
Planet Mars” (UA). Fairish $6,500. 
Last week, “Captain Pirate” (Col) 
and “Brigand” (Col) $4,000 in 5 
days. 

Paramount (Tri-States) (1,900; 
50-75) — “Cleopatra” (Par) (reissue) 
Mild $6,500. Last week, “Hurricane 
Smith” (Par), $6,000, 

Tower, Uptown, Fairway, Gra- 
nada (Fox Midwest) (2,100; 2,043; 
700; 1,217; 50-75)— “Because of 
You” (U) with “Sea Tiger” (Mono) 
at Tower and Granida added. Fine 
$16,000 or near. Last week, 
“Quiet Man” (Rep) plus “Tropical 
Heat Wave” (Rep) at Tower and 
Granada, big $21,000 in 8 days. 

Yogrue "TGoIdeiiT (551); -50--85)— 
“High .Treason” (indie) (5th wk). 
Okay $1,200. Last week, $1,500. 

‘Mistress’ Robust 28G, 
Denver; ‘Poster’ $10,000 

Denver, .Nov. 25. ’ 

Most film theatres are being hit 
by icy streets and near zero 
weather this stanza. “Iron Mistress” 
is socko in two houses. “Four 
Poster” looks fair at Orpheum. 

Estimates for This Week 

Aladdin (Fox) (1,400; 50-85) — 
“Golden Hawk” (Col) and “Strange 
Fascination” (Col), day-date with 
Tabor, Webber. Fair $5,500. Last 
week, “Yankee Buccaneer” (U) 
and “Brooklyn Gorilla” (Indie), 
$ 6 , 000 . 

Broadway (Wolf berg) (1,200; 50- 
85)— “Red Shoes” (UA) (2d wk). 
Poor $4,500. Last week, $7,500. 

Denham (Cockrill) (1,750; 50-85) 
—“Hurricane Smith” (Par). Slow 
$7,000. Last week, “Turning Point” 
(Par), $8,500. 

Denver (Fox) (2,525; 50-85) — 
“Iron Mistress” (WB) and “Park 
Row” (UA), day-date with Esquire. 
Sock $23;000. Last week, “Snows 
of Kilimanjaro” (20th), $33,000. 

Esquire (Fox) '(742; 50-85)— “Iron 
Mistress” (WB) and “Park Row” 
(UA). Big $5,000. Last week, 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro” (20th), 
smash $8,500. 

Orpheum (RKO) (2,600; 50-85) — 
“Four Poster” (Col) and “Captain 
Pirate” (Col). Fair $10,000. Last 
week, “Lusty Men” (RKO) and 
“Apache War Smok£” (M-G) (2d 
wk), $7,500. 

Paramount (Wolf berg) (2,200; 
50-85) — “Something for Birds” 
(20th) and “Notorious Gentleman 
(Indie). Okay $9,000 or near. Last 
week, “Thief” (UA) and stageshow, 
good $12,000. 

Tabor (Fox) (1,967; 50-85) — 
“Golden Hawk” (Col) and “Strange 
Fascination” (Col). Fair $6,000. 
Last week, “Yankee Buccaneer” 
(U) and “Brooklyn Gorilla” (Indie), 
$6,500. 

Webber (Fox) (750; 50-85) — 
“Golden Hawk” (Col) and “Strange 
Fascination” (Col). Good $3,000. 
Last week, “Yankee Buccaneer” 
(U) and “Brooklyn Gorilla” (Indie), 
$3,500. 


San Francisco, Nov 25 

Influx of football fans for Cali- 
fornia-Stanford grid game failed to 
help first-run biz here. Standout 
“Plymouth . Adventure,” which 
looks big at the Warfield. “Battle 
Zone” is disappointing with slim 
pickings at the Paramount while 
“Pony Soldier” is even slower at 
the huge Fox. “Limelight” still is 
big in second United Artists ses- 
sion. 

Estimates for This Week 

Golden Gate (RKO) 2,850; 65 - 95 ) 
— “Tarzan’s Savage Fury” (RKO) 
and “Under Red Sea” (RKO). pal- 
lid $8,500. La&t week, “Horipons 
West” (U) and “The Swindlers” 
(Indie) (reissue), $9,500. 

Fox (FWC) (4,651; 65-95)— “Pony 
Soldier (20th) and “Army Bound” 
(Mono). Sad $13,000 in 8 days. Last 
week, “Way of Gaucho” (20th) and 
“Wild Stallion” (Mono) (2d wk-5 
days), blah $6,000. 

Warfield (Loew’s) (2,656; 65 - 95 ) 
—“Plymouth Adventure” (M-G). 
Big $20,000. Last week, “Prisoner 
of Zenda” (M-G), 9 days, 

Paramount (Par) (2,646; 65-95)—. 
“Battle Zone” (AA) and “Rose 
Bowl Story” (AA). Dull $11,000 or 
less. Last week, “Blazing Forest” 
(Par), colorless $11,000. 

St. Francis (Par) (1,400; 65-95)— 
“Flat - Top” (AA) (2d wk). Oke 
$9,000. Last week, okay $12,000. 

Orpheum (No. Coast) (2,448; 65- 
95) — “Eight Iron Men” (Col). Fair 
$10,500. Last week, “Outpost in 
Malaya” (UA) and “Fargo” (Indie). 
$8,500. 

United Artists (No. Coast( (1.207; 
90-$l. 20)— “Limelight” (UA) <2<i 
wk). Big $9,000. Last week, $13,700. 

’ Stagedoor (A-R) (370; $1-$1.20)— 
“Quiet Man” (Rep) (3d wk). Held 
at $3,300. Last week, hefty $4,000. 

Clay (Rosener) (400; 65-85)— 
“Saints and Sinners” ‘ (Indie) and 
“Sidewalks of London” (Indie). 
Oke $2,100. Last week, “Merry 
Wives Windsor” (Indie), $1,900. 

Larkin (Rosener) (400; 65-85)— 
“Tight Little Island (U) and “Run 
for Money” (U) (reissues) (4th wk). 
Down to $1,700. Last week, good 
$ 2 , 200 . 

Hub Dios; ‘Secret’ Neat 
10G, ‘Promoter’ Same 3d, 
‘Because’ Boffo 17G, 2d 

Boston; Nov. 25. 

Pre-Thahksgiving slump has hit 
downtown majors with b.o. activity 
very unexciting. Most first-runs 
are holding over. Newcomers are 
“Hellgate” at Paramount and 
Fenway and “Operation Secret” at 
Pilgrim. Latter looms best. “High 
Treason” at Beacon Hill is not up 
to hopes. “The Promoter” in third 
big Exeter week, and “Because of 
You,” sturdy in second Memorial 
frame, look strongest. 

Estimates for This Week 

Astor (B&Q) (1,500; 50-95) — 
“Happy Time” (Col) (3d wk-3 days). 
Holding over three days and way 
off to about $2,500. Second week 
was sluggish $6,000. 

Beacon Hill (Beacon Hill) (682; 
50-90) — “High Treason” (Indie) 
Oke $4,500. Last week, “Miracle 
of Milan” (Burstyne) and “Last 
Holiday” (Indie), $4,200. 

Boston (RKO) (3,000; 40-85) — 
“Whistle Stop” (Indie) and '‘Pit- 
Tall” (Indie) (reissues). In for 3 
days, fair $4,000. Last week, 
“Montana Belle” (RKO) and “Love 
Island” (Indie), nice $11,000. 

Exeter (Indie) (1,300; 60-80) — 
“The Promoter” (U) (3d wk). Still 
big with $10,000 or near following 
nifty $12,000 for second. 

Fenway (NET) (1,373; 40-85) — 
“Hellgate” (Lip) and “Mr. Walkie 
Talkie” (Lip). Mild $4,000. Last 
week, “Turning Point” (Par) and 
“Brooklyn Gorilla” (Indie), same. 

Memorial (RKO) (3,000; 40-85)— 
“Be n r""» c f You” (U) and “Any- 
body Seen My Girl” (U) (2d wk). 
Sturdy $17,000 following socko 
$25,000 for first. 

Metropolitan (NET) (4,367; 74; 
$1.25) — “Snows Killimanjaro 
(20th) (3d wk). Slipped to $17,500. 
Second week, smash $30,000. 

Orpheum (Loew) (3,000; 40-85)— 
“Prisoner of Zenda” (M-G) (2d wk- 
5 days). Last week, nice $ 17 , 200 . 

Paramount (NET) (1,700; '40-85) 
— ' “Hellgate” (Lip) and'“Mr. Walkie 
Talkie” (Lip). Okay $10,000. Last 
week, “Turning Point” (Par) and 
“Brooklyn Gorilla” (Indie), $11,000. 

Pilgrim (ATC) (1,850; 40-90) — 
“Operation .Secret” (WB) add 
“Strange Fascination” 

$10,000 or near. Last week, Eight 
Iron Men” (Col) and “Voodoo 
Tiger” (Col) (2d wk), $9,000. 

State (Loew) (8,500: 40-85) r 
“Prlso^er of Zenda” (M-G) (2d wk 
5 days). Slow $5,000. Last week, 
fine $10,000. 


Wednesday, November 26, 1952 


T I'll I H I MWBOS 9 MW 





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Here’s the Big Winter News from Universal -international . . . proudly 
proving once again that all year . * . every year . . . U-l delivers 
' the pictures with the consistent Boxoffice power! 


PORT OF MADAGASCAR 

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PICTURE CROSSES 


•RfdneBtlay, November 26, 1952 


PGSsIEf? 


Chi Steady; Nat Cole Dps ‘Zenda’ 

To Hefty $55,000, ‘Secret’ Fat 12G, 
‘Devil’ 8G; ‘Snows’ Sock 17G, 4th 


Chicago, Nov.*- 25. * 

There are only two new entries 
t, ere this week, most theatres wait- 
ing for Thanksgiving to make their 
Hi an fie of bills. Many extended- 
runs are steady, showing only a 

fil The Chicago with “Prisoner of 
7pn( la” and Nat Cole in person 
should wrap up a hefty $55,000 
The Roosevelt’s “Operation Secret 
and ‘‘Wagon’s West” looks okay 
*12 000 Surf has “Full House,” 
l moreover from the Esquire, for 
a sharp total in fourth week in 

L °I°n P second week, the Grand is 
pdcinfi toward a good $8,000 for 
“Devil Makes- ; Three” and “My 
Man and I." Fourth week of 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro” is heading 
the list with bright take at State- 
Lake. * Kansas City Confidential” 
is down to modest $10,000 in 
fourth Woods week. 

'•Miracle of Fatima” shapes trim 
In fifth stanza at the United 
Artists. “Ivanhoe” at Oriental 
continues okay for eighth stanza. 

Estimates for This Week 

Chicago (B&K) (3,900; 98-$1.25) 
—‘‘Prisoner of Zenda” (M-G) plus 
Nat King Cole topping stageshow. 
Bright $55,000 likely. Last week, 
“Iron Mistress” (WB) and Frankie 
Lanie '2d vvk), $43,000. 

Grand (RKO) (1,500; 55-98) — 
“Devil Makes Three” ‘(M-G) and 
“My Man and I” (M-G) (2d wk). 
Good $8,000. Last week, $14,000. 

Oriental (Indie) (3,400; 98-$1.25) 
.-"Ivanhoe” (M-G) (8th wk). Okay 
$17,000. Last week, $22,000. 

Palace (Eitel) (2,500; 98)— ‘-‘Be- 
cause You’re Mine” (M-G) <6th wk.) 
Ends slay with sluggish $8,000. 
Last week, nice $12,000. 

Roosevelt (B&K) (1,500; 55-98)— 
—‘‘Operation Secret” (WB) and 
“Wagons West” (AA). Brisk 
$12,000. Last week, “Eight Iron 
Men’’ i Col) and “Black Castle” (U) 
(2d wk', $10,000. 

State-Lake (B&K) (2,700; 98- 

$1.25 ■ — “Snows of Kilimanjaro” 

( 20th) (4th wk). Smash $17,000. 
Last week, $22,000. 

Surf ilI&E Balaban) (685; 98) — 
“Full House” (20th) (m.o.). Staunch 
$5,000 lor 4th week in Loop. Last 
week. “Lady Vanishes” (UA) (3d 
wk>. $3,500. 

United Artists (B&K) (1,700;- 98- 
$1.25'— “Miracle of Fatima” (WB) 
(5th wk). Sturdy $10,000. Last 
week. $14,000. 

Woods (Essaness) (1,073; 98) — 
"K. C. Confidential” (UA) (4th wk). 
Holding at modest $10,000. Last 
week. $15,000. 


New Films Boost Mpls.; 

‘Fatima' Terrif $12,000, 
‘Horizons’ Good $6,000 

Minneapolis, Nov. 25. 
Arrival of such pix as “Miracle 
of Fa lima.” “Plymouth Adven- 
ture.’ “iron Mistress,” “Montana 
Belle and “Horizons West” is Stir- 
ling up boxoffice activity here, 
pith only two holdovers remain-* 
ing, there is real stimulus for turn- 
sti es. ‘Miracle of Fatima’ and 
Plymouth Adventure” are de- 
servedly receiving the bulk of pub- 

World 1 nli0n ’ * a ^ er kig at bandbox 

Estimates for This Week 
Century (Par) (1,600; 76-$l)— 
tilin' 0 of Fatima” (WB). Smash 
I" 1 ™ 0 ', Last -week, “Ivanhoe” 
(M-G. .(HU wk), $4,000, 

Gopher (Berger) (1^000; 50-76)— 
Because You’re Mine” (M-G) (5th 

uSi Satisfactory $2,700. Last 
Keek. $3,200. 

Lyric (Par) (1,000; 76-$l) — 

Kilimanjaro” (20th) 
$5 000 k'" ^ ood $6,000. Last week, 

City (Par) (4,000; 50-76)— 
mm! 1 ^stress” (WB). Ladd-Mayo 

Shu Wn & ins far > with fairly 
Dost in aJ°i’ 000 ', R ast week, “Out- 
p RRft JJaiaya” (UA), $6,000. 

76. °vT ()l ? heum (KKO) (2,800; 40- 

eratp ? na Belle ” < R KO). Mod " 
onT,?'* 1 P°- Last week, “It Grows 
(U) * $ 6 *500. 

"Tomm',? an !? KO) (1 ‘600; 40-76)— 
"BlapS UO i V Too* Late” (Indie) and 
Goode- i? (Indie) (reissue). 
fleffpV" 0 - Last week, ‘^Spring- 
si?' 1 , 1 , 1 ; (M wk). $5,000. 

zons \v (I , ar ' T ! 2 * 300 ; 50-76) — “Hori- 
Ing tiii l s Action fans find- 

Weok- >• J! Iure - ° ke $6,000. Last 

iVorirt U ^ ] Tra P” (20th), $6,500. 
..p'orld .M ann) (400; 8 5-$1.20) — 

$6.1: '! ll ; h Adventure” (M-G). Big 

Have i v l wock * “Everything I 

$3.ooo. " ' ours ” (M - Q) < 3d wk), 


Estimates Are Net 
Film gross estimates as re- 
ported herewith from the vari- 
ous key cities, are net; i, e.. 
without the 20% tax. Distrib- 
utors share on net take, when 
playing percentage, hence the 
estimated figures are net in- 
come. 

The parenthetic admission 
prices, however, a3 indicated, 
include the U. S. amusement 
tax. 


‘Confidential’ Big 



,11, Philly 


Philadelphia, Nov. 25. 

Steady rain right up to the 
weekend washed out film biz and 
is giving downtown sector a mod- 
erate round. “K. C. Confidential” 
shapes as most powerful newcomer 
with socko week at the Goldman. 
‘Hellgate” looks like a strong lure 
at Stanton. Earle is somewhat 
better than recently with a new 
stageshow topped by the All-Ameri- 
can Jazz Stars and “Voodoo 
Tigers.” 

Estimates for This Week 

Aldine (WB) (1,303; 50-99)— 

“Park Row” (UA). Dismal $4,000. 
Last week, “Thief” (UA) (6th wk), 
$3,600. 

Arcadia (S&S) (625: 85-J&1.20) — 
“Because You’re Mine” (M-G) (6th 
,wk). Steady $7,000. Last week, 
trim $7,500. 

Boyd (WB) (2.360; 50-99)— “Steel 
Trap” (20th) (2d wk). Weak $6,- 
000. Last week, $8,000. 

Earle (WB) (2,700; 50-$1.10)— 
“Voodoo Tiger” (Col) with Dinah 
Washington, Bill Bailey plus All- 
American Jazz Stars onstage. Fair 
$15,000. Last week, “Holiday for 
Sinners” (M-G' with Peep Show 
unit onstage, $10,000. 

Fox (20th) (2,250; 90-$1.50) — 
“•Ivanhoe” (M-G) (7th wk). Held 
at $14,000. Last week, big $16,000. 

Goldman (Goldman) (1,200; 50- 
99) — “Kansas City Confidential” 
fUA). Smash $17,000. Last week, 
“Horizons West” (U), $10,000. 

Mastbaum (WB) (4.360; 50-99) — 
“Springfield Rifle” (WB) (2d wk). 
Off to $11,000 or less. Last week, 
light $15,000. 

Midtown (Goldman) (1,000; 75- 
$1.30) — “Snows of Kilimanjaro” 
(20th). (6th wk). Solid $14,000. 
Last week, $17,000. 

Randolph (Goldman) (2,500: 50- 
99) — “Prisoner of Zenda” (M-G) 
(2d wk). Down sharply to $13,500. 
Last week, fancy $25,000. 

Stanley (WB) (2.900; 50-99) — 
“Turning Point” (Par) (2d wk). 
Poor $9,000. Last week, $13,000. 

Stanton (WB) (1.473; 50-99) — 
“Hellgate” (Lip). Bright * $10,000 
or near. Last week, “Operation 
Secret” (WB) (2d wk) $6,000 in 5 
days. 

Trans-Lux (T-L) (500; 85-$ 1.20) 
—“Happy Time” (CoH (3d wk). 
Fine $6,000. Last week, $7,500. 

‘SHOW’ LIVELY $10,000, 
L’VILLE; ‘TOP’ OKE 5|G 

Louisville, Nov. 25. 

“Greatest Show on Earth,” on 
return date at regular scale is 
stacking up okay at the Rialto. Pic 
played here three weeks on initial 
showing, so current strength is 
surprising. “Everything I have Is 
Yours” and “Steel Trap” at the 
State, is medium but better than 
past few weeks at house. 

Estimates for This Week 

Kentucky (Switow) (1,000; 54-75) 
—“California Conquest,” (Col) and 
“Brigand” (Col). Shaping nice 
$4,500. Last week, “Monkey Busi- 
ness” (20th) (3d wk), same. 

MaYy Anderson (People’s) (1,200; 
54-75) — “Flat Top” (AA). This one 
just couldn’t get started. Okay 
$5,500. Last week “Operation 
Secret” (WB), $6,500 

Rialto (Fourth Avenue) (3,000; 
54-75) _ ‘‘Greatest Show” (Par). 
Back at regular prices, with good 
$10,000. Played here for three 
weeks at upped scale, so current 
showing is pleasing. Last week, 
“It Grows On Trees (U) and 
“Raiders” (U>. $8,500. 

State (Loeiv’s) (3,000; 54-75) 
“Everything I Have Is f Yours 
(M-G) and “Steel Trap (20th). 
Medium $9,000. Last week. As- 
signment Paris” ( Gol) and Golden 
Hawk” (Col), strong $12,000. 


‘BECAUSE’ GREAT 13G, 
BALTO; ‘LURE’ OKE 8G 

Baltimore,- Nov. 25. 

Slight upswing in weekend trade 
is helping this week’s first-run 
trade. “Because of You” is drawing 
exceptionally well at Keith's with 
solid session. Better than average 
trade is reported for “Something 
for Birds” at the New. The 10-week 
run of “Quiet Man” at the Mayfair, 
ended this week in spite of con- 
tinuing steady trade. 

Estimates for This Week 

Century (Loew’s-UA) (3,000; 20- 
70) — “Lure of Wilderness” (20th). 
Okay at $8,000. Last week, “Back 
at. Front” (U), $7,800.- 
‘Keith’s (Schanberger) (2,460; 20- 
70) — “Because of You” (U). Strong 
weekend response pointing to ro- 
bust $13,000. Last week, “Cleo- 
patra” (Par) (reissue), $7,200. 

Little (Rappaport) (310; 25-90) — 
“Tales of Hoffmann” (UA). Return 
at pop prices starts tomorrow 
(Wed.) after “Lady Vanishes” (UA) 
(reissue) (2d wk) got $2,700 after 
big $3,800 opener. 

Mayfair (Hicks) (980; 20-70)— 
“Pony Soldier” (20£h). Opens to- 
morrow (Wed.) after sensational 
run of 10 weeks for “Quiet Man” 
(Rep). Held at $5,000 in 10th week. 

New (Mechanic) (1,800; 20-70)— 
“Something for Birds” (20th). Good 
$10,000. Last week, “Snows Kili- 
manjaro” (20th) (4th wk), mere 
$4,800. 

Playhouse (Schwaber) (430; 50- 
90) — “Magic Box” (Indie). Very 
bright $4,500. Last week, “Brandy 
for Parson” (Indie) (2d wk), $2,900. 

Stanley (WB) (3,280; 25-75)— 
“Miracle Fatima” (WB) (3d wk). 
Fading out some at $6,000 after all 
right $9,000 on previous round. 

Town (Rappaport) (1,500; 35-70) 
—“Lusty Men” (RKO) (2d wk). 
Starting second week tomorrow 
(Wed.) after stout $8,800 opener. 

‘Everything’ 17G 
Best Bet, St, Loo 

St. Louis, Nov. 25. 

Crisp fall weather over the past 
weekend will hypo biz at mainstem 
houses here this stanza, with over- 
all total up a bit from last week. 
“Everything I Have Is Yours” 
shapes as leader with lusty ses- 
sion. “Miracle of Fatima” is okay 
playing in two small houses. 

Estimates for This Week 

Ambassador (F&M) (3,000; 60- 
75) — “Something for Birds” (20th) 
and “Steel Trap” (20th). Fair $11,- 
000 or near. Last week, “Way of 
Gaucho” (20th) and “Somebody 
Loves Me” (Par), same. 

Fox (F&M) (5,000; 60-75)— “Iron 
Mistress” (WB) and “Toughest 
Man in Arizona” (Rep). Opened to- 
day (Tues.). Last week, “Carib- 
bean” (Par) and “Hurrican Smith” 
(Par), good $14,000. 

Loew’s (Loew) (3,172; 50-75) — 
“Everything I Have Is Yours” 
(M-G) and "My Man and I” (M-G). 
Lusty $17,000 or near. Last week. 
“Hangman’s Knot”. (Col) and 
“Golden Hawk” (Col), good $14,- 
000 . 

Missouri (F&M) (3,500; 60-75) — 
“Wakamba” (Indie) and “Cali- 
fornia Conquest” (Col). Mild $11,- 
000. Last week, "Lusty Men” 
(RKO) and “Springfield Rifle” 
(WB). $9,000. 

Pageant (St. L. Amus.) (1,000; 
90)— “Miracle of Fatima” (WB). 
Big $3,500. Last week, “Snows Kil- 
imanjaro” (20th) (3d wk), $2,000. 

St. Louis (F&M) (4,000; 60-75)— 
“Hellgate” (Lip), and “The Jun- 
gle” (Lip). Fair $8,500. Last week, 
"Rose Bowl Story” (AA) and “Bat- 
tle Zone” (AA), $7,500. 

Shady Oak (St. L. Amus.) (800; 
90)— “Miracle of Fatima” (WB). 
Sock $4,000. Last week, “Snows of 
Kilimanjaro” (20.th) (3d wk), .$3,000, 

‘Zenda’ Wham $20,000, 
Toronto; Chaplin 16G, 2d 

Toronto, Nov. 25. 

A steady week of rain plus 
Royal Winter Fair is clipping biz 
generally but “Prisoner of Zenda” 
looms at Loew’s. “Limelight” 
shapes socko in second frame at 
Odeon. After two weeks at the 
huge Imperial, “Snows of Kiliman- 
jaro” has moved over to the Uni- 
versity to get smash trade. 

Estimates for This Week 

Crest, Downtown, Glendale, 
Mayfair, Scarboro, State (Taylor) 
(863; 1,059; 955; 470; 698; 694; 35- 
60) — “Toughest Man in Arizona” 
(Rep) and “Shadow in Sky” (M-G). 
Sad $10,000. Last week, “Golden 
Hawk” (Col) and “Red Snow” 
(Col). $16,500. 

Eglinton (FP) (1,080 40-80) - 
“Cleopatra” (Par) (reissue'. Okay 

(Continued on page 24) 


IS 


Bad Weather Dampens B’way; 
‘Mistress-Arden-Leonard-Mooney 
Nice 65G, ‘Plymouth’ 2d Light 105G 


Several 'days of rain, some mod- 
erate product and pre-Thanksgiv- 
ing influence are sloughing first- 
run business on Broadway this 
stanza although a few theatres 
continue with smart totals. Rain- 
fall on Thursday night washed out 
trade while continued rain late 
Friday and part of Saturday hurt. 
Numerous houses showed a brisk 
pickup on Sunday, but the damage 
had been done. Colder weather 
Monday and yesterday (Tues.) was 
helpful. 

Lone new bill, at the Paramount, 
“Iron Mistress” with stageshow 
headed by Toni Arden, Jack E. 
Leonard and Art Mooney band, 
landed a nice $65,000. Launching 
of “Hans Christian Andersen” at 
the Criterion yesterday was pace- 
maker for a number of new bills 
to be unveiled in the next few 
days. 

“Plymouth Adventure” with 
stageshow is off to light $105,000 
in second week at the Music Hall. 
Bill holds a third to take advan- 
tage of Thanksgiving Day since the 
picture has obvious holiday appeal. 
Second session of “Bloodhounds of 

.Broadway” with Rosette Shaw, 

Jimmy Nelson, Mello-Larks, others, 
onstage, is holding near opening 
week with $50,000 at the Roxy, 
aided by Thanksgiving. First round 
was light and so is the second 
week’s total. 

“Breaking Through” continues 
to battle the downbeat with a sock 
$20,000 in third stanza ending to- 
morrow at the Victoria. “Lime- 
light” likewise still is big, with a 
smash $22,000 likely for fourth- 
frame at the Astor and sturdy 
$8,200 for fourth at the Trans-Lux 
60th Street, where it’s day-dating 
but on two-'a-day. 

“This Is Cinerama” also is going 
against the trend by holding up 
at around $41,000, great for eighth 
week at the Broadway. “Prisoner 
of Zenda” is down to mild $14,200 
in third round at the Capitol. 

“Snows of Kilimanjaro” . con- 
tinues as longrun champ, being 
solid with $16,000 or near in the 
10th at the Rivoli. “The Promoter” 
still is smash with $11,500 in 
fourth session at the Fine Arts. 

Besides “Hans Christian Ander- 
sen,” ‘ which teed off at the Cri- 
terion -and BariSr day-date, - the 
State is bringing in “Outpost in 
Malaya” today (Wed.). “Thief of 
Venice” is being launched tomor- 
row (Thurs.) at the Mayfair 'while 
“Kansas City Confidential” goes 
into the Globe Friday (28). 

A couple of* off-Broadway arty 
houses brought in successful first- 
runs during the week. “Leonardo 
da Vinci” looks to get a record 
$12,000 at the Guild while “Under 
the Red Sea” got a nice $7,800 
opening week at the Beekman, 
Estimates for This Week 

Astor (City Inv.) (1,300; 70-$1.50) 

— “Limelight” (UA) (5th wk). 
Fourth session .ending today (Wed.) 
continues smash at $22,000 or over 
after $24,000 for third week. Stays 
indefinitely at this gait. 

Beekman (R&B) (600; 85-$1.50) 
—"Under the Red Sea” (RKO) (2d 
wk). Week ended Monday (24) 
gave house a nice $7,800 for initial 
stanza. Last week, second-runs. 

Broadway (Cinerama) (1,250; 90- 
$2.80)— “This Is Cinerama” (Indie) 
(9th wk). Eighth round ended last 
night (Tues.) was smash $41,000. 
Seventh round was $40,000. While 
seats recently have been available 
for weekday matinees up until 
Friday, nights are entirely sold out, 
with tickets selling into next year. 

Capitol (Loew’s) (4,820; 70-$1.50) 
— “Prisoner of Zenda” (M-G) (4th- 
final wk >.- • Third frame ended 
Monday (24) was $14,200. Second 
week was good $18,000. “Because 
of You” (U) opens Dec. 3. 

Criterion (Moss) (1,700; 50-$l,80) 

— “Hans Christian Andersen" 
(RKO). Opened yesterday (Tues.) 
following gala benefit preem Mon- 
day (24) night. Playing day-date 
with Paris Theatre. In ahead, 
“Lusty Men” (RKO) (4th wk-10 
days), mild $9,000. 

Fine Arts (Davis) (468; 90-$1.80) 

— “The Promoter” (U) (5th wk). 
Fourth session ended Monday (24) 
held at $11,500 after socko $12,500 
for third week. 

Globe (Brandt) (1,500; 50-$1.50) 
— “Turning Point” (Par) (2d wk). 
Current stanza ending tomorrow 
(Thurs.) looks to hold at $8,000, 
aided by Thanksgiving Day biz. 
Opening week was mild $9,000. 
“K.C. Confidential” (UA) opens 
Friday (28). 

Mayfair (Brandt) (1,736; 50-$1.50) 
—“World in His Arms” (Ui (7th- 
final wk), Dipping to $6,000 in final 
frame ending today (Vfed.) after a 


nice run. “Thief of Venice” (20th) 
opens tomorrow (Thurs.). 

Guild (Guild) (525; $1-$1.80) — 
“Leonardo da Vinci” (Indie). Head- 
ing for a new record here with 
giant $12,000. Holding, natch! Last 
week, subsequent-run. 

Normandie (Normandie Theatres) 
(592; 95-$1.80)— “The Mudlark^ 

(20th) (reissue). Opened yesterday 
(Tues.) for a limited engagement. 
Last week, “Angel Street” (Hakim) 
(2d wk-8 days), slid to $3,000 after 
good $6,200 opener. 

Palace (RKO) (1,700; 75-$1.40)— 
“Horizons West” (U> and 8 acts, 
of vaude. Heading for fine $20,000. 
Last week, “Something For Birds” 
(20th) with vaude, $14,000. 

Paramount (Par) (3,664; 80-$1.80> 
— “Iron Mistress” (WB) plus Toni 
Arden, Jack E. Leonard, Condos 
& Brandow, Art Mooney orch on- 
stage (2d wk). Initial session ended 
last night (Tues.) was nice $65,000. 
In ahead, “Operation Secret” (WB) 
witji 4 Aces, Charlie Barnet orch, 
Sunny Gale topping stage bill (2d 
wk), $60,000. 

Paris (Indie) (568; $1.25-$1.80)— 
“Hans Christian Andersen” 4 RKO). 
Opened yesterday (Tues.), playing 
day-date with Criterion. In ahead, 
“Young Wives’ Tale” (Indie) (3d 
wk-8 days), was $3,800 after oke 
$4,000 for second week. 

Rivoli (UAT) (2,092; 70-$2>— 

“Snows Kilimanjaro” (20th) (10th 
wk). Still very much in the chips 
with $16,000 or near in week end- 
ing today (Wed.). Ninth week was 
strong $18,000. Next pic not defi- 
nitely set for opening date. 

Radio City Music Hall (Rocke- 
fellers) (5,945; 80-$2.40) — “Plynv 
outh Adventure” (M-G) with stage- 
show (2d wk). Down to light $105.- 
000 after modest $118,000 for first 
week, a bit below expectancy. 
Holds a third, with^Million Dollar 
Mermaid” (M-G) and annual Xmas 
stageshow opening Dec. 4. 

Roxy (20th) (5,886; 80-$2.20) — 
“Bloodhounds of Broadway” (20th) 
plus Roset.te Shaw, Jimmy Nelson, 
Mello-Larks. others, on stage bill 
(2d wk). Holding about even with 
first stanza at about $50,000. First 
week' was light $54,000, one of 
slower opening weeks at house un- 
der present policy. Roxy closes 
after next Sunday for about throe 
weeks while house is readied for 
film-iceshow policy, opening about 
Dec. 25. 

State* (Loew’s) (3,450; 55-$1.25)— 
“Outpost in Malaya” (UA). Opens 
today (Wed.). Last week, “Steel 
Trap” (20th) (2d wk), wound up 
near $8,000 after mild $11,000 
opening round. 

Sutton (R&B) (561; 90-$1.50) — 
“Four Poster” (Col) (7th wk). Sixth 
frame ended last night (Tues.) con- 
tinued nice with $8,500 about same 
as $8,600 it did in fifth week. Stays 
indef at this rate. * 

Trans-Lux 60th St. (T-L) (453; 
$1.80-$2.40) — “Limelight’.’ (UA) 
(5th wk). This session, winding up 
today (Wed.), looks to hold at 
smash $8,200 after $9,800 for 
fourth. Holds on with two-a-day 
policy here, playing day-date with 
Astor 

Trans-Lux 52d St. (T-D (540; 90- 
$1.50)— “Full House” (20th) (6th 
wk). Present stanza ending today 
(Wed.) is holding at $7,000 after 
sturdy $7,800 for fifth week. Holds 
again. 

Victoria (City Inv.) (1.060; 70- 
$1.80) — “Breaking Through” (UA) 
(3d wk). Current round winding 
up tomorrow (Thurs.) continues 
socko with $20,000 or close, after 
$22,000 for second frame. Con- 
tinues on. 

Rain Hurts D.C. Albeit 
‘Plymouth’ Sock $23,000; 
Thunderbirds’ Tall 12G 

Washington, Nov. 25. 

Heavy rains cut into biz along 
main stem past week. Theatres 
looking forward to long holiday 
weekend to recoup losses. Stand- 
out of session is “Plymouth Ad- 
venture” which opened Friday, 
and so will include Thanksgiving 
Day in its initial semester. Other 
newcomers are on dull side except- 
ing “Thunderbirds,” solid at War- 
ner. Warner Theatre pic got fine 
promotional lift and big preem. 
“Happy Times,” in second session 
at Trans-)£jux looks bright. 

Estimates for This Week 

Capitol (Loew’s) (3,434: 55-95) — 
“Night Without Sleep” (20th) plus 
vaude headed by Lanny Ross. Pass- 
able $17,000 in 6 days, but not up 
(Continued on page 24) 





Wednesday, Novemljer 26 , 19 S 2 





mafOttf/an' &a/ 

/£ Maikfay a Hauff 

BUSINESS WAY UP in early dates, with 
Jane . . . the singing, hip-swinging, gun- 
slinging terror of good men and bad . . .. 
making things jump! Ask them in New 
York, Des Moines, Pittsburgh, Boston . . . 
and soon in Kansas City, Minneapolis, 

St. Paul, San Francisco, Oklahoma City, 
and scores of key cities Coast to Coast! 


JANE RUSSELL 


e ® « 







Co-Starring 


I'Tf 






GEORGE BRENT 

in TRUCOLOR 




isr^F - 



Hotter than ^ 
Hot I The way 
Jane sings " The 
Gilded Lily!” 







m 



«r ' ' I 









* \ 







y ' >W>s* >;. 

* - c 

* s 



m 

K 






-fa, 


with SCOTT BRADY ♦ FORREST TUCKER • ANDY DEVINE wit 

uAui« r nn U <>iri^/Mi Associate Producer Directed by Screenolav hw yr 

HOWARD WELSCH * ROBERT PETERS • ALLAN DWAN * HORACE McCOY ancl NORMAN S. HALL 



'VAKIITY'S' LONDON OH'ICH 
• St. Martin's Flaea, Trafalgar Square 


PB&i&rf 


INTERNATIONAL . 


15 


Pare Actors Union Launches Fight 
For Decent Pay in TV Legit Prods. 


Brit J British Pix Prod. Perks With Real 


Paris, Nov. 25. 4- 
The Syndicat of Actors here has 
opened negotiations with TV on 
the rights of the legit producers on 
transmission by video. The SOA 
is opposed in principle to televls- 
ine plays but has made concessions 
in certain cases. Now it is trying 
Jo set up an accord in the event 
current legiters are put on TV,. 

A new play soon will be tele- 
vised before its official opening, 
and this is 'being used as the. 
springboard in the current talks. 
The SOA feels that each play is 
n separate case and* those that are 
approved for televising should not 
be completely shown. They also 
feel that the telecast should not ex- 
ceed 45 minutes, devoting not more 
than a half hour to the actual play, 
with the remaining time devoted 
to data on its production, etc. 

This should be done in the stu- 
dio and not the theatre, the SOA 
the SOA contends, the closing day 
of the play. It also feels that ac- 
tors should get paid more by TV. 
Tlius far television has paid ex- 
tremely low salaries. 

The Society of Authors here is 
for TV beaming of member plays, 
contends, and never the closing day 
However, it believes that author’s 
rights bring negligible money from 
TV, and plans to work on augment- 
ing’ this income. Naturally, they 
get better remuneration for a play 
beamed via radio than on TV. 

Rank Follows Up Plan 
Of Financing Own Pix 
With 2 PH. Melon Slicings 

London, Nov. 25. 

A further indication of the im- 
proved financial standing of the 
J. Arthur Rank organization came 
with the announcement that divi- 
dend arrears on the 6% Accumula- 
tive Preferred would be paid next 
month. On Dec. 22, holders of t;his 
preference issue will receive two 
payments, covering up to the end 
of the year. 

The dividends will cover the 
half-year ending last June 30, 
which had been in arrear, and the 
second six months of 1952, ending 
Dee. 31. 

This announcement follows the 
decision a week earlier that hence- 
forth the Rank production pro- 
gram will be financed out of the 
corporation’s own resources and 
that the company will not seek 
further aid from the state films 
bank. Both announcements were 
welcomed in the City, London’s 
financial district. 


Scot Prof Denies Films 
Big Cause of Jnve Crime 

Edinburgh, Nov. 18. 

Idea that the cinema is mainly 
responsible for the increase in. juve 
crime was debunked here by Dr. 
F. S. Fiddes, lecturer on forensic 
medicine at Edinburgh University. 

“In our youth.” he said, “we saw 
some fairly violent stuff, mosllv 
wild Westerns, on the screen, but 
I do not think, anyone argued then 
that it was turning us into razor 
delinquents.” 

Fiddes doubted whether the ef- 
fects of the modern gangster film 
was very great unless the child was 
already willing to be affected by it. 
If the cinema had any effect at all 
in increasing delinquency among 
young people, lie thought it prob- 
ably did so . by increasing the 
amount of money that 5'oungsters 
might steal to attend picture shows. 


London, Nov. 18. 
Warner Bros., which has a con- 
stant record of activity in British 
film production, is likely to make 
two more pix next year. One sub- 
ject currently under considera- 
tion is “Helen of Troy.” 4 
During the current year WB has 
lensed “The Master of Ballantrae’* 
in London, and completed two 
others which were started in pre- 
vious year, “Crimson Pirate” and 
“Where’s Charley.” 


Dearth of Workers, Studio Space 


Maas Pessimistic Over 
U.S. Films in Indonesia 

Djakarta, Nov. 18. 

Irving Maas, Motion Picture 
Assn, of America rep, wound up 
discussions with the Indonesian 
government execs here, and has 
left for Bombay. He cited the 
100 f ; surtax on imported pix and 
the 12' r corporation tax .as being 
so harsh that the situation here 
is approaching the point where it 
will become very difficult for U.S. 
distributors to operate profitably. 

Maas pointed to the censorship 
situation in Indonesia as too severe 
for Amercian screen product. 
About 25 r b of all Yank films im- 
ported into the country are re- 
jected by the censors. And this is 
after American distribs have done 
their own “censoring” by not send- 
ing any films into Indonesia if the 
companies feel they would not 
Pass the censors. 

The 25 r <> rejection of U. S* pic- 
tures is the greatest for any coun- 
ty excepting those which bar 
Yank product completely. Maas 
told the minister of education, 
which supervises the - censorship 
hoard, that the American film in- 
dustry is sympathetic towards the 
struggling Republic of Indonesia 
hut can’t go on indefinitely bring- 
ing in pix under such' harsh regu- 
lations. 


Nips Frame Open Forum 
To Pass on Pix Imports; 
Yanks Want Open Market 

Tokyo, Nov. 18. 

First public meeting to air con- 
flicting views on foreign film im- 
port allocations for the next fiscal 
year will be held here this week, 
with the Japanese finance ministry 
inviting a selected list of interested 
parties to present their ideas. Vox 
pop element has been introduced 
by inclusion of a Tokyo University 
professor, a former vice minister 
of the finance ministry, one femme 
critic and two other newspaper 
writers. Otherwise participants will 
be strictly from the film biz. 

Japanese dislrib reps huddle in 
advance of the big meet to map 
plans and elect spokesmen. Japa- 
nese Exhibitors Assn, will be 
repped by Chairman Kokichi Tom- 
izuka. 

Edward F. O’Connor. Metro top- 
per here, will speak lor American 
film companies. Louis Bush, Brit- 
ish Commonwealth Film Corp. jful 
prexy, will present British views. 

It is expected that O’Connor will 
argue for an open market and will 
emphasize the fact that foreign film 
industries are sturdiest where their 
governments do not impose quota 
provisions. 

Meanwhile, finance ministry in- 
vitations to the Japanese speakers 
contained a lengthy briefing which 
summed up the Japanese govern- 
ment stand. After explaining that 
the .1951 restriction on film imports 
was brought about by the need to 
save foreign currency and stifle ac- 
cumulation of yen in accounts of 
foreign film importers, the min- 
istry’s note stated: “In trying to 
prevent any further accumulation 
of yen deposits, we can think of 
two methods. First is to make a 
further large scale reduction of the 
number of pictures imported (ap- 
proximately 200 at present i . Sec- 
ond. by changing the current terms 
of import contract from current 
rental basis to the fiat purchase 
system, thereby restricting the en- 
tire transaction within the frame 
of foreign currency like ordinary 
commodities.” 


Mex Govt. Lauds 
D. S. Tourist Biz 


Mexico City, Nov. 18. 

U. S. tourists were paid homage 
by Dr. Francisco del Rio Canedo, 
director general of the govern- 
ment’s tourist department, speak- 
ing at a banquet of the Rotary Club 
here. He declared that the U. S. 
visitor means much to Mexico, 
and does considerable for the coun- 
try. 

American visitors will spend 
$288,000,000 in Mexico this year, 
the tourist chief estimated. Just 
back from Europe, where he set 
tourist connections, Dr. del Rio 
Canedp declared that the Continent 
regards Mexico as its only competi- 
tor for the U. S. tourist. 

It wa$ revealed at the banquet 
that revenue from tourism, partic- 
ularly American, has increased re- 
markably during President Miguel 
Aleman’s six-year term that began 
Dec. 1, 1946. In 1946, tourist trade 
left $85,000,000 in Mexico. Last 
year that bene’fit was more than 
$150,000,000. 

The report claimed this is due to 
the tourist telling about Mexico, 
plus the word-of-mouth boosting by 
tourists when they return home. 


London, Nov. 25. 
The do’ors of the film production 
industry, which have been closed 
to newcomers since the days of the 
major postwar slump, are now 
slightly ajar. For the first time in 
four years, then© is a scarcity in 
certain technical grades. Since the 
peak employment days of 1948, 
thousands of skilled workless tech- 
nicians have been compelled to 
leave the industry and seek employ- 
ment in other fields. A few moved 
to radio and TV, but by far the 
majority were forced into jobs 
which had no relation to their for- 
mer technical employment. 

Some of these are now asked 
and will be released in all the 14 j whether they would consider re- 
North Atlantic Treaty Organiza- : turning to British production. Over- 

| tures are being made on a limited 
scale by the Assn, of Cine Techni- 


Nat Linden Touring 
Europe for NATO Pic 

Fontainbleau. Nov. 18. 

Nat Linden, radio and TV writer 
under contract with the U. S. Air 
Force Photographic & Charting 
Service, started a 10-country tour 
in Europe this month to gather 
material for a script on N.'TO air 
force activities. 

Film, geared to run about 30 
minutes when complete, Is hoped 
to be ready for the second anni- 
versary of SHAPE (April 2, 1953', 


tion countries. 

Gen. Lauris Norstad, NATO’s 
top air commander, huddled .with 
Linden for two hours on the proj- 
ect as he passed through here on 
the first leg of his tour, which goes 
as far north as Oslo, and as far 
east as Ankara. 


London Fete Hall's Fat Biz 

London, Nov. 18. 
mmi as u ie on jy permanent part 
?. last year’s Festival Of Britain, 
in* Hoyai Festival Hall continues 
hefty audiences. Atlend- 
ei‘ this past season have averaged 
lllM,L IU)' o of capacity. 


Arg. Studios Working 
On 40 Pix But Actual 
Playdates Very Dubious 

Buenos Aires, Nov. 18. 
There are something like 40 na- 
tive pix now in production, or 
ready for release, but it is doubt- 
if many will be screened now 
unless they are given preems at 
the Mar del Plata beach resort dur- 
ing the summer season (December 
to March K 

Plans for 1953 are already under 
way by those producers still in 
the running. These are Argentina 
Sono Film, the only studio on a 
sound financial basis; Artists Ar- 
gentines Asociados. which by vir- 
tue of three good grossers released 
this year may be able to keep its 
head above water; and Cinematog- 
rafica Interamericana. which dou- 
bles as a distribution outfit and has 
interests in Mexico, France and 
Spain. Last-named therefore is 
better equipped to withstand the 
adverse conditions here. * 

The shuttered studios include 
Emelco. in bankruptcy, but with 
assets of arbund $1,000,000 in ex- 
cess of liabilities; Lumiton, which 
shuttered last May but now trying 
to get capital on a market notori- 
ously short of coin, and EFA Stu- 
dios. which is also hoping for gov- 
ernment aid to keep going. 

The current scarcity of coin here 
and curtailment of bank credits 
seguing from the loss of last year’s 
wheat crops, are stymying many in- 
dustries more essential than film 
production. Although the govern- 
ment’s plea is that the State banks 
have had to cut coin handouts for 
industry so as to help farmers pro- 
duce exportable foodstuffs (which 
earn foreign exchange), the actual 
fact is that only a few farmers with 
connections in high places have re- 
ceived any such aid. Without bank 
credits, local pix production will 
find it hard to keep going next 
year. 


LABORITE SEEKS SUN. 

STAGESHOWS IN BRIT. 

London, Nov. 25. 

Having been successful in the 
annual parliamentary ballot, a 
Labor M.P. will sponsor a private 
bill aimed at reforming Sunday 
entertainment laws. The John 
Parker-sponsored bill would repeal 
Acts of Parliament, passed in 1625 
and 1780. which bar Sunday night ( 
presentations other than in private i ^ us t r | an pic Asks Treaty : 


Immigration Wave Aids 
Market for French And 
Italo Pix in So. America 

Market for French and Italian 
pictures in South America has been 
broadened by a “great wave of im- 
migration” from Europe, according 
to George H. Bookbinder, special 
rep in charge of the western hemi- 
sphere for Franco London Film. 
He just arrived in New York after 
a four-month sales trip which took 
him to every South American coun- 
try with the exception of Bolivia 
and Paraguay* 

Newcomers from Italy and 
France, who have settled principal- 
ly in Brazil and Venezuela, are 
“looking for culture and find it in 
films.” He found his sales trail 
blazed by such European pictures 
as “Fabiola,” “La Ronde,” “Manon" 
and “Bitter Rice.” He claimed all 
were big hits, and served to focus 
attention on French and Italian 
[.films in general. 

In the past. Bookbinder revealed, j 
Franco London had not sold the i 
South American field intensively. | 
His recent junket was to “break \ 
the ice” with local distributors in 
south-of-the-border nations. His trip 
was successful, since release deals 
were made covering all of com- 
pany’s 1952 product and some of 
next year’s. Such distribs as 
CADEF in Brazil and Cinemato- 
raphica Selman in Chile were 
inked. 

A number of South American 
key cities have first-run art houses 
similar to those in the U. S., Book- 
binder said. Lima, Peru, for ex- 
ample, has two theatres which 
play nothing but French and Ital- 
ian pictures. 

Films are still the best and most 
popular form of entertainment in 
Latin-America at a price people 
can afford to pay, he reported. TV 
has not become competition for ex- 
hibitors there so far. 

Bookbinder disclosed that ^pro- 
ducers in Brazil, Argentina and 
Mexico are looking for co-produc- 
tion deals with both Hollywood 
and European film-makers. 

“They feel if they have some for- 
eign stars in their pictures, there’s 
a better chance of cracking the 
world market,” he said. 


cians on the understanding that 
there can, even today, be no guar- 
antee of continuity of employment. 
Most jobs are on a single-picture 
basis, but the gap between assign- 
ments is far smaller than it has 
been for some time past. 

The shortage has mainly been 
confined to lower grades. There is, 
for example, a severe scarcity of 
assistant directors, ossistant cutters 
and the like. Absorption of the 
workless is in some measure at- 
tributable to the expansion of tele- 
film production in Britain. The 
Douglas Fairbanks unit at British 
National Studios, as one example, 
has 60 technicians on the payroll, 
with schedules which will keep 
them occupied for several months. 

. The shortage of technicians is 
also matched by the limitation of 
available studio space and not a 
few small indie productions have 
been delayed for lack of adequate 
lensing facilities. 

The n employment situation will 
become far more acute during the 
Coronation period next year. The 
two newsreel companies who are 
also doing full-length color films 
will each require something ap- 
proaching 100 camera positions and 
the crews to man them. In addi- 
tion there will be the requirements 
of the other newsreels plus the 
American outfits who are hoping to 
use British technicians. 


club theatres 

There is virtually no live bun-; 
day night entertainment other : 
than a few charity galas because j 
of these laws. Club theatres are 
absolved from them on the techni- ; 
cality that they are private per- 
formances and admission is limited 

to members only. 

One part of the Sunday law was 
revised 20 years ago when Sun- 
day opening of picture houses was 
legalized. Under that act. how- 
ever. exhibs have to hand o\ei 
an arbitrary amount to chanty 
each week. 


Vienna, Nov. 25. 

In an attempt to focus world in- 
terest on its desire for a state 
treaty, the “Austrian government 
last week sponsored the preem of a 
film which concerns a fancied end 
to the country’s military popula- 
tion. 

Tagged “1 April 2000.” the pic- 
ture has the occupation called off 
in 2000 by a prime minister’s de- 
cree. Unveiling of film w'as attend- 
ed by officials from the four oc- 
cupying powers as well as Austrian 
government reps. 


Italian Film Production 
Swings Back to Opera, 
Big-Scale Costume Pix 

Genoa, Nov. 18. 

Italian production currently is 
i on one of its periodical swings back 
to two Italian favorite types oi 
production: the opera film and the 
large-scale costume epic. In the 
latter category, Oro.Film is releas- 
ing “Queen of Sheba” soon and 
plans to shoot “Helen of Troy” 
next. Both are directed by Pietro 
Francisci. 

In work at present is “Sparta- 
cus,” starring Massimo Girotti. ll 
was directed by Riccardo Freda. 
“Queen Cleopatra,” directed bj 
Goffredo Alessandrini, is on Obel 
isco Film’s schedule for a starl 
this month, as is “Lucrctia Bor- 
gia,” a Rizzoli-Ariane Franco-Ital- 
ian coproduction megged by Chris 
tian-Jaque. 

Still in the tentative stages art 
“Attila, King of Huns” for Renatt 
Bassoli productions, and “Ulysses’ 
for Ponti-DeLaurentiis. Amato b 
producing “Mary Magdalen” ant 
“Salome/’ set to start next spring 
In the operatic field is the pro 
duction “Aida,” currently on th< 
lineup for Osca Film, with Cle 
mentc Fracassi directing. "Eterna 
Melodies,” based on the life of com 
poser Pietro Mascagni, is alread; 

London. Nov. 18. | in R«»>l>-Royer ; 

closed here last week Production of. 'Giacomo Puccini.' 

“The -‘> tarrin 8 Marta Toren and Nadu 
| Gray, is nearing completion undei 
the direction of Carmine Gallone 
Producer Malenotti and directoi 
Giacomo Gcntilomo, who made tht 
Mascagni pic. are now' preppinp 
“Life and Loves of Wagner.” 


WANAMAKER TO STAR 
IN LONDON ‘SHRIKE’ 


A deal was 

for a British production of 
Shrike” next year. Play will open 
out-of-town Jan. 19 and, subject to 
theatre availability, will move into 
London three weeks later. 

Production is to be presented 
jointly by Jack Hylton and Sam 
Wanamaker, with the latter play- 
ing the starring role. Jose Ferrer 
will direct and will return to Lon- 
don Jan. 3 to handle this assign- 
ment. Ferrer planes out from here 
Dec. 14 to Hollywood with a print 
of “Moulin Rouge” which will open 
a few days later on the Coast in 
time to be considered for the 
Academy Awards. 

Ferrer is also lining up a pro- 
duction of “Slalag 17” and “Cabin 
in the Sky.” Latter will star Pearl 
1 Bailey. 


Mex Tepeyac Studios Expand 
: Mexico City, Nov. 18. 

j Several pic producers and dis- 
. tributors are establishing a film 
; city at the Tepeyac studios here as- 
! one of the most modern in Mexico. 

• with office buildings now being 
built. Location of these at the stu- 
! dios is rated both economical and 
convenient. 

Producers-distributors here gen- 
erally have their headquarters far 
i iiom studios. 



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PICTURES 


IT 


Wednesday* November 26 T 1952 


Inside Stuff-Pictures 


A three-year-old survey instigated by former Allied States prez True- 
man T. Rembusch is credited by the December issue of American mag 
as largely responsible for luring the public back in “those empty the- 
atre seats." The Rembusch check was an “exhaustive” 32-state study 
to determine “just what kind of pictures the great masses of home- 
town Americans like and dislike." 

In “Rack to the Picture Show!", writer Martin Bunn notes that his 
own personal interviews with “big and small” theatre operators across 
the country confirmed reports that business had been bad. But he 
adds, the exhibitors— “these chaps with the last word on pictures have 
at last got the ball rolling to entice you and me back in those empty 
seats." Mag piece asserts that the Rembusch “magic formula” to- give 
the people what they want is paying off for his own Indiana circuit 
of 12 conventional theatres and two drive-ins “to the tune of nearly 
$ 1 , 000,000 a year.” Among Rembusch’s salient findings, the article 
points out, are. , 

“We don't care much for present-day Academy Award pictures* we 
like to laugh at homespun— yes, corny-pictures; we want no ‘messages-’ 
we are losing our appetite for love!; we don’t like to be preached to- 
we usually don’t give a hoot, either, for professional critics’ opinions 
of a picture.” 

What Rembusch considers as sock boxoffice, Bunn states, are such 
film fare as “Francis, -the Talking Mule” and “Ma and Pa Kettle” Of 
a list of 10 pictures “people have liked best recently,” the Indiana ex- 
hib leads off with “Show Boat” (M-G); “Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair” 
<U), and«u‘David and Bathsheba” (20th), and “On Moonlight Bay” (WB). 


Films are the most effective instrument for spreading the American 
message abroad, a survey conducted by the New York Times in 44 
foreign countries shows. The study found Voice of America broad- 
casts had improved since 1948, when the last such poll was taken, 
but, it said, “almost everywhere, educational and documentary films 
distributed by the USIS (United States Information Service) and the 
Mutual Security Agency were regarded as the most effective propa- 
ganda device.” Only discordant note came from Mexico where the ap- 
• peal of U. S. films was found to be “limited.” The Italian report said 
the information films there, as in other places, were “the most effec- 
tive and least costly of American propaganda activities” and added 
that the reels reached “many who never had seen a radio and hardly 
knew what a newspaper was.” In Argentina, an estimated 2,500,000, 
more than one-eighth of the population, see the USIS films annually. 


Members of the Motion Picture Pioneers last week were urged by 
prexy Jack Cohn to exercise more care in endorsing applicants for 
membership in the organization. A number of applications, he pointed 
out, were rejected upon examination either due to failure of the ap- 
plicant to have 25 active years in the industry or did not have bonafide 
service in exhibition, distribution or production. 

Pioneers, incidentally, are “applauded” in the current issue of Look 
via a story which reprises the origin of the group some 13 years ago. 
Article notes that “nearly a thousand men” now belong to the Pioneers 
and cites the organization’s philanthropic efforts. Thumbnail cuts of 
some 17 industry toppers, all of them Pioneers, accompany the piece. 


Distribs- Arbitration 

Continued from page 5 ■ 


drafting the proposals. It was 
pointed out that the Aug. 20 draft, 
which was the basis for the final 
plan, was drafted by Myers. 1 Pre- 
viously the conflicting elements 
could not agree on the exact word- 
ing of the clauses. Myers took it 
over, and it was . generally agreed 
that the Allied exec did a fast, ex- 
pert job. Although Myers’ Aug. 20 
draft was revised, distrib sources 
said not many changes were made 
in substance and that a large part 
of Myers’ draft was retained in 
language as well as spirit. 

Distribs were especially bitter 
about Allied denunciation of the 
pre-release clause, claming that 
Myers’ proposal on the subject re- 
mained unchanged in the fina* 
draft. They noted that it contained 
the thoughts advanced by Myers as 
early as June when he moved to 
revise the definition of a “run” as- 
set down in the 1940 consent de- 
cree. 

Controversial clause reads as 
follows: “It is recognized that the 
licensing of feature pictures by 
run is essential in the distribution 
and exhibition of motion pictures, 
and arbitrators in deciding run 
complaints shall give effect to this 
Principle, Runs means the succes- 
sive exhibition of motion pictures 
2 a Riven area, first-run (except 
the first exhibition in any city of 
ieature pictures not then generally 
released and not to exceed two 
such pictures per distributor a 
year and except preview exhibi- 
tions of pictures not then general- 
ly released in theatres for only a 
single performance) being the first 
exiitinior in that area, second-run 

Pf ln £ next subsequent exhibi- 
tor therein, and so on.” 


No TV? 

Chicago, Nov. 25. 
Surprising aspect of the Allied 
cates convention here last week 
was (he lack of concern of the 
nect of television on the nation’s 
eat res. Many of the indie own- 
s a,v located in the metropolitan 
eas w lth teevee, but questioning 
nn i v ,lle su bject was nat taken 
I* 1 brought almost unanimous opin- 
video in itself is ndt a 
JJ ° that Allied could take 
nf ii° ^ Jhat ^ lay In the province 
nr« , indi vidual to get out and 
P omole his own business. 

°f Indiana Allied 
i. “listening post” plan to 

lurJi'j , In ^° immediate force which 
li ! (1 have local and regional Al- 
u uuils report on film rental 


prices and detrimental practices. 
In this regard, there has been a 
determined effort to collect evi- 
dence that Allied is prepared to 
use in case it might be necessary 
to go into the courts to gain re- 
dress. However, Myers said that 
Allied- was not anxious for a con- j 
tinuation of law suits as he recog- 
nized that “they threaten the sol- 
vency of the film companies.” 

Cinerama was discussed by Jack 
Kirsch and Wilbur Snaper, both 
of whom painted it in glowing 
color but doubted its immediate 
benefit for the majority of the 
nation’s theatres. 

Accolades were given to Martin 
G. Smith, Toledo exhib, who'^lTS^ 
been the guinea pig in the recent 
Ohio censorship fight; Trueman 
Rembusch for his work in COMPO; 
Col. H. A. Cole and Pat McGee 
for their work regarding tax prob- 
lems; Jack Kirsch for hosting, and 
bows to Snaper and Myers. Ronald 
Reagan toastmastered the closing 
banquet Wednesday night, with 
Greer Garson also gracing the dias. 


NATURAL VISION EYES 
HAYWORTH’S ‘SADIE’ 

Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

Possibility that Rita Hayworth’s 
next film, “Miss Sadie Thompson.” 
will be in Natural Vision’s third- 
dimensional process, is listed by 
NV prexy M. L. Gunzburg in an 
announcement- that a dozen NV 
pix will be made in the next 15 
months. Gunzburg said negotia- 
tions for the Hayworth pic are 
now underway with the Beckworth 
Corp., star’s indie, which will make 
the film for Columbia. 

Gunzburg said third-dimen- 
sional projection and reception in 
television are possible thoug i 
“not an immediate possibility.” 

Arch Oboler’s “Bwana Devil, 
in NV. which bows at the Los An- 
geles Paramount Nov. 2fi, will next 
be seen in Frisco and N. Y., and 
contracts are already signed for 
exhibition in 50 American cities in 
the next six months, Gunzburg 
said. Among the dozen pix sched- 
uled are another Oboler film, 
“Spear In the Sand, and full- 
length film starring puppet char- 
acters of Bob Clampett s Cecil 
and Beany" teleprogram. Gunz- 
burg is also dickering for rights 
to the current Broadway revue, 
“New Faces.” 


Briefs From the Lots 


Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

Universal bought James Oliver 
Curwood’s “The Plains of Abra- 
ham” and assigned Howard Chris- 
tie as producer . . . Henry Berman 
drew production reins on “Gun 
Glory,” western yarn by Harold 
Shumate at Metro . . . Irwin Al- 
len's “The Sea Around Us” will be 
world-preemed in Washington un- 
der sponsorship of the National 
Geographic Society . . . Techni- 
color’s London lab will process 
Aspen’s “Return to Paradise” be- 
cause its Hollywood plant is too 
busy . . . Hal Belfer ankled his 
dance director job at UI to go Into 
TV . . . Dwight Cummins and 
Dorothy Yost scripting “Saginaw 
Trail” for Gene Autry’s program 
at Columbia . . . Glenn Ford and 
Broderick Crawford will costar in 
the Lewis Rachmil production, 
“Rough Country,” at Columbia. 

Columbia bought “Fanfare for 
Elizabeth,” a tale of Anne Boleyn 
by Edith Sitwell . . . Derwin Abra- 
hams assigned to direct action se- 
quences of Sam Katzman’s next 
serial at Columbia . . . Curtis Bern- 
hardt signed a two-picture direct- 
ing pact at Columbia, starting 
with the Rita Hayworth starrer, 
“Miss Sadie Thompson” . . . Ann 
McCrae sigribd for a role in “The 
Bandwagon” at Metro . . . Colum- 
bia postponed filming of “Jet Com- 
mandoes” and “The Wood Hawk” 
until next spring . . . Hal, R. 
Makelim’s indie production, “My 
Dad, J. R.” starts Dec. 1 at RKO- 
Pathe with Edward Arnold and 
John Agar in top spots. 

Warners signed Bob Arthur to 
play Frank Love joy’s son in “The 
System” . . . Five grunt-and- 
groaners. Sammy Stein, Chester 
Hayes, Vic Holbrook, Hans Schna- 
bel and Tom Rinesto, signed to 
rassle in UI’s “The Golden Blade” 
. . . Jack Kelly and Dennis Weaver 
drew support roles in “Apache 
Landing” at UI . . . Bill Radovich, 
fqrmer pro grid star, plays an as- 
sistant coach in "Trouble Along 
the Way” at Warners . . . Victor 
Young composing the score for Re- 
public’s “A Perilous Voyage” . . . 
James Mason goes to Germany in 
February to star in “Susan in Ber- 
lin,” with Carol Reed directing. 

John Brahm readying a trilogy, 
“Happiness,” based on yarns by 
Guy de Maupassant, with Vincent 
Price signed to star in one of the 
episodes . . . Warners signed two 
Olympic athletes, Sim Innes and 
Parry O’Brien, for roles in “Trou- 
bles Along the Way” . . . Howard 
Keel will star in Metro’s 1953 
March of Dimes short, the studio’s 
12th annual subject for the Na- 
tional Foundation for Infantile 
Paralysis . . . Bill Washington drew 
a role in “White Witch Doctor” at 
20th-Fox . . . Freeman Lusk signed 
for the Martin-Lewis picture, tem- 
porarily titled “The Caddy,” at 
Paramount. 

Robert Arthur’s first production 
at Columbia will be “The Broad- 
way Story,” scripted by Daniel 
Fuchs . . . William Allaiid draws 
production reins on “The Squaw 
Man’s Son,”- formerly on Leonard 
Goldstein’s program at UI . . . 
Paul Picerni drew a featured role 
in “The System” at Warners . . . 
Moss Hart signed to- screenplay “A 
Star Is Born,” to be produced by 
Sid Luft as a starrer for Judy Gar- 
land . . . Edmund Grainger will 
produce “Gambler Moon” at RKO, 
starting in February with Robert 
Mitchum, Robert Ryan, Arthur 
Hunnicutt, Ursula Thiess and Mala 
Powers in top roles ... Warners 
bought John Steinbeck’s “East of 
Eden” and signed Elia Kazan to 
product and direct. 


Hartman to Europe 

On Prod. Projects 

Don Hartman, Paramount pro- 
duction head, left N. Y. by air for 
Rome last Friday (21) and expects 
to return here by Dec. 1 after 

visiting Paris and London. Besides 
studying various Par production 
projects already set for abroad, 
Hartman will also explore the pos-' 
sibility for further Par lensing on 
the Continent. 

In Rome, Hartman will help Wil- 
liam Wyler edit the recently com- 
pleted “Roman Holiday,” starring 
Gregory Peck. In London he’ll 
huddle with Peck on Par’s pro- 
jected “Babylon Revisited,” the F. 
Scott Fitzgerald story which the 
studio plans to make in France. 
It's not certain whether Peck can 
arrange his schedule to appear in 
the pic. 

While in London, Hartman will 
also discuss Ceylon ’ocalion shoot- 
ing for “Elephant Walk” and with 
John and Roy Boulting plans for 
Par’s “Wings Across the Sea.” , 


Pittsburgh Variety Club Draws 
Big Conclave; Other Tent News 


Still Exhibs at 85 

Minneapolis, Nov. 25. 
Kate Gould, 85, still is ticket 
seller and taker at her Crystal 
Theatre, Glencoe, Minn. 

Mrs. Gould, her late hus- 
band, and his family opened 
the Crystal Jan. 11, 1909. When 
he died two years ago she took 
over. She still sits in the little 
ticket booth performing her 
duties, seven days a week and 
at the Sunday matinee. 

Another member of the fam- 
ily, George C. Gouj,d, 59, is the 
manager, buying and booking 
the pictures. 

Cinerama Interest Cues 
20th to Take New Look 
At Stored 50m System 

Interest in Cinerama has caused 
20th-Fox to take another look at its 
old system for projecting wide- 
angle, panorama-type pictures on 
50m film. Equipment necessary to 
make and show such film is still 
stored at the Movietone labs in 
N. Y. It’s never been installed 
in a theatre and the last time it 
was demonstrated was six years 
ago. 

The system uses only one pro- 
jector, which could be adjusted to 
either 35m or 50m, and is the out- 
come of 20th’s old Grandeur sys- 
tem, which used 70m film. Gran- 
deur had its day in the early ’30s,. 
when other companies were also 
experimenting with various film 
gauges. 

Later the Society of Motion Pic- 
ture Engineers formed a special 
committee and- suggested a uniform 
standard. It came up with the 50m 
width, which 20th later adopted for 
its experiments with wide-angle 
projection. According to Earl I. 
Sponable, technical research head 
for 20th, all lab projects have for 
the moment been put aside to give 
preference to the Eidophor color 
theatre television ^ystem. First in- 
dustrial model, incorporating . a 
number of improvements over the 
one used for the 20th homeoffice 
demonstrations earlier ip the year, 
should be completed soon. Exact 
number of such pilot models to be 
built is still uncertain. 

*» * 

Series of Testimonials 
To Honor Adolph Zukor 

Adolph Zukor, Paramount board 
chairman and industry pioneer, 
will be honored by Variety Clubs 
International in a series of testi- 
monials to be tendered him around 
the globe early next year. Plans 
for the events were disclosed in 
New' York yesterday (Tues.) by 
Dallas theatre exec Robert J. 
O’Donnell. 

All guilds, crafts, associations 
and organizations within the in- 
dustry, O’Donnell said, will be in- 
vited to participate with Variety 
International in accolading Zukor. 
A dumber of groups, he added, 
have already endorsed the idea. 

Initial salute to Zukor will be 
held in Hollywood on Jan. 7. It’s 
tentatively set at the Cocoanut 
Grove and will mark the 80th birth- 
day of the industry’s “elder states- 
men.” Guests are expected to in- 
clude Gov. Earl Warren and other 
civic dignitaries as well as top 
stars and Hollywood notables. 

Coast affair will be followed by 
a dinner to be held March - 4 at the 
Hotel Waldorf-Astoria, N. Y. This 
will celebrate Zukor’s golden ju- 
bilee ip show business. At this, 
function, it’s understood, O’Don- j 
nell hopes to land President Eisen- 
hower as the principal speaker. 
Thereafter, if Zukor’s health per- 
mits, he’ll be hosted by Variety 
Clubs at industry-wide gatherings 
all over the world. 

Plans for the event originated 
when O’Donnell learned that Para- 
mount execs were contemplating a 
birthday dinner in Zukor’s honor. 
The Texas theatreman then sug- 
gested a Zukor Golden Jubilee 
Celebration at last week’s midwin- 
ter meeting of Variety Clubs In- 
ternational in Pittsburgh. Pro- 
posal won unanimous approval 
from the organization’s heads. 

In behalf of the Variety Clubs, 
O’Donnell wili act as general chair- 
man of the committee in charge of 
the affair. 


Pittsburgh, Nov. 25. 

Biggest midwinter meeting of 
Variely Clubs International since 
between-convention conclaves were 
established was climaxed here Sun- 
day night (23) by the Silver Anni- 
versary banquet of Tent No. 1. Af- 
fair drew capacity crowd of 750 
showmen and celebrities from over 
the country being in the form of a 
testimonial to John H. Harris and 
10 other local men who founded 
the organization 25 years agp. They 
are John Maloney, James Balmer, 
John McGreevey, Ralph Harrison, 
Harold Dunn, Jack White, George 
Lai, Dave Brown, Eddie Fontaine 
and John Morin. 

Congressman Dewey Short of 
Missouri was the principal speaker 
and Hollywood contingent included 
Virginia ’Mayo, Janet Leigh, Tony 
Curtis, George Murphy, Forrest 
Tucker, Rhonda Fleming, Michael 
O’Shea and Tony Romano. Van 
Heflin planed up from Washington, 
where appearing in “The Shrike,” 
and Bert Wheeler came in day 
ahead of his Nixon opening in 
“Maid in the Ozarks.” 

Night before the banquet, Va- 
riety Club raised close to $60,000 
in a five-hour telethon over WDTV 
for the Catherine Variety charity 
fund. Money will be ear-marked 
for new wing which will be do- 
nated to Roselia Foundling Home, 
from which showmen adopted their 
20th baby, a nine-month-old boy, as 
one of the features of the banquet. 
TV show, emceed by Herb Shriner, 
Dennis James, Carl Dozer and Bob 
Prince, was sparked by all-star cast, 
including Morton Downey, Senor 
Wcnces, Burl Ives, Nola Fairbanks, 
Fran .Warren, male chorus from 
“Paint Your Wagon,” Robin Rob- 
erts, Joe Black, and dozens of oth- 
ers from theatres and cafes around 
town. 

Two-day meeting of chief bark- 
ers and international officers con- 
centrated on discussion of how 
tents could increase charity budg- 
ets. Variety Clubs have dispersed 
more than $26,000,000 for worthy 
causes in quarter of a century and 
$3,000,000 in the last year. It also 
discussed plans for the convention 
in Mexico City April 18-23. An- 
tonio Perez and Luis Montes, rep- 
resenting the tent there, reported 
that government of Mexico is giv- 
ing $50,000 to help the affair, and 
would also stage an historical pag- 
eant during the confab. 

Jack Beresin, international Chief 
Barker, presided with John H. Har- 
ris, life-time Big Boss; Bob O’Don- 
nel and Marc Wolf. C. J. Latta, of 
the London tent, delivered best 
wish xs of the British club, and 
there were talks and reports by 
Jerry Pickman, Sam Switow of 
Louisville, Dan Krendel of Toron- 
to, Barry Goldman of Baltimore, 
A1 Grubstick of San Francisco and 
Nathan Golden of Washington. 


Levin Heads No. Calif. Tent 

San Francisco. 

Jesse Levin was chosen 1952 
barker by the Variety Club of 
Northern California (Frisco Tent) 
with Spencer Leve, first assistant; 
Nate Blumenfeld, second assistant, 
and J. Leslie Jacobs, doughguy. 


$20,000 Raised in Clncy 

Cincinnati. 

Old- Newspaper Boys’ Day for 
Variety Club Tent 3 foundation 
for retarded children realized more 
than $20,000 from sale of special 
four-page paper contributed by 
Cincy Enquirer and staff. 


Elliano Heads Conn. Tent Again 

New Haven*. 

Connecticut Tent No. 31 recent- 
ly installed officers here. Installed 
for repeat terms were Robert Elli- 
ano, chief barker, and Sam Ger- 
maine, doughguy. New officers 
seated are Abe Mattes, first assist- 
ant; Sam Wasserman, second as- 
sistant, and Henry Germaine, prop- 
erty master. 


Orsingcr Named D. C. Barker 

Washington. 

Victor J. Orsinger was elected 
Chief Barker of the Variety Club 
of Washington, succeeding Jerry 
Adams, Metro exchange manager. 
He will serve during 1933. 

Other officers named were Jerry 
Price, first assistant barker; Jack 
Fruchtman, second assistant; Al- 
vin 4ft. Ehrlich, property manager; 
and Sam Galanty, doughguy. 


U PICTURES 


P93sfl£f? 


Wednesday, November 26, 1952 


Film Reviews 

5 Continued from pace 6 s 


Th© Pickwick Papers 

that have been crammed into the 
production. 

Casting of Hayter in the title 
role could hardly have been bet- 
tered. In manner and appearance 
he gives the impression of being 
the genuine article. It is a major 
role in every respect and one- that 
calls for delicacy in acting to ex- 
tract the requisites touch of sym- 
pathy. His fellow members of the 
Pickwick Club are admirably 
played by James Donald as the 
lovesick Mr. Winkle, Alexander 
Gauge as the rotund and amorous 
Mr. Tupman and Lionel Murton as 
the rather negative Mr. Snodgrass. 
Patrick turns up once more with 
a fine portrayal of the hearty ajid 
unscrupulous Jingle. He succeeds 
in giving those halting sentences 
the full Dickensian meaning. 

Distinguished guest perform- 
ances are contributed by Joyce 
Grenfell, Hermione Gingold and 
Donald Wolfit. Hermione Baddeley 
scores as Mrs. Bardell and Fowler 
makes a firm impression as Sam 
Weller. The entire 'cast pulls its 
weight in achieving the sincere 
Dickens flavor. 

Direction by Noel Langley Is 
keen and imaginative. He has han- 
dled a massive array of talent with 
skill and resourcefulness. Lensing, 
production and editing have been 
expertly carried out. Myro. 


up with a 70-minuter on Leonardo 
da Vinci. A presentation of his 
paintings, writings and sketches, 
the film also delves into his ac- 
complishments as an architect, en- 
gineer, poet, scientist, inventor and 
musician. 

Pic's value from a b.o. stand- 
point is extremely limited. * It's 
doubtful if it can stand alone even 
in exclusive art house showings. 
Its audience is a more specialized 
one and'' film -appears more appro- 
priate for academic halls than film 
theatres. 

Directors Luciano Emmer and 
Lauro Venturi try hard to give the 
picture motion, and what liveliness 
it does have can be attributed to 
their efforts. However, much of it 
appears repetitious, with the con- 
stant reshowing of sketches and 
writings from his notebook. Inter- 
est is ^occasionally increased by the 
presentation of scale models of 
many of the inventions. 

The photography in color and 
sepia, by a quartet of lensers is 
excellent. Another plus is the ex- 
cellent musical score by Roman 
Vlad. Marcel Brion’s commentary 
gives a comprehensive account of 
his life and work, and Albert Dek- 
ker’s narration is satisfactory. 

Ho II. 


kite Begins Tomorrow 

(La Vie Commence Demain) 
(FRENCH) 


Made In Heaven 

(Color) 


(BRITISH) 

Lightweight comedy, with no 
U;S. marquee names, spells 
small appeal for American 
market. 


> 


London, Nov. 12. 

GFD release of Fanfare British produc- 
tion. Stars David Tomlinson, Petula Clark, 
Sonja Ziemann and A. E. Matthews. Di- 
rected by John Paddy Carstalrs. Screen- 
play, George H, Brown and W. Douglas 
Home;, camera, Geoffrey Unsworth; edi- 
tor, John D. Guthridge; music, Ronald 
Hanmer. At Odeon, Marble Arch, London, 
Nov. 11, '52. Running time, 81 NUNS. 

Basil Topham David Tomlinson 

Julie Topham Petula Clark 

Marta ' Sonja Ziemann 

Grandpa A. E. Matthews 

Mr. Topham Charles Victor 

Mrs. Topham Sophie Stewart 

The Vicar Richard Wattis 

Miss Honeycroft Athene Seyler 

Mr. Grimes Philip Stainton 

Istfan Ferdy Mayne 

Mr. Jenkins Alfie Bass 

Mrs. Jenkins "Dora Bryan 

Sgt. Marne Michael Brennan 

The Dunm&w-Elitch, an ancient 
British ceremony in which a side 
of bacon is annually awarded to a 
couple who can prove a year’s 
connubial bliss at a public trial, 
provides the background for this 
near-farcical yarn. Humor and sit- 
uations are forced. Quota ticket, 
color and local marquee names 
will be a selling aid at home, but 
even the novelty of them cannot 
be of much help overseas. Very 
slim pickings for the U.S. 

Story is based on an original by 
producer George H. Brown and 
William Douglas Home, and both 
are responsible for the screenplay. 
They appear to have deliberately 
avoided any thought of achieving 
conviction and have amassed a col- 
lection of broad sequences which 
are dressed in the most improb- 
able light. Result is a light-heart- 
ed mixture, which is neither good 
comedy nor boisterous farce. 

Principal characters are the Top- 
ham family, husband, wife, son, 
daughter-in-law and grandfather, 
whose domestic problems are 
thrown into confusion when an at- 
tractive Hungarian girl joins the 
household as domestic help. While 
the menfolk are ogling the girl, 
Mrs. Topham, busying herself in 
local affairs, enters her son and 
daughter-in-law for the Dunmow 
Flitch. 

John Paddy . Carstairs handles 
his cast in an obvious way, reduc- 
ing them mainly to stock charac- 
ters. David Tomlinson and Petula 
Clark make a brave showing as the 
young couple. Sonja Ziemann, an 
import from Germany, strikes the 
provocative note while A. E. Mat- 
thews as usual turns in a fine per- 
formance as grandpa. Charles Vic- 
tor, Sophie Stewart, Richard Wat- 
tis and Athene Seyler show every 
competence but they are worthy of 
better material. Technicolor i'ens- 
ing by Geoffrey Unsworth is okay. 

Myro. 

Leonardo <Ia Vlnei 

(COLOR) 

Pictura Films release of Leonid Kip- 
ms and Herman Starr production. Di- 
. . by Luciano Emmer and Lauro 

Venturi. Commentary, Marcel Bricn: 
narration, Albert Dckkar; camera. Mario 
Craven. Antonio llarispe. Andre Thomas, 
Boris Kaufman; music, Roman Vlad. 
Previewed in New York, Nov. 13, ‘52. 
Running time, 70 MiNS. 

Pictura Films, which specializes 
In films depicting the life and 
works of famous artists, has come 


Arthur Mayer-Edward Kingsley produc- 
tion and release. Stars Jean-Pierre Au- 
mont, Andre Labarthe. Directed by Nicole 
Vedres. Screenplay, Vedres; camera, Fred 
Langenfeld; editor, Marlhette Cadix; 
music, Darius Milhaud. At 55th Street 
Playhouse, N. Y., Nov. 17, *52. Running 
time, 88 MINS. 

The Man of Today .. .Jean-Pierre Aumont 
The Man of Tomorrow ... Andre Labarthe 

Existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre 

Psychiatrist Daniel Lagache 

Biologist Jean Rostand 

Architect . .. Le Corbusier 

Artist Picasso 

Author Andre Gide 


(In French; English Titles ) 

“Life Begins Tomorrow” strug- 
gles to put across its message that 
“the world of tomorrow is our busi- 
ness and not alone that of special- 
ists.” Unfortunately, it lacks the 

moving plot to propound this 
philosophy, excepting in a peda- 
gogical unwieldy way. However, the 
picture has possibilities in some 
arty theatres if only because it 
stars Jean-Pierre Aumont and 
boasts brief appearances by Jean- 
Paul Sartre, Jean Rostand, Andre 
Gide and Picasso among others. 

Production was scripted and di- 
rected by Nicole Vedres, who winds 
up by striving to hammer home the 
thought that “science is neutral, 
but it has brought the human race 
the most terrible and also the most 
simple dilemma in history (how to 
handle the atomic bomb).” “To- 
morrow” suggests better housing 
is a natural wa$ to solve many 
world problems. It provides a re- 
cital at great lengths on the scien- 
tific strides taken in the matter of 
rejuvenation, prolongation of the 
life "span, changing of sex, brain 
operations, of childbirth, all via 
endless operating room scenes, un- 
savory closeups and excellent 
charts and' microscopic enlarge- 
ments. And the pic attempts to 
suggest that the criminally-minded, 
whether those in high authority or 
common killers, might have their 
mental deficiencies cured by brain 
operations. A visit to a public 
meeting of UNESCO is brought in 
by way of attempting to show how 
this organization is helping the 
world. 

The film takes a visit to Sartre, 
who. tries to explain what real 
Existentialism means. Andre La- 
barthe, cast as the “man of to- 
morrow,” turns out to be a Paris 
journalist who is striving to incul- 
cate Aumont (billed as the man 
of *today) with some of the future 
things he should be considering. 
Much of this is interesting to the 
adult thinker, but as screen enter- 
tainment it appears to have limited 
appeal in the average theatre. 

Made with the cooperation of 
UNESCO, the production boasts 
superb musical backgrounding by 
Darius Milhaud, with a fine orches- 
tration by Manuel Rosenthal. Un- 
fortunately the way Nicole Vedres 
conceived and scripted the story is 
iar below his trim direction. Cam- 
era work by Fred Langenfeld is 
par for the course, but the news- 
reel clips are patently ust that, 
most of them not fitting in with 
the newer material in film stock 
quality. 

Aumont fits the role of the in- 
quisitive young man visiting Paris 
in okay fashion, but he has little 
to do except look curious and ask 
questions. He brushes off his visit 
to a Paris Existentialist nightclub 
as if it were contagious. Labarthe 
; is adequate as the Paris journalist 
' but obviously could not do much 


with the script. The various scien- 
tists play themselves, most of them 
in an amazingly dull manner. 

Wear. 


The Cliff of Sin 

(La Seogliera del Peccato) 
(ITALIAN) 


Continental Motion Picture Corp. release 
of universal Urania production. Stars Gin® 
Cervi, Margaret Genske, Ermanno Randi; 
features Delia Scala, Otello Toso. Directed 
by Roberto Montiero. Screenplay, Enzo 
Evlgabile; camera, Luiggi Giorgio; editor, 
Guido Bertoli. At Cinema Verdi. , N. Y., 

ar... ni Dnrmintf Hmo. 9ft MINS. 


Silvano . . . . 

Stella 

Anna Maria 

Paolo 

Michele . . . 

Marla 

Giovannlno 


Glno Cervi 

. Margaret Genske 
. . , . Delia Scala 

. . Ermanno Randi 

Otello Toso 

Olga Solbelll 

Leopoldo Valent ini 


(In Italian; English Titles ) 

“The Cliff of Sin” is an intrigu- 
ing, suspenseful Italian meller 
combining adultery, avarice, smug- 
gling and killings. It has the Gino 
Cervi name as a draw to Italian- 
language cinemas although this 
fine Italo actor is bumped off half- 
way through the pic. Production 
looks okay for Italian houses and 
some arty spots. 

“Sin” boasts one of the initial 
screen appearance in the U. S. of 
Margaret Genske, attractive Ger- 
man actress, who plays a woman of 
the world about whose sexy en- 
deavors the story revolves. She 
makes the character sensuous, yet 
despicable, a fine perfprmance in 
which she is aided by a strong cast. 

Cervi plays the husband, a hard- 
drinking resident of an isolated 
cliff cabin, to whom Miss Genske 
returns after having her fling 
around the world. She turns to him 
because she is broke and he is still 
wealthy, killing him, via an over- 
dose of medicine, to get his money. 
Then she bewitches a handsome 
fisherman, Ermanno Randi, only to 
use him in a smuggling racket. Ar- 
rival of Randi’s brother (Otello 
Toso) from a world cruise creates 
a triangle, and Toso attempts to 
straighten out his brother and make 
him marry the girl to whom he has 
long been engaged. Per usual, Toso 
falls "for the fascinating femme in 
his attempt to show up just what 
sort she really is. There is the 
familiar struggle between the two 
brothers, with Miss Genske’s acci- 
dental death solving all problems. 

Besides Cervi, Miss Genske, 
Randi and Toso, all turning in 
splendid portrayals, Delia Scala is 
satisfactory as the faithful engaged 
girl. Leopoldo Valentini supplies 
comedy relief as handsome Randi’s 
fisherman boss while Olga Solbelli 
suffices as mother of the brothers. 

Roberto Montero has directed 
smoothly. The scenes on the fish- 
ing boats are superb bits of real- 
ism. Camera work and other pro- 
duction credits are okay although 
editing could have been sharper. 

Wear. 


See UA in Distrib 

Deal for Magnani Pic 

Prince Francesco Alliata and 
Jean Renoir, respectively producer 
and director of “The Golden 
Coach,” arrive in New York within 
the next three weeks to set a dis- 
tribution deal for the English- 
dialog, Technicolor film. It re- 
portedly will be released through 
United Artists. 

Dialog dubbing for the film’s 
French and Italian versions have 
been • completed. Picture stars 
Anna Magnani. 


RKO Stockholders 

i 1 t~ T Continued from page 7 in,, r ■ 

ed that Greene owns “more than 
78,000 shares of RKO.” Among 
other “interested parties” who had 
reps at Friday’s brief session were 
Atlas Corp., Walt Disney Produc- 
tions, Samuel Goldwyn and the 
Bankers Trust -Co, 

Justice Greenberg’s approval of 
the adjournment overruled objec- 
tions of attorney Louis Kipnis. As 
representative of the Castlemans 
and Feuerman, Kipnis said he 
could not consent to any postpone- 
ment. However, the jurist pointed 
out that his calendar would be 
relatively cleared early in Decem- 
ber and attorneys could feel free to 
argue the application then to “their 
heart's content.” 

Imposing lineup of legalities 
also included Whitney North Sey- 
mour, of Simpson, Thacher & Bart- 
less, who repped Disney and Atlas. 
Goldwyn’s observer was a member 
of the firm of Rosenman, Gold- 
mark, Colin & Kaye. Connelly, 
who requested the adjournment 
for RKO, is with Cravath, Swaine 
& Moore. However, RKO’s attor- 
ney of record on the case is Wil- 
liam Zimmerman, RKO general 
counsel and recently-appointed 
board member. 


TV Needs Top Writers 

Continued from page 1 ^ 


ner with RCA president Frank M. 
Folsom some months ago. 

He frankly stated that “there’s 
ho use talking to people like you or** 
General Sarnoff, Bill Paley or 
Frank Stanton, because between 
you, as heads of the major net- 
works, there is a vast no-man’s 
land of agencies, sponsors and 
packagers. This militates against 
any and all creative writing for 
television. Apparently you people 
can’t do a thing about it, because 
you are at the economic mercy of 
these sponsors.” 

Precedental Pact 

Folsom observed that perhaps 
that’s not quite so^but suggested 
that he’d “try to figure something 
out.” “From that point on I must 
state,” continues Sherwood. “NBC 
really didn’t let go. It took months 
of legal processing because, on the 
one hand they agreed to complete 
freedom for the writer, including 
no interference, and on the other 
hand there was no legal precedent 
in the Dramatists’ Guild basic con- 
tract. Everything had to be pre- 
cedental. There were so many 
ramifications to each right that, in 


Then & Now 

NBC-TV’s pacting of Robert 
E. Sherwood to do nine orig- 
inal plays for video is in the 
nature of history repeating it- 
self. 

Back in the early ’30s, John 
■ Royal, then program veepee _ 
for NBC, signed Maxwell An- 
derson to author three original 
radio plays, a move equally as 
unprecedented then as the 
Sherwood TV deal today. 

A nderson was paid the then 
unheard sum of $3,000 for 
each of the plays. 


tion” or “seasonal theme” crea- 
tion. “All I know,” he said, “is 
that I want this first one to be my 
best one, because if it’s a stinker, 
*it’s just too bad for me and for 
a large sense, this is an historic 
covenant in that it’s establishing a 
new kind of copyright and plav- 
wright-producer (this time it’s 
TV) relations.” 

Sherwood will do three plays a 
year for three years, and the first 
may be around Easter time. It 
would have no Easter theme nec- 
essarily, but conceivably could 
fall within the orbit of “sugges- 
NBC.” He added: 

“If I get the inspiration or fever, 
I may do three quickly and even 
get ahead of myself for next year, 
but the main thing is that the con- 
tract gives me rein to do creative 
playwriting in the short-length 
medium. As I told Folsom, Joe 
McConnell and the others, the 
staccato playwriting that TV per- 
mits is a new excitement for the 
established playwright. We all 
have themes we think too thin for 
two-and-a-half hours, for a full- 
length play, but sturdy enough 
for an hour.” 

Can Telescope Playlets 

Asked if he could telescope one 
Ox two, related or unrelated, such 
playlets, Sherwood said that con- 
ceivably this could happen, just as 
“it could happen that the hour- 
length theme I think is worth only 
that has more meat than I first 
imagined.” 

He starts on the NBC payroll 
Jan. 1. The deal calls, for “five 
figures” per play and, says Sher- 
wood, “as you say, there’s a wide 
spread between $10,000 and $99,000. 
But we’re all sworn to secrecy on 
that. One point is that there are 
supplementary fees for each repeat 
after the first live production and 
the first kinescope.” 

Sherwood can sell these to 
Broadway and Hollywood, but not 
competitively during the life of the 
contract, which is for three years, 
with a two-year protection beyond 
that. That means that, in effect, 
if his first three plays of the 1953 
season were repeated in 1957 and 
1958, the maximum stretch would 
be five years. There is a special fee 
for each time a play is used in 
each new market. 

He can’t control the sponsor, but 
specifically excluded are deodor- 
ants, women’s lingerie and hard 
liquors, excepting beer, wines and 
ales. He has no control as to where 
the commercials may be inserted 
but he may participate in the en- 
tire production if he’s available; 
otherwise, Sherwood has no remote 
control. 

A point that hasn’t been accent- 


ed enough Is that NBC can ask for 
one rewrite to which he may or 
may not agree. There can be no 
changes In the script If Sherwood 
is “unavailable,” meaning in Hol- 
lywood, out-of-the-country, etc 
when “slight cuts and blendings” 
are permissible, governed by the 
current exigencies. 

NBC can come to him with ideas 
for special shows, patriotic, festive 
holiday or otherwise; they may sub- 
mit stories or old plays owned by 
NBC for rewrite or dramatization 
by Sherwood. “But,” he said, “if I 
don’t like it I don’t do it — or I may 
even like it but decide that this 
is not for me.” 


French Pact 

Continued from page ^ — 

865,000 will flow back into the 
capital account, to be disposed of 
at the end of the pact year. Fac- 
tion believes that the French may 
occasionally permit capital account 
deals to move out some of that 
money. 

This would be in addition to the 
$4,500,000 which accrued to the 
distribs up to June 31, 1952. The 
French have agreed to permit re- 
mittance of that amount at the 
capital account rate, but would 
like to see the Americans make a 
deal for that coin in order to have 
better control of possible market 
fluctuations. If individual com- 
panies try to make deals for part 
of the money, the French will im- 
pose a monthly ceiling of $300,- 
000 . 

A Few Nibbles 

Trouble is that, while the dis- 
tribs are/ most anxious to get the 
$4,500,000 at the earliest possible 
moment, the tourist season has 
passed and this isn’t a particularly 
good time to sell francs. There 
have been a few nibbles for small 
amounts and also for some larger 
ones, but at what one exec de- 
scribed as “outrageaus prices.” 

It’s assumed in N. Y. that the 
exchange of letters and MPEA 
board approval of the agreement 
make the pact binding on both 
parties. When Eric Johnston, 
MPEA prexy, reported to the 
board, he said he had a letter 
from the French and that the for- 
mal documents were to follow'. To 
the knowledge of foreign execs, 
these papers haven’t arrived in 
N. Y. as yet. 

They aren’t overlooking the pos- 
sibility that there may be strong 
internal pressure in France 
against the * agreement and that 
leftist elements may attempt to 
sabotage it. They are further 
aware that changing economic 
conditions may cause the French 
to partially renege on the pact. 

The French are In a particularly 
sensitive position at home on ac- 
count of the liO dubbing permits 
allocated to MPEA under the ne(v 
deal. A Cabinet decree last sum- 
mer reduced overall licenses to 
138. The U. S: share of this was 
92. 

It’s understood that the Society 
of Independent Motion Picture 
Producers does not plan sending 
anyone to Paris to negotiate a 
separate deal for the indies. Lat- 
ter are expected to get their 11 
permits, same as under th last 
agreement, even though they only 
used seven. Only serious differ- 
ence between SIMPP and MPEA 
was ovr the question of subsidies, 
which the former opposed. 

Dr^ Sitwell Due in N.Y. 
For Col Talks on Bio g 

Dr. Edith Sitwell is due in New 
York from London today (Wed.) 
to confer with Columbia execs 
about the conversion to the screen 
of her biography, “Fanfare For 
Elizabeth.” Rights for the tome 
have been acquired by Col and the 
English authoress has been pacted 
to write the screenplay. 

Dr. Sitwell will head for Holly- 
wood following a lecture tour. 
She’s set to collaborate with Wal- 
ter Reich on the screenplay, set 
for 1953 .production. Book, a biog 
of Queen Elizabeth I* was pub- 
lished in 1946 by McMillan and 
sold 30,000 copies in England. 


Hoblitzelle Named 

Austin, Nov. 25. 

Karl Hoblitzelle, prez of the 
Texas Interstate Circuit, has been 
named official Texas representative 
at Bill of Rights Day, Washington, 
Dec. 15. 


Wednesday, November 26, 1952 


PfixZIETY 


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A Bert E. Frledlob Production-Released by 20 th Century-Fox 




20 PICTtfIMES 

10% Pay Hike 
At Pathe Labs 

Wage hike of 10%, additional 
severance- pay 'land boost in hiring 
scale were received -this week by 
white collarite^ at Pathe Labora- 
tories, N. Y., iii 'a new pact signed 
between the company and the Mo- 
tion Picture Home Office Employ- 
ees Union, Local H-63, IATSE/ 
Agreement concluded drawn-oiu 
negotiations during which a strike 
threat was issued. 

' When pact talks bogged down, 
IA prexy Richard F. Walsh as- 
signed international rep Joseph 
Basson to take part in the dicker- 
ing. 

In another deal* H-63 concluded 
a new~ pact with Deluxe Labs call- 
ing for a 10% boost. Pact between 
processing lab and union was not 
set to expire until March, 1953, but 
on basis of wage hike, contract 
was extended^ 

Union has been named as bar- 
gaining agent for office help at the 
Columbia exchange as a result of 
a „ National Labor Relations Board 
election. Negotiations for a - pact 
are set to get under way shortly. 
NLRB has set .Dec. 10 for poll to 
be had at National Screen Service 
Exchange in N. - Y. on petition - of 
H-63 for such an election. 

n 

Exhibs Take Lesson 
From Mags, ‘Rounding 
Out Programs With Shorts’ 

Content and format of national 
mags are influencing motion pic- 
ture theatre programming, and 
short subjects ^are benefiting, ac- 
cording to Oscar Morgan, Para- 
mount’s shorts and newsreel sales 
manager, just back from a field 
trip. 


Snaper, Myers, Youngstein 
Speak at Indiana Allied 

Indianapolis, Nov. 25. 

Film clinics, in which small town, 
city and outdoor exhibitors will air 
their trade problems, will high- 
light morning sessions of Allied 
Theatre Owners of Indiana conven- 
tion at Hotel Lincoln here Dec. 2-3. 

National Allied will be repre- 
sented on program by Wilbur Sna- 
per, president, and A. F. Myers, 
general counsel. Acceptance has 
been received from Max E. Young- 
stein, United Artists vice-president 
and advertising chief, among those 
invited to speak on distribution 
side. 

Trigger-Happy Elements 
Put New Risk Into Film 
Location Junkets Abroad 

Hollywood, Nov. 25, 

Film troupes going overseas for 
foreign locations these days appar- 
ently must be prepared for the 
worst. 

Edward . Dmytryk, for instance, 
just back from Israel, where he di- 
rected nearly half of Stanley Kra- 
mer’s “The Juggler,” worked for 
several days -on the Israeli-Syrian 
border with a company headed by 
Kirk Douglas and Milly Vitale, only 
a few hundred feet from trigger- 
happy, suspicious Syrian guards, 
who didn’t fire on them only be- 
cause of specific United Nations’ 
orders. 

John Ford and cast and crew of 
Metro’s “Mogambo,” included 
Clark Gable and Ava Gardner, car- 
ried guns and were under constant 
armed protection in Nairobi vprior 
to leaving for northern Kenya, 
where they are now for six weeks 
of exteriors, due to Mau Mau ter- 
rorists. 

Robert Cohn, who returned last 
week from Korea with director 
Fred Sears and a camera crew, 
spent four weeks in the battle zone 
for Columbia’s “Mission Over 
Korea.” 


HEARST PROMISES 
. CONTINUED PIX AID 

Continued support of and co- 
operation with the picture industry 
by Hearst Publications was prom- 
ised in New York Thursday (20) by 
William Randolph Hearst, Jr„ at a 
luncheon of the Associated Motion 
Picture Advertisers at the Picca- 
dilly Hotel. Affair was tossed to 
honor the Hearst Publications “for 
the cooperation this organization 
has extended our industry through- 
out the years.” 

Pointing out that there had been 
close cooperation between the 
pioneers of the film industry and 
his father, Hearst said there has 
always been warmth in the Hearst 
publications’ stand toward the film 
industry. He thanked AMPA for 
the tribute on behalf of his late 
father, his brothers and associates 
in the various Hearst enterprises. 

Metro pub-ad chief Howard 
Dietz, in behalf of AMPA, paid 
tribute to the Hearst outfit and 
introduced the guest of honor. 


Include 7 U.S. Art Pix 
At Int’l Fete in N.Y. 

At least seven of the three dozen 
art films to be shown at the 2d 
International Art Film Festival in 
N. Y. are American-made, giving 
the U. S. the best representation 
in the event. Festival takes place 
Nov. 28-30 at the Hunter College 
Auditorium. 

Original entries totaled 200 from 
23 countries. The festival commit- 
tee, composed of artists, critics, 
museum directors, film producers 
and educators, picked the following 
U. S. titles: “Phillip Evergood,” 
“Tobey; Artist,” “Enrico Le Brun,” 
“Art and Motion,” “Light in the 
Window,” “Joan Miro” and* “Milton 
Avery.” 


Morgan said in N. Y. today 
(Wed.) that exhibs all over the 
country are coming to realize the 
importance of a balanced program. 
“They have taken cognizance of the 
great national magazines* profound 
influence on public entertainment 
values and tastes,” he declared, 
adding that the theatres are aware 
that it is a mistake to overweigh 
the program with features at the 
expense of -cartoons, newsreels and 
other shorts. 

Exhibs in many cities are chang- 
ing their ads,' listing their shorts 
along with the feature attractions, 
he reported. Morgan believes that 
“a marked upheaval” in the ap- 
proach of U. S. and -Canadian* ex- 
hibs to the question of program- 
ming and advertising .has been re- 
sponsible for bringing, back to the 
theatres a sizable segment of the 
“lost audience.” He also said he 
found more intelligent advertising 
than ever before and more con- 
sistent use of press books by ex- 
hibs. > ; 

Morgan plans to make further 
field investigations In the U. S. and 
Canada before making a decision 
on the scope of Par’s 1953-54 short 
schedule. 


MAJORS, MINNJMUS. 
SUED FOR $2,754,000 

Minneapolis, Nov. 25. 

Major distributors and the 
Minnesota Amus. Co. (United 
Paramount Theatres) here have 
been named defendants in two 
Federal court conspiracy suits al- 
leging -clearance- • discrimination* 
against independent exhibitors in 
favor of MAC-affiliated theatres. 
A total of $2,754,000 damages is a 
asked. 

Circuit-owpers Harold Field and 
Harold Kanlan seek triple-damages 
totaling .$2;250 f 000 for their 1,200- 
seat suburban St. Louis Park. They 
also ask fori>.a writ of mandamus 
to require distributors to grant the 
theatre day - and - date first-run 
availability with local loop houses. 

*3 Charles Rubenstein and Abe 
Kaplan, also circuit owners, ask 
$504,000 triple damages, claiming 
that their 975-seat Hollywood 
neighborhood theati - was a clear- 
ance-conspiracy victim as a result 
of preference given an affiliated 
MaC house In the same area. The 
Field-Kaplan St. Louis Park suit 
follows the theatre’s repeated fail- 
ures to obtain 28-day availability, 
the earliest here for subsequent- 

* funs and enjoyed by a number of 
houses. 


B’WAY PAR SETS 6 WB 
FILMS TILL NEXT MAY 

. Warner Bros, and the Paramount 
Theatre on Broadway have struck 
up a steady association with films 
from the production company 
booked into the Par flagship solidly 
.until May, 1953. Since the filmery 
abandoned its own Warner Theatre 
as its first-run outlet, almost all of 
WB’s output has been going to the 
Par. 

Among pix slated for the Para- 
mount are^'The Jazz Singer”- and 
“The Desert Song,”, for five and 
four weeks, respectively. Including 
the current “The Iron Mistress,” a 
total of six WB pix' will play the 
i house starting Dec. 10 (“Stop, 
You’re Killing Me”) until May. 
Previously four others of the com- 
pany’s films ’-were shown in , the 
house recently. 

‘Prophet’ Jones Buys 
' 550G Bldg, for Church 

Detroit, Nov. 25. 
.The 2,000-seat Oriole, nabe 
house, has been purchased from 
the Wisper & Wetsm&n theatre 
chain by “Prophet” Jones,. Detroit 
religious leader. 

The Oriole is the second Detroit 
theatre to be sold to a Negro con- 
gregation in less than a year. Ear- 
lier, the Paradise, a former vaud- 
film house in the downtown area, 
was sold to another large Negro 
church group. 

In addition to the Oriole, the 
building purchased by Jones in- 
cludes four stores and second-floor 
offices. The value of the building 
was placed at $550,900 by a spokes- 
man for Prophet Jones. The sec- 
ond floor will be remodeled to in- 
clude a banquet hall, 

.“Prophet” Jones — the Rev. 
James F. Jones — is the leader of 
the Church of the Universal Tri- 
umph, the Dominion of God, 'and 
claims followers in 42 states, Can- 
ada, West Africa and the West In- 
dies. 


EK r s Flint Retires 

Rochester, N. Y., Nov. 25. 

Charles K. Flint, Eastman Kodak 
Co. veepee and general manager 
of the company’s Kodak Park 
Works, will retire as of Jan. 1, it 
was disclosed here last week. 

Ivar N. Hultman, company vee- 
pee and assistant general manager 
at Kodak P4rk, will succeed Flint 
as g.m. Latter had been with 
Eastman since 1911. 


Depinef 

Continued from page 3 ■ 

another chance at helping, but they 
just haven’t spoken to me.” 

Depinet; thinks that a board 
chairmanship for him is innocuous; 
that maybe it was meant for Noah 
Dietrich to be in that post -and he 
as prez, “which is the way it was.” 

Meantime, , the rumor factory 
continues mentioning a coalition of 
the Floyd Odlum-Sam Goldwyn- 
Jim Mulvey-Walt Disney-Sol Les- 
ser group. 

Coast attitude is that Hughes is 
keeping Stolkin, Abraham L. Kool- 
ish, Ray Ryan, Sherrill C. Corwin, 
and Edward (Buzz) Burke, Jr., 


Stolkin Wants Concesh 

Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

The Ralph Stolkin group is 
continuing conversations with 
Howard Hughes regarding con- 
cessions in the original RKO . 
purchase deal for Hughes’ in- 
terests. What these concessions 
are has not beeif disclosed. 

However, it’s known that 
when Matty Fox was bidding 
for the Stolkin group’s stock 
holdings he asked ..for exten- 
sions on future payments to 
Hughes. Stolkin group is hold- 
ing itself incommunicado here 
while trying to find a solution 
to problems of the RKO man- 
agement. Entire syndicate is 
here except for Abraham C. 
Koolish, who is in Chicago. 


“still oil "the hook,” while he is 
“casting the board” and a new 
management group comes in. 

The Matty Fox bid now looks 
dimmer. Latter gets periodic calls 
from Stolkin, but apparently the 
progress, if any, with Hughes has 
been slow or nil. 

. Tn bis talks with the Stolkin syn- 
dicate Hughes may be attempting 
to work out a deal whereby Depi- 
net would be “locked in” on the 
board no matter what group even- 
tually takes control of the com- 
pany. Depinet, it’s felt, best knows 
the inner workings of RKO. 

With Corwin and Burke taking 
part in the Coast talks, the top 
operating exqc in New YUrk is Wil- 
liam Zimmerman, general counsel 
and recently-named board member. 
Zimmehnan says he is “only mind- 
ing the store” and has not been 
informed of any new appointments 
or any other changes in the di- 
rectorate. 


Wednesday, November 26* 1952 

Amusement Stock Quotations 


• (N.Y. Stock Exchange) 


1952 

Week Ending Tuesday (25) 
Weekly Weekly Weekly 
Vol. in High Low 

Tues. 

Close 

Net. 

Change 

High 

12*14 

Low 

8% 

100s 

ABC ......... 59 

10% 10 

10 

for week 
— % 

40% 

33 

CBS, “A” . . . 

53 

3874 37% 

38% 

+ 74 

393/4 

32 V4 

CBS, “B” . . . 

6 

38 37% 

38 

4- % 

13 Viz 

11 14 

Col. Pic 

70 

12% 11% 

12% 

4- 34 

9% 

8 

Decca ....... 

57 

9% 8% 

9% 

4- % 

48 

41% 

Eastman Kdk 

267 

45 44% 

44% 

4- 3-4 

18V4 

11% 

Loew’s 

344 

12% 12% 

12% 


5 % 

3% 

Nat’I Thea .. 

290 

4V* 374 

43/ 8 

4- % 

30% 

21V4 

Paramount. . . 

171 

26% 253/4 

26% 

— % 
—1 

36% 

26% 

Philco 

141 

35% 35 

35 

29% 

23 V4 

RCA 

957 

29% 2874 

2874 

4- 3 Q 

47* 

3V4 

RKO Piets. . . 

331 

374 334 

3*74 


4 4V4 

3% 

RKO Theats.. 

187 

3% 3% 

3% 

— % 

4- % 

51/8 

3V4 

Republic .... 

71 

3% ’ 3% 

3% 

107k 

93,4 

Rep., pfd. . . . 

6 

10% 10 

10V4 


12i* 

10% 

20th-Fx (new) 

185 

11% 11 

11% 

— % 

— % 

21 % 

ink 

U. Par. Th . . . 

203 

14% 13% 

13% 

13% 

11 

Univ. Pic. . . . 

116 

13% . 1274 

133% 

4- r, 8 

65 

57 

Univ., pfd. . . 

161 

61 60 

61 

4- % 

15% 

11 % 

Warner Bros. 

83 

12% 1174 

12 


87V4 

68 

Zenith 

63 

87% 84% 

86% 

+2% 

N. Y. 

1934 

Curb 

15 

Exchange 

Du Mont .... 

111 

17% 16% 

17 

— % 

3*14 

2% 

Monogram . . 

20 

3% 274 

- 314 

+ % 

27% 

20% 

Technicolor . . 

74 

2734 26% 

27% 

+ 34 

3 

2 V4 

Trans-Lux . . . 

5 

3 2% 

3 

+ % 

Over-the-Counter Securities 

Bid 

Ask 


Cinecolor . 




1% 

— % 

Cinerama . 


)•(•««# 


7 

+ U 

Chesapeake 

Industries (Pathe) .. 


4% 


U. A. 

Theatres 



434 

— % 

Walt Disney 


6% 

7% 

- % 


( Quotations furnished by Dreyfus & Co.) 


A 


Split Opinion 

s Continued from page 5 s 


companies are equally firm in their 
stand that film rentals cannot be 
arbitrated. “There isn’t any indus- 
try,” he said, “where outsiders de- 
termine what dollars must be spent 

for merchandise.” The attorney, 
who asked that his name not be 
used, opined that he did not. think 
arbitration could work without 
Allied. He asserted that there was 
no question of placating Allied, 
but that the companies were will- 
ing to talk more about arbitration. 

Compromise (Seen 

Exhib toppers, other than those 
associated with Allied, appeared 
more optimistic, some feeling that 
the plan could be adopted without 
Allied while others believed some 
compromise could be reached. Al- 
fred Starr, prexy of the Theatre 
Owners of America, in a specially 
prepared statement declared: “In 
an industry system of arbitration, 

I see a great step forward in the 
process of improving distributor- 
exhibitor relations. I feel, too, that 
exhibitors have everything to gain 
from such a system and nothing 
whatever to lose, since there is no 
compulsion on exhibitors -to use it. 
It is there if they wish. Distribu- 
tion has made substantial conces- 
sions in order to activate the sys- 
tem. It is not good sense for any 
exhibitor to reject those conces- 
sions.” 

Starr declared that he planned 
to meet in New York either today 
(Wed.) or tomorrow with Mitchell 
Wolfson, former TOA topper, and 
general counsel Herman M. Levy, 
two of TOA’s reps to the Industry 
Arbitration Conference. He stated 
that they will have a full discus- 
sion “of TOA’s future role In the 
evolvement of a system of arbitra- 
tion.” A statement will be issued 
following the confab. 

Despite Allied nix, the Inde- 
pendent Theatre Owners Assn, in- 
dicated that, regardless of any ac- 
tion taken by other theatreowner 
organizations, 'it was prepared to 
proceed with arbitration and es- 
tablish the necessary machinery 
and procedures for the settlement 
of trade disputes in New York. 

Brandt Statement 

Statement issued by TOA prexy 
Harry Brandt said: “There has 
never been a time when it was 
more necessary for the industry 
to work together. This is nonethe- 
less true despite the fact that the- 
alreowners all over the country 
have many things to gripe about, 
notably the competitive bidding 
situation, the^ increasing number of 
pre-releases and advanced-admis- 
sion pictures, print shortages and 
high film prices. However, it is 
foolhardy to take the one medium 
—arbitration — which can ultimate- 
ly eradicate the internal dissen- 
sions from the industry and de- 
stroy it before it is given an op- 
portunity to prove itself — especial- 
ly after the prodigious efforts that 


have been expended to bring it 
into being.” 

Brandt further noted that no ex-, 
hib can be worse off than he is 
now. “A trial period of 18 months, 
under a. properly functioning ar- 
bitration system,” he pointed out, 
“should bring decided improve- 
ment to all branches of the indus- 
try and help create an atmosphere 
of mutual understanding.” 

Walter Reade, Jr., exec v. p. of 
TOA, declared flatly “I think arbi- 
tration could work without Allied. 
After all, the principle is sound 
enough. Sooner or later they’ll 
come around to it.” Reade noted 
that when a nation walks out of 
the UN, “the discussion isn’t drop- 
ped there and then.” 

“Now, as some time ago,” he as- 
serted, “I’d feel sore if the distrib- 
utors were to abandon arbitration. 
After all, if all the distributors 
aim to do is to placate Allied, ar- 
bitration isn’t good at all.” 

Another view advanced in trade 
circles is that the arbitration sys- 
tem would not be acceptable to 
the Dept, of Justice without Allied 
participation. Since the system, if 
approved, would become part of 
the consent decree, the D. of J. f 
some industryites stress, would in- 
sist that a great majority of exhibs 
be part of it. 


Refurbishing Trend 

Encourages Exhibs 

Minneapolis, Nov. 25. 

The fact that an exceptionally 
large number of the territory’s 
theatres are installing new screens 
and other equipment and refur- 
bishing generally is regarded in in- 
dustry circles as an indication of 
increasing confidence in exhibi- 
tion’s future. 

One company alone, the M. E. 
Frosch Theatre Supply here, has 
installed seven of RCA’s new Syn- 
chro Screens within the past sev- 
eral months. It’s the first spurt in 
equipment business since TV’s ad- 
vent, supply house owners declare. 


20th , s Sousa Contest 

Twentieth-Fox is holding a na- 
tionwide high school and college 
band contest to tie in with the De- 
cember premiere of its John Philip 
Sousa blog “SUars and Stripes 
Forever.” 

Two winners will be named, one 
high school and one college, with 
a trophy to be awarded each. An 
album of Sousa music will go to 
every musician winner. 

a 

Disney's Mickey Special 

To mark the 25th anni of Walt 
Disney’s Mickey Mouse character, 
cartoonery will issue a speciaj 45* 
minute film of six of its most pop* 
ular sequences. 

RKO will release the footage in 
May, 1053. 


Wednesday, November 26, 1952 


PSSkitrf 


21 


r's, *'' v "(<& 


K«*yw. y 



o 


50 % 


Fm quoting from 
Variety, issue of 
Nov. 12,1952.” 


t<2 



4V 

a 






'H*?, 


AT THE MUSIC HALL 
WHICH PLAYS THE 

BIGGEST 
PICTURES - 
75 % 

OF THE PLAYING 
TIME THIS 
YEAR IS 





Next at the Music Hall 


m 


MILLION DOLLAR MERMAID 


1ST 


-HOLLYWOOD REPORTER 


‘A solid hit! A big M-G-M Technicolor class show! It will clean up!” 

M-G-M presents “ MILLION DOLLAR MERMAID ” starring Esther Williams • Victor Mature • Walter 
Pidgeon ♦ David Brian * with Donna Corcoran • Color by Technicolor • Screen Play by Everett Freeman 

Directed by Mervyn LeRoy • Produced by Arthur Hornblow, Jr. 

And next thereafter at the Music Hall 

THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL 

M-G-M’s great drama, a sensation at this week’s Trade 
Shows! Watch for the trade press raves' 


ff 


r n n/r * t „ a • Kirh Douglas * Walter Pidgeon * Dick Powell in U THE BAD AND THE 

EA U TIFT IV’ co starring Barr f Sullivan ^ Gloria Grahame - Gilbert Roland • with Leo G. Carroll • Vanessa 
EAUTIFUL co-sta r 8 7 i>„ 00 j- nn n ctnrv bv George Bradshaw Directed by Vincente Minnelli 


M ■ 

mSB, ■ i— » y— Mirnm 

Produced by John Houseman 


Start th, 


In Big.; 
With i 
Attrcci 
Mus 'ic Hal 




22 


PICTimES 



Wednesday, November 26, 1952 


Clips From Film Row 

NEW YORK 

Mori Krushcn, UA exploitation 
topper, to Chicago over weekend 

a _ _ - J. (, TJro olrintf 


to set campaign for “Breaking 
Through.” Pic opens Dec. 4 at the 
Oriental. 

Warner Theatre exec Lou Kauf- 
man released from Polyclinic 
Hospital following surgery. 

Charles Cohen, formerly with 
20th-Fox, joined RKO’s ad depart- 
ment as copywriter. 

Leon Bamberger, RKO sales 
promotion manager, to address Al- 
lied Theatre Owners of Indiana 
Dec. 2 and Independent Exhibitors 
of Boston Dec. 9. 


house records in many of terri- 
tory’s towns. 

Exploiteer Tom. Letcher now as- 
signed to Metro exchange here. 

Art Anderson, Warner district 
manager, released from St. Mary’s 
hospital where he was treated for 
shot wounds sustained while duck 
hunting. 

Latest theatre to fall by the way- 
side is the 960-seat neighborhood 
Homewood, making a total of four 
closings within a month and 16 
for Minneapolis and St. Paul dur- 
ing the past, two years. 


DALLAS 

< New Lariat Drive-In opened at 
PITTSBURGH Kermit, by Video Theatres. Ozoner 

Annual convention of AMPTO of j has 466-car capacity and is man 


L.A.’* TV l*t Timer 

Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

Blg-screen televising of 
“Carmen” from the Metropoli- 
tan Opera House, N. Y., Dec. 
11 will mark the first time two 
theatres here are day-and-dat- 
ing a theatre TV event. Af- 
fair has been booked into the 
Warner Hollywood and Metro- 
politan Theatres’ Orpheum. 

Date will mark the first pub- 
lic test of the RCA big-screen 
equipment which Warners has 
been installing in its houses 
here. Booking was made at 
the Hollywood to accommodate 
those in the west end of L. A. 
who might not be able to get 
downtown to the Orpheum by 
the®5:30 p. m. starting time. 


western Pennsylvania, originally 
scheduled for William Penn Hotel 
next month, postponed until Feb- 
ruary or March. Figured it as com- 
ing too soon after national Allied 
confab in Chicago, which attracted 
more than 39 local exhibs. 

Max Bloomberg, former Johns- 
town theatre owner, reappointed 
chairman of the civilian defense 
committee of Pennsylvania Ameri- 
can Legion. i 

Regis Burns, who managed the 
outdoor theatres in Erie for Blatt 
Bros., returned here as circuit ad 
director. 

Dave Faunce, ex-publicity man 
for the Cambria county War Me- 
morial Auditorium in Johnstown, 
added to promotion staff of the 
Gardens, Harris - owned sports 
arena here. 

W. J. Hansmeier is new owner 
of Sun Theatre in Altoona. 

Harold Cohne, Lewistown, Pa., 
exhib, moved back there, where he 
operates the Embassy, having given 
up his Philadelphia office. 

DENVER 

Lester Zooker, manager of the 
newly created Universal district, 
here for first once-oyer. accom- 
panied by Barney Rose, in whose 
district Denver formerly was loc- 
ated, and Foster Blake, division 
manager, Rose is district manager 
of the coast exchanges. 

Duke Duilbar, attorney and for- 
mer secretary of the old film board 
of trade as well as film salesman, 
reelected, attorney-general of Colo- 
rado by biggest majority piled up 
by anyone. He ran on the Repub- 
lican ticket. 


aged by Jack Peercy. 

John W. Crain is new owner 
and director for the Capitol Thea- 
tre, New Braunfels. For the last 
12 years he has been city manager 
for the Long. Theatres at Madison- 
ville. 

Frank Weatherford, city manager 
of the -Interstate Theatre Circuit 
at Fort Worth, announced present 
conditions will force the circuit to 
shutter its Majestic Theatre there. 


‘Carmen’ 

Continued from page 4 


Tribute to L B. Mayer 


Continued from page:4 


said she could speak of Mayer only 
with admiration and respect, and 
she said that through him she 
“met my Prince Charming and 
danced happily ever after.” The 
years have treated Miss Shearer 
lightly. Now remarried, she’s still 
very attractive. 

Prior to Bob Hope’s session, the 
first for the comedians, Jessel had 
two non-speaking members of the 
dais take a bow — William Perlberg, 
past president of the SPG, and 
David Tannenbaum, attorney and 
mayor of Beverly Hills. Their in- 
troductions had hardly cooled 
when Hope paid tribute to Mayer 
as “one of the real pioneers of Hol- 
lywood — he’s done more for movies 
than dark balconies.” 

Hope said that when Mayer be- 
gan making pictures “Vine St. and 
Hollywood Blvd., were practically 
just cowpaths. If L. B. had gone 
into the real estate business we 


PHILADELPHIA 

Victoria Harrison bought the 
Towne Theatre, North Philly nabe, 
formerly owned by Bella Green. 

Milton Lewis, of Carman Thea- 
tre staff, taking place of his late 
brother, Allen, as manager of the 
Park. 

Sidney E. Samuelson, prexy of 
Allied, and Edward Emanuel, trade 
paper publisher, are heading indus- 
try drive in Philadelphia for 
March of Dimes. 


OMAHA 

Ray Watkins’ Crest Theatre at 
Superior, of Commonwealth chain, 
raised $2,300 for Brodstone Me- 
morial hospital there through spe- 
cial matinee and night shows. 

Burns Ellison shuttered his Co- 
lumbus Drive-In for winter. 

Ralph Goldberg, boss of the 
State and string of nabe houses, 
returned from New York product 
talks. 

Neighborhood theatres will offer 
a first-run pic for first, time in to 
cal history this week when “The 
Thief” (UA) opens at the Admiral 
and Chief In outlying sectors of 
city. 


ST, LOUIS 

Merrill Fleming dropped the' 
lease on the Lovington, Lovington, 
Ilk, and Arthur Diller, owner -of 
building, continues the theatre op- 
eration,. 

Hugh Graham, former operator 
of Webster, a north St. Louis indie 
nabe and owner of an ozoner near 
Salem, Mo., lighted the new La 
Cosa in St. Ann Village, St. Louis 
county. He sub-leased, it from the 
St'. Louitf- Amus. Co: 

Everett E. Maxfleld, Summers- 
ville, Mo.j is facelifting his houses 
in Birch Tres^ Eminence and Win- 
ona, Mo., which he operates 
through his Shanco Theatres, Inc 

Herman Tanner shuttered his 
ozoner near Pana, 111. 

Anthony L. Matreci relighted the 
Capitol, downtown St. Louis, under 
lease from St. Louis Amus. Co. 

Loren Cluster, head of Cluster 
Theatres, Salem, 111., copped a spe- 
cial citation from American Legion 
there for his activity in behalf 
of American way of life. 

William Warning, Jr., Cobden, 
111., will build two new ozoners, 
-l-each to cost-$50 J)0(Vfnr -195& aer- 
ation. One will be near Anna, 111., 
and the other close to Jonesboro, 
111. Warning now owns an ozoner 
near Carbondale, 111., and the Ritz 
in Cobden. 

The Normandy, St. Louis County, 
shuttered since May, 1951, pur- 
chased by a syndicate that will con- 
vert the building into a super 
market. 

Edward L. Butler elected per- 
manent chairman of Amusement 
Employees Welfare Fund of St. 
Louis, an organization formed to 
aid needy workers in various 
amusement fields of St. Louis. 

Frank' A. Finger, former owner 
of the Gem, Marissa, 111., in hos- 
pital suffering from fractured 
bones and broken ribs as result of 
fall from ladder. 

Commonwealth Amusement Co. 
shuttered its ozoner near Colum- 
bia, Mo. 

Ronald Aubuchon, recently re- 
leased from Navy, now manager of 
the Edwards and Plumlee Ritz, 
Farmington, Mo., vice Hezzie Gra- 
ham, resigned. Aubuchon formerly 
was assistant of Odeon, Bonne 


Then, he said, such talent will have 
more b.o. potential for the opera, 
on the basis of their film work. 

Elson revealed that Henry bou- wou idn’t have to be giving him 
vaine, who is to produce the “Car- this dinner tonight.’ 
men” show fpr theatre TV, has Great Parlay 

worked out the exhibs’ problem of According to Hope, Mayer “came 
how to handle intermissions. El- to California 25 years ago with 
son’s Guild house is setting aside no thing but a box camera, $38 and 
a block of seats for Met execs and an 0 id ii 0 n.” He said Mayer par- 
other name personalities. At inter- i aye d these into a monument 
mission time, the cameras will cut “known throughout the world as 


away from the Met to the Guild 
for interviews with these persons. 


$6 Top for CM 

Chicago, Nov. 25. 


the Bank of America.” 
George Burns came on after Jes- 
sel pointed to him and said “there 
but for the grace of Grade, a man 
who would still be Abe Stern of the 


Telenews Theatre, newsreel Nagasaki Japs, I present to you, 
house, will have a $6 top for the my beloved friend, George Burns.”' 
closed-circuit showing of “Car- Latter teed off with “I notice Jes- 
men” Dec. 11. Small-seater, 606 sel’s stuff isn’t as sharp tonight as 
seats, will be on a reserved-seat it usually is . ... hut he’s in a 


basis. 


Albany’s Grand Gets ‘Carmen* 
Albany, Nov. 25. 
The 1,500-seat Grand will carry 
the closed-circuit telecast of 


tough spot. Ever since the elec- 
tion he’s hSd to clear everything 
j through George Murphy.” Regard- 
ing his own position on the dais. 
Burns said, “Well, they’ve made 
the same mistake again — here I am 


slders Cinerama “tremendously 
thrilling in screen entertainment/’ 
he warned his listeners that “Cin- 
erama has a ceiling — not a ceiling 
in quality or in imagination, but in 
where and how it can be used. 

“No one knows for sure, but my 
guess is that no more than 200 the- 
atres will have Cinerama within 
the next two or three years. It is 
for selective theatres, for selective 
stories, for selective audiences.” 

The evening wound up with two 
of the top popular songsters in 
show bfe today?— Ethel Merman and 
Lena Horne, who individually 
thrilled the gathering. Miss Mer- 
man sang “There’s No Biz Like 
Show Biz,” “Alexander’s Ragtime 
Band” and “I’ve Got Rhythm.” 
Miss Horne, with Lennie Hayton 
at the piano, sang “Take It Easy,” 
“That’s Why the Lady Is a Tramp” 
and “A Little Girl, Blue.” 

Buddy Adler served as general 
chairman for the dinner, while 
Arthur Freed staged the entertain- 
ment portion. 


“Carmen” by the Metropilitan in a dinner jacket talking to a 


Opera from 
Dec. 11. 


the latter’s stage 


Iowa’s 1st Theatre TV 

Des Moines, Nov. 25. 
Iowa’s first theatre TV Is being 
Installed in the Paramount The- 
atre here. The Paramount will be 
the second house in the!, 22-theatre 


mixed audience. That’s like asking 
Abe Lastfogel to jump center for 
the UCLA basketball team.” 

Burns said, “I know that Mr. 


5th TV Network 

Continued from page 3 ; 

made until the final FCC okay 
comes through (which is expected 
within the next two weeks), Rai- 
bourn declined to detail results of 
his huddles with Par studio execs 
on the company’s TV plans during 
a quickie trip he made to the Coast 
last week. He Intimated, however, 
that the video stations will need 
plenty of film to operate on and 
that Par might set up a subsidiary 
organization to produce vidpix, as 
Republic, Columbia and Universal 
have done. As for the sale of its 
film library to TV, Raibourn ad- 
mitted that talks in that direction 
had been in progress with CBS-TV 
some time ago. If Par starts its 
own network, however, it’s be- 
lieved likely that it -would utilize 


Mayer discovered' a lot of stars — SUC *J ^ °. WI J 1 on ® a / 

but he was the boss of MGM for front the outset and men, pei- 

haps, syndicate it to other stations. 


years. What else would he dis- 
cover there — uranium? 

“But Fm only kidding, Mr. May- 
Tri-States operation in Iowa, Ne- [ er. I really appreciate what it 

braska and Illinois to have TV. means to be the head of a studio. 

The first was installed, in. the Or- Fm making my own television pic- jMde a 1 DuMonts B stock and a 
pheum. Omaha. tures now, and in a small way I small share of- A stock, all of vhich 

The Metropolitan Opera’s “Car- know what a responsibility it is. *jas an nnnnn? et £ 

We have a crew of about 25 ... a rentl y of $12,000,000. 


Also awaiting the final FCC okay 
on Resnick’s report is Par’s dis- 
position of the stock it now owns 
in the DuMont web. Holdings in- 


men” will be the first show, Dec 
11, at $3.60 top 


optimistically believe, that the ad- 
vent of color TV, with it£ need 

reverse P the tS situatf^^nF'they of Mayer that hewanted'to’be new TV channel in San Francisco, 
want to be readv for it. Mean- toastmaster, only ta learn that Jes- Raibourn said . the question of 
while they’re mulling economies sel had P ut in his seven months whether that Frisco application will 

STfi, several Instances personal a S°- Benny said that he seldom still be pending before the FCC is 
ayoffs. ’ personnel about hig career ln pictur?s> something for the legalites to de- 

“Ujjjggg things improve radically particularly since he has been chid- cide. He also hinted that Par has 
when color TV comes the N. Y. ed for deprecating himself, but that its eyes, on operation of a station 
abs will be doomed,” says John would break precedent tonight iu New York City, which would in- 
Scott, v.p. of Tri-Art and Du-Art “because our guest of honor was volve either the purchase of a sta- 
abs.’ “There won’t- be much b & w primarily responsible” for his be- tion now on the air (subject to FCG 
release printing In another couple in S in that field of entertainment, approval, of course) or filing as a 
of years, we might as well face it.” He said that Mayer gave him a contestant for the ultra-high fre- 
The ’ labs feel that TV’s limited Metro contract when he was in quency commercial channel as- 


Jarrico 




MINNEAPOLIS ~ 

Minnesota Amus. Co. garnered 
publicity for “Bloodhounds of 
Broadway” by inviting members of 
the “Guys and Dolls” company, 
playing at the Lyceum, to see a 
screening of the film. Musical com- 
edy also shared in gratis publicity. 
Pic is Radio City’s Thanksgiving 
week offering. 

Minnesota Amus. Co. (United 
Paramount Theatres) Minneapolis 
State and St. Paul Riviera theatres 
being equipped for third dimen- 
sional pix pictures requiring use 
of special glasses Tby patrons. 
Bwana Devil,” third dimensional 
iilm is booked into both houses for 
mid-January showings. 

In % talk before Midway Civic 
Carles Winchell, Minnesota 
v .eepee, predicted film 
exhibition will find ways of com- 
batmg TV’s popularity through 
third dimensional films, Cinerama 
and other innovations which, he 
said, will stimulate other retail 
business, too, by dragging the stay- 
at-homes from their firesidse. 

“Quiet Man” (Rep) breaking 


Continued from page $ 


-spersed - by ■ numerous • objections. 
Hughes took full responsibility for 
the firing" of Jarrico and added 
that he had to fire him twice when 
he learned that- the writer was 
visiting the RKO studio after be- 
ing detached from the payroll. He 
said he had personally ordered the 
writer’s dismissal a week before 
the latter had been subpoenaed by 
the House .Un-American Activities 
Committee. He also testified that 
he gave rigid Instructions that 
“every scrap of paper that Jarrico 
laid a hand to be tossed into 
waste basket and burned.” 

To bolster its claim that Jarrico 
forfeited all rights to screen credi 
in “The Las Vegas Story” by vio 
lating the morals clause of his con 
tract, defense introduced dozens o 
newspaper clippings intended to 
show that Hughes’ received irh 
mediate public support in his dis 
pute with the writer. All the clip 
! pings, both in the news columns 
and on the editorial pages, were 
in favor of Hughes. 


N. Y. Labs 

Continued from page 7 5 ; 


cast of seven or eight actors 
we shoot about 45 pages of script in 
one day . . . and even when we get 
away cheap the cost runs as high as 
$1,100 a picture. I imagine there 
were periods when you had seven 
or eight pictures like that going 
at one time.” 

Jessel Nosed Out Benny 
Jack Benny said that he’s so fond 


Par could 
either sell the stock if it wanted to 
strike out on its own network 
operation, hold onto It as a security 
investment or else attempt to buy 
more heavily into DuMont In place 
of setting up its own stations. 

Prior to the FCC’s freeze on new 
station, construction, which has 
only recently been lifted, Par was 
one of several contestants for a 


The labs feel that TV’s limited 
print requirements will give them 
a definite edge over Techni, which 
makes its profit on volume orders. 

Feeling among the distrlbs- in 
N. Y. is that, even should one of 
the newer color processes become 
competitive with Techni, pix print- 
ing may still largely stick to the 


quency 

vaudeville. His first Metro* picture signed to N. Y. With outlets in 
was the “Hollywood Revue of N. Y., Hollywood and Frisco, Par 
1929,” which was an artistic and would have three of the richest TV 
financial success, and then came areas as the starter for its own net- 
“Chasing Rainbows” — after which work. 

Mr. Mayer traded me to Paramount 
for two directors and Busher.” 

Benny added, “This wasn’t depre- 


Coast due to producer desire* to ca * m ® me because Busher made 


keep-ihe. work under close., super- 
vision 

Reports persist that Techni is 


more money for Mr. Mayer,” Sub- 
sequently, Benny said that Para- 
mount -gave him back to Metro and 


Rep OMiet for TV? 


.Gontlnu&d* from page 3 


— up its backlog to TV some time 

planning to Set up an eastern lab, Mayer was happy to see me, be- ago but withdrew exploratory 
and possibly one in Canada^ Such cause Busher had retired. I got his moves in that direction when it be- 


a plan has arisen on and off over 
the past few years, with Techni 
execs talking to various N. Y. labs. 
One of the stumbling, blocks is the 
question of royalty payments to 
Technicolor. 

Corapetish among the color proc- 
esses is due - for intensifrcatioil. 
Apart from Technicolor, Eastman 
color and Super-Cinecolor, Metro 
is working with Ansco color and 
20th-Fox is still working on its 
lenticular process. DuPont, which 
at present has only a positive color 
stock, is making progress on its 
new color negative. One of the ad- 
vantages of that process is that it 
can stand elevated temperatures in 
the processing solution. This would 
materially reduce the size — and 
cost — of processing machinery. Bel- 
gium’s Gevacolor is also making a 
| pitch for the U. S. market. 


dressing room.’ 


came apparent that such a deal 


Benny said he was happy to be would arouse considerable antag- 
at the dinner 'and see “so many onism among exhibitors across the 
people m our business-producers country. Rep at one time attempted 
. . . directors . . . big executives. I to sell some Gene Autry oldies to 
do miss Howard Hughes. That’s the TV but, in a precedental court bat- 
heartbreaking thing about this tie,- Autry won all’ TV’xights to his 
business — one. day you are head of features. 

& big studio, and the next day you Paramount has also flirted with 
are just another guy in sneakers.” CBS-TV anent the selling of some 
When Mayer was introduced by old films for video exhibition. Par 
Jessel, he was presented by Siegel reportedly was offering only its 
with the SPG’s silver plaque short subjects, such as the “Betty 
acknowledging his “major contri- Boop” and “Popeye” cartoons, 
buttons to the motion picture in- sports reels, etc., on the assump- 
dustry.” Mayer talked of his early tioa that exhibs would have no 
nickelodeon day9 in Haverhill, complaints if Par withheld its fea- 
Mass., and then brought the audi- tures. Company now, however. , w 
ence up to date to Qineramar, the talking of setting up its own TV 
new motion picture medium with network. If that goes through. « 
which he has become associated as will hold onto all its old film f°r 
chairman of the board of Cinerama the time when its own stations can 
Productions. While he said he con- 1 use it. (See separate story.) 


Wednesday, November 26, 1952 


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I J li/VU lJ Jj JJ!x\!U Jr miN Musical Numbers Sta**d and Directed by URoy Trim • Jon| "April m hris", Lyrici by I. T. Hirburf, 
Music by VifflM Duke* Orifini! Jon*!, lyric* by Jemmy Cihn, Music by Yerndft Duke • Musical Direction by Ray Heindorf rno&ucEo #y WILLIAM JACOBS* *t«ECTto arOAVIO BUTLER 


































PICTURES 


24 


'Phony’ Advanced-Price Pix 

-■ Continued from page 5 


that there is no provision to deter- 
mine if the films are worth special 
handling. Distribs, they claim, can 
mark any pic as a “special” in or- 
der to meet the two-a-year quota. 
During the arbitration confabs Al- 
lied as well as the Theatre Owners 
of America had sought unsuccess- 
fully to define exactly what con- 
stitutes an advanced-price picture. 
Allied’s argument is that . it can’t 
go on the integrity of the distribs. 

‘Absent Treatment* 

In addition to film rentals and 
advanced-price pix, Allied beefs in- 
clude “absent treatment,” whereby 
a film salesman will stay away from, 
an exhib for months because of a 
disagreement on sales terms. Allied 
members want to be sold, it was 
pointed out, and don’t want to have 
to seek out the distrib to obtain 
specific pictures. Another com- 
plaint is that deals made in the 
field are frequently cancelled by 
the homeoffice three or four days 
before the film is set to open. 

The Allied convention last week 
unanimously adopted its board of 
directors’ resolution that the ar- 
bitration plan be rejected because 
“it did not promise direct, imme- 
diate and substantial benefit to the 
exhibitors.” Board’s report, pre- 
sented at the closing session by 
general counsel Abram F. Myers, 
stressed that “neither the board as 
a whole nor any individual is op- 
posed to arbitration.” He pointed 
out that the plan contained -many 
provisions that were on the plus 
side, including one-way arbitration, 
clearance, runs, certain competitive 
bidding restrictions, the forcing of 
pictures, contract violations and 
conciliation. 

However, the report rapped most 
of the clauses on the ground that 
they were either too inadequate or 
were set down too obscurely for 
proper interpretation. Listed on 
the “minus side” were the stipu- 
lations dealing with film rentals, 
pre-releases, competitive bidding 
and limitations on awards. On the 
question of film rentals, the report 
said, “we must face the fact that 
the distributors will not yield to 
arbitrators, or to anyone else, any 
part of their control over prices, 
and it is hopeless to pursue the 
subject further.” 

On pre-releases, the board said, 
“the only curb on the practice that 
the 'distributors would co nsider was 
one limiting each distributor to 
two such pictures a year.” It was 
pointed out that “since it is pro- 
posed that aU nine national distrib- 
utors shall sign the arbitration 
agreement, this would permit a 
maximum of 18 such pictures a 
year,” adding that “those pictures 
would be exempt from competitive 
bidding except from the provision 
against instituting competitive bid- 
ding, except upon the written re- 
quest of one or more exhibitors in 
the affected area or situation.” 

Limitation of Awards 

On the limitation of awards, the 
board said it was reluctant to re- 
ject the plan if it seriously believed 
that it. would reduce the heavy vol- 
ume of antitrust litigation. “But 
the film companies,” it stated, 
“have played their cards too close 
to their vests and as a result it is 
not believed that the arbitration 
tribunals Would supplant the courts 
in cases involving large sums of 


New York Theatres 

-mio am .music mall — n 

Rodttftlltt Center >4 

“PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE” 

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money, because under the antitrust 
laws, treble damages are always 
allowed and in some states the 
statute of limitations is more fav- 
orable to the complainant than the 
four-year maximum imposed by the 
arbitration plan.” 

Board acknowledged that the re- 
strictive provisions in the competi- 
tive bidding clause were beneficial 
to exhibs, but noted that the dis- 
tribs should have adopted the re- 
forms voluntarily long ago, and 
that exhibs, in order to obtain them 
“should not now consent to a court 
order approving competitive bid- 
ding as a legitimate and * proper 
method of marketing pictures.” 
Such court approval, it said, would 
permit distribs to enlarge competi- 
tive bidding, rather than restrict 
it, and the board could not okay a 
deal that recognizes “the right of 
the distributors, for reasons satis- 
factory only to themselves, to reject 
all 'bids and enlarge the competi- 
tion to include all exhibitors who 
did not submit bids In the first 
place.” Terming this -one of the 
worst “abuses,” the board said that 
under the proposed plan it would 
not be eliminated but would in 
fact “be approved and authorized.” 

Berger’s State Legislation 
Would Control Rentals 

Minneapolis, Nov. 25. 

Bennie Berger, North' Central 
Allied president, has called a hoard 
meeting for Dec. 8 to decide if the 
organization should sponsor legis- 
lation proposed by him to make 
the production, distribution and ex- 
hibition of pictures in Minnesota a 
i public utility and, consequently, 

| subject to state regulation. If Ber- 
j ger has his way the state legisla- 
ture at its next session in 1953 
would be asked to pass the measure 
which he is having drawn up. 

Under Berger’s proposal the state 
would be empowered, among other 
things, to fix rentals and thus, he 
points out, could force film dis- 
tributors to deliver to exhibitors 
pictures at prices that latter could 
afford to pay. 

Berger’s move is prompted, he 
says, by the fact that smalltown ex- 
hibitors in particular are unable to 
meet the “exorbitant” terms now 
being demanded for the compara- 
tively numerous “roadshows” or 
advaheeff-admisstoh pictures and, 
as a result, many smalltowns don’t 
get to see the best of the current 
releases. 

“At a time when it behooves the 
film industry to put its best foot 
forward, there are approximately 
400 theatres in this territory which 
aren’t able to play many top pic- 
tures,” claims Berger. “The pro- 
hibitive terms keep the pictures in 
question out of communities where 
they could help to bring many cit- 
izens back to the theatres, improve 
public relations and raise the in- 
dustry's prestige . . .” 

Berger points out that divorce- 
ment emanated in this territory, 
with North Dakota used as a guinea 
pig, and that the successful fight 
against the ASCAP theatre tax also 
originated here. He says he’s hope- 
ful he can start the ball rolling for 
another industry “reform” which 
will improve the exhibitor’s lot. 

St loo Thieves Lug Out 
$200 Safe, $356 in Cash 

St. Louis, Nov. 25. 

A 300-pound safe valued at $200 
and containing $356 in cash was 
stolen from the Harlem Theatre, 
in downtown East St. Louis, only 
two blocks from police headquar- 
ters last week. 

Cops summoned by the porter, 
who discovered the burglary, con- 
cluded that the thieves carried the 
strongbox out of the office be- 
cause there were no % indications 
that it had been wheeled out of 
the house. 

Greer Ankles M-G 

Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

Jane Greer has exited Metro 
after six months as a contracted 
She will freelance. 

Actress completed two Metro 
.films, “Desperate Search” and 
“The Clown,” while under con- 
tract. 

Metro announced Indefi- 
nite shelving of “Big Mike,” which 
was to have been produced by Sol 
Fielding and directed by Gerald 
Mayer, with Miss Greer, Gig 
Young and Robert Horton as top- 
pers* 


PtiSsief? 


Alias for ‘Girls* 

Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

Leonard Freeman, actor- 
writeT, is leading a double 
life — artistically, that is. 

As Leonard Freeman he col- 
laborated on the script of 
“Steel Town” at UI y but as an 
actor he is billed as Glen Rob- 
erts in that studio’s “Girls In 
the. Night.” 


Stageshow Ups Tor Me’ ■ 
To NSH $22,000, Pitt 

Pittsburgh, Nov. 25. 

Nothing much doing at most lo- 
cations this week. Stanley has its 
first stageshow in six months with 
“You For Me.” But combo doesn't 
look too hot. “The Savage” is only 
so-so at Penn. Holdover of “Snows 
of Kilimanjaro” at Fulton still is 
okay. Actually “Hangman’s Knot” 
at Harris is best newcomer with 
okay total. 

Estimates for This Week 

Fulton (Shea) (1,700; 85-$1.25)— 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro” (20th) 
(4th-final wk). Oke $6,500. Last 
week, big $9,000. 

Harris (Harris) (2,200; 50-85)— 
“Hangman’s Knot” (Col). Ran- 
dolph Scott western okay $7,000. 
Last week, “Horizons West” (U) 
and “Black Castle” (U), $6,000 in 6 
days. 

Penn (Loew’s) (3,300; 50-85) — 
“The Savage” (Par). Slim $9,000. 
Last week, “The Thief” (UA), a 
dud at $7,500. 

Squirrel Hill (WB) (900; 50-85) | 
— “Actors and Sin” (UA) (2d wk- 
6 days). Off to $1,500. Last week, 
good $2,500. 

Stanley (WB) (3,800; 65-$1.10)— 
“You For Me” (M-G) and Ames 
Bros., Joey Bishop, George Arnold 
ice revue onstage. Novelty of skat- 
ing show apparently isn’t enough 
to get them in at big deluxer. 
Combo won’t better $22,000, not 
enough although by comparison 
better than house has been doing 
lately on straight pix. Last week, 
“Montana Belle” (RKO), weak 
$7,000. 

Warner (WB) (2,000; 50-85)— 
“Cleopatra” (Par) (reissue) (2d 
wk). Holdover fair $4,500 after fine 
$8,200 opener. 

Donate-What-You-Wish 
Continues in Columbus 

Columbus, O., Nov. 25. 

After a week of free shows, own- 
ers of the Little - Theatre*-, neigh- 
borhood house of the H. & S. chain 
here, declared not only that the 
no-admission policy was a success 
but also that they would continue 
it “as long as it’s financially feasi- 
ble.” 

The policy was installed Nov, 12 
by owners Lee J. Hofheimer and 
Charles Sugarman, who have 
thrown open their 320-seat theatre 
to anyone who wants tQ come in, 
as a method of protesting the 20% 
Federal amusement tax. Contribu- 
tions may be placed in a bowl by 
patrons after the show. Sign above 
the bowl reads, “Admission Free. 
You may donate any amount you 
wish as you leave the theatre.” 

Although Sugarman did not say 
what the take was, he did reveal 
that the concessions* receipts were 
up as much as 200 to 300% and 
that attendance, which is difficult 
to estimate since the crowd has 
not been counted, has increased 
around 50%. A full house was 
marked up the night the policy 
went into effect, and Sugarman 
said the average contribution was 
around 27c. “Very few persons con- 
tributed nothing,” he said. 


Honor E. V, Richards 

New Orleans, Nov. 25. 

E. V. Richards, Jr., theatre and 
film industry leader here, was 
recognized this for his coopera- 
with the U. S. Navy in the fields of 
entertainment, education and 
morale when he was presented the 
Secretary of the Navy’s Distin- 
guished Public Service Award. 

The presentation was made by 
Francis P. Whitehair, under-sec- 
retary of the Navy, at a luncheon 
at the Hotel Roosevelt sponsored 
by the New Orleans Chapter of 
the Navy League 1 of the U. S, 


Davis Adds 6 More 
Arthur Davis Associates is add- 
ing six new foreign films to the 
eight on its release list for 1953. 
The six include two Italian and 
four French productions. 

The Italian duo includes Vittorio 
De Sica’s comedy, “Behavior of the 
Sexes,” and G. W. Pabst’s first Italo 
production, “The Voice of Silence.”"! 


Wednesday, November 26, 1952 



WASHINGTON 

(Continued from page 13) 

to hopes. Last week, “Steel Trap” 
(20th) plus vaude, okay $18,000. 

Columbia (Loew’s) (1,174; 74- 
$1.20) — “Snows of Kilimanjaro” 
(20th) (6th wk). Holiday should 
hold this to big $13,000 after $14,- 
000 last week. Stays on. 

Dupont (Lopert) (372; 50-85) — 
“Last Laugh” (Indie) and “Cabinet 
of Dr. Caligari” (Indie) (reissues). 
So-so $2,700 for these oldies, Last 
week, “Lady Vanishes” (UA) (re- 
issues), $3,000. 

Keith’s (RKO) (1,939; 50-85)— “It 
Grows on Trees” (U). Mild $8,000. 
Last week, “Raiders” (U) (5 days) 
and “Apache Drums” (U) with 
“Clomanche Territory” (U) (reis- 
sues), so-so $7,000 for split week. 

Metropolitan (Warner) (1,200; 'SO- 
BS) — “Blazing Forest” (Par). Fair 
at $4,000 or near. Last week, “Hour 
of 13” (M-G), same. - 
Palace (Loew’s) (2,370: 50-80) — 
“Plymouth Adventure’* (M-G). 
Sock $23,000, with Thanksgiving 
Day completing week. Holds. Last 
week, “Bloodhounds Broadway” 
(20th), sluggish $14,000. 

Playhouse (Lopert) (435; 50-$l) 
—“The Thief” (UA) (5th-final wk). 
Tapered off to so-so $3,500 after 

•A nnft lntf waa ! r 


‘MW LUSTY $11,000, 
PORT,- -TONY’ HEP 12G 

Portland, Ore., Nov. 25. 

For the first time in weeks, near- 
ly all first-runs have improved 
product. “Lusty Men” shapes out- 
standing with sturdy takings at 
Broadway. “Pony Soldier” looks 
nice in two spots. 

Estimates for This Week 

Broadway (Parker) (1,850; 65-90) 
—“Lusty Men” (RKO) and “Apache 
War Smoke” (M-G). Lusty $ 11,000 
Last week, “Horizon’s West” (U) 
and “Tropical Heat Wave” (Ren) 
$4,000. 

Liberty (Hamrick) (1,850; 65-90) 
— “Because Your Mine” (M-G) and 
“The Hour of 13” (M-G) (3d wk) 
Oke $7,000. Last week, $10,000 
after sock $14,000 opener. 

Mayfair (Evergreen) (1,500; 65- 
90) — “Les Miserables” (20th). Sad 
$3,800. Last week, “Springfield 
Rifle” (WB) and “Arctic Flight” 
(Mono) (m.o.), $4,400. 

Oriental (Evergreen) (2,000; 65- 
90)— “Pony Soldier” (20th) and 
“Night Without Sleep” (20th), day- 
date with Orpheum. Fine $4,500 or 
near. Last week, “The Savage” 
(Par) and “Beware My Lovely 1 * 
(RKO), $4,800. 


Warner (WB) (2,174; 60-80)— 
“Thunderbirds” (Rep). Shapes 
solid $12,000. Last week, “Opera- 
tion Secret” (WB), ditto. 

Trans-Lux (T-L) (600; 60-$l)— 
“Happy Time” (Col) (2d wk). Still 
stout at $6,500, but hurt by rain. 
Last week, $9,000. 


‘Pony’ Fancy $13,000, 

Seattle; ‘Secret* 6G 

Seattle, Nov. 25. 

“Pony Soldier” looms as best bet 
here this session at the Coliseum. 
“The Thief’ also is okay at Fifth 
Avenue. “Everything I Have Is 
Yours” shapes modest in second 
Liberty week. “Operation Secret” 
looms slow at the Orpheum. 

Estimates for This Week 

Coliseum (Evergreen) (1,829; 65- 
90) — “Pony Soldier” (20th) and 
“Kisengee, Man of Africa” (Indie). 
Great $13,000. Last week, “Blazing 
Forest” (Par) and “Seeds Destruc- 
tion” (Indie), $7,700. 

Fifth Avenue (Hamrick) (2,366; 
65-90)— “The Thief’.(UA). Expect- 
ed okay $8,000. Last week, “Some- 
thing for Birds” (20th), $5,200. 

Liberty (Hamrick) (1,650; 65-90) 
— “Everything I Have” (M-G) and 
“Wild Boy” (Indie) (2d wk). Modest 
$4,500 after fairish $7,300 last 
week. 

Music Box (Hamrick) (850; 65-90) 
—“Man in White Suit” (U) (2d wk). 
Oke $2,500 after good $3,700 last 
week. 


Music Hall (Hamrick) (2,283; 65- 
90) — “It Grows on Trees” (U). 
NSG $6,000. Last week, “Ivanhoe” 
(M-G) (6th wk-6 days), $5,200 at 
$1.25 top. 

Orpheum (Hamrick) (2,599; 65-90) 
“Operation Secret” (WB) and 
“South Pacific Trail” (Rep). Slow 
$6,000. Last week,' “Because of 
You” (U) and “Island Rescue” (U), 
$8,300. 


ajauA. *a s runt ua run; 
Guy Mitchell revue. Opened I 
day (23). Last week, “My Man 
I (M-G) (2d run) plus “I 
Godiva” onstage, okay $6,600. 

Paramount (Evergreen) (3 
65-90) — “8 Iron Men” (Col) 
“Voodoo Tiger” (Col). Drab $•; 
or less. Last week “Way 
Gaucho ” (20th) and “Yukon G 
(Mono), $7,400 in 9 days. 


Orpheum (Evergreen) (1,750; 65- 
90)— “Pony Soldier” (20th) and 
“Night Without Sleep” (20th). Nice 
$7,500. Last week, “Blazing For- 
est” (Par) and “Seeds of Destruc- 
tion” (Indie), $5,000. 


65-90) — “Assignment Paris” (Coif 
and “Ladies of Chorus” (Col). Mild 
$7,000. Last week, “The Savage” 
(Par) and “Beware My Lovely’* 
(RKO), $7,300. 


United Artists (Parker) (890; 05- 
90)— “Turning Point” (Par). Modest 
$4,000 or close. Last week, “Man 
In White Suit” (U) (8 days), $4,500. 


‘Pirate’ Smash $18,500, 
Mont’I; ‘Fear* Big 18G 

Montreal, Nov. 25. 

With only one holdover, delux- 
ers are soaring here this week 
with new product. “Sudden Fear” 
looks great but standout is “Crim- 
son Pirate,” with just as big biz 
in a smaller house. “Snows of Kili- 
manjaro” looks smash in second 
round. 

Estimates for This Week 

Palace (C.T.)" T2.62B; 34-60)— 
“Dreamboat” (20th). Big $19,000. 
Last week, “Quiet Man” (Rep) (4tU 
wk), $17,000. 

Capitol (C. T.) (2,412; 34-60)— 
“Sudden Fear” (RKO). Great 
$18,000 or over. Last week, “Will 
Rogers” (WB), $15,000. 

Princess (C. T.) (2,131; 34-60)-r 
“Crimson Pirate” (WB). Smash 
$18,600. Last week, “Son of All 
Baba” (U) (2d wk), $7,000. 

Loew’g (C. T.) (2,855; 75-$l)— 
“Snows of Kilimanjaro” (20th) (2q 
wk). Smash $28,000 following 
socko first round at $42,000. 

Imperial (C. T.) (1,839; 34-60)- 
“Toughest Man in Arizona” (Rep) 
and “Music in Moonlight” (Rep), 
Strong $10,000. Last week, “The 
Savage” (Par) and “Stardust Sweet 
Music” (Par), $9,000. 

Orpheum (C. T.) (1,048; 34-60)— 
“Fighting Rats of Tobruk” (Indie) 
and “Million Dollar Kid” (Indie). 
Fine $9,000 or near. Last week, 
“Stolen Face” (Par) and “Okla- 
homa” (Par), $7,000. 


Roanoke Would Nip 

Late Ozoner Hours 


TORONTO 

(Continued from page 13) 

$7,500. tast week, “Assignmen 
Paris” (Col) (2d wk), $8,500. 

Imperial (FP) (3,373; 50-$l) - 
“What Price Glory” (20th). Satis 
factory $12,500. Last week, “Snow 
of Kilimanjaro” (20th) (2d wk; 
$22,000. 

Loew’s (Loew) (2,096; 50-80) - 
“Prisoner of Zenda” (M-G). Smas) 
$20,000. Last week, “Becaus 
You’re Mine” (M-G) (3d wk' 
$ 8 , 200 . 

Odeon (Rank) (2,390; 60-$1.15)- 
^Limelight” (UA) (2d wk). Sock 
$16,000 for Chaplin pic. Last week 
same. 

Shea’s (FP) (2,396; 40-80) - 
“Monkey Business” (20th) (2d wk 
Okay $10,000. Last week, $13,000 

University (FP) (1,558; 40-80) - 
Snows of Kilimanjaro” (20th 
(m.o.). Smash $12,000. Last week 
“Turning Point” (Par), $10,000. 

Uptown (Loew) (2,743; 40-80) - 
“The Raiders” (U). Good $7,500 
Last week, “When in Rome” (M-G] 
$4,000. 


Roanoke, W. V., Nov. 25. 

City Council of Roanoke is dis- 
turbed- over the- late hours kept, 
by drive-ins hereabouts and has 
asked City Attorney Ran G. Whit* 
tie to advise whether ozoners can 
be required to close shop by mid, - 
night If his reply is in the af- 
firmative, some such restriction 
may be imposed. 

Council took the action on the 
complaint of Councilman Walter 
L. Young, who said some drive-ins 
in and around Roanoke are run* 
ning far into the night and in 
some instance* into - the early 
morning. One ozoner recently 
started its Bhow at dusk and con- 
tinued until daybreak with seven 
features plus newsreels and come- 
dies. 

There are two outdoor houses 
in Roanoke and many more in the 
county which can be expected to 
follow the city lead if any action 
is taken. Young said he was pjp 
posed to the principle of keeping 
youth out all night to see “horror 
pictures which do them no 8 ootu 


Wednesday* November 26 , 1952 


PZitiE ffr 


25 


✓ 


we are Lhan kful... 


On Thanksgiving Day all America gives thanks for its 
many blessings. Throughout the land families rejoice in the many 
wonderful advantages which are their good fortune. 

As a company, we have always felt that we are a family, 
and this week we, too, would like to rejoice with our friends. 

We are thankful for the good-hearted cooperation we 
have received from exhibitors everywhere. 

We are thankful for the excellent reception accorded' our 
first two offerings on the new Allied Artists program — “Flat Top” and 
“Battle Zone,” playing in the finest theatres across the nation. 

We are thankful that our most optimistic hopes for a suc- 
cessful Allied Artists year are being fulfilled by the pictures we have 
now completed — “Hiawatha,” “Torpedo Alley,” “Kansas Pacific,” “Fort 
Vengeance,” “The Roar of the Crowd,” “Cow Country” and many more. 

We are thankful that this great industry of ours is moving 
forward with strength and determination, and that we are contributing 
to its resurgence. 

For all our friends throughout the world we hope that 
the forthcoming year be one of success and happiness -a year we can 
all be thankful for. 


* 




# 






President 



26 


TV-FIOIS 




Wednesday, November 26, 1952 


* » »♦ *»»♦ » » +» ♦ + » f »+ +- H 4 - M ♦ »♦♦ + + -»♦» + '♦++ ♦ •♦ MM M 'M ♦ ♦ UMMUUH MHVMH M » t I ♦ I I M > H~Ht I If » t t » t I | 14-f 


TELEPIX REVIEWS 


4 ♦ 4 ♦ ♦ 44 


HOLLYWOOD GUESS STARS 
With Mike Stokey, Vincent Price, 
Coleen Gray, Hans Conreid, 
Charles Korvin, Spring Mitchell 
Producer: Stokey (Realist Produc- 
tions) 

30 Mins.; Thurs., 9 p.m. 

CERTINA WATCHES, ELGIN- 
AMBRICAN 
WPIX, N. Y. 

Were it not for the liveliness of 
its panel performers and the savvy 
of producer Mike Stokey, “Holly- 
wood Guess Stars” would be miles 
below the reiner’s w.k. “Panto- 
mime Quiz.” Even so, Stokey’s new 
series, this time a vidpixer via 
N.Y. indie WPIX, is still a lot of 
footage removed from his “PQ.” 

Its main trouble, judged off the 
initialer (-20), is that it tried to be 
funny at all times and a good dedl 
of the subject matter up for guess- 
ing was cither in poor taste or con- 
ducive to a double meaning of 
which there could be no doubt in 
any viewer’s ears. As a result, such 
otherwise well-behaved adults as 
Vincent Price, Coleen Gray, Hans 
Conreid, Charles Korvin — all spot- 
ted on "PQ” at various times — 
often appeared ludicrous in their 
antics as they pressed down hard 
to click on . the answers. 

The format begs the question 
on originality. Each actor is 
given a subject matter category, 
suitably cartooned, and the others 
tee ofl on a “Twenty Questions” 
route although there’s no desig- 
nated time limit. An examination 
of the eight subjects (two rounds) 
won’t fit gracefully into a five-foot 
shelf, being composed of such 
items as pair of bloomers, to mas- 
sage, Mrs. O’Leary’s cow, midwife, 
to throw the bull, a birthmark, 
psychiatrist’s divan and Jane Rus- 
sell. Can anyone imagine anything 
more trite and obvious than the 
question (on Miss Russell)', “Any 
identifying characteristics?” Simi- 
lar phrasing has been used on TV 
no more than 126 ,; U times. 

The opening announcement that 


maid with whom Powell went to 
school, and Powell’s distraught 
parents. Powell brought charac- 
teristic polish and restraint to his 
performance. 

It’s of special significance that 
the commercials for Singer Sew- 
ing Machines are, per usual, head- 
and-shoulders above thb average 
plugs. Trail. 


DEATH VALLEY DAYS 
(She Burns Green) 

With James Griffith, Donna Mar- 

tell, others 

Producer: Dorrell McGowan 
Director: Stuart McGowan 
Writer: Mrs. Ruth Woodman 
30 Mins.; Fri., 9:30 p.m. 

PACIFIC COAST BORAX_CO. 
KTLA, Hollywood 

( McCann-Erickson ) 

A warm, moving story of the 
struggles of a desert prospector 
and his bride for riches, .culminat- 
ing in the discovery of a huge 
deposit of borax in Death Valley, 
“She Bums' Green” is another fine 
telepic in this series penned by 
Ruth Woodman. Mrs. Woodman 
captures the full flavor, stark line- 
liness and emptiness of Death Val- 
ley, and the mood is one of realism 
throughout. 

James Griffith is the young 
prospector who goes to Death Val- 
ley with his beautiful bride, filled 
with hopes of a strike. As they are 
repeatedly disappointed, she fi- 
nally leaves him. But in a quick 


reversal, as is a woman’s privilege, 
she returns to hipi, in time for both 
to strike it rich. 

Griffith portrays the prospector 
excellently, and Donna Martell 
adds warmth, humor and poignancy 
as his mate. Allan Nixon, Rose 
Turich and Hank Paterson are 
good in support. Stuart McGowan’s 
helming is a notch above average 
for this series. Daku. 


1 1 4 ttt tHM 1 1 1 1 4M I ♦ f t ft ♦ t Mt M I I I tttttt | f ff + * * • 4 I 4 4 » I * 4 Hf mt 

which has a taut realism devoid of 
the cliches customarily infesting a 
cops-’n-robbers yarn. 

Themed on enmity of a cop to- 
ward hi$ superior officer, story de- 
velops as the lieutenant goes into 
a saloon searching for a cop killer. 
Given a Mickey Fin by the saloon 
keeper, he’s framed so that it looks 
as though he imbibed on the job. 
Found by the cop who hates him, 
he’s helped only because of the 
cop’s loyalty to the force. The su- 
perior comes out of it, and the pair 
track down the killer. Obviously, 
this means evaporation of the cops* 
mutual hatred, Pedestrian treat- 
ment would have made this a lot 
of corn, but expert handling gives 
it a socko punch. 

Onslow Stevens as the lieuten- 
ant, and Myron Healey as his ju- 
nior give fine performance. Robert 
Finkel’s direction is excellent, and 
Howard J. Green’s teleplay highly 
polished. Daku. 


THE UNEXPECTED 
(The Puppeteers) 

With Gale Storm, Paul Frees, Rob- 
ert Hutton 

Director: Sobey Martin 
Writer: Doris Gilbert 
30 Mins.; Wed., 8 p.m. 

IRONRITE 

KECA-TV, Hollywood 

“The Puppeteers” shapes as an- 
other of the minor-grade mystery 
tales featuring the surprise ending, 
i.e. baddie turns out to be the hero 
and vice-versa. It’s but passable 
telefare. 

Teleplay by Doris Gilbert delves 
into backstage life of three puppet- 
eers, brothers Paul Frees and Rob- 
ert Hutton, and latter’s fiancee, 
Gale Storm. Frees’ inability to ad- 
just himself to the coming mar- 
riage., makes him the butt of suspi- 
cion when Hutton suddenly dis- 
appears. Clues mount up and Miss 
Storm calls in an inspector. Hut- 
ton then reappears, however, ex- 
plaining he’s run off before when 
he got the feeling he was being 


forced into wedlock. Miss Storm 
realizes Frees was thinking only of 
her and changes her mind about 
the man, which is okay with him 
as he’s secretly loved her from the 
start. Hutton leaves the act and 
a different matrimonial setup looks 
forthcoming at the fadeout. 

Gale Storm rises above her ma- 
terial, again proving her top capa- 
bility. Frees is properly menacing, 
but seems a bit baffled by the 
quick change of emotions at the 
end, and Hutton, only briefly spot- 
ted, is adequate, 

Sobey Martin’s direction is on 
the obvious side, particularly in 
his handling of Frees. Low-key 
photography of Curt Fetters is ef- 


fective. 


Neal. 


CHEVRON THEATRE 
(Pride of the Force) 

With Onslow Stevens, Myron 

Healey, others 
Distributor: MCA-TV Ltd. 
Producer: Revue Productions 
Writer: Howard J. Green 
30 Mins.; Fri., 9 p.m. 

CHEVRON STATIONS 
KTLA, Hollywood 

(BBD&O) 

Lacking a particularly original 
story, “Pride of the Force” is none- 
theless highly entertaining as a 
result of generally superior treat- 
ment given ,it in all production as- 
pects. Howard J. Green ^ adapts 
Whitney Alexander’s story into a 
fast-moving suspenseful drama 


TV Films in Production 


as of Friday, Nov. 21 


this one is | “direct from Holly- 
wood” was ope of those fastles in- 
tended to convey the impression 
of live telecasting. Show’s worst 
feature is an “action stage” in 
which the performer “acts out” his 
category whenever the questions 
don’t seem to be leading to suc- 
cess. Some of it bordered on low- 
grade Minsky. 

Spring Mitchell, a highly 
bleached doll with poor articula- 
tion, voices the gifts that go out 
to those whose aueslions are used. 
Commercials are hard-driving and 
too frequent, with Cert ina. Watches 
(first portion) and Elgin-American 
(last half) picking up the tab. There 
should be a lot of peddling for the 
Yule season, anjwvay, but it’s un- 
fortunate that this grill session 
doesn’t shape with Stokey’s other 
work. That all actors are good on 
their feet (which is to be expected) 
contrasts with the sub-par material 
in which they have been encased. 

Trau. 


ARROW PRODUCTIONS , 

KTTV Studios, Hollywood shooting. 

Second set of 13 in "RAMAR OF THE &° du £® r: J?* 1 rr ? U J U £ Gowan 
JUNGLE" half-hour jungle adventure tel- Director: Stuart McGowan 
epix series to resume shooting November 
28. Jon Hall stars. 

Producers: Harry S. Rothschild, Leon 
Fromkess 

Film producer: Rudolph Flothow 
Director: Paul Landres 


entitled "DEATH VALLEY DAYS" now & Gamble. Features Warner Andersen. 

Producer: Marion Parsonnet 
Production manager: Henry Spit* 


FOUR STAR PRODS. 

RKO Pathc Studios, Culver City 
"MY HERO" series of 36 comedy dra- 
mas starring Robert Cummings now shoot- 
ing. 

Producer: Mort Greene 


BARRY-ENRIGHT PRODUCTIONS Director: Lcs Goodwin 

On Location N Y Assistant director: John Pommer 

"OH BABY" scries of’ 13 five-minute tel- Production supervisor: Ruby Rosenberg 
epix. To be sponsored by Mennen through 

the Grey agency, starting Nov. 1. GROSS-KRASNE, INC. 

Producers: Jack Barry. Dan EnrJght RK0 Pathc; Culver City 


Directors: Robert Aldrich, Peter Godfrey 
PHILDAN TV 

Eagle Lion Studios, Hollywood 
Series "of 13 half-hour comedies "CA- 
REER FOR CATHY" to begin shooting 
Dec. 2. Patti Lee heads casL 
Producer: Michael Phillips 
Associate producer: Dan Hadzick 
Director: Jo Graham 
"ERNEST HAYCOX THEATRE" series . 
of half hour telepix skedded for Dec. 9 ! 
start. Michael Phillips directs. 


TWA Asks NLRB 
PoD at 6 Indies 


Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

Television Writers of America 
has asked the National Labor Re- 
lations Board for a collective bar- 
gaining agent at six telepix com- 
panies. • Prexy Charles Isaacs de- 
scribed It as a move to protect the 
writers from the Screen Writers 
Guild pact with Alliance of Tele- 
vision Film Producers, which lie 
called a “step backward.” 

Hint of an invasion of the Al- 
liance was shelved and instead 
TWA will seek jurisdiction with 
Joan Davis Productions, Desilu, 
Filmcraft, Don Sharpe Produc- 
tions, Key Productions and Mc- 
Cadden Corp. None is an Alliance 
member. 


BING CROSBY ENTERPRISES 26 half hour tdcplx sponsored by Lever 
Hal Roach Studios, Culver City Brothers. Patrick McVey and Jano Nigh 

"REBOUND" series of half-hour adult set leads. 


Now shooting TOWN" ^series of ROL £ND REED PRODUCTIONS 


Hal Roach Studios,. Culver Citv 
"MY LITTLE MARGIE" series of 30- 
minute situation comedies now shooting. 


Vidpix Chatter 


-Corp. Now shooting. 

Executive producer: BasiT Grillo 
General Manager: Harve Foster 


dramas. Sponsored by Packard Motor Car Producers: Jack J. Gross and Philip N. Produeer*: Iloland Reed 


JOAN DAVIS PRODUCTIONS 


Krasne 

Director: E. A. Dupont. 

JOHN GUEDEL PRODS. 

600 Taft Bldg.. Hollywood 
Art Linklctter starring in a scries of 


Director: Hal Yates 

.Associate producer: Guy V. Thayer, Jr. 
REVUE PRODUCTIONS. 

Eagle Lion Studios: Hollywood 

General Service Studios, Hollywood Art Linklctter starring in a scries of "ADVENTUREE OF 

"I MARRIED JOAN" series of half-hour 104 15-minute vidpix titled "LINKLETTER £ ,T CARSON" telepix now shooting for 

Revue Prods. 

Producer: Revue Productions 
Director: John English. 

"BIFF BAKER, USA" series of 30-min- 
ute situation comedies currently shooting. 
Randy Stuart, Alan Hale, Jr., head cast. 
Director: Richard Irving 
Assistant director: Willard Sheldon 


situation comedies currently shooting for AND THE KIDS." 

General Electric sponsor. Starring Joan Producer-director: Maxwell Shane 


FOUR-STAR PLAYHOUSE 
(Welcome Home) 

With Dick Powell, David Holt, How- 
ward McNbar, Claire Carleton, 
others 

Producers: Powell, Don Sharpe 
Director; Robert Florey 
Writer: Blake Edwards 
30 Mins.; Thurs., 8:30 p.m. 
SINGER SEWING MACHINE CO. 
CBS-TV, from Hollywood 

Taking his regular turn on 
“Four-Star Playhouse” last Thurs- 
day (20), Dick Powell co-produced 
and fronted a taut, suspenseful 
Blake Edwards teleplay that moved 
flawlessly to Robert Florey’s tight 
direction. It’s obvious now that the 
series starring Powell, Joel Mc- 

Crea, 'Charles "' Boyer " and '"David’ 

Niven is consistently the best 
model of vidpix drama in its as- 
sembling of script, thesping, tens- 
ing and all technical facets. 

Powell was roled as a well- 
groomed, prosperous felon re- 
turned to his hometown after a 
15-year absence. Opening salvo had 
a cordon of police trapping him 
in his hotel and giving him three 
minutes to come out before mov- 
ing in for the kill. In a continuous, 
flashback, spliced by Powell's nar- 
ration, he was shown from his 
entry into the town to the events 
leading up to the self-imposed 
trap. . 

The moral that crime doesn’t pay 
■k was removed from the cliche class 
■ in the final gripping scene, with 
W young, would-be tough David Holt, 
son of the hotel owner, breaking 
down completely when Powell, his 
hero, surrendered to the constabu 
lary without putting up a fight. 
Other compelling incidents in- 
volved the' boy’s father, Howard 
McNear; Claire Carleton, a bar- 


Davis Se Jim Backus. 

Producer: P. J. Wolfson 
Associate Producer: A1 Simon 
Director: Hal Walker. 

Writers: Arthur Stander. Phil Sharp. 

DESILU PRODUCTIONS 

General Service Studios, Hollywood 
"OUR MISS BROOKS" half-hour com- 
edy drama scries now shooting for GBS- 
TV. General Foods sponsor. 

Cast: Eve Arden, Gale Gordon, Jane Mor- 
gan, Dick Crcnna, Gloria McMillan, Bob 
Rockwell, Virginia Gordon. 

Production Executive: Larry Berns 
Director: A1 Lewis 
Assistant director: Jim Paisley 
Writers: AJ Lewis, Joe Quillan 


Associate producer: Irvin Atkins 


PAUL F. HEARD, INC. 

KTTV Studios: Hollywood 
Series of 13 quarter-hour tclepics en- 
titled "WHAT'S YOUR TR_OUBLE?" with 
Dr. and Mrs. Norman Vincent Peale. 
Producer: Paul F. Heard 
Director: Paul F. Heard 
Production supervisor: Harry Cohen 

KEY PRODUCTIONS 

Eagle Lion Studios, Hollywood 
Shooting Red Skelton series of 30-min- 
ute comedy telepix. Stars Red Skelton. 
Producer: Red Skelton 
Director: Marty Rackin 


DOUGFAIR CORPORATION 


KNEELAND-SAX PRODS. 

Centaur Studios. Hollywood 
Thirteen 15-mlnute telepix series "DOU- 
BLE PLAY," featuring Laralne Day and 


RKO Pathe: Culver City 

First 18 of half-hour adventure series „„„ 

Dry " sponsors! 1 * P ‘ raUS " Sh °° tin *' Canada L<^o~chcr to be^inWotiAg NovVbe? 
Cast: John Baer, 

Saunders. 

Producer: Dougfalr Corporation 
Associate producer: Warren Lewis 
Directors: Lew Landers, Arthur Pierson 


HAL ROACH PRODUCTIONS 
Hal Roach Studios: Culver City 
AMOS 'N' ANDY" series of character 
comedy .telepix now shooting. Sponsored 
by Blatz Beer for CBS-TV. 

Cast: Tim Moore * Spencer Williams, Alvin 
Childress, Ernestine Wade, Johnny Lee. 
Horace Stewart. 

Supervisors: Freeman Gosden. Charles 
Correll, Sidney Van Keuren 
Director: Charles Barton 
Production executive: James Fonda 
Assistant director: Emmett Emerson 

SCREEN JEMS 

1302 N. Gower, Hollywood 
Now shooting the FORD THEATRE 


William Traov. Gloria 2 4 ' different sports personalities will be series of 39 half-hour telepix. 
wimam iracy, Gloria guesting each week. Producer-director: Jules Bricken 

. ^ Producer: Carrol Sax Assistant director: Eddie Scat* 


Director: Ted Knecland 


VERNON LEWIS PRODUCTIONS SHEL ? 0 ° N p,?SSd“f pf®° D ’ S 


Lewis _Sound Films, 7 1 45th St., N. Y. ^ FOR EIGN I NTRIGU i “Ve'iies * of half 


FAMILY^ FILMS TELEVISION "NIGHT EDITOR" scales of 15-nitnute hour adventure fifi^s'for "presentation*' in 

Twenty-six half hour religious dramatic r^n^^af^urdk*!^^ Now^hnottatf 3 ’ ci tn £* tap ln T p/hc V ff rioU , s 6p ? nsors shoot- 
shows "THIS IS THE LIFE." ring Hal Burdick. Now shooting? Spon- ing in Paris, starring Jerome Thor and 

Cast: Forrest Tavinr. Onslow stevenc. fPJ^d, by Kalscr-Frazer in five markets, via Sydna S°ott. 

Producer-director: Sheldon Rcvnolde 
Assoc. Producer: John Padovano 
Director of Photography: Bertil Palmgren 
Musical Director: Paul Durand 


Cast: Forrest Taylor, Onslow Stevens, weintranh 

Nan Boardman, Randy Stuart, Michael pmS-VniflM r . w i. 
Hall, David Kasday Producer: Vernon Lewie 

Producer; Sam Hcrsh 
Director: William F Claxton 


Director: M. Baron 


FEDERAL- TELEFILM*- - INC*- - 


THE McCADDEN CORP. 


SHOWCASE PRODUCTIONS 

"Studies;- Culver City 

RACKET SQUAD" series resumes 


...... General Service Studios: Hollywood 

Goldwyn Studios, Hollywood now dfnntin# «ri SHOW" 

"MR. AND MRS. NORTH" series of half « ° £ £ alf hoUr comed y ,, . ... - 

hour situation comedies now shooting X riEIl.tfj, Ca Twl I « n ^l >ons t or * . „ shoo^ns half-hour telepix, December, 

first 39. A John W. Loveton Production C f ’ , G n a i . . ra rT lc A1 !, en> nV® d H c £ r! # al Jr " Carroll Case 

starring. Barbara Britton and Richard CIark » Bea Benadaret. Harry Von Director: Jim Tinling 

Denning. n 

Producer: Federal TV Corporation. , c , , 

Director: Ralph Murphy . Di“rectorf Ralph Levy A * S 

Writers: Paul Henning. Sid Dorfman, Har- 
vey Helm, William Burns 


FILMCRAFT PRODS. 

8451 Melrose, Hollywood - 

GROUCHO MARX starred in 39 half-hour 
audience participation film productions 
now shooting once a week for NBC. 
DeSoto-Plymouth sponsoring. 

Producer: John Guedcl 
Film producer: 1, Lindenbaum 
Directors- Bob Dwan. Bernle Smith 
"IT'S A SMALL WORLD," starring A1 
Gannaway in a series of 39 half-hour fam- 
ily-appeal programs. Now shooting. 

Cast: A1 Gannaway and others 
Producer: Isidore Lindenbaum 
Exec chg. prod.: F. H. Fodor 
Production manager: Glenn Miller 

FLYING A PRODUCTIONS 

6920 Sunset nivd., Hollywood 


MARCH OF TIME 


TABLEAU-CHINA SMITH PRODS. 

Motion Picture Center. Hollywood 

^ a J^ our entitled 

ntr i T^ l , RS 0F , C “! NA SMITH," starring 
Dan # Dux yea, shooting. 

Casting: Talent Associates 
Producer: Bernie Tabakin 


"AMERICAN** WIT* 1 AND* HUMOR" se- manager: Wiiiiam Stevens 

Houm ° n 

Burr ond T Olfy.r L p??rhic rn01 Mms ’ Alln VOLCANO PRODUCTIONS, INC. 


Producer: Marion Parsonnet 
Director: Fred Stephani. 


Au S “, 0n Wc;tM-n teltpb 5hoofi°i r S: P™l‘uc™ william 1 Soft 

Grange ruSIrS 'hUtfn^' M con<i PARSONNET TV FILM STUDIOS, 
ries of 52 half-hour vidcotcrs. Jack Ma- INC. 

Dlck Jc ? ne ® h e ad east. 46-02 Fifth St., Long Island City. N Y 

Producer- Loins Cray Casting* Michael Meads J 

Directors: Wallace Fox. Geo. Aichainbaud Shooting half-hour dramas for series en. 
New scries of half-hour western drama, titled ‘The Doctor," sponsored by Procter 


general Service .Studios, Hollywood 

uilD. E «T A /PY lt £l URES oft 0X11,6 AN0 

_ HARRIET, half-hour comedy scries now 

MERIDIAN PICTURES, INC, , K , , rr . 

"SCHUTZ y PL AVH 0 0 S USE lly OF 00 STARS" ° a * id NcI?on, IuJkJ Nelson, Doll 

5 SK SGS^W^SS— • 

Writers: Bill Davenport, Don Nelson, Ben 
Gcrshman, Ozzio Nelson 


ZIV TV 

6255 Clinton St., Hollywood 
Four in "BOSTON BLACKIE" series of 
half-hour adventure telepix shoot in No- 
vember. 

iv. r, - General casting for all pictures, 

sponsoied by Procter Directors: EddJ© Davis, ffoney Martin, 


Hollywood 

Revue Productions, MCA’s tele- 
pix subsidiary, will ink a pact with 
Screen Writers Guild along lines 
of that negotiated between SWG 
and Alliance of Television Film 
Producers, a company exec reports 
. . . Haan J. Tyler named coast 
sales director for Guild Films . . . 
Hillary Brooke resumes role in 
“My Little Margie” at the Hal 
Roach lot . . . Bing Crosby Enter- 
prises exec v.p. Basil Grillo back 
from biz junket to N.Y. BCE re- 
sumes “Rebound” series at Roach 
studios Dec. 2. . .Mark Stevens and 
Ruth Hussey star in Screen Gems’ 
“This Is My Heart,” directed by 
Robert Stevenson, being shot for 
Ford Theatre . . . Five Star Produc- 
tions prexy Harry McMahan off on 
a business junket eastward . . . Mar- 
guerite Chapman and Donald 
Woods star in Meredian Pictures’ 
“Girl of My Dreams,” for Sehlitz 
Playhouse of Stars, with Jeff Don- 
nell and Roy Roberts in support, 
Ted Post directing. Company seeks 
Edmund Gwenn to narrate re- 
cently completed “The Guardian 
of the Clock,” with Una Merkel, 
Hugh Beaumont, Roland Winters 
and Ludwig Stossel, Roy Kclllno 
directing . . . Groucho Marx telepix 
spots supporting “Give a Lift With 
a Gift” drive being filmed by Film- 
craft, with Marx pitching for gills 
to servicemen in Korea... .Ethel 
Barrymore, David Niven, Ronald 
Reagan and Maureen O’Sullivan 
set for starring roles in upcoming 
tele -dramas on -“Hollywood. .Open- 
ing Night” on NBC-TV. Miss 
O^Sullivan and Wendell Coyey star 
in “The Lucky Coin” Dec. 1 . - • 
Quality Films prexy Charles Wcin- 
traub returned from eastern junk- 
et during which he sold over $200,- 
000 in old feature films to video 
stations.*. .Peter Mamakos iftked 
for Revue Productions’ “Island of 
Stone.”. . .PSI coast v.p. Bernie 
Tabakin signed Robert Aldrich to 
direct four “China Smith” vidpix 
starring Dan Duryc* ...Helen 
Ainsworth Corp. named sales reps 
in seven cities for telepix and the- 
atrical productions ...Dougfair 
Productions’ “Terry and the Pi- 
rates,” with John Baer, Gloria 
Saunders, Jack Reitzen and Sandra 
Spence, began on KTTV this week, 
on alternate weeks basis, with 
Canada Dry sponsoring. - A1 Gan- 
naway named director of program- 
ming for Filmcraft . . . Marjorie 
Morrison inked distrib pact with 
Official Films whereby OF w'dj 
distrib her “Voyage of the Scarlet 
Queen” telepix. 



Wednesday? November 1952 


m 


TV-FILMS 27 



Lux InaJWT Flux 

Whatever the ultimate decision on the future of “Lux Video 
Theatre,” whether it stays live or goes film, the present desire to 
switch over to celluloid represents a radical change in thinking on 
the part of John Reber, JWT’s radio-TV boss. 

Reber has always championed “Lux Theatre” as a New York-origi- 
nating show, envisioning the day when it will step in as the right- 
ful heir to the long-running “Lux Radio Theatre” counterpart af- 
ter nearly, 20 years of AM drama supremacy. The radio show, by 
virtue of its enviable Hollywood film studio tie-in, has always been 
a “Coast baby.” 

j. Cornwall (Corny) Jackson, head of the Hollywood JWT office, 
has had a hankering to inherit the video version, as well, and has 
been pitching for the Coast-made film treatment. But any such 
move would require Reber’s okay. 

Apparently Reber is now willing to acquiesce, for if the “sneak” 
filmed episodes (to be made in Hollywood) win favor with the au- 
diences, the east-berthed Reber will relinquish the TV show to t&e 
Coast-berthed Jackson. 

WCBS-TV s ‘Nothing But Movies’ 

Sat. Matinee; Triple Sponsor Formula 


WCBS-TV, key CBS-TV station + 
In N. Y., finalized plans this week 
for it’s Saturday afternoon program 
lineup and at the same time made 
a pitch for the three-sponsors-per- 
liour sales plan which the networks 
have found successful. New pro- 
gramming, which will comprise 
mostly film as anticipated, preems 
Dec. 6, the week following the 
windup of the network’s Saturday 
afternoon armed services football 
schedule. 

With the National Dairy-spon- 
sored “Big Top” aired on the net- 
work Saturdays from 12 noon to 
1 p. m., WCBS-TV takes over at 
1 with an hour-long “Lafftime” 
film show. This will comprise 
three two-reel comedies starring 
Buster Keaton, Laurel & Hardy 
and Charlie Chase. Station is at- 
tempting to sell the hour to three 
participating bankrollers, similar 
to the way Jackie Gleason show is 
sponsored on CBS-TV or “All Star 
Revue” on NBC-TV. If the trio ‘of 
sponsors don’t come through, 
WCBS-TV will sell the show on a 
straight spot basis. 

From 2 to 3, the station will air 
another film series, this tim$ con- 
centrating on outdoor adventure 
fare. WCBS-TV hopes to be able 
to sell this hour to a single spon- 
sor. “It’s Worth Knowing,” a live 
educational series currently aired 
Saturdays from 4:30 to 5, will be 
expanded to 45 minutes and moved 
back to the 3 o’clock spot. “Win- 
ter Holiday,” also a film series 
which preemed last week on Sun- 
day mornings, will go into the 3:45 
to 4 period Saturdays. 

From 4 to 5, WCBS-TV will air 
a full hour mystery film under the 
overall title of “The Clock Strikes 
Four,” which will be offered to 
spot advertisers. “Late Matinee,” 
feature film oldies now aired cYoss- 
thc-board from 5 to 6 p. m., will go 
into the same hour Saturdays, to 
be followed by “6 O’clock Report,” 
also aired presently cross-the- 
board. At 6:15, the station has 
scheduled “Invitation Playhouse,” 
a series' of quarter-hour vidpix be- 
ing syndicated by Guild Films. Net- 
work then picks up again at 6:30 
with “It’s News to Me.” 


Universal Vidpix 

1 dt 


Bartell’s ‘Playtime’ 

Gerald A. Bartell, president and 
general manager of WOKY, Mil- 
waukee, has gone in for vidpix 
with the filming of a 13-shot series 
entitled “Playtime.” The show is 
based on a children’s radio pro- 
gram at that station which he con- 
ducts. He’s in partnership with 
Zinn Arthur, a former bandleader 
and now a theatrical photographer 
in New York. Firm name is 
Apollo Pictures. 

William Morris Agency will dis- 
tribute. 

PSI-TV Dickering 
Eagle-Lion Lot In 
Vidpix Expansion 

Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

PSI-TV prexy Paul White, here 
on a business junket to ogle com- 
pany telepix production here and 
helm the Gayelord Hauser series 
himself, disclosed his company is ; 
negotiating for purchase of Eagle- 
Lion studios as a site for the upped 
production of PSI. Price tag on 
Eagle-Lion is reported to be $1,- 
500,000. 

White has just returned . from 
Europe where he glommed upcom- 
ing PSI product involving total 
budgets of $2,300,000. He said 
majority of PSI product will be 
shot in Hollywood, but pointed out 
European locale and shooting adds 
a different flavor and change in 
pace to the vidpix. 

Leonard L. Loewinthal. PSI-TV 
v.p. and general counsel, accom- 
panied White here, and is nego- 
tiating for a series starring Bette 
Davis. 

White plans to confab with Hedy 
Lamarr, inked to star in a PSI- 
distributed scries. Thesp has been 
postponing the starting date, and 
White wants to get a definite an- 
swer from her immediately. He 
also plans to huddle with attorneys 
for Edward Lewis, sayin^he seeks 
to' “reshape 5 ’ PSI’s deal with the 




Resumption of television filming 
at Universal is in the offing follow- 
ing a period of union and guild 
trouble. Work is being done by 
United World Films',.., U subsidiary 
which operates as a separate unit 
on the Coast. 

Spokesman for U said in N. Y. 
last week that the company is get- 
ung ready to make three or four 
Jew scries of TV pix. UWF so far 
nns completed only one series of 
l ™Jl-h<mr films called “Fighting 
ivien. ’ Company is using its own 
Pryors and doesn’t call on the 
S01 rp. 1 . c ‘ os U contract stars. 

i ' film activity at U is still con- 
sult. 1 red in' experimental stage and 
jusl a way of getting our feet 
wet. according to the U exec. Only 
thcr studio actively engaged in 
v Production is Columbia through 
Screen Gems. 


producer. 

Also planned is a conference 
with prexy Rudy Monti of Mutual 
Television, linked with PSI in dis- 
tribution of feature films. White, 
who is working on several new 
telepix. deals while here, says he 
was offered a vidpix package in- 
volving Ingrid Bergman and 
Roberto Rosselini while in Rome, 
but nixed it, feeling names lack 
merit without proper stories encas- 


em. 

le here he will also huddle 
Jernie Tabakin, PSI’s v.p. in 
» of operations on the coast, 
Leon Kaplan, PSI attorney 
He’s just been to Mexico 
vhere he talked with Oscar 
*ers, who will produce nine 
’for PSI there. White’s aide, 
t Kingsley, and Augustine 
do will also work on the 
in Mexico. Several Dan 

[Continued on page 41) 




PCTQ 

DL U 




SWG Okays Vidpic Pact, 281 - 16 ; Kills 
Move to Limit Proxy to One Meeting 


A new trend appears to be in the 
making in regards to the existing 
shift of television sponsors from 
live to film programming. 

At a time when grave doubts be- 
cloud the industry as to the quali- 
tative values of filmed shows, in 
contrast to “live” performances 
the fact remains that more and 
more sponsors are preparing for 
the switchover to celluloid. But 
they want to come in under circum- 
stances which will not necessitate 
26 or 39-week, or even 13-week 
commitments, thus permitting 
them to get off the hook and back 
into live if they come up with a 
turkey. 

As result, sponsors of live shows 
contemplating “going film” are 
adopting the “sneak” technique as 
a means of testing audience reac- 
tion. For example, the J. Walter 
Thompson-produced “Lux Video 
Theatre,” after a couple of seasons 
of live presentations, is being geared 
for a filmed vehicle. But rather than 
risk the $750,000 to $1,000,000 re- 
quired to get a 39-week cycle in 
the can, JWT has put in an order 
for two or three performances on 
film. These, in turn, will get a 
“sneak” presentation on the regu- 
lar Lux Monday night session on 
CBS-TV. 

In that way the client can pre-test 
audience response without the 
750G jeopardy or finding itself in 
the predicament of several other 
sponsors who wish they had stayed 
live and not reverted to film. 

It’s known that several other net- 
work TV bankrollers are con- 
templating a similar procedure. 
Idea, for that matter, is not entire- 
ly new. Last summer when “In- 
formation Please” was subbing (as 
a live format) for General Electric’s 
Fred Waring show, Dan Golenpaul, 
producer of the vet panel-quiz 
show, ran off a couple of filmed 
versions during the summer cycle 
to size up audience reaction before 
prepping his syndicated pix “info” 
series. 

Too many sponsors regret hav- 
ing committed themselves to long- 
term pix TV deals. Russel Seeds 
agency, which packaged the ill- 
fated Eddie; Mayehoff film series on 
NBC-TV for Reynolds Metal, took it 
on the chin to the tune of $250,000 
by choosing celluloid treatment in- 
stead of live, after Reynolds can- 
celled out after four stanzas. Red 
Skelton’s TV pix show is in a state 
of flux, with the client, from all 
accounts, wishing it had stayed 
live, But committed to a full sea- 
son of the celluloid Skelton. 


GOSDEN, CORRELL IN 1ST 
‘AMOS ’N’ ANDY’ VIDPIC 

Hollywood, Nov. 25. 
Freeman Gosden and Charles 
Correll, creators of “Amos ’n’ 
Andy,” will make their initial ap- 
pearance on the vidfilm version of 
the show Christmas Night, via 
CBS-TV. All roles in the vidpic 
series are played by Negro actors. 

Stanza that night is to spotlight 
the team's no vV-fantou's “Christmas"' 
Story,” and they’ll appear in the 
film as a prelude to the presenta- 
tion. 


SAG Teleblurb Demands 
To Get NTFC Airing 

National Television Film Council 
prexy Mel Gold is slated to detail 
negotiations with the^ Screen Ac- 
tors Guild regarding*" the use of 
actors in TV film commercials, at 
the NTFC’s luncheon today (Wed.) 
at the Hotel Warwick, -N. Y. Also 
on the agenda is the nomination of 
officers for 1953, 

According to NTFC execs, the 
“implications and precedence evi- 
dent in SAG demands have a direct 
bearing on the life or death of films 
for TV.” If time permits, a guest 
speaker will also be scheduled for 
the luncheon meet. 


‘Lone Ranger’ Unmasked 

The “Lone Ranger,” who has al- 
ways hidden behind a mask, will at 
long last show his face. Johnny 
Hart, who plays “Ranger,” will do 
a romantic role opposite Lucille 
Ball on “I Love Lucy.” 

There was no casting call for 
Silver. 

ChisAFTRAPuts 

Out Welcome Mat 
For SAG Move-In 

, Chicago, Nov. 25. 

Local branch of the American 
Federation of Television and Radio 
Artists, which earlier had plans to 
organize the Chi TV film producers 
in the absence of any action by 
the Screen Actors Guild, has called 
off the move after receiving defi- 
nite word for SAG that it intends 
soon to set up a Windy City or- 
ganization. 

AFTRA members, concerned- 
over the vacuum that existed in the 
vidpix field here, heard the SAG 
plans for Chicago outlined last 
week by the guild’s prexy Walter 
Pidgeon, SAG TV specialist Ken 
Thomsom and eastern rep Flor- 
ence Marston. 

AFTRA’s decision to welcome 
SAG into the local picture is part 
of the pattern of increasing coop- 
eration between the two unions 
which previously had been, clash- 
ing over issues rising out of the 
emergence of television. Nation- 
ally, the radio-TV group is on rec- 
ord supporting SAG in its an- 
nounced walkout against tele film 
producers in New York. 

SAG’s jurisdiction in the film 
field had previously been estab- 
lished so AFTRA execs saw no rea-, 
son for stirring up that issue here 
now that the guild Is moving in. 
SAG plans to set up an office here 
within a week or so and will start 
to work on the various studios. 

GROSS-KRASNE BUY 
CALIFORNIA STUDIOS 

Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

California studios, once owned 
by the late Harry Sherman, became 
a television lot yesterday (Mon.) 
when Jack Gross and Phil Krasnc 
took over control. Deal was made 
by George T. Goggin, studio attor- 
ney, and the sale was confirmed by 
Benno M. Brink, referee in bank- 
ruptcy. Contract calls for the im- 
mediate payment of $50,000 and 
the remaining $85,000 in install- 
ments. 

This is the first motion picture 
studio in Hollywood to be Bought 
by TV producers. Gross-Krasne, 
Inc., will make the “Big Town” 
vidpix series on two of the studio’s 
stages. Third stage will be used 
by Ziv TV. 

Ziv’s 115% Biz Hike 

Ziv TV reports that by the end 
of the year biz for 1952 will be 
115% over that for ’51. 

Latest Ziv entry, “Favorite 
Story,” which will be released in 
January, is already sold in 27 mar- 
kets. Other Ziv properties are 
“The Unexpected,” sold in 52 mar- 
kets: “Boston Blackie,” 58 markets: 
“Your TV Theatre.” 35; “Cisco 
Kid,” 60; “Story Theatre.” 26; 
“Yesterday's Newsreel.” 21; “Sports 
Album.” 17; and “The Living 
Book.” 10. 

Expanding sales activities had 
cued Ziv’s addition of five new 
field reps. They are Frank J. 
O’Leary, ex-Conde Nast and NBC; 
William R. Dothard, formerly wi?h 
I-Iearst Radio and WFBR, Balti- 
more; Leon Wray, former Don Lee 
sales manager; Jack Howard, cx- 
KBON, Omaha; and Ben Coleman, 
ex-Li berty web sales exec. 


Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

Screenwriters Guild voted rati- 
fication of telepix pact with Alli- 
ance of Television Film Producers 
as negotiated thus far, 281-16, at 
annual election meeting Monday 
(24), at the sahie time voting con- 
fidence in its TV negotiatiotn com- 
mittee. 

SWG voted, 243 to 37, for a con- 
stitutional amendment prohibiting 
members from discussing plagiar- 
ism suits with the press before 
trial of such suits. Constitutional 
amendment limiting life of a proxy 
to a single meeting instead of 
seven years, as under present sys- 
tem, lost by 12 votes short of the 
required two-thirds majority; 256 
favored amendment and 148 op- 
posed it. 

Richard Breen was elected 
proxy, with 223 votes against 204 
for Richard Murphy. Valentine 
Davies, ex-SWG prexy, was named 
'first veepee, 362 votes; Ronald 
MacDougall, second veepee, 245; 
David Dorlort, secretary, 260; 
Donald M. Marchman, Jr., unop- 
posed, treasurer. Morgan Cox, 
Walter Reiseh, Richard Tregaskis, 
Warren Duff, Charles Hoffman, 
.Tames Webb. Bernie Lay. Jr. and 
Adele Buffington were elected to 
exec board. 


Teleburb Strike 
Ordered by SAG 

Hollywood. Nov. 25. 

Screen Actors Guild yesterday 
(Mon.) sent a strike notice to all 
its members ordering them not to 
work in teleblurbs on or after 
Monday. Dec. 1. emphasizing or- 
der applies to all filmed commer- 
cials. no matter by whom or where 
produced. 

Strike order is result of break- 
down in negotiations with N. Y. 
teleblurb producers and Ameri- 
can Association of Advertising 
Agencies, mainly over question of 
re-run coin for actors. At the same 
time the strike order was issued 
members, letters were sent all 
teleblurb producers, advertising 
agencies and sponsors, notifying 
them of the strike. 

Board of directors’ notice to 
members said order was being 
sent following ratification of such 
action by its membership in L. A. 
and Gotham, and atlirbuted move 
to “failure of advertising agencies 
and producers in negotiations 
either to accept guild proposals or 
to come forward with any reason- 
able offer which could possibly be 
considered by the guild as a ba- 
sis for entering into a collective 
bargaining contract.” Notice also 
'stated AFTRA, Equity, Chorus 
Equity. AGMA.'AGVA and Screen 
Extras Guild are supporting 
strike and will notify members not 
to work in teleblurbs. 

Letter lo producers, agencies 
and sponsors warned them “if any 
production of , television film com- 
mercials is attempted using the 
services of non-union actors, we 
will immediately place such pro-, 
ducers, advertising agencies, their 
clients and products on the unfair 
list of the American Federation 
of Labor. We will ask all members 
of all other unions to refuse to 
accept, employment in non-union 
filmed commercials and also not 
to purchase any products so ad- 
vertised.” 


EDUC’L BROADCASTERS 
SET TV FILM EXCHANGE 

National Assn, of Educational 
Broadcasters is expanding into the 
video field. It has set up a TV 
film exchange for the purpose of 
gathering and bicycling films for 
educational tele stations. 

As a result of the European trip 
led least September by Seymour 
ft. Siegel, then prexy and now na- 
tional director of NAEB, films are 
beginning to come in from France, 
Italy 4 nd Britain. 


KAMO -TELE VISION 


PfiRfflTf 


Wednesday, November 26, 1952 


28 


FCCs Denver Poser: Radio Station 
Or Theatre, Which Is Better Tele Op? 


DEBATE GM REBATE 
ON GRID TELECAST 

NBC-TV was huddling with Gen- 
eral Motors yesterday (Tues.) to 
determine whether a rebate is in 


Washington, Nov. 25. 

Crucial question of which is pref- 
erable from a public interest stand- 
point — a TV station owned by a 
radio licensee or one owned by a 
theatre operator — was laid before 
the FCC today (Tues.) when find- 
ings were filed by applicants in the 

hot contest for Channel 7 in Den- 
ver. 


i Heidt Ankles Coast Show 
j To Prep Luckies Airer 

i‘ ' Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

I Format is being worked out for 
. a half-hour Horace Heidt airer for 
Lucky Strike and he’s ankling his 
hour long KLAC-TV layout local- 


Hearings on applications, involv- j 
ing radio station KLZ and Denver 
Television Co., were recently held 
before Examiner James D. Cun- ; 
ningham, whose initial decision in ; 
the case, expected in about a ; 
month, may set pattern for Com- ! 
mission policy in contests between 
radio and theatre applicants for 
-TV channels. Over 60 TV applica- 
tions involving theatre interests 1 
are new before FCC. 


ly, probably Dec. 21. 

Heidt and his troupe will tour 
the country originating each show 
from a different city, but the for- 
mat won’t be his “Youth Oppor- 
tunity” show with w'hich Heidt 
once trekked the country. 


‘Stork Club’ SRO 


Complicating the fight is the 
fact that a substantial interest in 
KLZ is held by two of its direc- 
tors, Theodore R. Gamble and 
Frank H.^ Ricketson, Jr., who are 
theatre operators. Ricketson is 
head of Fox Intermountain The- ! 
atres. j 

Principal stockholder in Denver 
Television Co. is John M. Wolfberg, 
who with his father, Harris, owns 
five houses in Denver. A substan- 
tial interest in the company is held j 
by James Stewart, film actor. 

In pressing its bid, Denver TV 
argues that public interest would 
be better served by having radio 
and TV stations under separate 
control than in same hands, just 
as Commission has preferred non- 
newspaper over newspaper appli- 
cants for AM stations. 

Denver Television contends, if 
an AM and TV station are sep- 
arately owned, “it is to the inter- 
est of each to produce the best pos- 
sible programs during all hours so 
as to secure the maximum audi- 
ence. If they are under common 
contpl, it is to the interest of the 
common owner to program both 
stations in such a way as to secure 
maximum return from a combina- 
tion of the two.” 

KLZ pooh-poohs the idea of any 
“conflict in interest” between AM 
.and. TV broadcasting. It declares, 
“The record does establish that TV 
and AM, in practice, are comple- 
mentary* media to a much greater 
extent than they are competing 
media — that AM and TV service 
are each improved by their affilia- 
tion with each other.” 

Nothing could be more harmful 
to the public’s interest, KLZ con- 
cludes, than to exclude as TV li- 
censees those who have experi- 
ence in broadcasting. 


TV Dramas Back 
In Nielsen Form 

NBC-TV’s high-budgeted “Col- 
gate Comedy Hour,’.’ squeezed out 
of the fop 10 Nielsen lineup for 
the first two weeks of October, 
zoomed back into second place for 
the Nielsen top 10 parade for the 
second half of that month. Bob 
Hope and Abbott & Costello 
starred in the Colgate series the 
two weeks rated, so that the rat- 
ing figure is based on an average 
of the audiences delivered both 


As Ch’field Signs 

CBS-TV this week wrapped up 
sponsorship of its “Stork Club 
Show,” inking Chesterfield to al- 
ternate weekly on the series with 
Gemex Watch Band, which had 
signed on as an alternate week 
sponsor only last week. Gemex 
makes its bow on Idle show Jan. 3, 
with Chesterfield coming in Jan. 
10. Show will continue in the Sat- 
urday night 7 to 7:30 period. 

As a quarter-hour show aired 
twice weekly last season, “Stork” 
was bankrolled by Chesterfield’s 
sister ciggie, Fatima (both are 
manufactured by Liggett & Myersh 
Show has been sustaining so far 
this season. 

‘Show Biz’ Exits Luckies 
Roster in Jan., Refusing 
Alternate-Week Bid 

Lucky Strike, unable to come to 
, terms .with CBS-TV to cut the 
Sunday night “This Is Show Busi- 
ness” back to an alternate week 
basis, has decided to drop the 
show. Ciggie firm instead has 
bought the Anri Sothern vidfilm 
series to alternate with Jack Ben- 
ny, who goes TV on a skrp-a-week 
basis early next year in the Sun- 
day 7:30 to 8 p. m. slot. 

Web execs claimed this week 
that there is hot sponsor interest 
in “Show Biz” for another time 
slot, but no deal has yet been 
signed, since it will remain on the 
air under Lucky Strike's aegis un- 
til Jan. 18. A comparatively low- 
budgeter at about $13,000 weekly 
for talent and production, “Show 
Biz” has been racking up hefty 
cost-per-thousand ratings. Because 
of that producer Irving Mansfield 
j and CBS thought it was too valu- 
i able a property for the skip-a-week 
■ scheduling. 

! Under present plans, “Show Biz” 

; bows off for Luckies after the Jan. 
18 broadcast. Benny will occupy 
the time period Jan. 25, with the 
vidfilm series, titled “Private Sec- 
j retary,” starting Feb. 1. Miss Soth- 
; ern’s show will then be aired for 
i the following two or three consecu- 
j tive weeks, with Benny picking up 
! again in late February or early 
| March. After that, he’ll alternate 
! each week with the vidpix. 


:-w-e-e-ks.- • 

Also significant in the new Niel- 
sens is the fact that the hour- 
long dramatic shows, which have 
been noted for their absence from 
most of the rating services’ top 
10 lineups this season, are back in 
form, “Goodyear Playhouse” and 
“Philco Playhouse” (both NBC) 
are in the Nielsen winners. CBS- 
TV’s “I Love Lucy” of course, 
copped first place as usual. 

"On basis of homes reached, 
here's how the new Nielsens arc 
listed: ° 

Homes 

I Love Lucy 12,363.000 

Colgate Comedy Hour . . 9.865.000 

Godfrey & Friends 9,494.000 

■ Chesterfield) 

Texaco Star Theatre . . . 8.867.000 

■ Pah* Fights 8.850.000 

PMU io Fki? house 8.406,000 

Gangbusters 8.140.000 

Groucbo Marx Show. . . 7,897,000 
Goodyear TV Playhouse. 7,896,000 
Godfrey & Friends .... 7,558,000 
(Toni) 


TViog the Hard Way 

Salt Lake City, Nov. 25. 

KSL-TV has begun to run into 
complications resulting from its 
new mountain top transmitter 
which went into operation last 
week. First snow of the year 
blocked the only road to the trans- 
mitter and two men were sent out 
to do some road clearing. When no 
word was heard from them by 8 
p.m.. three deputy sheriffs started 
a search. 

The men, Milton Davis and Pack 
Kimball, were located at 10 p.m., 
with their tractor bogged down in 
snow drifts. 

Kimball bad additional troubles 
l he next day when he started out 
| to clear a snow drift. He felt the 
shoulder of the road give way and 
jumped to safety. Ilis tractor 
slipped 60 feet down the hill, 
caught on a rock, swung around 
and headed back up the hill. Kim- 
ball caught it as it got back on the 
road and drove off. 


order to the sponsor for the poor 
quality of the picture during the 
pickup of the U. of Southern Cali- 

fornia-UCLA football game last 
Saturday (22). American Tele- 
phone & Telegraph reportedly has 
admitted that an open circuit be- 
tween the Los Angeles Coliseum, 
site of the game, arid NBC’s Coast 
studios, fouled up the picture and, 
if a rebate is ordered, NBC will 
pay the sponsor and then dun 
AT&T for the bill. 

Question, according to NBC, re- 
volves about whether a sufficient 
number of viewers tuned out on 
the game and whether any com- 
mercial time was lost. NBC point- 
ed out that, while the picture was 
not good throughout the game, the 
only time it was actually off the air 
was for a few minutes during the 
first quarter. While final rating 
figures will determine the number 
of tune-outs, it was pointed out 
that the game was such a natural 
for TV that it’s presumed most 
viewers stuck with it despite the 
ghosts and reflections in the pic- 
ture. 

CBS’ ‘Come On 
Orer’ to GM As 
P&G Radio Sub 

CBS Radio is on the raiding war- 
path again. With Procter & Gam- 
ble axing two of its three early- 
evening quarter-hour strips on 
CBS, the web this week is pitching 
to General Mills to move “Lone 
Ranger” and “Silver Eagle,” which 
now alternate daily on the ABC 
web, over to CBS. CBS sales chief 
Eldon Hazard will be in Minneap- 
olis this week to make the initial 
overtures to GM, so a final deci-» 
sion is not expected too soon. 

P&G is cheeking off “Beulah,” 
aired from 7 to 7:15, and the Jack 
Smith-Dinah Shore show, in the 
7:15 to 7:30 slot, retaining Lowell 
Thomas from 6.45 to 7. “Ranger” 
and “Eagle” are now aired in the 
7:30 to 8 strip on ABC, with the 
former in on Mondays, Wednes- 
days and Fridays and “Eagle” on 
Tuesdays and Thursdays. As the 
basis of its pitch to GM, CBS is 
offering the lure of wider circula- 
tion (a bigger station lineup) and 
also less competition* from rival 
webs in the 7 to 7:30 period than 
the two shows now get from 7:30 
to 8. | 

While CBS reportedly granted a 
number of concessions to P&G at 
the start of this season to get the 
sponsor to renew, including a day- 
time rate charge for the evening 
half-hour strip, web execs insist 
that no such deals are being of- 
fered General Mills now. Since 
the P&G negotiations, CBS has re- 
vised its evening rate card down- 
wards and, according to web execs, 
will make no more bargain sales. 

Campbell Soup, which sponsors 
“Club 15” on CBS in the 7:30 to 
7:45 slot cross-the-board, has also 
reportedly decided to axe its show. 
What CBS will sub in that spot has 
not been determined. 


—And Still the Champ! 

CBS Radio’s “Amos ‘n’ 
Andy” show, on the same 
week it celebrated its 10.000th 
broadcast, had double cause to 
gloat by learning that it had 
zoomed into the lead position 
in Nielsen’s Top 10 lineup. 
“A ’n’ A” came up with an 
11.2, to nose out “Lux The- 
atre” by onc-tonth of a per- 
centage point. 

Following is the Nielsen 
Top 10, for the week of Oct. 
5-11: 

Amos ’n’ Andy iCBS) 11.2 

Lux Theatre (CBS) 11.1 

Jack Benny iCBS) lole 

Bergen-MeCarthy iCBS).. 9.3 

Talent Scouts (CBS) 8.8 

People Are Funny iCBS). 8.6 
Fibber & Molly 'NBC) ... 8 2 
Our Miss Brooks (CBS). . . 8.2 

Groueho Marx (NBC) 8.1 

Suspense tCBS) 7.6 


Rockefeller Center Dilemma 


In recent months there has been an unusually heavy accent on 
Rockefeller Center photographs and art work, featured notably on 
front covers of mass circulation national mags. It’s been a slick 
shrewd and deliberate campaign designed to extoll the beauties 
and virtues of one of the world’s most unique and outstanding 
edifices. 

Behind the campaign to vest Rockefeller with an increased sta- 
ture and sense of importance is seen the dilemma confronting the 
owners. This is in anticipation of the day when Rockefeller Center 
will lose its chief Radio City tenant — NBC. It may not be next 
year, or the year after, but it’s considered inevitable that the net- 
work, w r hich has already assumed octopus-like proportions with the 
TV-ascendancy, will be forced to\acate the premises for its own 
Television Center. As against thaL day, the Rockefeller Center 

landlords must alert themselves, to^a tenancy problem. 

, — ■ , ■ ' - ■ - . __ 

Colleges Set Up New Howls on Eve 

Of NCAA Meet on TV Grid Policy 


Framer’s ‘Greatest Man 
On Earth’ in ABC-TV Bow 

Indie packager Walt Framer, 
who now has more audience par- 
ticipationers on the air than any- 
one else in the trade, preems a 
new one next Wednesday night (3) 
on the ABC-TV web under the 
title of “Greatest Man or Earth.” 
Show will hold down the Wednes- 
day night 7:30 to 8 spot for five 
weeks, until Clorets takes over for 
its “Date With Judy” show, and 
then move to another nighttime 
spot on ABC. “Man” kicks off as a 
sustainer. 

Format w’ill revolve about women 
nominating the man of their 
choice as the “greatest man.” Five 
couples will then be selected to 
compete on the show each week. 
Winning couple in each five-week 
cycle w’ill then return for the sixth 
week to compete for the jackpot 
prize — a new car and a trip to Eu- 
rope. Framer said the total value 
of gifts each week will reach about 
$ 8 , 000 . 

New show will give Framer five 
programs on Wednesdays alone. 


Strike Blacks Out 
TV ‘Super Circus’ 

Chicago, Nov. 25. 

ABC-TV’s “Super Circus” failed 
to hit the air Sunday (23) when the 
Chi chapter of the National Assn, 
of Broadcast Engineers & Techni- 
cians (CIO) did a walkout of an 
hour duration. The Chi ABC-TV 
plant w r as shut down from 4 to 5 
p.m. while the NABET-repped en- 
gineers and traffic personnel left 
their posts to trek over to the Mor- 
rison Hotel for a specially called 
grievance meeting. 

WENR, the web’s radio station, 
was able to stay on the air with 
recorded music. 

Larry Balsley, Chi NABET 
chairman, said the walkout was 
ordered to call attention “to an 
accumulation of grievances” over 
W’orking conditions and what he 
termed contract violations and un- 
fair labor practices. Union claims 
that a gal office w’orker was recent- 
ly let go for union activity* 
NABET, w'hich currently reps the 
ABC engineers, news writers and 
traffic personnel, has been attempt- 
ing to corral the general office 
staffers. 

NABET formally filed unfair 
labor practices charges against 
ABC here yesterday (Mon.). Com- 
plaint- filed- -with -NLRB... charges 
the web fired Loraine Kielbara, 
recording staffer, for her “union 
activities.” 


Chicago, Nov. 25. 

A chorus of powerful midwest 
voices was raised the past few days 
calling for either changes or dis- 
carding of the National Collegiate 
Athletic Assn.’s restrictions on 
football telecasts. Fact that athletic 
directors from tw’o of the top Big 
10 schools have come forth with 
new formulas and, the athletic 
chief of powerful indie Notre Dame 
has flatly dubbed the present pro- 
gram a failure, points to the strong 
likelihood that the project will be 

in for a drastic revamping at the 
NCAA convention next January in 
Washington. 

Notre Dame, in fact, isn’t w aiting 
for the national conclave to launch 
its counterattack against the cur- 
rent system which limits TV cov- 
erage to one game w'eekly. Ath- 
letic director Ed Krause and the 
Rev. Edmund Joyce, exec veepee 
and athletic board chairman, will 
take their case to the New York 
meeting next week of the NCAA’s 
TV committee. Notre Dame went 
along only, reluctantly with this 
year’s program and it’s now be- 
come obvious that the prominent 
Catholic school has made it a mat- 
ter of major policy to oppose any 
future limitations on Its rights to 
make its own video deals. 

In a series of statements here 
last week Krause called the so- 
called controlled experiments con- 
ducted the past two years by the 
NCAA a complete failure “which 
hasn’t proved anything except that 
television, like radio and newspa- 
pers, is here to stay.” 

From the U of Illinois has come 
a suggestion from athletic director 
Doug Mills suggesting a step up in 
the number of games permitted in 
each region on a given Saturday, 
He proposes a double-feature ar- 
rangement with two Big 10 games 
open to TV each week with a local 
blackout for the home team unless 
its game is sold out. Mills, inci- 
dentally, sees subscription TV as 
the final answer, holding that com- 
pletely w’ide open video would 
work a hardship on all but a few 
schools. 

A similar proposal has been 
tossed into the hopper by Fritz 
Crisler, Michigan's athletic chief. 

With the various university prex- 
ies paying closer heed to their ath- 
letic plants, it’s believed that the 
recent flurry of statements sug- 
gesting improvements of the NCAA 
program have been a reflection of 
top level thinking on a situation 
which has posed tough public re- 
lation problems, particularly for 
the tax-supported institutions. 



which claims Miss Kielbara was 
let out because her position was 
abolished along with a number of 
others as part of a general re- 
trenchment. 


Chuckles Rides ‘Riders’ 

Chuckles candy has bought 
“Range Riders” for the 4:30-5 p. m. 
Sunday slot on WJZ-TV, N. Y. Buy 
supplements the backer’s coverage 
in N. Y., since it just bought “Hail 
the Champ” on the ABC-TV net- 
work alternate Saturdays at 11:30 
a. m. 

Show gives WJZ-TV a strong 
two-hour kid block on Sundays, 
since “Riders” will be followed by 
the chain’s “Super Circus” at 5 
p. m. and the local “Captain Mid- 
night” for Ovaltine at 6 p. m. 


On CBS-TV ‘Betsy’ 

Lover Bros, this week decided to 
check off CBS-TV’s “Heaven for 
Betsy” show, aired Tuesdays and 
Thursdays from 7:45 to 8 p. m. 
, Soap firm is also giving up the 
j time, with the last sponsored broad- 
: cast set for Christmas Day. Agency 
, on the account is McCann-Erickson. 
j CBS programming execs have 
• not yet decided on a replacement, 
i They claim to have received sev- 
. oral sponsor nibbles, so that, final 
' determination of what show goes 
Into the twice-weekly period "'ill 
depend on which bankroller buys 
the time. “Betsy” has been av* 
eraging about a is in the ratings* 
which Lever reportedly considered 
LtnoJew^in view of its investment. 


Wednesday, November 26, 1952 


PySS^Sff 


IlUUO-TKIJLYlSlON 


29 


< 


PALEY COMET’ DESIGNED FOR TV 


Weiss as FCC Chairman? 

There’s a strong likelihood that Lewis Allen Weiss, ihe former 
head of the Don Lee network on the Coast, will become the next 
chairman of the Federal Communications Commission under the 
regime of President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower, 

The reports circulating in Hollywood, Washington and in New 
York of Weiss' being in a favored position for the FCC spot is more 
than idle rumor, it’s known. Weiss, in turn, would like the job 
very much. Since the sale of Don Lee to the new Mutual network 
hierarchy dominated by Tom O’Neil, Weiss has been on the side- 
lines, although he’s held down a Government berth in Washington 
divorced from broadcasting. He was active in the Eisenhower 
election campaigning, as was his wife, who in fact played a key 
role in the Election Eve coast-to-coast TV wrapup of the Ike cam- 
paign. 


NBC-TV to Launch Post-Midnight 
Mysteriosos— If Stations Play Ball 


CBS EYES TOP 



NBC has decided to break new^| 
ground for network television, 
opening up the 12:30 to 1 a.m. 
period for a new series of live 
mysteriosos titled “Mysteries at 
Midnight.” Web will test the post- 
midnight programming idea for 
four Sunday nights starting Jan. 

11 and then, if enough stations 
sign on to carry the show, will 
continue it indefinitely. 

Net’s programming execs have 
been toying with the idea of open- 
ing up the post-midnight hpurs 
since it lost its 11 p.m. to midnight 
slot to its local stations when 
“Broadway Open House” went off 

the air. New move is considered 
especially significant, in that NBC 
will still wind its Sunday evening 
network programming at 10:30, 
letting its affiliates continue to 
program until 12:30.” (Most of 
the local outlets carry news and 
feature film shows after the net 
closes down.) Web will then re- 
turn with the mysterioso series at 
12:30. 

Each of the half-hour shows is 
to be split up into two qUarter- 
hour stories, generally designed as 
suspenseful psychological dramas 
for followers of late evening mys- 
teries. Series is to be produced 
and directed by Albert McCleery, 
originator of / the low-budgeted 
“Cameo Theatre” technique of 
TV dramatics. Web will attempt 
to get name personalities from 
legit and TV to serve as narrators. 

NBC? hopes to air the series 
live from coast-to-coast and is 
confident the idea will be picked 
up by most affiliates, including 
those in single-station markets, 
since there will be no competition 
from other networks at that time 
of night. Series will also, however, 
be kinescoped for any affiliates 
desiring to carry it at some other 
time. 

While the selling pattern for 
the mysteries has not been defi- 
nitely determined, it’s expected 
that NBC will go after a network 
advertiser to buy the show as a 
package. Possibility also exists, 
however, that the series may be 
co-opped with affiliates pitching it 
for local sponsorship. 


Equitable Ankles 
BE After 8 Yrs. 


f 

M 


After eight years of continuous 
sponsorship of “This Is Your 
FBI" on ABC, Equitable Life is 
cancelling out of the officially- 
backed stanza after the Dec. 19 
broadcast. Show is in the Friday 
8; 3() p. m. slpt, and is one of the 
mainstays of the web’s strong Fri- 
day lineup. 

Future plans for the program 
*nd the period are not yet set. Pro- 
ducer Jerry Devine, who has been 
associated with the airer since its 
meeption. is going to Washington 
conferences this week. It’s 
dnderstood that ABC feels it a 
mgnh saleable commodity and is 
merest ed in sustaining the show 
11 a banker isn’t inked. 


Jerome Lawrence & 
Robert E, Lee 

who are elosorthanthis explain 
their 

Schizophrenia, 

I Love You 

* * ★ 

an amusing byline piece in the 
forthcoming 

47th Armii'prsary Number 

of 

P'&RIETY 


By GEORGE ROSEN 

Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

With the TV , City dedication 
frills back in camphor, CBS hoard 
chairman William S. Paley, extend- 
ing his Coast stay for another 10 
days, moved on several fronts last 
week to translate his handsome 
but as yet practically vacant Gill- 
more Island edifice into a reality 
of programming activity. 

No sooner had the hoopla sub- 
sided than Paley, TV programming 
chief Hubbell Robinson, Jr., and 
Coast TV boss Harry Ackerman 
went into swift action to reaffirm 
the “Operations TV City” concept 
of live Coast programming for the 
j future, and to hitch some new and 
j valuable properties onto the now- 
! famous “Paley Comet.” 

j The round-robin of post-dedica- 
tion activity resolved itself into: 

' 1. Huddles with Bing Crosby, 

! who is tied exclusively to CBS, 

: both for radio and TVj with a view 
| toward bringing him into the web’s 
. video roster with his own show 
j emanating from TV City. Thus far 
: Crosby has held himself aloof from 
i the medium (except for last sea- 
• son’s all-night telethon with Bob 
1 Hope) and so far has only inti- 
! mated that he’d do a sporadic guest 
1 shot or two on the Fred Waring 
; TV show on behalf of his General 
I Electric radio sponsor. As one of 
the alltime show biz greats, a Bing 
! Crosby on the permanent TV roster 
would cause no little jubilation 
within the CBS program precincts. 

Meighan-Skelton Huddle 

2. The surprising teamup of CBS 
veepee Howard Meighan (one of 
the “daddies” of the whole TV City 
project in the days when he headed 
up the Columbia operation on the 
Coast) and Red Skelton (an NBC 
property) for a flying visit last 
week to Acapulco, Mexico. It has 
raised conjecture as to whether the 
cqjnic may not wind up as an added 
starter at CBS’ TV City next sea- 
son. It’s no secret that the present 
Skelton NBC show (now on film) 
has created some unhappiness, par- 
ticularly with the sponsor, Procter 
& Gamble, with possibility seen of 
Skelton being enticed over to the 
Paley camp, new format and all. 

3. Immediate creation of new 
dramatic properties to originate 
from TV City, including one called 
“First Edition,” which will be a 
sounding board for the nation's top 
writers, with- their works to be spe- 
cially adapted for TV. Also in this 
category falls a new adventure 

designed to capture the 


‘Martin Kane AM 
Casualty With TV 
Again the ‘Villain 

Indication that radio might be 
in for more sponsor cancellations 
at the hands of TV was seen this 
week in the decision of U. S. To- 
bacco to check off the NBC radio 
version of its “Martin Kane, Pri- 
vate Eye” show. Execs of the Kud- 
ner agency, which handles the ac- 
count, explained that they are well 
satisfied with the results of the AM 
show, but intimated that the wider 
TV coverage now obainable via the 
opening of new market areas makes 
it possible lor the first time to 
get most of the circulation neces- 
sary from TV alone. 

In combatting the inroads of TV, 

radio network sales execs have con- j senes , - „ „ . 

sistently offered as their top argu- 1 breadth and scope off a Hollywood 

w • _ .i filin Tmc Tin 11 no mfhnr o 


Boxing Managers Form Guild in Bid 
To Break IBC’s AM-TV Hammerlock; 
Sell Bavuk-Backed Fights to ABC 


John Cameron Swayze 

recalls a few things about 

High Pressure Muggs 

(and Other Newspaper Flashbacks) 


an interesting editorial feature 
in the soon-due 

47th Anniversary Number 
of 

JSfit&IEfY 


‘Bring In Bing’ 
3-Way Agency 
TV Battle Cry 


ment that video cannot provide ad- 
vertisers with the complete audi- 
ence necessary for their campaigns. 
With radio’s low eost-per-thousand 
payoff in most cases, it was point- 
ed out, the smart bankroller 


film. This will be either a 30-min- 
ute or full hour show and is tenta- 
tively slated for Saturday nights 
at 10. 

4. With “My Friend Irma” al- 
ready originating from TV City, 


Strictly as an offshoot of the hud- 
dling that went on last week on 
the Coast between the CBS brass 
and Bing Crosby in the hopes of es- 
tablishing the singer with a sub- 
stantial TV identity, there’s some 
three-way agency maneuvering 
also going on for fear that, when 
the papers are signed, they’ll be 
out in the cold. 

CBS board chairman William S. 
Paley and TV programming veepee 
Hubbell Robinson, Jr., huddled with 
Crosby in an effort to entice him 
into TV on a regular basis. What- 
ever Crosby decides, he’s commit- 
ted to CBS and also to General 
Electric, his new radio sponsor. 
Thus far Crosby has indicated that 
he’ll only show up sporadically on 
TV, probably integrating his talent 
(along with his kids) into the GE- 
sponsored Fred Waring Sunday 
night show on CBS-TV (with War- 
ing also bringing along his kids). 

In such an eventuality, Crosby 
would fall into the BBD&O col- 
umns, since that’s the agency han- 
dling the Waring property. But 
Young & Rubicam says: “What 
about us?” since they handle the 
GE division sponsoring Crosby on 
I radio and feel they’re more entitled 
to the singer’s TV services than 
anyone. And somewhere along the 
line the Maxon agency ties into the 
picture with its own GE billings 
with a “what, gives here?” 


4- In a move to break the hammer- 
lock of the International Boxing 
Club on arranging fights for radio 
and television, a number of key 
boxing managers have formed a 
guild to get into the video field on 
their own. 

New guild is headed by Ray 
Arcel, w.k. manager, who will also 
act as match-maker. Managers in 
the new combo have agreed to 
give Famous Sports Enterprises, 
Inc., first crack at their leather- 
pushers, who include some of the 
top pugilists around. FSE has sold 
the package to . ABC-TV, Bayuk 
Cigars and Ellington agency and 
it will be launched on ABC-TV on 
Jan. 24. Bouts will be staged Sat- 
urdays in the 9-10 p.m. hour, with 
the sole commercial competition 
at present being NBC-TV’s “Your 
Show of Shows.” 

With the fight managers in the 
ABC corner, it’s anticipated that 
the new Saturday night fightcasts 
will comprise topflight cards. 
Among the pugs whose managers 
are in the guild are Rocky Castel- 
lani, Omelio Agramonle, Kid Gavi- 
lan, Willie Pep, Danny Nardico, 
Nino Valdez, Juan Padilla, Eddie 
Chavez, Lee Sala, Walter Cartier, 
Bob Murphy, Billy Graham, Gene 
Hairston, Paddy Demarco, Jimmy 
Flood, Cesar Brion and Johnny 
Bratton, among others. 

Bayuk, which is cancelling out 
on “Adventures of Ellery Queen” 
in the 9 p.m., Wednesday slot on 
ARC-TV to pick up the matches, 
is looking for a co-sponsor. In the 
event that another bankroller isn’t 
inked, Bayuk will take the show 
on its own. Ellington agendy’s 
idea is to have Bayuk and the 
second backer alternate. • 

Fights will be 10-rounders with 
Pete Jaeger, who was in charge 
of sales for ABC-TV some years 
back, as package producer. Fights 
will run from 9 p.m. to conclusion, 
with the period from the windup 
to 10 p.m. to berth a “telescopable ‘ 
(Continued on page 39) 


would utilize both media to insure ] Jack Benny, who goes alternate 
complete coverage.. Now that TV ’ " 

is opening up in cities which pre- 
viously had no outlets, such as Den- 
ver and Portland, the AM argu- 
ment may be less forceful. 

“Kane” TV show, for example, 
now is aired in 68 markets as origi- 


weeks next season, has notified 
Paley to “count me in” on a TV 
City origination. Also, “Life with 
Luigi” starts TV City originations 
on Dec. 15; Art Linkletter’s 
“House Party” in January. 

5. Introduction of an “indoctri- 


nated. Thursday, nights on the NBC | nation. .course,” ..which.. started.. Last 
web. Radio show, aired Sunday [ week, to familiarize the producers, 
afternoons on NBC, was the second J directors and other behind-the- 
highest-rated network Sabbath day- 'scenes operators with all the newly- 
time show. It checks off after the j conceived gadgetry that has gone 
Dec. 21 broadcast. Lee Tracy, who j into TV City, to permit for maxi- 
stars in botli versions, will continue \ mum use and effectiveness, 
on the video show. 


TOWN MEETING’ SETS 
TOKYO ORIGINATION 

Due to mounting concern over 
the Korean stalemate, ABC’s 
“America’s Town Meeting of the 
Air” flies to Tokyo for its Dec 16 
broadcast. Topic will be What 
Are the Answers from Korea? 

William R. Traum, AM-1V di- 
rector of Town Hall, said that the 
public is being invited to submit 
questions, which will be tackled by 
a panel of four or six U. S. cor- 
respondents. Queries will be 
taped in the U. S. ABC newscaster 
Gunnar Back will be moderatoi. 


Garry Moore Sponsorship 
Again on Ascendancy; 
Daytimer’s 60 % Sellout 

CBS-TV this week sold another 
segment of its daytime Garry 
Moore showv-w-hich means- the show 
is now 60% sold. Pillsbury Mills, 
which had bought the 1:45 to 2 .p.m. 
segment on Tuesdays, signed on to 
take the same segment Mondays 
also. Agency is Campbell-Mcthune. 

_ , , , . Show is aired, in the 1:30 to 2 

Perhaps outstanding of all the ; p.m. slot cross-the-board. New sale 

marks the first time that Moore’s 
daytimer has been more than 50% 
sold since last spring. Prior to that 
time, when it was aired as an hour 
program daily, it was SRO, repre- 
senting more than $6,000,000 in an- 
nual billings for CBS. 


99 


(Continued on page 41) 


Success Story 

NBC-TV’s early morning 
“Today” show hit the bankroll 
jackpot this week, with aggre- 
gate billings of $90,000 in the 
till for a seven-day period. 
That’s tops to date, represent- 
ing a 40% sellout. 

Two - hour cross - the - board 
show is geared to a potential 
of $12,000,000 a year, should 
it dver achieve a 52-week 100% 
sellout. 

Program this week also hit 
a banner 41-station lineup. 


‘Break Bank’ Gets 
Bristol-Myers Axe 

Bristol-Myers is axing the Sun- 
day night 9:30 “Break the Bank” 
show on CBS-TV. The client is 
keeping time, but what goes in as 
a replacement is still a matter of 
conjecture, with final decision re- 
ported imminent by c the agency, 
Doherty, Clifford & Shenfield. 

Strongest contender for the spot 
is said to be “This Is Show Busi- 
ness,” which is currently spotted 
in the Sunday evening 7:30 period 
for American Tobacco, but which 
is being replaced by the new Ann 
fothern vidpix series. 

Although Bristol-Myers has made 
some overtures to acquire the PSI, 
Inc., “Police Story" vidpix series 
as replacement for “Break the 
Bank ” . .GBS-Jis. anxious .to JUJ ..the... 
time with one of its own proper- 
ties, preferably “Show Business,” 
and has been making an allout 
pitch for the B-M acquisition. 


KTBC-TV's Turkey Preem 

Austin, Tex., Nov. 25. 

KTBC-TV, first local TV outlet, 
is scheduled to take to the air here 
on Thursday (27) with a telecast of 
the traditional Thanksgiving Day 
football classic between the Univ. 
of Texas and Texas A & M. 

Station will be affiliated with the 
CBS-TV and DuMont networks. 


WILLYS ALSO RIDES 
ON INAUGURATION 

Just as the convention-election 
coverage was a battle of the ice- 
boxes, the upcoming Presidential 
inauguration has developed into a 
campaign of the cars. Willys-Over- 
land has been inked to back the 
coverage of President Eisenhow- 
er’s inauguration on ABC radio 
and tele, joining Packard’s ride on 
CBS and General Motors’ on NBC. 

Willys Is taking the full ABC 
radio skein and about 12-14 sta- 
tions on ABC-TV. Web will have 
the full ceremonies, running from 
11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. without in- 
terruptions. Agency is Ewell & 
Thurber. 


30 


HA1HO REVIEWS 


PS&mTf 


W edneeday, N ovemlb cr 26, 1952 


NAME THAT TUNE 
With Red Benson, emcee; Wayne 

Howell, announcer; June Valli, 

Harry Salter orch 
Producer: Salter 
Directors: Bob Reid, Larry Dorn 
30 Mins.; Fri., 8:30 p.m. 

Sustaining: 

NBC, from New York 

Harry Salter, who conducted the' 
orch on the demised “Stop the 
Music,” has come up with another 
musical quizzer. “Name That 
Tune,” however, doesn’t have the 
dialer giveaway angle with phone 
calls and lavish prizes serving as 
audience bait. This is a straight 
studio participationer, although 
the home folk get coin if their 
lists of tunes are selected. 

It adds up to an enjoyable game 
show. Two contestants compete 
against each other in tagging the 
tunes, with the rounds ticketed 
for progres'vely more dough — go- 
ing from $5 to $10, $20, $40 and 
$80. Winner of each $80 poser 
gets a crack at the jackpot — iden- 
tifying^ two or the three jackpot 
tunes takes the “music box” of 
$500. Three pairs of participants 
tried on the first broadcast, none 
taking home the big dough. 

> Selection of contestants was 
good. Not only were they dis- 
tinctive and colorful, but they had 
accents to match. They included 
a French girl studying in N. Y., a 
Navy cook from Texas, a waitress, 
a sailor, an Irish-'American eleva- 
tor operator and a Polish-born 
high school girl. Coin-seekers 
were amusing, even if some of 
their ad libs may have been 
primed. One tar answered that 
the ant*que grandma keeps in the 
parlor is “grandpa.” Another 
brought down t^e house by label- 
ing the “Estudiantina” waltz as 

My Beer is Rheingold the Dry 
Beer.” Elevator op got a laugh 
by calling himself an “inside avia- 
tor.” 

Red Benson emceed the proceed- 
ings brightly, dropping some cute 
clues end occasionally warbling 
himself. Chirp June Valli (also 
a Stop the Music” alumna) 
pleased, but rates a spot where 
she’s not interrupted by the bells 
and buzzers. There’s a nice twist 
in having her sing the title words 
in the lyrics in an appropriate 
foreign tongue to avoid tipping the 
answer. Another device is having 
a "mystery voice” insert the cor- 
rect title on some less familiar 
numbers, so that the tuner-in is 
primed. Salter provides good mu- 
sical backing and is also on hand 
as the music expert. (Show, in- 
cidentally, is heard in N. Y. via 
tape a day after the web-airing.) 

Bril. 


SYMPHONY 


SAN FRANCISCO 
REHEARSAL 
With Enrique Jorda; San Fran- 
cisco Symnhony 
Producer-Editor: William Gavin 
30 Mins., Fri., 7 p.m. 

Susiainiiig- 

KNBC, San Francisco 

Headmaster Lloyd Yoder of 
KNBC believes his 50,000 watts are 
heard by thousands of classical 
ears. So he’s been pouring it on for 
the benefit of these appreciative, 
good music listeners. And with 
profitable returns. 

From 1 a.m. ’til dawn, nightly, he 
airs symphonic recordings. 

Last summer he lured Symphon- 
1st Alhert White into the KNBC 
fold. Together they blueprinted a 
half-hour concert series, soon sold 
ft — lock, stock and orchestra — cross 
the board, six nights a week, to 
Morris Plan. 

Now Yoder is testing another 
classical music idea, novel to this 
area. Once a week he sends prod- 
ucer William Gavin to the San 
Francisco Symphony rehearsal with 
instructions to stand by for three 
hours and tape the works — the 
music, the maestro’s commands, 
the conversations, the hit, the runs 
and the errors. 

Mikes are stashed around the 
■orchestra. with ..one .on. the conduc- 
tor’s podium to pick up whispers, 
even. Gavin, a man with years of 
musical experience, then edits his 
tape to 30 minute dimension, care- 
fully balances music with com- 
ments, occasionally overrides it 
with explanatory asides from his 
announcer. 

The edited package, unveiling 
musicians at work, is a backstage 
^revelation to any music lover be 
he classicist or no. Idea is partic- 
ularly appropriate this year be- 
cause the symphony is using guest 
conductors Leopold Stokowski, 
Bruno Walter, Alfred Wallenstein, 

First two programs featured 
Spanish conductor Enrique Jorda 
who proved to be firm, dynamic, 
polite and extremely fascinating as 
he clarified his orchestral com- 
mands with his own vocalizing 
Yoder insured a solid kickoff 
audience by time-slotting the show 
in a good music” bloc, preceded 
gytoe network “Symphonette” and 
White's “Masters of Melody.” 

It’s a cultural experiment with 
commercial possibilities. Dwit . 


OLD KENTUCKY BARN DANCE 
With Randy Atchcr, Janie Work- 
man, Bernie Smith, Tiny 

Thomale, Shortly Chesser, Bill 
Pickett, House Sisters Trio, 

Sleepy Marlin String Band. 
Producer: Bill Aldrich 
30 Mins., Saturday, 9:30 p.m. 
Sustaining 

CBS, from Louisville 
Reaching down into the South- 
ern folk music belt, CBS picked 
up the long-established Old' Ken- 
tucky Barn Dance, a regular Fri- 
day night feature on WHAS, (22) 
to bring the folks over the country 
a half-hour sesh of real Kentucky 
hoe down music, singing, fiddling 
and yodeling. Headed by Randy 
Atcher, a solid local fave with the 
listeners, show had plenty of vocal 
and instrumental music to please 
a wide range of listeners. 

Femme contingent, headed by 
Janie Workman singing "Two- 
Faced Clock” and “Tennessee 
Yodel Polka,” also had the House 
Sisters, harmony trio who warbled 
the timely “Winter Wonderland.” 
Shorty Chesser chirped a favorite 
tune in the Kentucky area “Rock 
of Gibraltar,” and baritone Bill 
Pickett, station staffer, contrib- 
uted a Western tune with whistling 
effects “All Day on the Prairie.” 

Fiddling department was sparked 
by Sleepy Marlin, who has won a 
number of championships for his 
scraping of the catgut, ^his best 
was the novelty “Orange ’Blossom 
Special,” with some realistic train 
effects on the fiddle. Shorty and 
Janie kept thinks moving with a 
duet “Three Ways of Knowing.” 

Randy Atcher, who handled the 
introes, had his inning with a chil- 
dren’s tune “Santa Claus Rides a 
Snow White Pony,” which should 
get a ride on the airwaves during 
the upcoming Christmas season. 
Show closed with group singing, 
led by Atcher, of the religioso 
hymn “Prayer of Thanksgiving,” 
the audience joining in on the 
tune. Tiny Thomale, a hot local 
fave at the piano, gave yeoman 
keyboard support, and clicked in 
his own spot. 

While the regular Friday night 
show usually has comedy segments, 
this one mostly music. Fast paced 
by Bill Aldrich, producer, shows 
of this type could well be spotted 
occasionally on the network. Next 
show from Louisville is • skedded 
for Jan. 3. Several CBS network 
shows were plugged at opening 
and Close of the Barn Dance, with 
background of cheers from the 
cast. 

Saturday night country style 
with it’s guitar pickin’ and singin’, 
should be a welcome visitor in 
homes all over the country. Good, 
wholesome listening. Wied. 


SUSAN KAYE COOKING 
SCHOOL 

With Susan Kamiensky 
30 Mins., Mon.-thru-Fri., 9 a.m. 
Participating 
WRGB, Schenectady 
WRGB, in rearranging its sched- 
ule, spotted Susan Kaye (Kamien 
sky) in a 30-minute morning slot, 
half of which had been occupied 
thrice weekly by Georgia Meredith 
for another women’s feature, “How 
To Be Attractive.” Addition of 
“Cooking School” gives the Gen 
eral Electric Co. station two local 
food-preparation shows. “Taste 
time” with Bonnie Ross is the 
other daily feature. 

Miss Kamiensky, who has been 
a dietician, lecturer and cafeteria 
manager, and has telecast in Utica, 
outlined two full meals on blocks 
viewed. The second covered a New 
England boiled dinner, femme’s 
comments seeming to indicate she 
comes from that section. Both 
times Miss Kamiensky spoke with 
clarity, and authority, although her 
program organization could be 
slightly tightened, timing sharp- 
ened and projection improved. 

Jaco. . 


WESTERN- -VARIETIES.. 

With Doye O’Dell, Britt Wood, 
Devvie Davenport, others 
60 Mins.; Sat., 7:30 p.m. 
Participating 
KTLA, Hollywood 
KTLA has slotted this hour-long 
hoedown back-to-back with the 
high-rated Spade Cooley show, ob- 
viously in an effort to monopolize 
the Saturday night audience. But 
the newcomer has a long way to 
go, with a good deal of scraping off 
the rough edges before it will 
chalk up any appreciable ratings. 

Gopd cornball music is the best 
feature, and there’s a definite au- 
dience for this type of corn in 
L. A.,. as evidenced by the increas- 
ing number of such shows, along 
with fairly high ratings. But what 
goes on between the numbers is 
n.s.g., with emcee Doye O’Dell ill 
at ease, particularly when he at- 
tempts to be flip. 

Tossed into the hopper are a 
variety of acts, including a hoss 
which does tricks, and a bull-whip 
artist, but they don’t add a thing, 
(Continued on page 41) 


REPORT TO THE PEOPLE 
Wtyh Mrs. Dorothy Dunbar Bromley 
Director: Howard Phillips • 

30 Mins.; Wed., 9:30 p.m. 
Sustaining 
WMCA, N. Y. 

Here’s a fine example of what a 
local indie radio station can do in 
the way of public service program- 
ming. It’s a documentary series 
dealing with various problems 
presently confronting New York 
City, done in the manner of CBS 
Radio’s award-winning “Nation’s 
Nightmare” last year. Mrs. Dorothy 
Dunbar Bromley, of WMCA’s pub- 
lic service department, takes her 
taping equipment’ out on the street 
for interviews with citizens, public 
officials and others connected with 
the problems and, if the series 
gains the audience it deserves, it 
could help considerably in solving 
these problems. 

Mrs. Bromley is concentrating at 
the outset on crime on the city’s 
streets and the introduction to that 
problem last Wednesday night (19) 
pointed up the laxity of the police 
department, the Mayor’s office and 
other municipal agencies in com- 
bating the. danger. Through a 
dramatic series of interviews taped 
on the scene with women who had 
been mugged or molested, or with 
neighbors who had come to their 
rescue, she stressed the present 
danger. Then, for further empha- 
sis, she injected tapes of a special 
spot-check taken by WMCA staf- 
fers revealing the complete ab- 
sence of patrolmen or police prowl 
cars in the same vicinities even 
after the crimes had taken place. 

Initial stanza dealt only with 
those phases' of the problem. It’s to 
be hoped that, in the interests of 
fair play, Mrs. Bromley gives the 
police department more of a 
chance to answer back, if it can, 
in succeeding shows. But, aside 
from that, the new series repre- 
sents a socko public service cru- 
sade undertaken by WMCA, and 
both the station management and 
Mrs. Bromley are to be commended 
for their work in getting the show 
on the air. 

A newspaper and magazine 
by-lines prior to joining WMCA, 
Mrs Bromley will focus her spot- 
light on “Crime and Housing” as 
the next problem to be brought to 
light. Series is being released by 
WMCA for the State Dept.’s “Voice 
of America.” Stal. . 


PAYROLL PARTY 
-With Nicholas Girard 
Producer-director: Norman Con- 
quest 

25 Mins., Sat., 11:30 a.m. 
AMERICAN LARDER SUPPLY 
CO. 

ABC, from New York 

(M. J. Jacobs) 

This new ABC entry, which is 
pegged for the housewife dialer 
and on the housewife participant,- 
may be a case in point for bachelor- 
hood or an explanation of the up- 
beat in the divorce rate. Format 
is of the familiar quiz-game genre 
and for a reward such as £ix pair 
of nylon stockings 'Contrives to get 
hausfrau volunteers to go through 
ridiculous paces in front of the 

mike. The nylons may be an in- 
ducement for the housewife to play 
along in the proceedings but it’s 
doubtful if there’s any understand- 
able inducement for the femme 

dialer to keep the show on. 

Some of the banalities on the 
initial program Saturday morning 
(22) included having the femmes, 
all over the age of consent, imitate 
a horse, a sheep, a snake and a 
canary. It was all done in the 

spirit of good fun, of course, but 
it hardly came across as good en- 
tertainment. 

Nicholas Girard supplied an 

ersatz festive air as the host. His 
styling - was in that standard ex- 
uberant vein which all quizzer em- 
cees have down pat. The gals fol- 
lowed him from one silly sequence 
to another and the willingness with 
which they followed was somewhat 
reminiscent of the Pied Piper of 
Hamelin yarn. 

Plugs for ALSCO were a .wel- 
come relief. Gros. 


M. 

Sar- 


THE CONSUMER SPEAKS 
With Tighe Woods, Joseph 
Robie, Rolf Hertsgaard 
Producer - director: Charles 
jeant 

30 Mins.; Fri. (14), 9:30 p.m. 
WCCO, Minneapolis 
This highly interesting recorded 
show brought to the WCCO audi 
ence a portion of the OPS Admin- 
istrator Tighe Woods local price 
controls meeting, one of a nation 
wide series and held here, at the 
station’s invitation, in the 500-seat 
WCCO Auditorium where it at- 
tracted 350 people, mostly women 
In order to produce it, WCCO staf- 
fer Charles Sarjeant taped the en- 
tire 90 minutes of proceedings and 
then edited them into a 30-min- 
ute package. Orchids should go 
to Sarjeant for a boff job. The 
resultant show was completely en- 
grossing and, apparently, gave 
both price control proponents and 
opponents an equally fair shake, 
enlightened listeners unable to at- 
tend the meeting but still vitally 
concerned' about this subject 
which affects every pursestring, 
and cleared up many doubts about 
inflation, food and other living 
costs and price trends. It stacks 
up as another of WCCO’s numer- 
ous praiseworthy public services. 

At this meeting, like at the 
others, Woods sought to elicit 
the public’s opinion and comments 
and endeavored to acquaint more 
fully with price controls workings. 
During the discussion those pres- 
ent were invited to be frank when 
they took the floor to unbosom 
themselves or to ask questions 
which - he and- Joseph .M. .. Robie, 
regional OPS director, tried to an- 
swer. Rolf Hertsgaard also helped 
with his small but important an- 
nouncing contribution. 

Fireworks enlivened the show 
when one woman heatedly told 
Woods that the greatest thing that 
could happen for overburdened 
taxpayers would be for him and 
other bureaucrats to clear out of 
Washington, for the ending of so- 
cialistic experiments and for the 
U. S. to quit feeding, clothing and 
arming the whole world. 

Replying, Woods commented that 
the Nov. 4 elections probably 
would take care of some of her 
grievances, but when there were 
snickers, he also told the audience 
not to laugh yet because there'd 
be somebody to replace him. He 
also pointed out that except for 
controls the nation’s defense bill 
would be many times larger. It 
will devolve upon the new <- Con- 
gress to decide if controls shall 
be junked, but if they are, he pre- 
dicted, many prices will rise, judg- 
ing by pressures on him. Rees. 


HARLEM AMATEUR HOUR 
With Lucky Millinder, Ethel 
Waters, Dizzy Gillespie. 
Producer: Bobby Schiffman 
45 Mins., Wed., 11:15 p.m. 
APOLLO THEATRE, N. Y. 

WJZ, from New York 

( Warren , Jackson & Delaney ) 

After £f 15-year run on WMCA, 
New York indie, the “Harlem 
Amateur Hour,” which, incidental- 
ly, runs only three-quarters of an 
hour, switched to ABC’s New York 
flagship, WJZ, Wednesday (19) for 
another season on the airlanes. 
Moveover to the larger outlet did 
not augur any changes in the stand- 
ard format and it remains an un- 
inhibited session which will hold 
the following built over the years 
of broadcasting and perhaps pick 
up some new fans. 

Show follows the same pattern 
as the dozens of other talent scout 
shows on radio and tele but it gets 
its exceptional lift from the out- 
spoken aud sitting in at the Apollo 
Theatre. They’re as quick with 
their approval cheers as they are 
with their hoots of dissent. It gives 
the show a lively and spontaneous 
quality that’s hard to match. 

Only fault on the preem show 
.was the poor remote pickup job. 
The WJZ engineers had better test 
their mike setup on- a dry run 
before putting the show on the 
airlanes. The inconsistency of the 
sound pickup had a distracting in- 
fluence. 

Calibre of the talent showcased 
ran the gamut from very good 
to n.s.g. Winners on the opening 
sesh were the Calypso Clovers who 
belted out a rousing rendition of 
“My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean.” 

Lucky Millinder handled the em- 
cee chores adequately while guests 
Ethel Waters and Dizzy Gillespie 
were okay with their workovers of 
“St. Louis Blues” and “Sunny Side 
of the Street,” respectively. 

Gros. 


JOHNNY ANDREWS’ MORNING 
BANDWAGON 


THIS IS TOBY 
With Mark Toby 
60 Mins.; Sat., II a.m. 

WEVD, New York 
Mark Toby has put together an 
offbeat platter show for a 60-min- 
ride Saturday mornings on 
WEVD, N. Y., indie. Although the 
station devotes most of Its air time 
to Yiddish language programs. 
Toby s sesh is strictly anglais and 
should help widen WEVD’s aud 
Toby surrounds his platter plays 
with a steady stream of satirical 
patter with fictional characters im- 
personated by himself. The gab 
is easygoing and sprinkled with 
just enough wry wit to command 
attention all the way. The imagi- 
nary character on the show caught 
Saturday (22) was an Irish bar- 
tender. Although Toby is a little 
weak in brogue carboning, the 
sesh was packed with appeal and 
charm. 

The disks, which are integrated 
between the dialog, run the gamut 
irom classical to pops and are se- 
lected to blend with the preced- 
ing patter. All in all a delightful 
show. cros. 


With Audrey Norris, Jay Miltn<>r 
Fred Wilson, WTAM Band * 
Producer: Charles E. Ford 
Audio Director: Fred Wilson 
100 Mins.; Mqn.-thru-Fri., 7:05 a.m. 
Participating * 

WTAM, Cleveland 
In an effort to hypo and revital- 
ize the morning radio field, WTAM 
has cleared the 7-to-9 a.m. hours 
with the exception of four morning 
newscasts, fof two-hours of live 
music programming. Replacing 
the usual diet of diskers, WTAM 
brought in Johnny Andrews from 
New York as emcee, pianist, song* 
ster and spieler; gave him a top- 
notch, 17-piece band, two addi- 
tional vocalists* — charming chirper 
Audrey Norris (very nice, too for 
TV),- and Jay Miltner, a friendlv- 
voiced staff announcer, now bari- 
tone. 

Selection of the house band was 
placed in the hands of gifted Nor- 
man Cloutier, WTAM-WNBK pro- 
gram director, who assembled an 
aggregation that can toss off dance 
melodies or split into separate 
combos including the eight-man 
Novelaires, specializing in pop 
pieces, the Forest City Five, soft- 
sweet stuff, and the eight-man 
Dixielanders. Seth Carey directs 
all the units. 

Purpose of the aggregation is to 
provide flexibility in playing and 
entertaining. This tfie stanza does 
with Andrews using pleasant mike 
appeal and know-how as he well 
demonstrated on his “Easy Does 
It” New York stint. Besides sing- 
ing, piano-playing and announcing, 
Andrews also Helps parlay WTAM’s 
“community station” pitch by 
reading notices of social gather- 
ing, pot-luck lunches ,etc. (An- 
drews’ pitch is alert, appetizing 
and soothing to the morning riser. 
As for Audrey Norris, the chirper 
would be an asset not only to any- 
body’s radio stanza, but is an eye- 
ful for TV. Miltner’s baritone is 
charming and restful. 

That such a program must carry 
high budget tab is. of course, 
highly evident. As a result, the lis- 
tener gets an earful of participa- 
tion spots. Apparently, the adver- 
tisers also recognize the program’s 
potential since the station now has 
SRO on the two-hour pitch. It’s 
hoped that with the advertsing- 
budget problem reaching a proper 
perspective, “Morning Bandwagon” 
will roll along with an even 
smoother tempo. 

Since it is a morning stanza 
aimed at giving the bustling break- 
fast home and those driving to 
work an earful of music, the stanza 
should adhere as closely as possi- 
ble to a full musical diet and at- 
tempts ' at belabored humor, chit- 
chat, and nuggets- of knowledge be- 
tween bandsmen-emcee, etc. should 
be deposited for later-hour listen- 
ers with stronger audio endurance. 

Instead of the chit-chat, pro- 
ducer Charles Ford, music ar- 
ranger Paul Berresford and emcee 
Andrews should strive for greater 
utilization of such members of the 
band as Joseph Hlavacek, Jr., Nel- 
son Pressly, Julius Martisak, Bar- 
ney Zalek who are called upon 
from time-to-time for special selec- 
tions. 

Another performer is Fred Wil- 
son, who handles audio balancing. 
He sings a Friday morning hymn. 

And, in passing, let’s pin an or- 
chid on engineering for its deft 
spinning of the many commercials. 

Mark. 


Phil- 


THE CHALLENGE 
With Dr. Karl T. Compton 
Producer-director: Howard 

lips 

15 Mins.; Thurs., 9:30 p.m. 

WMCA, New York 

Indie has reprised this series as 
a means of presenting talks that 
otherwise might have been lost 
to radio. The spiels are recorded 
at various functions in N. Y. City 
and edited down for the weekly 
session. 

Initialer was taped at the con- 
ference "of the - city's—Youth-Boar.d ... 
on problems affecting children. 
Second show, caught Thursday 
(20), had Dr. Karl T. Compton, 
Nobel prize winner in physics and 
prexy of Washington U.,‘ St. Louis, 
speaking at ceremonies marking 
the anniversary of Mt. Sinai Hos- 
pital. His after-dinner subject 
was the medical uses to which 
atomic research can be put and the 
research tools which atomic sci- 
ence is discovering. 

Programmatically, the show 
was hampered by the fact that the 
address was not intended primar- 
ily for broadcast. There were 
some extraneous noises and the 
pace was slower than if Dr. Comp- 
ton was reading a script directly 
for a radio audience. . „ 

While the airer is 15 minutes 
long, the half-hour is available it 
the talks can’t be trimmed to the 
quarter-hour span. It’s an enter- 
prising way for the dutlet to pick 
up some dignitaries whose speech- 
es otherwise might not gain a wide 
audience. Bril 


Wednesday, Noveml>er 26, 1952 




RA»IO-TK»JE VISION 


SI 


TOSS OUT CABLE ALLOCATIONS 


Canada’s TV Censorship Bill 

. .. , Ottawa, Nov. 25. 

Television, under the government control of the Canadian 
Broadcasting Corp., has run into some censorship problems 

Criticized from every corner by an apathetic public who com- 
plain of the programming (tele is four months old in Canada) and 
the private station owners who claim they could do better at much 
less cost, the latest sockeroo came last Friday (21) when the Quebec 
government unanimously passed a bill giving the Quebec Board of 
Censors the authority to censor television. 

The bill, an amendment to the existing Moving Picture Act which 
provides for provincial censorship of films, reads: 

•No person shall transmit by television, whether by wire or wire- 
less any photographic film before submitting same for examination 
to the board of cinema censors. 

-The board of cinema censors is furthermore charged with the 
exercise of a general supervision over television programs and 
shows and shall report to the attorney general.” 

According to Premier Maurice Duplessis (who is also attorney 
general of the province) television is nothing more than “■commer- 
cial home movies” and as the self-appointed guardian of public 
morals, Duplessis puts television in the same category its straight 
film offeidngs. The bill, although okayed by everyone in the Que- 
bec Legislature, including the opposition is looked upon as some- 
thing of a vote-catcher for Duplessis and another crack at the Fed- 
eral government in his fight for decentralization and provincial 
right's. 

A further blast came during the debate on the TV bill when 
Premier Duplessis described the CBC as “an organization that was 
once infested with notorious Communists.” He said the CBC was 
the instrument of “atheistic propaganda of Dr. Chisholm, a man 
whose theory was repugnant to the province of Quebec and who 
was compelled to leave the .Federal civil service to join the United 
Nations.” 

The reference was to Dr. Brock Chisholm, former deputy Min- 
ister of National Health and now director of the World Health Or- 
ganizations of the U. N. 

Further in the hassle, Duplessis was asked what he would do 
about programs coming into Quebec on a national hookup. The 
Premier replied that the persons .responsible for relaying the show 
into Quebec would be lield responsible for censoi’ing. A $500 fine 
or three-month jail sentence may. be imposed for showing an un- 
censored film, and the law provides for confiscation of the film and 
any equipment used for showing same. 

TV Destroy Radio? Fellows Paints 
It as ‘CiystaD Eyeball’ Hallucination 


Nashville, Nov. 25. 

The fellow who says that televi- 
sion is “some kind of super-pow- 
ered, jet-propelled device that is 
going to destroy all other media” 
has a condition — “crystal eye- 
balls.” So declared Harold E. Fel- 
lows, prexy of the National Asso- 
ciation of Radio and TV Broadcast- 
ers in an address here yesterday 
before the Tennessee Assn., of 
Broadcasters. 

There are basic reasons, said 
Fellows, why radio “will be with 
us always” and why it will become 
an even greater force than it is 
now. Among these, he cited: 

1. Growth in the number of re- 
ceivers, now estimated at 105,300,- 
000. an increase of 50,000,000 since 
the war. 

2. Doubling in number of AM 
stations since the war to more than 
2 . 000 . 

3. Step-up in listener interest 
tli rough ingenuity in program- 
ming. 

4. Steady increase Jn radio’s net 
income and “every reason to be- 
lieve that the trend will continue 
this year.” 

5. Expanding role of radio as a 
source of necessary information — 
v eat her. news, education. 

Dispelling the notion that TV is 
a "bogey-man” to radio, Fellows 
pom led out that not one of the 11 
AM stations which folded in the 
(Continued on page 39) 




lEflOUS 


SOS on TV Code 

fivligious groups are expressing 
concern that the National Assn, of 
iiacuo & Television Broadcasters is 
raising its new TV Code as it per- 
tains to religious broadcasts. 
iiu‘\ re concerned over reports 
that the TV board of NARTB will 
i l ' ll> that section of the code 
"huh recommends that time 
shoo'd he given free to religious 
and not sold. 

• ■’•'uresontatives of major faiths 
"yi last week in offices of the 
inhalant National Council of 
lunches of Christ in America to 
‘uiun! ate a united approach to the 
requesting that the policy 
'Continued on page 39) 


Hsarst-S/ndicated Columnist 

Betty Betz 

j 

hot « survey of -ker'fiiuHiitjr on 
America's teenagers' likes and 
dislikes In relation to 

Teens and TV 


one of the many Interesting byline 
pieces in the upcoming 

47t} i Anniversary Number 


P^RltfY 




Canada Indies Up 
In Arms Over TV 
‘Leftover Status 

Ottawa. Nov. 25. 

It sounded wonderful, at first. . 

Up to last week, Canadian Broad- 
casting Corp., federal government 
radib-teTevIsioh setup, was the only 
organization in Canada allowed to 
oroadcasl TV. On Thursday (20), a 
new session of the House of^pom- 
mons teed off with the announce- 
ment (in the Speech from the 
Throne) that indies would get in 
on television in Canada, Catch-line 
was this: CBC would operate video 
outlets in the principal cities— 
Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, ^Hali- 
fax, Vancouver and Winnipeg — and 
the indies would get licenses to 
serve onlv the areas not sei ved bj 
CBC channels. Non-government 
•radio men. champing at the bit to 
I set up their own video airers. blast- 
jed high and heavy, claiming the 
I CBC-served centers had the best 
1 commercial possibilities in the na- 
; lion and they were to be left to for- 
age in the leftovers. 

: CBC got $8,000,000 from the gov- 
ernment, as a loan, to expei iment 

J (Continued on page 40) 


PRESENT SETUP 

The entire setup on which alloca- 
tions on the coaxial cable have 
been based is being tossed out. In- 
stead of the four video webs get- 
ting together and working out the 
allocations on their own, with 
American Telephone & Telegraph 
serving as “referee,” it will now 
be up to AT&T to wrestle with 
the thorny problem. 

Development is not of AT&T’s 
choosing, but stems from the fact 
that ABC-TV feels it hasn’t been 
getting a “fair shake” under the 
present system! ABC has told 
AT&T that because it can’t get the 
other three skeins to change the 
present rules of procedure it 
doesn’t want the allocations deter- 
mined by the four-network confer- 
ence and instead is calling on 
AT&T to issue the new allocations 
itself. Its position is that AT&T, as 
a “common carrier,” has the re- 
sponsibility for making an “equita- 
ble” assignment of time on the 
cable, and that if the assignment 
isn’t “just” it will take up its beefs 
with the FCC. 

Assignments on the cable have 
been made each quarter on a 90- 
day basis, with the current lineup 
expiring on Dec. 31. Background 
of the hassle goes back several 
years, with frequent disputes 
among the webs having taken place 
in 1948 and 1949. About two years 
ago an agreement also expiring 
Dec.’ 31, was made among the 
chains whereby the four nets 
would each start out with an equal 
25% share of the cable time and 
horse-trade until each got approxi- 
mately what it wanted. This blunt- 
ed most of the fights, but of late 
ABC has been bridling — feeling 
that the “haves” (NBC and CBS) 
have been getting the cream, while 
it has been “frozen” into an in- 
j ferior “have-not” position. 

'Wrong Guys Get It' 

What angers ABC is the rule 
that where there is a conflict be- 
tween two chains the one which 
has the larger number of stations 
on a leg of the cable desiring its 
program should get the nod. ABC’s 
contention is that CBS and NBC, 
which grew to maturity and finan- 
cial stability earlier, invariably win 
out, with each victory further 
strengthening their hand vis-a-vis 
ABC. Latter considers it ironic that 
| DuMont is siding with the two 
1 more profitable chains. 

! ABC feels that competition and 
program innovation would be fos- 
tered if conflicts were resolved by 
giving the toss to the chain with 
less time on the cable. The web 
argues that one of the rules says 
that if each of two chains compet- 
ing has the same number of af- 
filiates requesting its program, the 
cable should go to the chain which 
has had less time on that leg. It 
feels this principle should be ap- 
plied throughout. AT&T, it’s un- 
derstood, disagrees and would rath- 
er see the chain with more station 
requests get the allocation. 

30-Day Clause Hit 

Another rule which ABC scores 
is that stating a new station has 
to be On the air for 30 days prior 
to the start of a new quarter be- 
fore it’s -considered in the - allotra*-' 
tions. ABC, which feels it has more 
! at stake in lining up new outlets, 
terms this “unfair” to the fledgling 
telecasters. It argues that under 
this setup a station might have to 

(Continued on page 40) 


HJ (Coast AFTRA Votes Strike at Tele, 
AM Stations; Charges Terms Staffed 


Will O’ the Whip 

NBC-TV thinks it’s all right 
if a woman is portrayed beat- 
ing a man with her hands — 
but you’re not permitted to 
use a whip. 

Last week’s “Scott Music 
Hall” featured a sequence 
built around Mary Ellen 
Terry’s “Conquest” number, 
with Miss Terry’s application 
of the whip upon her man as 
the scene’s climactic touch. 
NBC-TV said “no can do,” so 
The girl-beats-man-wilh-hands 
was substituted. 


Lou Derman’s 

television satire 

Warm and Believable 

is kidding on the square 

* ft ft 

an amusing byline piece in the 
soon-due 

47th Anniversary Number 
of 

PfiRIETY 


14 More Video 
Outlets Okayed, 
Total Now 122 


Washington, Nov. 25. 

Moving fast with processing of 
applications from cities without 
TV stations, the FCC is now be- 
ginning to issue permits for addi- 
tional outlets in TV areas. The 
first such authorization was handed 
out last week among a near record 
output of 14 permits, bringing to 
122 the total issued since the lift- 
ing of the freeze. 

The first new station t(Kbe au- 
thorized in a TV city will be in 
Greensboro, N. C., which has one 
TV outlet (WFMY-TV). The per- 
mit went to radio station WCOG. 
It is for a UHF channel. 

Four of the 14 authorizations are 
for VHF channels. They were is- 
sued to KRDO in Colorado Springs, 
Colo.; Cowles Broadcasting Co. in 
Sioux City, Iowa; KELO in Sioux 
Falls, S. D.; and Gulf Television 
Co. in Galveston, Tex. 

Other permits, all UHF, went to 

(Continued on page 41) 


Campbells Keeps Xmas 
Merry Despite Axing 
Of Two Coast Shows 

Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

Hollywood loses another radio 
show Jan. 16 when Campbell Soup 
cancels out Walter O’Keefe, for the 
past five and a half years emcee 
of “Double Or Nothing” daytime 
strip on NBC. Quizzer continues 
from the east as a simulcast by 
Bert Parks, who does the telever- 
sion. 

Five 15’er follows Club 15 out 
of the Ward Wheelock agency, leav- 
ing the office without a show but 
Carroll Carroll, Coast head, is 
hopeful of enough new business to 
keep the shop open. 

Gratuitous gesture by Campbell 
keeps both shows going until Jan. 
16, although the cycle runs ouf 
Dec. 13 so that those connected 
with the two shows and agency 
employes won’t be unemployed 
over the holidays. 


Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

Membership of American Fed- 
eration of TV & Radio Artists here 
on Monday (24) voted to strike 
seven L. A. TV channels and all 
AM stations following a negotiation 
session which failed to develop any 
progress in union demands for 
wage hikes and working conditions. 
Present pact expires Nov. 30 and 
strike could be called any time 
alter that if no settlement is. 
reached. 

Vote follows similar AFTRA ac- 
tion in N. Y. and Chicago. On 
Monday TV stations told AFTRA 
they hadn’t time to digest the de- 
mands and wanted more time, so 
another negotiation session Is 
planned for Wednesday. Channels 
had asked for no wage hikes in new 
pact, asserting upcoming year is 
crucial economically, but union re- 
jected the plea. 

AFTRA local exec secretary 
Claude McCue says terms were pre- 
sented last Oct. 30, but “we haven’t 
received one answer yet.” 


<• Chi AFTRA’s Walkout Vote 
Chicago, Nov. 25. 

With negotiations grinding along 
slowly, if moving at all, Chi mem- 
bership of the American Federa- 
tion of Radicf & Television Artists 
voted unanimously last week to au- 
thorize the talent union to call a 
walkout against the network sta- 
tions and the major indies involved 
in the current' talks. 

The Chi action, following a simi- 
lar vote in. New York and preced- 
ing the expected same move in San 
Francisco and Los Angeles, fits the 
package pattern covering both ra- 
dio and TV which was created with 
the consolidation of the American 
Federation of Radio Artists with 
Television Authority just prior to 
the opening of bargaining on the 

(Continued on page 39) 


CBS Radio to Scuttle 
Horatio Hornblower’ 

After failing to come up with a 
sponsor for its “Horatio Hornblow- 
er” series in a five^month shake- 
down, CBS Radio is ditching the 
British-made production. Series, 
produced by Towers of London, 
winds Dec. 5, after having been on 
the air since Last July 1. 

Web is shifting “Lineup.” cur- 
rently in the Wednesday night at 9 
slot, into the Friday at j):30 period 
being vacated by “Hornblower.” 
Wednesday night period is being 
taken over by Stopette with a radio 
version of “What’s My Line?” 


Protest Proposal " 
To Scuttle WNYC 


Recommendation by N. Y. City 
comptroller Lazarus Joseph that 
the municipal station, WNYC, be 
shuttered has brought thousands 
of letters from listeners support- 
ing the indie’s program service. 
Mayor Vincent Impellitteri also 
defended the non-commercial out- 
let as rendering a “tremendous 
service to the people.” 

Joseph’s proposal is based on 
the fact that the City is trying 
to pare its budget by $47,000,000. 
WNYC costs about $300,000 an- 
nually. Incidentally, Joseph’s 
nephew, Kenneth Joseph, was as- 
sistant program director of WNYC 
until two years ago. 

Station has received numerous 
awards and citations for carrying 
fine music, public service features, 
speeches by experts such as doc- 
tors, UN pickups, educational 
shows, outstanding BBC shows, etc. 
At recent Board of Estimate hear- 
ings, several civic groups came out 
for the City getting into TV as 
■well— as-AM. 


CBC NAMES 0U1MET 
TO SUCCEED MANSON 

Ottawa, Nov. 25. 

Alphonse Ouimet, assistant gen- 
eral manager of the Canadian 
Broadcasting Corp., was named 
CBC g.m. to replace Donald Man- 
son, retiring Dec. 31. E. L. Bush- 
nell, currently CBC program direc- 
tor, will become asst. g. m. 

Ouimet, Canada’s television top 
man. directed CBC’s video setup, 
including construction and preem- 
ing of Toronto and Montreal sta- 
tions. He was appointed asst. g. m. 
a year ago. 

Manson has been a radio execu- 
tive in Canada since this country 
began broadcasting and has repre- 
sented Canada in all international 
broadcasting conferences and 
agreements. 



PSktPFr 


Novemki* 26, 1952 


. . promises 
to be the most 
stimu/ating program 
series yet to 
emanate from a 
TV studio 

- BROADCASTING 


. . must be 
regarded as a 
landmark m TV... 
Willys-Overland 
Motors is certainly 
getting its 
money's worth!" 

- BEN GROSS. 

N. V. DAILY NEWS 


. . gloriously 
triumphant in its 
execution . If is 
what television has 
needed for a 
long time." 

- JACK GOULD. 

N.Y. TIMES 


“TV's I.Q.... 
zoomed sharply 
Sunday ... a happy 
collaboration between 
CBS and the 
Ford Foundation's 
TV Workshop . . . 
superb program . . 

- HARRY HARRIS , 
PHILADELPHIA 
EVENING BULLETIN 


•If you "audition” this Sunday’s show (MO to 6 pm, New York time) 

you’ll see Helen Hayes and Burgess Meredith in an original Saroyan play.*, 
another chapter in James Agee’s IAncoln story • • • the Paris Ballet , « . 
a picture of life aboard a tugboat in New York Harbor • 


Wednesday., Nov*tfkb€r - 26 + W52 


PSSSfflfr 


“Outside of 
the various public 
events we've 
glimpsed on TV. . . 
this . . . might very 
nicely be the best 
television show 
ever produced 

- JACK OBRIAN. 

S.Y. JOURS ALAMERIC AN 


. . followed a 
new trail of 
education and 
entertainment . . . 
something for 
everybody . . . 
something to 
look forward to 
on Sundays 

-LARRY WOLTERS. 
CHICAGO TRIBUNE 


. . Omnibus was 
on the whole a 
splendid and 
remarkably rapid 
hour and a half 
of television 

-JOHN CROSBY. 

- N Y. HERALD TRIBUNE 




When the Romans said “Omnibus’ 5 
they meant “for all— for everybody.’ 5 
And that’s what we mean, too. 

For this is a show that’s drawn 
perhaps* the warmest response 
of anything in television ... a big 
show, a very big show. . .whose 
name can add something to an 
advertiser. And what it adds 
is not alone prestige . . . but 
along with that, a powerful sales 
opportunity: opening and closing 
credits, a weekly two-minute 
commercial message, and every 
fifth week, a special five-minute 
program feature— a documentary 

a 

film based on some aspect of the 
sponsor’s business, produced at 
no extra cost to him. 

Because this show" is available 
to five distinguished sponsors, 
the cost to each becomes moderate 
. . . the value to each tremendous. . 
It is obviously a program for 
those advertisers whose astuteness 
matches their importance. Like 
Willys-Overland Motors, Inc. and 
The Greyhound Corp., the first 
Omnibus sponsors. 

It is produced by the TV-Radio 
Workshop of the Ford Foundation, 
and; broadcast over the facilities 
of the CBS Television Network. 


34 


TELEVISION REVIEWS 


PSnlEfr 


Wednesday, November 26, 1952 


JDING DONG SCHOOL 
With Dr. Frances Horwich; Helen 

Morton, organist 

Producer-Director: Reinald Wer- 

renratli, Jr. 

30 Mins.; Mon.-thru-Fri., 9 a.m. 

CST 

Sustaining 

NBC-TV, from Chicago . 

Adults encountering this pro- 
gram for the first time, may well 
wonder what, strange species of a 
TV show this is. That is, .unless 
they have small fry around the 
house. If they do have children in 
the two to five age bracket, they'll 
quickly recognize that here’s some- 
thing truly unique — a format de- 
signed strictly for the nursery set, 
using the accepted techniques of 
modern pre-school instruction. 

By grownup standards, it’s slow 
moving, repetitious and even dull. 
That’s the way it’s supposed to be. 
But that it’s a powerful magnet 
for tiic tots has been attested by 
the huge mail pull in the form of 
moppet “art work” and dictated 
letters sent in to “Miss Frances” 
durin'' the show’s ride on WNBQ, 
NBC-TV’s Chi station. It was this 
response after a finger-crossed local 
launching of an idea first projected 
by WNBQ program chief George 
Hcinemunn and put into final form 
under the direction of Chi NBC 
education and public affairs direc- 
tor Judith Waller that caught the 
attention of the. web execs. 

Program’s single personality, 
Dr. Frances Horwich, is a natural 
for the assignment. Not ohly an 
expert in pre-school teaching, she 
is completely at ease before the 
cameras. She carried off her net- 
work debut (24) with the same 
finesse that marked her local video 
initiation. 

The class session is obviously 
chockful of excitement for the 
kiddies. First portion was a recap 
with the camera (to keep the show 
simple, only one is used by prod- 
ucer Reinald Werrenrath. Jr.) 
scanning the various identification 
objects as Miss Frances describes 
them. There’s a. great deal of 
“audience participation” involved 
with Miss Frances talking directly 
to the setside youngsters about the 
different things the camera is 
shooting. For example, as 'the farm 
layout was lensed, she pointed out 
simply the difference between farm 
arimals and those seen in zoos. 

A change of pace was provided 
by a few feet of film taken on a 
turkey ranch to give the tots some 
Thanksgiving background informa- 
tion. Again it was simple and brief. 
Period ended with the regular fea- 
ture, which has Miss Frances ask- 
ing children to call their moms to 
the set. During this portion, she 
explains the “lesson” to the. moth- 
ers and suggests parental follow- 
throughs. 

If the show catches on along the 
cable as it has in Chicago, NBC- 
TV may be faced with a tough 
public relations problem if and 
when it decides to call a recess for 
“Ding Dong School.” Dave. 


CAPT. Z-RO 

With Roy Steffens, Bobby Trum- 
bull, others 

Director: Dave Fulmer 
Writer: Roy Steffens 
15 Mins., Tues., 6:20 p.m. 
KENDALL FOODS 
KRON-TV, San Francisco 
"(Dan B. Miner) 

This is a dramatized space-racing 
program with an original twist. 
Roy Steffens began the serie:; 
more’n a year ago as low-budgeted 
local competition to the inter- 
planetary fidgiting of “Space Pa- 
trol” and “Space Cadet.” 

Minus adequate production fa- 
cilities, he barely got 'off , Earth, 
Then, still favoring his futuristic 
costumes -and gadgets, he v/r.qte 
his scripts in’ reverse, began' to 
explore the: days of King Arthur. 
George Washlngtph, Napoleon', 
Christopher Columbus, etc:, ‘ fre- 
quently ticing his themes ‘to holi- 
days and anniversaries. 

Mis technique is to establish a 
day of crisis in the lives of thes.' 
antiquarians, then dash back 
• through - the -centuries t<> eyewit- 
ness the ev'nt or maybe give a 
helping hand. 

Steffens, as “Z-Ro,” usually mans 
the intricate space and time ma- 
chines and sends his young aide 
“Jet." played by Bobby Trumbull, 
on Ihc far away adveniures. 

A new sponsor and bigger budget 
has enabled Steffens to employ 
effective visual stunts in his lab- 
oratory and in his period sets and 
costuming. And he can afford two 
or three extra actors when needed. 
Show is tightly scripted with an 
eye to informing moppet viewers 
with a dramatic punch. 

Both Steffens and young Trum 


THE MAGIC CLOWN 
With Richard DuBois, Mimi Wal- 
ters; Carl Caruso, announcer; A1 

Fanellj, organ 

Director-Producer: Nat Eisenberg 
15 Mins.; Sun., 11:30 a.m, 

GOLD MEDAL CANDY 
iWNBT, New York 

• • . ( Emil Mogul ) 

‘The ‘quarter-hour local show is 
piipeii *at ]& JH‘d 'audience with the 
lure oil'; a. clown. (Richard DuBois) 
doing magical tricks. It’s amusing, 
at' a moppet level. On the show 
caught Sunday’ (23), prestidigitat- 

ing pagliacci started \vith a trick 
in which he tossed some flour, 
milk, eggs, etc. into announcer 
Carl ‘Caruso’s new fedora and 
“baked” the chapeau over a red- 
headed kid’s hair to produce a 
cake. He then worked with a 
youngster on a bottle-in-a-tube 
turn, in which the magico’s bottle 
always came out right-side-up 
while the lad’s emerged upside- 
down. Final bit had him “cut” 
his assistant’s ((Mimi Walters) arm 
in a version of the sawing-a-gal-in- 
half illusion. 

DuBois wisely prefaced the arm- 
severing with a note to the juves 
that he doesn’t hurt anyone, lest 
the trick frighten his young audi- 
ence. It would help to dress up 
the tricks with -a story element, 
that would further put them into 
the fantasy sphere and makes each 
bit more than just another trick. 
The batter-in-hat routine was bet- 
ter because of the humorous situa- 
tion of a ruined headgear. 

A clown puppet, tagged Laffy, 
is another facet appealing to tots, 
and is worked into the commer- 
cials for Bonomo taffy and Korday 
candy. Kids in the gallery, inci- 
dentally, sport fezzes as a reminder 
of the Turkish candy bankrolls. 

Bril. 


IT’S WORTH KNOWING 

With James Mcandrew, moderator; 

guests 

Producers: Esther Speyer, Robert 

Herridge 

Director: John Fogel 
45 Mins.; Sat., 4:30 p.m. 

Sustaining 
WCBS-TV, N.Y. 

i “It’s Worth Knowing,” produced 
by WCBS-TV in cooperation with 
the' Division 'df Audio-Visual In- 
struction of the National Educa- 
tion Assn., registers as the best 
of the TV educational programs. 
This series Is ranging over a wide 
range of subjects with the presen- 
tations noteworthy for their effec- 
tive attack fOn the essentials. 

In its coverage of various arts 
and occupations, the program fo- 
cussed on the ballet last Saturday 
(22) with a stimulating lesson in 
the fundamentals of the dance. 
Opening sector of the show com- 
prised some informal gab about 
the ballet, with moderator James 
Mcandrew sparking the discussion. 
The panel included the noted 
choreographer George Balanchine, 
and N.Y. Herald Tribune dance 
critic Walter Terry. 

The talk- was okay for the afi- 
cianados but the show hit the tar- 
get for the amateurs with its il-. 
lustration of elementary ballet 
routines by ballerina Melissa Hay- 
den, her partner Nicholas Magal- 
lanes and four young girl students 
from a local ballet school. Balan- 
chine handled this portion of the 
program by directing the dancers 
to execute various steps and ex- 
plaining them to the audience. 

Show was marked by its lack of 
production frills but good camera 
work for the dance sequences and 
Balanchine’s skill as a teacher 
added up to. an introductory course 
which will make friends for the 
ballet art in the U.S. Herm. 


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terp montages, from “Three-Cor- 
nered Hat” ballet. It had fine dra- 
matic moments, good fluid lensin« 
but the objective — what the music 
influences him to paint — seemed 
somewhat contrived. He upsied 
with “An American Indian catch- 
ing a turkey.” Diego’s strong, pen- 
sive face was shown several times 
in effective closeup as he worked 
before a large window'. 

Among the best of Cooke’s tea- 
lurets was “a lesson in geograplu 
of the 1852 trek to California, with 
a large map for illustration. 

Trnu. 


Inside Stuff— Television 

Variety sure gets around. Even behind the Iron Curtain. In a 
broadcast of the Soviet-dominated Prague radio, as monitored by U. S. 
Government agencies, the Communists misquoted several Variety 
stories in their usual fashion to further their line that U. S. “indus- 
trialists” are preparing the country for war by playing up crime show's 
on radio and TV. 5 

Citing the number of crime shows on American radio and TV. the 
Prague broadcast said: “The brutality of U. S. broadcasting is inten- 
sifying day by day, -as is being admitted by the bourgeois press itself. 
The magazine Variety has referred to the dangerous character of 
bloodthirsty TV programs in the U. S. — a ,type of program w hich w'as 
popular under Hitler’s fascism.” (Ed. note: Variety carried a factual 
story some time ago citing the number of crime show's on the air.) 
Broadcast continued: . 

“Variety is a review for people working in the entertainment in- 
dustry. It is by no means a Communist publication (Ed. note: Thanks) 
but, it draws the conclusion that growing children, as well as adults, 
who are shown TV programs with poked-out eyes and crimes com- 
mitted by insane persons will in the end not be shaken so much by 
the brutality of war.” (Ed note: W.e never did.) 


CBS-TV will stage a special half-hour one-shot show Dec. 7 on the 
new “This I Believe” book, which has been compiled from the personal 
creeds of various name celebs spotlighted on the show of that title 
aired by CBS Radio. TV program will feature Helen Hayes, one of the 
100 contributors to the radio show and the book, who will deliver her 
creed in person.- Show is to be aired on the network, except N. Y., 
from 2:30 to 3 p.m., and in N. Y. from 3:30 to 4. 

Edward R. Murrow, who conducts the radio show, will narrate and 
participate in the TV’er, along with Ed Morgan, producer of the radio 
program and editor of the book. Duo, together with Brooklyn Dodger 
second-baseman Jackie Robinson and Dr. Harold Taylor, prez of Sarah 
Lawrence College, will chit-chat about the objectives of the book and 
the various creeds included. Both Robinson (who is under contract 
to NBC’s N. Y. key stations, incidentally) and Dr. Morgan are also con- 
'ributors to the book,. 

Show is recorded as a five-minute spot daily, and is aired on 196 
CBS stations, some, of which repeat it two ori three 4 tf§hes daily. As a 
result, , it, .fias .2,200: separate weekly broadcasts, in addition to those 
beamed, overseas. ,by the Voice* of America. Book is published by Simon 
& Schuster.:. • . , 

if i Uli) V l V.’' • 

; All-‘4Weripa’ri v ipptball .teams ai;e taking over CBS-TV’s vaudeo shows 
during the next several weeks.' ..Collier's AllAtnerican selections will 
be spotlighted Sunday night (30) on- Ed Sullivan’s “Toast of the Town,” 
with Biggie Munn and Jim Tatum, coaches of Michigan Slate and 
Maryland, respectively, also slated to appear. Gridders selected by 
Look magazine this year will be on the Jackie Gleason show Dec. 6, 
along with Grantland Rice. 

CBS Radio, meanwhile,' is airing a special pick-up of Look mag's 
dinner in which the All-American awards are handed ou(. Show is 
scheduled for Dec. 5, with Red Barber as emcee. 


Ezio Pinza, who’s already starred 
in opera, concerts, legit, films and 
TV, etched another notch in liis 
versatility Monday night (24) by 
playing a straight dramatic role as 
star of NBC-TV's Robert Montgom- 
ery show. Cast as a famed Italian 
racing driver in Thomas W. 
Phipps* original, “The Valeri Spe- 
cial,” Pinza scored solidly all the 
way, seeming completely at ease 
in the role and often carrying 
other cast members who didn’t 
fare so well. Any singing he did 
was only incidental but he proved 
that, with a part tailored for him, 
he can hold his own in straight 
dramatics. 

Phipps’ play was a good one. 
spotlighting Pinza as_ the aging 
driver who was cast aside in favor 
of liis own son by the racing-car 
manufacturer just prior to the big 
international classic. Disheartened 
when he is unable to convince his 
family and friends that he needs 
to drive the last big race to ful- 
fill his role as a man, he spurns 
them and, with the help of his 
long-time mechanic, builds his own 
car. Pitted against his own son 
and other top drivers, he loses in 
a heartbreaker but has fulfilled his 
desires and so is reunited with his 
family and friends. 

Cast, almost all from the Italian 
theatre, worked well for the most 
part under the helming of director 
Herbert Bayard Swope, Jr. Mont- 
gomery, as producer, didn’t quite 
succeed in establishing the illu- 
sion of fans in the grandstand 
watching the drivers, mainly be- 
cause he was forced to rely on 
old stock footage for the races. 
Contrast between the live and 
filmed portions of the show was 
too great. But he and Swope cap- 
italized on the suspense built into 
the play -by Phipps during the final 
big race, and the show came off 
well. 

Supporting cast was headed by 
Bruno Wick, who registered as the 
mechanic; Lee Tokatyan, fine as 
Pinza’s son; Ester Minciotti, w'ho 
scored as the wife, and Victor Var- 
edni, who did a nice job as the 
star’s friend and owner of the car 
company. Montgomery, incident- 
ally, was slightly embarrassed dur- 
ing his usual chit-chat with the 
star after the show. In answer to 
Montgomery’s query about his fu- 
ture plans, Pinza noted that he is 
preeming a new show on NBC 
radio next Monday night (1) at 
10 p.m.— directly opposite Mont- 
gomery's TV show. Producer de- 
clared that “we’ll be listening in.” 

Stal. 


NBC-TV’s “Today” show preems a new feature tomorrow (Thurs.) in 
which GIs in Germany and Korea will be able to receive word from 
home and their families will be able to watch them as they talk with 
emcee Dave Garroway. NBC camermen overseas will ask soldiers se- 
lected in advance by the Army what questions they want GarVowav to 
ask their families and cable the queries to N. Y. After getting* the 
family’s answers, Garroway on the show will relay the messages 
to the soldiers via telephone. This will in turn be filmed bv NBC cam- 
eramen and the film will then be flown back to N. Y. for subsequent 
airing on the show. . 



wobbly in story climax, but j-; * chairman of the council’s executive committee, 
steadily winning highe 

is eay 

effort 

polish and a nclworlhy fulinv. | has plans to si ago a series ol 30-minute" TV drama programs, using 

icsources oi the nine universities. 


adily winning higher ratings, it : Schools now 'members of the council in addition to those listed are 
easily the best local dramatic ; Universities of Dayton, Miami University Ohio State Cincinmii 
n'L produced with professonal Xavier, and the Cincinnati College of Music Smith said the rnnnHi 
ish and a nelworthy future. has plans to slase a «f %n . wS L,i“ s iVr 5 h s ;" rt J ,u coim . cli 


Duil. 


While conceding the loftv for- 
mat and objective of the CBS-TV 
“Omnibus.” the Ford Foundation’s 
90-rrvinuter can stand discipline 
and tightening, as evidenced last 
Sunday afternoon (23 Alistair 
Cooke is a slick confereneier and 
mood-setter but he had too manv 
ringmastering chores— fillips and 
•side issues — which diverted atten- 
tion from the basic appeal in the 
film and live patterns that unfold- 
ed. Overall, however, the third 
outing could give most everything 
in video a handicap and win bv 
several lengths. 

On the live drama end, the top- 
per was Helen Hayes and Cvnl 
Ritchard in . Barrie’s “T welve 
Pound Look,” a 26-minute piece 
of sometimes biting satire and 
mockery of stuff ed-shirtism. -Both 
interpreted the Barrie warhorse to 
the polished hilt, with Joan Wet- 
more a solid assist and a nice but- 
ler s bit by Noel Leslie. 

Concluder was a crime film. 

The Stranger Left No Card,” bv 
Sidney Carroll, starring Alan Ba- 
del in a masterful excursion on 
the near-perfect crime” route. It 
had sustained interest leading to 
a whammo snapper, in which the 
min.der-ci - -was-, unmasked- -sans — his 
knowledge. Direction of Wendv 
Toye; music by Hugo Alven and 
production by George K. Arthur 
(for Meteor Films, shot in Wind- 
sor, England) were superb in every 
particular. 

Another film., treating of the 
work of mag photographer Phil- 
ippe Halsman, was amusing as 
well as instructive. Laughs 
stemmed from the contraption 
(which would be a “mechanic” in 
circus parlance) employed by h ; n 
to shoot Eva Gabor and Linda 
Christian upside down, then show- 
ing the still rightside lip. 

Brief celluloid on soil conserva- 
Texas Panhandle seemed 
! lke , filler fodder against the sub- 
jecl s importance in agriculture, 
for the prelim, a recorded spirit- 
ual was an unusual facet of stage- 
setting. 

In a live setup. Julio de Diego. 
Spanish painter, did a monotype 
drawing during the second piay- 
mg. of the Millers Dunce, with 


Ed Sullivan’s “Toast of the 
Town” has had its ups and downs 
on CBS-TV this season and last 
Sunday night’s (23) stanza was un- 

c ortunately one of the down shows. 
Talent lineup was acceptable 
enough but there was no single act 
to spark the show. As a result, the 
overall impression was one of an 
uninspired offering, with only two 
production numbers giving the 
show any kind of a lift. 

Dagenham’s Bagpipers, a British 
importation current at the Latin 
Quarter, N. Y. nitery, teed the 
show well enough. With a bevy of 
femmes clad in kilts and going 
through various drill and jig rou- 
tines, the act was a good novelty 
and was handed fullscale produc- 
tion mountings by Sullivan and 
his co-producer, Mario Lewis, in- 
cluding six mounted soldiers. Fol- 
lowing acts, however, failed to 
follow through on the promise. 
Paul Lynd, a comic now featured 
in the Broadway legit click. “New 
Faces,” impressed not at all with 
some standup patter on a trip 
through Africa. Sullivan credited 
the comic with scripting his own 
material — maybe he should hire 
some writers. 

Les Paul and Mary Ford, in an- 
other repeat on “Toast.” did their 
customary top job in the guitaring 
end of their act, with Miss Ford 
sounding well on the vocals. But 
( what this team needs, at least for 
j any visual presentation, is some 
■animation.' They couldn’t match 
the good visual backing handed 
, them for the show. Sullivan inter- 
j viewed N. Y. Yankee slugger John- 
! ny Mize on the correct batting 
| technique, which was up to the 
usual par of the emcee’s sports 
interview spots. Then followed a 
six-minute scene from “My Darlin’ 
Aida.” another current Broadway 
inhabitant. Vocal and dance 
choruses from the show looked 
good in the “Triumphal” Scene and 
it represented a hefty plug for 
the legiter, especially with the 
gratis pat Sullivan handed it. 

Ventro Clifford Guest enter- 
tained with his standard routine, 
including a vocal takeoff on a fox 
hunt and the trouble in getting 
his dummy to return to its case. 
Irish tenor Christopher Lynch im- 
pressed with his pipes but was 
handed a poor showcasing selec- 
tion in “Mighty Lak a Rose.” Num- 
ber dragged during the first chorus 
and Lynch sang two of 'em. Anna 
Lee was on hand via a filmed 
commercial extolling the virtues 
of the Lincoln-Mercury sponsors. 

Stal. 


The ancicni burlesque bits have 
tremendous- durability when ex- 
pertly performed. This fact was 
again demonstrated on “Colgate 
Comedy Hour” Sunday (23) when 
Abbott & Costello took over some 
of the vintage properties from the 
strip circuit and put them together 
in what proved to be a fast paced 
and frequently funny show. 

Sole drawback on the items se- 
lected was the terrific amount of 
punishment that must be absorbed 
by Lou Costello in order to fully 
a ch i e ve * The" pii rpuser i risr -evident 
that Abbott and various assistants, 
notably Sid Fields, put a lot of 
spirit into their performance. This 
fact makes it doubly hard on the 
pudgy comic. 

Among the bits performed by 
them was the old mistaken identity 
sketch, and the bit in w'hieh the 
duo must pose as statues. It’s dur- 
able hoke that adds up to laughs. 

The surrounding cast included 
.Peggy Lee. who hit an excellent 
stride with her readings of “Lover.” 
whose Decca plattering of that 
number hit the top selling lists. 
Her other tune was “Sans Souci,” 
which was given some production, 
but it was Miss Lee’s piping that 
pul it over. 

Fisher & Ross put an artistic 
note into the proceedings with a 
well done terp routine. This duo, 
tormcrly with “Your Show of 
Shows” remain one of the bet ter 
dance exponents in video. The 

(Continued on page 39' 


PffitmfY 


TELEVISION REVIEWS 


Wednesday? November 26 , 1952 


EXPERIMENTS IN ECONOMICS f 
ghh AI Friendly, moderator; Paul 
'Toffman. Leonard A, Scheele, 

Philip Redd and Dr. Hurst R. 

Anderson, guests 
Producer: Larry Reckcrm an 
30 Mins., Sun., 10:30 a.m. 

STOP-TV. Washington 
“li "invitation to learning” 
<v oe of presentation, frankly an ex- 
imment on a two-shot basis, may 
£p 1 mark another milestone on the 
rn 'id to video maturity. Though 
aimed at resolving technical aspects 
nf economics down to the level of 
the layman, it definitely assumes 
Intelligence and interest on the 
nart of the viewer, and is not meant 
for mass distribution. 

Show’s producer has been for- 
tunate in choice of A1 Friendly, 
local news reporter and editor, as 
moderator. Friendly brings a pleas- 
ant personality, good voice and 
neutral accent, plus an authorita- 
tive air to the difficult subject of 
‘•How to Ra>? Real Wages.” He 
is aided and abetted by four of the 
names in their respective fields, 
all of whom bring their experience 
and polish to the show. Credit for 
interest and smoothness of a dif- 
ficult and normally dry subject, 
however, goes to producer-director 
Larry Beckerman, who has already 
made a mark here with his docu- 
mentary treatment applied to TV. 

Format of the show is actually 
that of the classroom, with the 
modern addition of visual aids. 

* Using specially filmed cut-ins, plus 
stock footage, as well as stills and 
charts, and even a bit of cheesecake 
the abstract explanations of what 
makes our economy tick as applied 
to wages is put into simplified, 
concrete form. 

Certainly any wage earner will 
be struck,- perhaps for the first 
time, with so simple an evaluation 
as the fact that, with prices up 
three times over that of the scale 
50 years ago, and wages up 10 
times for. the same period, real 
earnings are actually triple that of 
our fathers half a century ago. 
This is the type of everyday appli- 
cation used throughout show. An- 
other common touch was compari- 
son of pictured newspaper ads of 
50 years ago with ads of the same 
product (men’s suits) today. 

Each of the four top drawer 
guests explained in a filmed se- 
quence a different aspect of the 
country’s economic progress during 
the past half century. Program 
lagged at spots, with some of the 
expositions running overlong. Gen- 
eral effect, however, was well 
sustained. Ford Foundation boss 
Paul Hoffman walked off with gen- 
eral interest honors in his graphic 
outline of technical advances. He 
pointed out that a single modern 
auto, if it could be built sans ma- 
chinery at all, would cost $100,000 
to complete by hand. 

Next week’s show, final one of 
experiment, will tackle the future 
in relation to wages, and in every- 
man’s language. 

Future of show, of course, de- 
pends on reaction, with web suf- 
ficiently interested to have had a 
kine version flown to New York 
H. Q. Show warrants serious 
attention as evidence that educa- 
tional TV need not be confined to 
specially allocated channels. Tech- 
nique is interesting, too, opening 
up other fields in which it could 
be applied, as, for example, atomic 
science. Speeded up somewhat, 
particularly in guest stints, with 
expanded visual aids, such as ani- 
mation, it shapes as an important 
addition to the TV horizon. 

Lowe. 


TOWN CRIER 

With Tony Weitzel 

Producer: Lynwood King 1 

15 Mins.; Mon., Wed., Fri., 6:15 p.m. 

Sustaining 

WNBQ, Chicago 

Tony Weitzel, conductor of the 
Daily News gossip column, is now 
holding forth on this tri-weekly 
WNBQ gabfest. Pitched on a 
strong Chamber of Commerce an- 
"gJt -, ;wttTr''‘empiiasis'' 'on 'Hometown' 
tidbits, edition watched (19) was a 
rculdly interesting, if slightly dis- 
jointed, solo chatter session. 

Rundown ranged from comments 
on the Sonja Henie-Barbara Ann 
Scot t publicity bubble to a feature 
on the role the U. of Chicago’s 
kiagg Field played in the discov- 
ery of the atom bomb. In the “in- 
side Hope” category there was a 
tip that plans are under way to 
consolidate x Chicago proper with 
its numerous suburban satellites. 

Material was tossed off ad lib in 
okay style for the most part but 
the columnist would benefit for a 
script or reminder cards to help 
'yith the details of some of the 
yarns. He had a little trouble with 
the dates and the scientific lingo 
ln describing the atom experi- 
ments. Fact that he moves around 
too set on cue also seems to add a 
menial hurdle. The guy’s a news- 
man not an actor so why not plunk 
mm behind a desk and let him talk 
Naturally? Dave . 


PAUL WHITEMAN TV TEEN 

CLUB 

Producer: Skipper Dawes 
Director: Art Stober 
30 Mins., Sat., 7 p.m, 

TOOTSIE ROLLS 
WFIL-TV, from Philadelphia 

Bankroller gets money’s worth 

’ n newly-sponsored 

(2 2) Paul Whiteman TV Teen Club 
which moves into a half-hour later 
Saturday evening segment (7). 
Opening shot of “Pops” informs 
that he has ‘the sweetest sponsor 
yet ; and he also asks the 750,000 
teenagers he has entertained to 
show loyalty by consuming prod- 
uct* Obviously off his- own lettuce 
leat diet, the bandsman munches 
on Tootsie Roll for plug. 

Whiteman uses his customary 
amateur talent show format, with 
four acts competing, three new- 
comers against the previous week’s 
winner. Studio audience of juves 
makes decision with an applause 
meter to determine volume of re- 
ception. Talent was standard for 
kid programs. An 11-year-old boy 
sang “Jambalaya;” a 14-year-old 
miss did a piano solo of “Warsaw 
Concerto,” and a pair of teenage 
accordion playing boys, who were 
very good, came through as the 
winners of the week. This had 
them compete against last week's 
winners, a pair of Calypso dancers. 
The dancers, who are now touring 
with a Whiteman unit, won over 
the accordionists. 

Prizes are a record player and 
$50 worth of platters to the run- 
ner-up, a radio phonograph for the 
week’s first prize. There’s a grand 
prize of a Nash car for the winner 
of five contests. Whiteman does 
the intros with a pretty girl assis- 
tant. One commercial is given a 
real production. Thanksgiving 
number finds group of youngsters 
in Pilgrim costumes, running from 
opening prayer by moppets, to 
climax of a feast topped off by a 
Tootsie Roll dessert. Pair of tots 
did best plug, with a dialog rou- 
tine leading up to their singing 
commercial “Take a Tip.” Gagh. 


Foreign TV Review 


MUSIC HALL 

With Grade Fields, Tessie O’Shea, 
Harry Gordon, Robert Wilson, 
Dave Willis, Jack Radcliffe, 
Ganjou Bros, and Juanita, 
George Martin, Bobbie Kimber, 
Glasgow Police Pipe Hand and 
Dancers 

Producer-director: Richard Afton 
90 Mins., Sat., 9:20 p.m. 

Sustaining 

BBC-TV, from Glasgow 
Scrappy show, telecast from stage 
of historic Metropole Theatre, 
Glasgow, and the first TV Music 
Hall program from the Auld Lang 
Syne city, was distinguished by 
guest appearance of Grade Fields, 
described as “first lady of British 
music hall.” Show was badly cast, 
having too many acts of the same 
category, and suffered from being 
poorly emceed by Bobbie Kimber 
with his doll, Augustus Peabody. 
Little of the spirit of vauderies was 
caught, and camera shots often 
showed performers as midgets far 
away below stage from angle in 
■?ircle. 

One of the hits of bill was Scot 
comic Dave Willis, who recently 
went into retirement from show biz 
after a long career. It was his TV 
debut and he proved himself, as 
always, visually funny and a per- 
fect clown. Robert Wilson, hand- 
some kilted Scot singer, clicked 
with numbers like “Skye is My 
Home” and the jaunty “A Gordon 
for Me,” and exited to warm mit- 
ting. Harry Gordon, senior Scot 
comedian, offered a Brownie take- 
off, which wasn’t quite the best 
material for TV. Jack Radcliffe, 
yet another Auld Lang Syne comic, 
appeared with stooges in a High- 
land sketch, and scored mildly. 

In the bill caught, Kimber, male 
vent who poses as a femme, was 
hired to act as emcee, making 
announcements from a box. He 
appeared' as' a flabby; rather revolt- 
ing femme on the TV screen, and 
not the clever artist he is in vaude- 
ries. 

Bill was distinguished by appear- 
ance of Miss Fields, whose accom- 
plished artistry took a big trick 
with invited stubholders and na- 
tionwide viewers. She sang, in 
tribute to Scotland, her comedy 
classic “Grandfather’s Bagpipes, 
plus pops “Somewhere Along the 
Way” and “You Belong to Me. 
She was at best in the oldie Put 
Your Shoes on Lucy’ ami in 
“Glocamorra,” latter s uftg with 
real tenderness. Bert Waller 
handled the ivories. 

British comedienne Tessie 
O’Shea proved fairly effective in 
comedy, being garbed in the kilt. 
George Martin, young En l 1S *J 
funster familiar on TV, made a 
brief appearance in box alongside 
compere Peabody, though not 

billed on program, an ^”^ g |roT 
some n.s.g. comedy. Ganjou Bros. 

and Juanita (4) offered their w.k. 



RITZ BROS. SHOW 
(All Star Revue) 

With AI, Harry & Jimmy Ritz, 

Mimi Benzell, John Ireland, Bill 

Skipper, Lou Bring 1 orcb, others 
Producer: Bill Harmon 
Director: Sid Kuller 
Writers: Kuller, Snag Werris 
60 Mins.; Sat., 8 p.m. 

Participating 

NBC-TV, from Hollywood - 

Videbut of the Ritz Bros. on.. 
“All Star Revue” last May was 
such a comedic stunner as to 
arouse trade and John Q. Public 
palaver on how the three boffo 
buffoons would come out in the 
followup. What they proved upon 
reentry (22) is that six months is 
too long to wait for their kind of 
madcappery. 

On the other hand, the freres 
are playing it smart, preferring a 
now and then route to regular 
spottings, thus preserving their 
novelty and cushioning themselves 
vs. possible vacuity in material, If 
material is an occupational hazard, 
it doesn’t appear to apply to mid- 
dleman Harry and endmen Al & 
Jimmy Ritz. Perhaps it’s because 
they bring their extra-added panto 
and grimace artillery into play 
with their tonsil work. They’re a 
thoroughly engaging trio who mate 
skill with speed and continuous in- 
terest to the extent that an hour 
seems a lot shorten. When the 
time element is so .telescoped, an 
act is a two-ply success d’estime 
and d’b.o. Theirs was virtually a 
sustained effort, there being few 
moments when they were not on 
camera. 

Note should be made of the 
socko special lyrics and music pro- 
vided by Sid Kuller and Hal Borne, 
with Kuller the overall director; 
the sustained high level of music 
dished up by the Lou Bring orch; 
the snappy terpassages framed by 
veteran choreographer Seymour 
Felix; the production reining of 
Bill Harmon and supervision of 
Joe Bigelow; and, naturally, the 
cogent script fashioned by Kuller 
and Snag Werris. 

The stanza’s dippy theme was 
set immediately via the trio’s spe- 
cial ditto entry that had them cre- 
ating bedlam in and with the stu- 
dio audience. In rapid segue, two 
bright little boys (unbilled) were 
shown in big-shot talk which es- 
tablished their yen for an entire 
session of bedtime stories carried 
out by the stars, guests and troupe. 
In the first of these, pinpointing 
Thanksgiving, the line wiggled a 
sizzling tribal number of Injun 
pattern, with a smash leaping solo 
by Bill Skipper. 

From this there developed the 
trio’s Mayflower number, accent- 
ing a hot Pilgrim song special with 
Russky, etc., terpolations plus the 
line's vintage dances. Next up for 
.dissection was a Snow White & 7 
Dwarfs takeoff with H. Ritz as 
the hokey Queen and a laugh- 
loaded poetry-in-potion segment 
by the threesome. 

The two moppets set the stage 
for coloratura soprano Mimi Ben- 
zell with highfalutin’ handling of 
opera verbiage. The Metopera 
looker, in a dazzling lacy gown of 
revealing values and to a snazzy 
floral arrangement in the back- 
ground, belted over an aria .from 
“Traviata” and then was joined by 
the freres in one of the slickest 
plugs Pet Milk has ever received. 

Miss Benzell moved into the 
bedtime story preparation via 
“Ivanhoe.” With the brothers in 
again, this time as tailors of “Klas- 
sy Klothes for Knights,” .preceded 
by a corking femme vocal group 
and hoofing ladies in waiting, the 
joint was in an uproar .with delib- 
erate . Joe Millers, shenanigans 
with knights in shining armor and 
the threesome’s frantic workout on 
cymbals attached to. their hands, 
knees, etc. This segment was a 
weak showcase, however, for film 
actor John Ireland, in title role, 
who had little to do and seemed ill 
at ease. 

One of the high points was a 
special linked to Harry Ritz — 
“The guy in the middle Is the* fun- 
niest (the -uther two -are just -a -pair 
of bums”). From here on there 
were a series of mirthful chal- 
lenges to prove individual supe- 
riority. A couple of pies were held 
aloft by Al & Jimmy for an un- 
used teaser, to prove they can 
work sans slapstick, but Harry 
plopped his puss into it “acciden- 
tally” for the snapper finish. In 
the end-piece, the orch delivered 
a chorus of “Dinah” that was de- 
liberately too hot and fast for the 
Ritzes to come in bn, so they set- 
tled for building up the next (29) 
“All Star” with George Jessel. All 
in all, a very funny show. Trau. 


adagio dance' act of thrills and 
spectacle, but this was not captured 
by the cameras to any worthwhile 
effect. 

Click of the bill, apart from 
Gracie Fields, Dave Willis and 
Robert Wilson, was the Glasgow 
Police Pipe Band and its champion 
Highland dancers. Gord. 


AT HOME WITH ROBERT FROST 
With Bela Kornitzer . 

Producer - Director: Richard de- 

Rochemont 

30 Mins., Sun. (23), 5:30 p.m. 
Sustaining 

NBC-TV, from Ripton, Vt. 

This is the second half-hour film 
in the series of conversations with 
elder wise men specially produced 
by NBC-TV and .which got, off to, 
such an auspicious start ’a ‘ few 
months back when Bertrand Russell 
was the -subject. This time NBC*; 
asked Robert Frost, the. eminent 
American poet and four, time? 
Pulitzer Prize winner, to talk about 
his life and his work. Frost’s guest 
for the occasion (the film was shot 
a t the poet’s home in Ripton, Vt.,) 
\yas Bela Kornitzer, Hungarian- 
born author of the recently pub- 
lished “American Fathers and 
Sons,” making for an interesting 
contrast in personalities, with Kor- 
nitzer in the role of interviewer. 

It may be that one of the charms 
of this exceedingly interesting TV 
series lies in the informality and 
naturalness achieved by the “at 
home” atmosphere in which Frost, 
like Russell previously, talks from 
his own living room. But the over- 
all excitement generated comes 
from the personality himself and 
the first-hand delineation of his 
thoughts and philosophy. 

It is a rare intellectual exercise 
and stimulant, certainly educational 
TV at its best. NBC deserves heaps 
of praise for conceiving and ex- 
ecuting the idea with such singular 
finesse. Under the sure directorial 
touch of Richard deRochemont, 
who also produced the film, it was 
a compact profile out of which 
emerged enough intriguing facets 
of Frost — the man and the poet — 
to invite further perusal of his 
writings. (Frost himself, in the 
course of conversation, recited two 
of his poems, “Stopping by Woods 
On a Snowy Evening” and “The 
Drumlin Woodchuck.”) TV would 
have to look far for a better pro- 
jector of Frost’s poetry, and in- 
cidentally, it was a teasing tidbit 
of the possibilities for a regular 
TV diet of such readings. 

The quality of the interview 
suggested some carefully thought- 
out questions that were judiciously 
edited. Kornitzer remained in the 
background, with only his voiced 
questions to spark Frost’s reminis- 
cing on his own, life and discussions 
on humanity and the wortd at 
large, Too, the quality of the film 
was such that the viewer was never 
conscious of the fact that this was 
not a live pickup. Rose. 


HOBBY TIME 
With Bill Healion 
Producer: Healion 
15 Mins.; Sat., 10:30 a.m. 
Sustaining 

WNBQ, Chicago * 

Although obviously a one-cam- 
era cheapie, this iS a neat little 
package that could well draw a 
good following from among the 
kids who like to putter around 
making model airplanes and things 
of that sort. Hosting' is Bill Healion, 
a member of the Chi NBC direc- 
tors pool, who on the side is a 
homecraftsman enthusiast special- 
izing in model planes, trains, etc. 
The smooth ease with .which he 
carried off the ad lib demonstra- 
tion viewed (22) belied the fact 
tha.t this series is his first on- 
camera assignment. 

As is typical of WNBQ’s growing 
list of “how to” service type shows, 
this one -benefits, from apparent 
advance preparation to assure the 
maximum visualization. Healion 
currently is showing how tp build a 
jet Space ship. On thisijista’llrtient 
he" demonstrated the tonstniction 
of the wing fuel tanks and the 'ver- 
tical stabilizer. By the use bf'dharts 
the detailing was reduced to 
A-B-C simplicity, so as to make the 
steps easily ’ fblibiVed by ; $re Teen- 
agers. ‘ , r ' ' I1 ' 

It’s another exahiple 'Of r ilbw 'h 
little Imagination and the right 
guy for the job can, make ^n in- 
teresting program at a minimum 
cost. Dave. 


-RPL PROGRAM 

30 Mins.; Wed., 11:30 a.m. 

Sustaining 

WRGB, Schenectady 

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 
of Troy, oldest English-speaking 
school of engineering, is filling a 
spot on “Community Campus” for 
the second seaspn. Some improve- 
ment over last* year is noted, but 
a tendency still prevails to make 
insufficient use of students — rigor- 
ous class, schedules may be a rea- 
son. 

On one block viewed, three un- 
dergraduates discussed Institute 
fraternities, supplementing their 
remarks with campus-shot motion 
pictures. Emphasis was placed on 
the social-service side of the 
secret-letters and the fact all 
freshmen were invited „_to pre- 
initiation parties. Telecast had 
rough spots, but allover, it main- 
tained a fair level. 

Another segment, highly helpful 
to certain adult viewers, dealt with 
the architectural, interior decorat- 


LIFE IS WORTH LIVING 
With Bishop Fulton J. Sheen; Bill 

O’Toole, announcer 
Director: Frank Bunetta 
30 Mins.; Tues., 8 p.m. 

ADMIRAL CORP. 

DuMont, from New York 
(Erwin, Wasey ) 

If Bishop Fulton J. Sheen is 
aware that discussioh has been 
stirred up over the propriety of a 
religious dignitary appearing on 
TV under a commercial banner, 
it wasn’t apparent On his first Du- 
Mont (18) appearance for Admiral. 
Much in the fashion of perform- 
ers of less rarified background, the 
Bishop even was so generous as 
to toss out a couple of personal 
sponsor references in the usual 
“first show” welcoming. He said 
his former unseen “stagehand,” 
Skippy the Angel, had gone to sea 
during the summer hiatus and “is 
now bearing the great name of 
Admiral.” The juxtaposition of 
saintliness and salesmanship was 
unique. 

The Bishqp this season is con- 
ducting his talks on stage before 
a studio audience. This means 
there is applause at his entrance 
and closing, and laughter at the 
easy quips sprinkled through the 
discussion. These standard produc- 
tion trimmings contrasted sharply 
with the austere library set, the 
Madonna and Child figurine prom- 
inent in the background, the vest- 
ments worn by the Bishop and, 
particularly the high office of the 
church he fills. 

However, despite the reserva- 
tions of some over the commercial 
alliance and the perhaps minority 
reservations of the philosophy he 
espouses, such is the Bishop’s per- 
sonal attraction and showmanship 
that his weekly visits may be ex- 
pected to again attract audiences 
of the size which since his debut 
late last winter projected him into 
TV “stardom.” 

Substance aside, his presentation 
this time would have profited tech- 
nically from some tightening. Per- 
haps because the pacing went 
slightly awry on this teeoff stanza 
or perhaps because his discussion 
of the perfect life, perfect love and 
perfect truth hit such a cosmic 
plane as to pose problems df com- 
munication, the discourse failed to 
wrap up with the expected logical 
and emotional climax. 

The churchman is turning the 
fees shelled out by Admiral over 
to Mission Humanity for interna- 
tional charity. (The prelate made 
an announcement on this at ^the 
close). Admiral’s opening and clos- 
ing blurbs left no doubt that it is 
using its association with the clerip 
to sell its merchandise. Dave. 


BANDSTAND „ 

With Bob Horn, Lee Stewart 
Director: Staff directors 
75 Mins., Mon-Fri., 3:30 p.m. 
Participating 

WFIL-TV from Philadelphia. 

Bob Horn and Lee Stewart host 
a crowded open house for teen- 
agers at WFIL-TV. Horn has been 
a top local deejay in radio for 
years and is at present director o£ 
studio music for the WFIL sta- 
tions. Stewart has also had his own 
platter programs. They interview 
recording personalities and keep a 
“bunny hop” dance contest run- 
ning that packs the studio with 
high school steppers. Horn has a 
remarkably easy personality and 
makes the task of handling a big 
crowd of youngsters seem as 
though it were a simple thing to 
do. 

Personalities that .show on pro- 
grain usually come from local 
niterips. fticfiard Hayes guested on 
progranl caught (19), coming from 
Camden’jp Club Shaguire. Hayes 
did “lip-sing” to his own waxing 
of “Forgetting. You.” In chant he 
thqn'kfcd /, ajid Stewart for 

tfi^ii* pfcrt in his success and signed 
allographs fo£ the bobbysoxers. 

“Bandstand”’ has such pull that 
membership cards have to be is- 
sued to take care of jams. “Bunny 
Hop” gives actional kids a chance 
to work off steam and winners in 
the finals are to get week-end trip 
..to... New. .Voile and visit Ray . An- 

thony. Runners-up are given rec- 
ord players. Both film and disks 
are used for dancing. The rollcall 
showed teenagers came from every 
section of the city and suburbs. 
Horn picks his favorite record of 
the week and has group of juves 
up for discussion of selection. Au- 
dience seems musically literate 
and doesn’t hesitate to disagree. 
Johnnie Ray is the big favorite 
with all variations of pop music 
followers. Record shop set offers 
good visual plug for releases, with 
albums on display. Gagh. 


Ing, landscaping and legal prob- 
lems involved in building a home. 
Prof. John Burtis headed the 
panel. Theodore Simpson, of Al- 
bany, who has appeared on area 
radio programs, talked most artic- 
ulately about decorating. A third 
half-hour featured a panel on oil 
production, especially in Vene- 
zuela and Saudi Arabia. Jaco. 



pmnm 


W KAMO-TEIJK VISION 


Wednesday, November 26, 1952 


Television Chatter 


New York 

Alan Dinehart left N, Y. last 
night' (Tues.), returning to Coast, 
to direct the Alan Young: vidpix 
series . . . ABOTV pianist Eari 
Wild doing two concerts with the 
National Symphony Orch of D. C, 

. . . Robert Cummings' "My Hero" 
hit a 19.3 Trendex in its first time 
out . . . Geraldine Lawhom, blind 
and deaf actress, guests on WJZ- 
TV’s Lee Graham show tomorrow 
(Thurs.) . . . Ann Thomas doing 
N "One Woman’s Experiences” on 
WABD this week . . . WCBS-TV 
will carry the N. Y. Mirror Youth 
forum pickup this year, rather than 
WNBT as in previous years. Forum 
is scheduled for the Hotel Astor’s 
Grand Ballroom Dec. 6 . . . Singer 
Vic Damonc, recently *promoted to 
the rank of corporal in the Army, 
guesting on CBS’ Jane Froman 
show Saturday (29) . . , Bernard 

M. Kliman, one-time ad chief for 
Gruen Watches, joined Hirshon- 
Garfield as an account exec for 
several of the agency’s jewelry cli- 
ents . . . Second annual Mardi 
Gras ball of N. Y.’s Junior League 
will again be televised by WNBT, 
with the show scheduled Feb. 17 
from 11:15 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. Jane 
Kalimis will repeat as TV produc- 
tion consultant, working with pro- 
ducer Fred Cole. 

. . Donald O’Connor's stint for 
"Colgate Comedy Hour” Dec. 14 
will be filmed by Ralph Staub, di- 
rector of Columbia Screen Snap- 
shots, for the short subject series 
. . . December issue of American 
Magazine has profile on Gertrude 
Berg. 

DuMont Labs board last week 
declared a quarterly divvy of 25c 
per share on 'its 5% cumulative 
convertible preferred stock, -pay- 
able Jan. 1 to stockholder?* of rec- 
ord Dec. 15 . ^Westinghouse re- 
newed CBS-TV’s "Studio One” 
through 1953, and Alcoa picked up 
its option on Edward R. Murrow’s 
"See It Now” on the same web 
for another year . . . Everett Cham- 
bers set. for a feature role on 
NBC’s "TV Playhouse” Dec. 7 . . . 
With Arthur Godfrey off on a hunt- 
ing trip, this week, Robert Q. Lewis 
is subbing on his morning simul- 
casts; Garry Moore replaced God- 
frey on "Talent Scouts” Monday 
night (24), and Victor Borge will 
fill in on “Godfrey and Friends” 
tonight (Wed.). All shows are on 
CBS.. Robert Wood, assistant 
CBS-TV station relations chief, 
currently liuddling^affiliates in the 
southwest and on the Coast. He’ll 
spend Thanksgiving (Thurs.) with 
liis family in L. A. and return to 

N. Y. Dec. 4. 

Diana Herbert in as lead on 
CBS’ "Man Against Crime” to- 
night (Wed.) . . . Robert C. Dur- 
ham, Metropolitan Life’s ad chief, 
has joined Kenyon & Eckhardt as 
assistant to the prexy in non-ad- 
ministrativg functions . . . Edward 
Sutherland, former Hollywood pro- 
ducer-director and later a pro- 
ducer with NBC-TV, has joined 
McCann-Erickson as radio-TV pro- 
duction chief . . . Ben Grauer flies 
to Denver Saturday (1) to narrate 


ttyo shows on NBC-TV for the 
American Medical ASsn., backed 
by ;Sprtith< Kline & French Labs, 
ne*£i%ifc'e)fc . . Ed Herlihy off to 

Cleveland to : do a film . , . Allan 
on ABC-TV’s "Ellery 
^deehWvfdnight (Wed.) . . . "Kiddie 
Kblteifc” on X?uMont omitting Dr. 
Posher ' commercials on Sunday 
(30) in a salute to United Nations 
. . . Bob Wilson's "Saturday Night 
News” for Savarin has hit a 14.0 
Pulse, one of the top ratings for 
a local newscast . . . Jacqueline 
Susann, wife of CBS-TV producer 
Irving Mansfield, starts on “Fun 
Time” via WPIX (TV), N. Y. to- 
morrow (Thurs.), in the 2-2:30 p.m. 
slot. Variety show features Nicky 
Roberts 6 and the Three Bars. Frost- 
land, Inc. picks up the tab. 


Hollywood 

Kine of .Freddy Martin and his 
orch. in half-hour show was made 
at KNXT, with MCA to show it to 
prospective sponsors . . . Kitty Kal- 
len guests on Martin & Lewis’ Col- 
gate Comedy Hour stanza on NBC- 
TV Nov. 30, and Tony Martin was 
booked for Bob Hope’s Dec. 7 Cpl- 
gate stint . . . Participating in panel 
discussion on TV before L. A. Ad 
club yesterday (Tues.) were Donn 
Tatum, ABC-TV, moderator; A1 
Simon, tele-pix producer; Nat 
Wolff, AM-TV v.p. for Young & 
Rubicam; KTLA v.p. and manager 
Klaus Landsberg, and Hal Roach, 
Jr. . . . Judy Canova huddling with 
NBC program director Bud Barry 
in N. Y. on future TV deals with 
w’eb . . . KECA-TV telecasting 
Pasadena Rose Bowl Parade Jan. 1 
twice in its entirety, with Big Four 
Appliance Dealers and Challenge 
Creamery angeling . . . Bob Spreen 
inked to angel segment of Benny 
Strong show on KECA-TV . . . Col- 
gate Comedy Hour producer Sam 
Fuller to N. Y. Dec. 1 for week’s 
confabs with NBC-TV execs, 
agency and sponsor ... Tom 
Ashbrook sponsoring "Moonlight 
Movietime” on KECA-TV for 26 
weeks . . . "Ski Tips,” with Jack 
Slattery emceeing, and Associated 
Ski Dealers bankrolling, bowed on 
KHJ-TV . . . Jerry Ross returns to 
ABC as AM-TV publicity after a 
17-months tour of duty with the 
U. S. Air Force, while Vic Row- 
land T who had his spot, has ankled 
to join KONA in Honolulu as flack 
topper . . . Thrush Anna May joins 
cast of Tex Williams show on 
KNBH . . . Eastern-Columbia inked 
a pre-Christmas special pact for 
weekly show on KECA-TV . . . 
Robert Stack' guested on initial 
"Andy Kelly Presents” show on 
KTTV, with Kaiser-FraSer Dealers 
picking up the tab . . . Eprl Scheib 
Auto Painting inked 52-week pact 
for "Feature Films” on KECA-TV 
. . . Brady Car Co. sued CBS for 
$5,000, claiming web terminated 
pact it had for blurbs with no 
notice. Spots were on KNXT . . . 
KECA-TV manager returned from 
two-week vacation through the 
midwest . . . Don Hine and Bob 
Adams named to head program- 
ming at KNXT, while Bill Brennan 
was upped to exec producer . . . 
ABC topper Bill Phillipson to 


Profitoble TV Audience 


exclusive 


T. * ■ } |*> 

' I l 


WGALTV 


LANCASTER. PENNA 


Only TV station m — only TV 
station seen — in this large, 
rich Pennsylvania market area 


C!a r R. McCollough, Pres. 


Represented by 

ROBERT MEEKER ASSOCIATES 

New York Los Angeles San Francisco Chicago 


spend the holidays in N, Y. with 
his family. 


Chicago 

John Burns shifted from the 
New York to the Chi NBC-TV film 
sales staff . . . Russ Reed's "Chi- 
cago Weather” now SRO across- 
the-board, with Whirlwin Antenna 
and Shinola sharing the tab , . * 
Burr TillstrouVs "Kukla, Fran and 
Ollie” has logged in its annual pro- 
duction of "The Mikado” for the 
Dec. telecast. Same gang is doing 
a p.a. for the Chi Television Coun- 
cil Dec. 17 . . ♦ Motorola registered 
net earnings of $949,558 for the 
September quarter, equal to 49c. a 
share . . . WGN-TV tonight (Wed.) 
launches "How’s Your Health,” 
beamed with the cooperation of the 
Illinois State Medical Society . . . 
Starting date of "Hail the Champ” 
via ABC-TV moved back to Dec. 
27. Fred Amend candy firm will 
bankroll the alternate-week Satur- 
day morning kid's show . . . Busch 
Jewelry has taken over Frank 
Reynolds' 11:45 p.m. newscast on 
WBKB . . . WGN-TV peddled 
Thursday night feature pic to the 
Chi Hudson Dealers . . . Refiners 
Distributing Co. repacted Tom 
Duggan's WNBQ Sunday night 
sports half-hour . . . Slavin Motors 
beaming the "Night Editor” vidpix 
Tuesday nights on WGN-TV , . . 
Mystik Products bought WNBQ’s 
"11th Hour Theatre” Wednesday 
nights. 


San Francisco 

Ford Foundation granted Stan- 
ford University $8,900 for a filmed 
TV series on Uncle Sam’s eco- 
nomic obligations to the rest of the 
world. Dr. Stanley T. Donner will 
produce . . ; What’s cooking? 
KRON's TV Cook, Edith Green, 
flew to Hollywood to voice Del 
Monte commercials on "All Star 
Revue” . . . And KGO-TV’s Chef 
Cardini sky’d to New York to guest 
on Garry Moore's "I’ve Got a 
Secret” . . . Local TV kid enter- 
tainers — Buckskin Dan, Billy Rey- 
nolds, Captain Fortune, Jolly Bill, 
Glen Heywood, Lou Hurley, Lu- 
cille Bliss — headlined the Mission 
Merchant’s "Santa Claus Lane” 
parade and The Guardsmen’s 
Christmas Tree show . . . KRON- 
TV attempted to please rival grid 
fans by beaming the Stanford- 
California "Big Game” complete 
with microwave flashes of the 
USC-UCLA battle during "Big 
Game” half time, during timeout 
lulls, and then until conclusion 
after the "Big Game” ended . . . 
Ruth Shepard upped to KGO-TV 
film editor . . . Claes Wyckoff to 
L. A. to guest on "Church in the 
Home” teevee show . . . Telenews 
Theatre to take the JVIet’s telecast 
of "Carmen,” Dec. 11 . . . Beth 
Norman’s new song, "I Have a 
Dream to Sell, Who’ll Buy It?” 
preemed by Jay Grill on his "Fun 
Matinee.” 

WNBT Sets Up Special 
iGift Section’ on Shows 
As Aid to Yule Shoppers 

WNBT, key station of the NBC 
video web in N. Y., has lined up a 
special "gift section” on a number 
of its regularly-scheduled shows, 
which it’s pitching to advertisers 
for as low as $20 per spot to help 
them sell their Christmas mer- 
chandise. Plan, according to sta- 
tion execs, is designed to help the 
local citizenry select their gifts by 
going window shopping in their 
own homes via TV. 

Each gift item is to be spotted 
for a full 30 seconds on the air, 
with an announcer describing it, 
giving the price and urging view- 
ers to come into the sponsor’s 
store to make the purchase. WNBT 
is offering, to provide a copywriter 
to script the commercials and a 
Christmas setting on each show to 
display .the. ..gift. . items ...to ... the., hest. 
advantage. Station will also set up 
a telephone service to answer any 
questions from viewers. 

Sponsors buying in oh'' the spe- 
cial deal must sign for at least one 
announcement in each program 
period cross-the-board for a mini- 
mum of 15 days, with the deal 
starting Monday (1). Among the 
shows listed to carry the "gift sec- 
tions,” with their prices, are the 
WNBT local cut-in on "Today,” at 
$20 per spot; "Breakfast with Mu- 
sic,” at $35; Herb Sheldon show, 
at $35; Jinx Falkenburg McCrary’s 
"N. Y. Close-Up,” at $50, and the 

Skitch Henderson show, at $100, 

■ % 


tions to political Boss^Ed Cr 
here) has been upped to pro* 
director of WMPS, Memphis’- . 
outlet. He moved into his pre 
slot from the continuity de] 
ment. He formerly was 
KWEM, West Memphis, Ark 


Holiday Pre-emptions 
Give WCBC-TV Cause 
For Giving Thanks 

WCBS-TV, the CBS video web’s 
N. Y. flagship, is pre-empting 
two network 1 " time periods tomor- 
row (Thanksgiving) because it 
can fill the time with sponsored 
shows while the net’s shows are 
sustaining. Network programs be- 
ing bounced off for the one day 
only are the "Mike & Buff” show, 
aired from' 3:15 to 4 p.m., and "UN 
in Action,” aired from 4:30 to 5. 

Going into the "Mike & Buff” 
time period is WCBS-TV's "Late 
Matinee,” a feature film oldie. 
"Matinee” is usually aired from 5 
to 6 p.m. but the network pre- 
empted that period tomorrow for 
the special Longines-Wittnauer 
Thanksgiving show. As a result, 
it’s , being moved back into the 
earlier spot with its complete 
roster of participating sponsors. 
In for the UN show is a special 
one-shot film documentary spon- 
sored by International Harvester 
and titled “Young Mr. America.” 


Dinehart Peddling Kine 
Of Nelson Eddy TVer 

Alan Dinehart was in Gotham 
last week showing the kinescope of 
"Nelson Eddy's Backyard,” situa- 
tion comedy with music, to prospec- 
tive sponsors. Agent Nat Gold- 
stone is in N. Y. this week to han- 
dle negotiations on the projected 
television series, which Jerry Hor- 
win, former film story editor and 
more recently story editor for CBS- 
TV, is working on. 

Dinehart produced, wrote (with. 
Lou Huston) and directed the se- 
ries’ which was kinnied at NBC’s 
El Capitan Theatre on the Coast, 
In addition to Eddy, series features 
Jan Clayton and Chick Chandler. 
It will be done live from the Coast 
with Paul Weston’s orch. 

Eddy, who was on "This Is Your 
Life” two weeks ago when Jean- 
ette MacDonald was the subject, 
was sought by Martha Raye for her 
Dec. 7 stint on NBC-TV's "All Star 
Revue,” 'but turned down the bid 
because of a conflicting commit- 
ment. 


Wingate to WNBT 

John Wingate, WOR and WOR- 
TV, N. Y., newscaster, has resigned 
from the station. He’s moving over 
to WNBT, N. Y., where he’ll do the 
new cross-the-board newscast .for 
ESSO in the 6:45-7 p. m. slot. 

Agency for Esso is Marshalk & 
Pratt. Wingate most recently lihd 
been serving as WOR-TV news 
head following the exit two months 
ago of WOR news-special events di- 
rector Dave Driscoll and his as- 
sistant Edythe Meserand. 


Salt Lake City — Hal Zogg, KUTA 
program director, has switched 
over to the sales department. lie'll 
continue airing his disk shows. 



• I ) rii 

ids Shares 


TVBudget’ Time 


CBS-TV’s “Quiz Kids” will be 
playing to their parents and not 
to their schoolmates soon, under a 
new programming plan wrapped 
Up this week by the web. Show, 
now aired Sunday afternoons at 4, 
is being moved into the Saturday 
night 10 to 10:30 slot, where it will 
alternate with "Balance Your 
Budget.” Cat’s Paw, which had 
bankrolled "Kids” on alternate 
weeks only in the Sunday after- 
noon period, will continue on the 
same basic Saturday nights. 

Reason for the move, according 
to -CBS, was the desire to incor- 
porate two shows sponsored alter- 
nate weeks only into the same time 
period. "Budget” is bankrolled on 
a skipra-week basis by Sealy Mat- 
tress, with the alternate week sus- 
taining. Now, with Cat’s Paw going 
along with "Kids,” the web will 
have the entire Saturday night 
half-hour sponsored. 

Move of the "Kids” show won’t 
be made until Jan, 17. Web at 
that time will fill the show’s cur- 
rent Sunday afternoon slot with a 
public service show, unless it can 
find a sponsor for one of its pro- 
jected new packages prior to that 
date. 


Don Herbert Repacted 
For NBC-TV ‘Mr. Wizard’ 

Chicago, Nov. 25. 

Don Herbert, conductor of NBC- 
TV’s "Mr. Wizard,” has been hand- 
ed a new year’s lease on the Satur- 
day afternoon science demonstra- 
tion show by the Cereal Institute* 
New pact goes into, effect Jan. 1. 

Herbert and Bruce Ljndgren, his 
young colleague on the program, 
take their annual hiatus next 
month but the show continues via 
the kine route. Herbert and pub- 
licist-wife Maraleita Dutton go to 
New York Monday (1) for a two- 
week stint promoting "Mr. Wizard’s 
Science Secrets,” penned by Her- 
bert and recently off the Popular 
Mechanics presses. 

Book, incidentally, is into its sec- 
ond printing after a 25,000 first- 
run. 


WINS’ Grocery Tieup 

Following the . successful mer- 
chandising pattern of other Cros- 
ley Broadcasting operations. WINS 
(N.Y.) has made tieups with five 
grocery chains, Fairmart, D’Agos- 
tino, Moishes, Dan’s and Dia- 
mond K. 

Markets, tagged '‘WINStores,'’ 
will get time on John Bradford’s 
strip in return for plugging WINS’ 
sponsors. 



oil stations In this 
richest market. 

let it sell your product effectively, 
economically. 

Write for information. 


♦figures relearerf August IMS 
by U. J D*pt. of CtHimrc*. 


fteprmnff tf b/ 


ROBERT MEEKER ASSOCIATES 


New York Chicago los Angeles San Francisco 


^eiluceday, November 26, 1952 


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Read how WNBC 

Increased Kn iekerbocker Beer 
Sales 300% (ptme frn pofe)^ 


/ ) 





88 


PQMEff 


Wednesday, November 26, 1952 

- - HHliaHMI ^ ■WWa^Ha*^ 


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a ''bunt** 

In one “ 



■/ 


WNBC Spot Radio announcements 


combined with CHAIN LIGHTNING displays increased • 
the sale of Knickerbocker Beer by an average of 300%. 



«/ 


At the end of the first cycle, Rupperf signed a 52-week contract with 

WNBC and increased their original expenditure by 428% in 1952. 

« 

Today the most successful radio advertisers buy more than time . . . 

They buy Radio time that works in the' home, as well as at the point of sale. 

CHAIN LIGHTNING is Radio at work where desire is created and where 
sales are made ... in the home and in the store. It provides you with 1,600 
'special display' stores in the New York market, and the plan will soon be extended 
to include 3,000 cooperating independent supermarkets. 


CHAIN LIGHTNING is also available at WMAQ Chicago, WTAM Cleveland, 
and KNBC San Francisco, through NBC Spot Sales. If you are an advertiser 
with 'food store' distribution, you can get the same sensational sales results 
as Knickerbocker Beer. Call your NBC Spot Salesman or WNBC directly 
for details on CHAIN LIGHTNING in New York. 



4* 


..... .pr. 




*No other radio station can 

offer advertisers merchandising 
support in as many chain 
and independent supermarket* 


as WNBC. 



REPRESENTED BY 



SPOT SALES 

to Rockejcllcr Plata, New York to, N. Y. 

Chicago Cleveland Washington San Prancisct 
Los Angeles Charlotte* Atlanta* 

*Jiomar Lowrance Associates 


Wednesday, November 26, 1952 


•.1 


WCAU Cuffs Coronation 
Trip on Radio Contest 

Philadelphia, Nov. 25. 

Joseph Connolly, v.p. in charge 
of radio for the WCAU stations, 
has launched a contest, promotion 
to back up its early morning, 
cross-t he-board programs. Grand 
prize is a trip to the coronation of 
Queen Elizabeth and winner must 
tell in a letter of 25 words or less 
"What I Like About Radio.” 

Included in each reply must be 
three coronation clue words. The 
words are broadcast over WCAU 
at least every half-hour in the 6 
to 9 a.m. period. Weekly prizes 
will also be awarded, with all 
«*'pklv prize-winners eligible for 
he grand award. 

WCAU has skedded newspaper, 
billboard and strong on-lhe-air an- 
nouncement campaigns to back 
promotion. Segments participating 
Include Amos Kirby’s ‘ “Rural Di- 
gest," 6 a.m.; John Trent ‘‘Sunrise 
Salute.” 6:30; News with Mike 
Grant, 7; Weather, with Carl 
Owen.’ 7: 10; “Here’s Harvey,” 7:15; 
News with Jack Walters, 7:45, 
and “That M$n Sears.” 8 a.m. 




KAIMO-TKl.E VISION 


39 


Tele Followups 

Continued from page 34 


Coast AFTRA 


— -r Continued from page 31 

various talent codes. This means 
it’s an all or nothing setup with .a 
radio or TV local stalemate at one 
of the major production centres 
having national ramifications for 
the webs involved. Conceivably, for 
example, a failure to reach an 
agreement on the local staff an- 
nouncers pact here which has prob- 
lems, such as the point system, 
unique to Chicago, could result in 
a national radio-TV walkout. With 
the huge stakes involved, such a 
possibility is believed unlikely. 

Even if the networks and their 
o.&o.’s come to terms with AFTRA 
there well may be a bitter test of 
strength with some of the web- 
affiliated indies. There are four in- 
dependents involved in the Windy 
City bargaining — WLS, WGN (and 
WGN-TV), and WBKB. All four are 
network outlets. What happens to 
CBS-TV, for example, if WBKB, 
its Chi affiliate gets hit by a strike 
or to DuMont, if WGN-TV and 
AFTRA lock horns? 

With the union apparently de- 
termined not to let the talks drag 
out beyond the Sunday night (30) 
termination date of the present 
codes, the odds here at least are 
mounting that a strike will ensue. 


V/hy Be BALD 



Wh«n Arrang«m*nta 
Cm Ba Mada Ta 


PAY AFTER 
RESULTS 


"Ivan In casac af avar 
10 yaari baldnast — 
hair, not fun, has 
b«tn grown." 

skeptical? 

OTHERS FAILED? 

Let JOSEPH R. MESSINA. runnliU »u- 
thtf Hy, lecturer and writer an BALDNESS, it* 
CAUSES and PREVENTION PERSONALLY 
wive your HAIR w*klem*. Even tarn 
L»no Standing Raldne** have Sees helped 
(nreuah my peoenal attestl« eemhlned with 
accumulated knevledi* and axperfenec *t ever 
JO year*. Free e«n*ultatlen. Phene far 
?<u and weiMts. Fer my ertlele 

Send a itamptd, 

itlf.aooreutd *a>'*l*pe. 

Monthly Coat Loio as $10 

. JOS.IL MESSINA 

ocalp Specialist Trlchologlst since 1924 
140 W. 57th, N. Y. Cl 7-3051— Sth FL 
■U‘». 1-7. Thurt, 12-5. f*t. 1-4 and by appt. 

hi*? 0 . ** 0AD ST *, NfWAWC 1, N. i. 

Wed., Frl. II iLM.ri p.«. 
«»n. Eve*. 7:30 te Ud «nd by appeintment 



Now itarrlnt «n NSC'f 
ALL STAR RfVUI 
Saturday*, *-f p.m., 1ST 

Mstj William Marrlt Aftftey 


HARPO MARX 

NBC-TV 
RCA-V1CTOR 

Mgt.: GUMMO MARX 


Shallei Bros. (3) provided some 
amusing moments on the trampo- 
Hne * Jose. 

Dorothy Lamour made her TV 
dramatic: debut Monday 1 241 in 
The Singing Years” on NBC-TV’s 

VnffeS-V ' al i n * “Hollywood Open- 
mg Night Femme star and Wil- 
iiam Eytlie, who was featured 
opposite her. acquitted themselves 
well, although hampered by a poor 
script. . H 

.Yarn was a romantic comedy. 
With a little music tossed in, and 
stretched plausibility to the break- 
i n g. point. Miss Lamour, a hopeful 
trying to break into show biz, dis- 
covered that a tune written by her 
grandma was now a hit Broadway 
tune, Eytlie, a vaudevillian. also 
claimed that the song was pirated, 
but he held that it was written bv 
his grandpa. The two met in the 
show producer’s office and love 
bloomed immediatelv. But then 
came the falling out, based on the 
fight over which grandparent 
defied the piece. Flashback, in 
winch the two stars plaved their 
forebears, revealed that ‘it was a 
joint effort and the course of true 
love proceeded smoothly — with the 
royalties pouring in. 

Story, by Irving Phillips and Ed 
Verdier, was obvious and without 
real characterization. It served 
only to spot Miss Lamour and 
Eythe as typed young lovers. Miss 
Lamour, except for a few brief 
moments when lighting was off. 
looked charming and did her one 
song, the disputed composition, 
well. Cast included Candv Candido, 
Mary Wicks, Sandra Gould and 
Ralph Moody, Production seems to 
invest the coin in name talent 
rather than in stories and produc- 
tion which can show them off to 
best advantage. Commercials for 
Ennds were over-insistent. Col- 
umnist Jimmie Fidler plays him- 
self as host on the stanza, which 
William Corrigan produces and 
directs. Bril. 


Mo.’s Retiring Governor Educ’l TV Stations Get RTMA’ 

lo inter Broadcasting 


St. Louis, Nov. 25. 
Missouri’s retiring Governor, For- 
rest Smith, will head a new radio 
station in the state capital, Jeffer- 
son City, at the expiration of his 
term Dec. 31. An application for 
an FCC permit has been filed. On 

Oct. 20 a charter for the Capitol 
Television Corp. was filed with 
; Missouri’s secretary of state, and 
Smith’s name was not listed as one 
' of the principal stockholders. 

j However, it became known last 
;week that the Governor was one of 
the backers of the organization, 
■ and he later confirmed it. 


Blessings; Survey Subscription Video 


Boxing Managers 


TV Destroy Radio? 


Continued from page 2d 

show which will also be for sale. 

It's understood that the package 
price is a few thousand dollars 
over the tag on the Gillette Fri- 
I day night bouts on NBC-TV and 
the Pabst Wednesday night bouts 
over CBS-TV. ticketed at $15,000 
net apiece. IBC figures in both 
NBC and CBS deals and the FSE 
thus hopes to steal IBC's fistic 
thunder. 

ABC’s events will be remotes, 
coming from arenas around the 
country in a similar fashion to the 
Pabst bouts. For years Friday 
night has been traditional for ring 
airings, but the Pabst telecasts 
have shown that interest is just 
as high on the midweek. Saturday 
night has also been considered a 
natural, but to date no web has 
been able to line up a major box- 
ing series. It’s ABC’s aim to use 
the sports programming as a coun- 
terpoint to the entertainment 
shows on CBS and NBC. DuMont 
has wrestling, but the grapplers 
don’t start until 9:30. 


Continued from page 31 - — - 

last year was in a TV market. And 
during this time, he emphasized, 
101 new AM outlets have been au- 
thorized, including three in TV 
cities, making for a net gain of 90 
stations. 

“The growing strength of radio," 
Fellows asserted, “is phenomenal 
to those who do not know its pow- 
er — but perfectly normal, to those 
of us who have worked with it for 
years.” 

As for TV, the NARTB topper 
predicted, there is no doubt it 
will “grow apace,” that it will have 
an effect on the advertising pic- 
ture. But “based upon present in- 
dications,” he added, “it is most 
logical to assume that TV — as an 
additional great advertising medi- 
um — will step up the investment 
in advertising and not reduce the 
advertising investment in the in- 
dividual media. . .Television is go- 
ing to take its nonnal place in the 
growing American business com- 
munity.” 

The broadcast media, said Fel- 
lows, have grown up and broad- 
casters have become “the cus- 
todians of the most powerful sin- 
gle public medium in America to- ; 
day.” 

The industry has its problems, 
he said, but is doing something 
about it, as witness the TV code. : 
And an NARTB committee, he re- 
vealed, is working on a revision of ( 
the radio standards of practice. 


Ike’s Radio-TV Ban 
On Korea Trip Brings 
Beefs From Industry 

Washington. Nov. 25. 

Protests against exclusion of ra- 
dio-TV reporters from the forth- • 
coming Eisenhower Korean in-pec- 
tion tour were filed last week by 
the National Assn, of Radio and TV 
Broadcasters and the Radio Corre- 
spondents A^sn. Present plans, a.s 
announced by James C. Haggerty, 
press aide to the President-elect, 
provide for only three ncu>men — 
a correspondent, still photographer 
and a newsreel cameraman. 

NARTB prexy Harold E. Fellows 
urged Haggerty to reconsider the 
proposal in order to give radio and 
TV “adequate opportunity to fulfill j 
their responsibilities as news me- 
dia." He suggested that provision 
be made to assure coverage by a ra- 
dio correspondent and a TV earn- j 
eraman. 

While this would add two more - 
passengers. Fellows said, he be- ; 
lieved that the interest of the ? 
American people in getting a full ; 
report of the trip “would compel - 
any reasonable expedient to make 
this possible as long as the safety \ 
of the President-elect is not > 
jeopardized.” 

The Radio correspondents asked 
that a radio-TV reporter be per - 1 
mitted to accompany the General. \ 

Also registering protests were 
CBS prexy Frank Stanton and 
NBC president Joseph H. Me- ■ 
Connell. 


Chicago, Nov. 25. 

The Radio-Television Manufac- 
turers A*sn. at its winter meeting 
here last week officially put its 
-tamp of approval on educational 
TV -tations. The RTMA board of 
directors, in indorsing the non-com- 
mercial outlets, urged the organiza- 
tion's member-companies to take 
"individual action to encourage and 
promote educational television.” 

The action had'been recommend- 
ed by the Educational TV Commit- 
tee. spearheaded by Benjamin 
Abrams, prexy of Emerson Radio & 
Phonograph, who has been active 
in promoting the cause of educa- 
tional video. Abrams, incidentally, 
asked to be relieved of the chair- 
manship of the special committee 
so he could pursue ffis own person- 
al projects in this field. A new 
chairman will be picked shortly vjy 
RTMA board chairman A. D. Pla- 
mondon, Jr. 

Also a first was the board's in- 
terest in subscription TV. The 
group voted to appoint a special 
committee to study and survey the 
pay-as-you- watch TV field in all its 
aspects. No definite date was set 
for the committee’s initial report. 

Organization, in a move to do 
something about the vexing radio- 
TV service problem, voted to un- 
derwrite to the tune of $80,000 a 
pilot service training course to be 
set up at the New York .City Trade 
School. The project will be de- 
signed to provide actual upgrading 
training for New York servicemen 
and at the same time develope new 
teaching techniques that can be 
used in vocational schools else- 
where. 


Seattle — KIRO r local CBS out- 
let. is now on the air an extra hour 
each day, having extended Dave 
Page's j “Pa gin g KIRO” for the ex- 
tra hour, midnight to 1 a.m. 


Religious Groups 




Continued _ from pare _3 1 _ 


of granting free TV time to re- a 
ligious groups be continued. It’s " 
understood that they fear that if 
emphasis is placed on selling time 
to religious groups, some “irrespon-, 
sible” sect might buy air time. An- 
other problem, they fear, is that if 
their coin has to go to buy time,: 
they w’on't able to afford better 
programs and production. 

The Code section referred to 
recommends that time be given 
cuffo, but doesn't ban the sale of 
time. Some religious groups have 
bought time, such as the Billy 
Graham Evangelical Foundation on 
ABC-TV. In radio many groups, 
pay for their time. Some of these 
were represented at the meeting 
on the NARTB move. 

While some groups have oeer. 

! able to afford time purchases or. 

’ radio, TV costs are much higher, 
‘which Is prompting the action 
I against a change in the tele Code. 



saw 


A Happy 



from 


Mr. and Mrs, 





from me too 


SAVONI 


if 


n 


Direction: G.A.C 


Persona! Management: JOE LYTTLE 


KABIO-TELE VISION 


PSS^Sty 


Wednesday* November 26, 1952 


From tbe Production Centres 


IJV NEW YORK CITY . . /. 

George Kero, manager of AM-TV production-and-traffic at Benton Sc 
Bowles, has joined Geyer agency as associate director of AM and TV 
media . . . Richard W. Golden named manager of sales development 
and research- for NBC Spot Sales; he. was formerly with Theatre Net- 
work Television and Lester Lewis Associates ... Eileen O’Connell 
marks her sixth anni as femcee of WMGM’s “For Children Only” . . . 
Norman Mathews, ex-Ruthrauff & Ryan, is new manager of radio and 
tele commercial production ffir Dancer-Fitzgerald-Sample . . . Donal 
J. O’Brien upped to v.p. at Biow agency . . . Procter & Gamble has set 
Compton as agency fpr new Gleem toothpaste . . . Bob Blake, formerly 
WOR publicity chief, has joined CBS as publicity and promotion chief 
for WCBS, the web’s key N. Y. outlet. He succeeds Marge Kennedy, 
who has joined the WCBS scripting staff and has been assigned to the 
Emily Kimbrough show. 

Clay Morgan organizing a VIP service for hinterland radio-TV sta- 
tions as an auxiliary to indie station reps, designed to cater to them 
on anything and everything from hotel reservations, theatre tickets and 
ringside tables to more realistic business aspects. 

Eldon Hazard and Dudley Faust, CBS Radio sales manager and east- 
ern salrs chief, off to Battle Creek on biz . . . Jean (“Dr. Christian” > 
Hersholt arrives in Gotham Dec. 4 for three-day visit . . . Thomas P. 
Robinson named regional manager for N. Y.-New England of ABC sta- 
tion relations . . . George Hamilton Combs, WMGM and WJZ gabber, 
resigned as special assistant U. S. attorney and chief trial counsel for 
Office of . Price Stabilization, resuming private practice; he’s keeping 
his AM-TV chores . . . Red Barber addresses Dobbs Ferry women’s 
club Dec. 8 . . . CBS Radio program v.p. Lester Gottlieb due back from 
Coast confabs Friday (28) . . . Henry Denkei; starts his seventh year on 
ABC’s “Greatest Story Every Told” Jan. 4 . . . WOV's Ralph N. Weil 
back in town after his annual fall business trip to Chicago . . . John C. 
Romo, formerly with Biow agency, has joined Hewitt, Ogilvy, Benson & 
Mather as account exec . . . Mercer McLeod and Fred Herrick added 
to “Backstage Wife” . . . Pat Peardon into “Young Widder Brown” -. . . 
John Stanley, Mary Jane Higby, Jimmy Monks, Mary Orr and Richard 
Jana ves new to “Front Page Farrell” , , . Richard .Seff assigned to fea- 
ture role in “Armstrong Theatre of Today” Sat. (28) . . . Sid Eizes, NBC 
Press Chief, in Pittsburgh visiting family for 10 days. 

Buck Canel- planed to Havana this week to do play-by-play, in Span- 
ish, of Cuba’s winter baseball season for CAQ . . . WWRL airing a 
aeries on health in 10 foreign • languages, presenting info on child 
health Centres, venereal disease, cancer, etc., and distributing free 
booklets on hygiene . . . RCA’s Thesaurus releases next week two quar- 
ter-hour scripts for the “March of Dimes” drive . . , WCBS’ 10th an- 
nual Christmas drive to collect books for patients, in city hospitals gets 
under way tomorrow (Thurs.) . . . .William G. Geockegan has resigned 
as a vice-oresident of Compton agency . . . Dick Winters resigns. Fri- 
day (28.) as WINS, publicity director to handle outside accounts. 


special assignments reporter*. Georg© Faber continues as overnight 
editor . . . Walter Lindley, Jr„ moves over from the Chi Trlhune to loin 
the WGN sales staff . . . WBBM farm director Harry Campbell notched 
his seventh year on the Chi CBS station . . . Ginny Evans .former trade 
reporter, handling publicity and promotion for Tommy Bartlett’s “Wel- 
come Travelers” . . . George Biggar, director of WLS’ National Barn 
Dance, has skedded a special afternoon showing of the hayloft display 
Saturday (29) for 4-H Clubbers in town for their National Congress. 

IN HOLLYWOOD . . . 


■ 


Paul Pierce, after a fling in teevee, is back in radio as production 
manager for David Hire Productions. He continues to co-write and 
direct the AM version of “Wild Bill Hickock” . . . Sam Hayes takes his 

sabbatical at holiday time and turns over the ticker tapes to Don Lee’s 
Bob Greene . . . George Baron named sales manager of KOWL, Santa 
Monica . . . Parke Levy’s “December Bride” caught up with Jack 
Benny for a second place tie in the Pulse ratings . . . Norm Nelson, 
director of So. Cal. Broadcasters, back on full time after a long bout 
with amoeba. Peggy Wood of the same outfit also on the ailing list 
with virus infection . . , Robert O. Reynolds waiting the green light 
from Washington on his takeover (with Gene Autry) of KMPC to start 
his big promotion push. It has been a bad football year for the former 
All-American. His Stanford Indians have been the Conference door- 
mat . . . Carroll Carroll working quietly on the draft of a story line 
comedy for daytime radio and afterdark TV. 

IN SAN FRANCISCO . . . 

Don Lee network brass settled at the Clift for a two-day confab of 
northern California affiliates. Hollywood contingent included Ward 
Ingram, executive veep; Tony Quinn, controller; Norman Ostby, sta- 
tion relations manager . . . KFRC Chief William Pabst to hospital for 
checkup . . . Fae Thomas joined Jim Diamond ad agency . . . KGO’s 
Paul Sclieincr swifted to Gotham for sales trip; KJBS’ Stan Breyer re- 
j turned from one . . . Pat $enry’s deejay show, on KROW, sold to Ar- 
thur Murray Dance Studios six hours a night, six nights a week, 12 
midnight to 6 a.m. . . . Judy Deane (KNBC) launched second annual 
Christmas gift drive for kiddies served by Youth Guidance Center . . . 
Lorraine Duchene returned to KGO as assistant continuity editor 
| . . . Winning entries on George Ruge’s KYA turkey-naming contest 
were “Clark Gobble,” “Sophie Turk-er” and “Boogie Ruge” . . . George 
Arnold, back from the wars, rejoined KEAR as salesman . . . Edith 
Green and Dr. Leona M. Bayer published their co-written “Kitchen 
Strategy” book designed to convert modern knowledge of nutrition into 
good eating habits. 


Danny Thomas 

Continued from* page 1 - — - 

hand and make overtures to the 
industry with the other.” 

After Thomas had finished with 
his “idiot” routine, he said: “When 
and if I ever do my own television 
show I’d like it to be a half-hour 
deal with the first few shows live 
and the rest on film.” 

Plainly irked by Thomas’ pe> 
formance at the interview, Miss 
Russell commented that “Thomas 
was tired and showed it by forget- 
ting to shave and wearing a gray 
T-shirt and blue pin-striped trous- 
ers for a press conference. He 
even snapped at a waiter who 
brought fresh coffee to the suite.” 

She lowered the boom on Thom- 
as by writing: “Thomas said he 
was ‘happy where I am’ making 
pictures and appearing in night 
clubs because ‘people come to see 
me and they aren’t forced to 


come’.” 


Thomas, who was in town for a 
benefit appearance for the B’nal 
B’rith Women’s Council of Greater 
Detroit, added: “You work years 
building routines. Do them once 
on television, they’re finished. 
Next thing you know, you are too.” 


■ 


Toss Oat Cable 

Continued from page 31 -^—r 


l 


IN CHICAGO . . . 

James Cominos,. Needham, Louis & Brorby veepee, has been named 
radio-TV director for the agency whose AM-TV billings recently passed 
■the $8,000,000 mark. Alan Wallace, who’s been shifted out of the 1 di- 
rector berth, continues in charge t>f the creative side . . . Attorney 
John Moser in Hollywood on biz this week . . . Robert Young, who 
opens here Monday (1) in “Country Girl” at the Blaqkstone, and the 
cast, of NBC’s “Father Knows Best” will tape 13 slices of the airer at 
the Chi NBC studios . . . A. C. Nielsen research firm announced an ex- 
pansion project which will increase the floor space of the Howard St. 
headquarters by 60% . . . WGN sports chief Jack Brickhouse penning 
the 1952 baseball review for the Encyclopedia Britannica . . . NBC 
newsman Clifton Utley expected back to work this week after a virus 
bout . . . Radio the&ps Geraldine Kay, Sondra Gair, Larry Alexander 
and Paul Barnes have joined forces to form the First Chicago Drama 
Quartet . . . WBBM newsroom realignments find assistant news editor 
Frank Barton taking over as feature editor, Tom Koch moves up as 
assistant to news director Julian Bentley and Bill Wolfan becomes 


j Canada Indies 

Continued from page '31 -y, - r 

in television and to build its To- 
ronto and Montreal stations, now 
operating. Addition of an Ottawa 
outlet is set for 1953. An addi- 
tional $5,000,000 is scheduled for 
erecting Halifax, Winnipeg and 
Vancouver stations. CBC, as Can- 
ada’s final word in all radio and 
television matters, will ultimately 
decide what operators will bet 
granted^ licenses and, in making! 
those decisions, what'ar^is are not 
served-by CBC. 

Only favg^able .cgjpgiment was re-, 
ported from j. J. Fitz&ibbons, pres.: 
<bf Famous Players-Canadian Corp.,! 
who- fignredh CBC video shows were; 
as good as any U. S. broadcasts, 
technically. FPC plans to operate 
a kine web with its Telemeter 
Corp. 



Eileen BARTON 

AMERICAN MUSIC HAM. and , 
U.S. COAST GUARD SHOW 
RY1RY SUNDAY, ARC. RADIO- 

GUESTING NOY. 2& 

FERRY COMO SHOW 

CORAL RECORDS Dir.: MCA 




Hearty 
Thanksgiving 
to all 

the fine folks 
making possible 
another 

ANNIVERSARY! 

from 

Mr. Keyboard 



IN PHILADELPHIA ... 

Robert Pryor, v.p. in charge of public relations for the WCAU sta- 
tions, is chairman of the Franklin Day ceremonies of the Poor Rich- 
ard Club, honoring CBS’ William Paley . . . Farris E. Rahall, president 

of Norristown’s WNAR. is on a trip to Brazil to study TV operations 
there . . . Philadelphia Club of University of Southern Calif ornia alum- 
ni held its second annual party at the Barclay Hotel (22) to catch tele- 
cast of USC-UCLA game . . . Mary Jones, star of “Mary Jones Show” 
(WFIL), accompanied hy her husband and partner on program, Howard 
Jones, and 37 members of show’s fan club will visit United Nations 
headquarters, in New York, Dec. 4. Trip was arranged by World Af- 
fairs Council of Philadelphia . . . Marge Wieting, WFIL late night disk 
jock, has started television chatter segments on WFIL-TV, Thursdays, 
3:15-3:30 p.m., called “The Gossip Bench” . . . Philadelphia Fire Com- 
missioner Frank L. McName^ was being interviewed on Steve Allison 
late night WPEN show (19) when fire broke out in the studio basement 
. . . Alice Rubin, publicity and promotion director for Mao McGuire, 
WIP disk jockey, and Ed Locke, announcer on WIP’s “Dawn Patrol” 

! have announced their engagement. 

IN CLEVELAND . . . 

Joe Mulvihill, WTAM, and Phil McLean, WERE, named top diskers 
in radio evaluation, test by the Junior Radio Council of Cleveland . , . 
TV set sales in this area now total 679,012 . . . Stan Anderson, Radio- 

TV editor, Cleveland Press, preparing gala “opening nite” celebration 
when Press Club moves into its new quarters (8) at Herman Pirch- 
ner’s Alpine Tavern Building . . . Ray Scherer, NBC newsman in town 
(26) to talk to joint meeting Rotary Club and Ad Club . . . Wyse Ad 
Agency handling John B. Lambert & Associates sponsorship of Case- 
Reserve grid classic over WERE with Bob Neal and Phil McLean doing 
mike work . . . Clay Dopp handling Carlings 11:15 p.m. WXEL sports 
stint while John Fitzgerald is on month-long vacation . . . William Lem- 
mon, WJW general manager, back after Florida hiatus . . . Jim Rowe, 
newest member of WTAM productidn staff . . . WGAR reports its Mer- 
CHAINdising program, participated in by 20 advertisers, has resulted 
in $100,000 of radio sales and a reported 15 to 200% hypo for products 
sold . . . WTAM is extending its closing hour to 2 a.m. with the in- 
clusion of two five-minute newscasts and 50 minutes of recorded music 
featuring selections by the “Norman Cloutier Orchestra” . . . Dick Rein- 
hert, formerly with Metro, has been appointed art director of WXEL 
. . . Jim Doney has been added to the NBC announcing staff . . . Grace 
Ehrich will join Ken Ward in the “Around Home" WXEL 6:30-6:40 p.m. 
stipt .. .> Brooke Taylor has been named “Creative Programming Man- 
ager” for WTAM-WNBK . . . Harry Camp will succeed Walberg Brown 
as v.p., general manager* of WDOK, effective Dec. 1 when Brown steps 
put to take 1 a long vacation. 

IN PITTSBURGH . . . 

-Gloria Abdbu, who heads women’s activities at WCAE, cast for 
femme lead in next Playhouse show, “The Holly and the Ivy” . . . 
WDTV switched over the weekend from Channel 3 to Channel 2 

. . . Joe Conway has left the Smith, Taylor & Jenkins agency to go with 
the Western Newspaper Union in Illinois . . . Paul Long, KDKA news- 
caster, and his wife flew down to Como, Tex., in his private plane to 
.Visit _ the. folks . . Bill Burns of KQV fed 15 minutes of the Variety 
Club s Silver Anniversary 'banquet 'to“'the“Mutuar network"'.'' 'Nick" 
Cenci, of WCAE production department, shoved off for the army . . . 
j . v, . * * ’ ex-Playhouse actor and teacher, now an assistant on 

the Buick Circus Hour after year and a halt as a production coordina- 
tor in New York with NBC-TV. He’s also finding time, as a result of 
the once every month program, to do some acting again . . . Announcer 

started his 14th year on KDKA and Henry Dabccco 
nis nrth on WJAS . . . WCAE gave its sales manager, Carl Dozer, per- 
mission to m.c. the Variety Club telethon on WDTV. He’s the new 
chief barker of the showmen’s organization . . . KDKA introduced its 
new general manager, Les Rawlins, to the trade and press at a Du- 
quesne Club reception . . . Burt Mustin, veteran Pittsburgh screen ac- 
tor, landed a featured part in one of the “Our Miss Brooks” teeveers. 


wait as much as 120 days before 
getting consideration. Its proposal 
is that if a station has a bona fide 
starting date less than 45 days 
after a new quarter begins it 
should be considered. 

Paradoxically, ABC was one of 
the chief pluggers in getting the 
present four-network procedures 
adopted. However, it feels, that the 
existing rule-book is b$sed on the 
theory that four equally strong par- 
ties are bargaining, not two Go- 
liaths and two weaker contenders. 
Its arguments for “the right to 
grow and compete” parallel its 
pitch before the FCC for approval 
of its merger with United Para- 
mount Theatres as a factor, giving 
it greater strength to compete with 
NBC and CBS. 

It’s contended by those opposing 
the ARC view that American's plan 
would “force stations to take pro- 
grams they didn’t want." The ABC 
answer is that the disputed cable 
time wouldn't amount to more than 
5% of the total allocations and 
that outlets which don’t want an 
ABC airer when this is going out 
on their leg of the cable could fill 
the time with films, kinescopes or 
their own. local shows. 


Louisville — Neil D. Cline last 
week was named assistant director 
of WHAS radio and television. 
Sales director since 1949, Cline 
served as acting director of the 
station two months recently while 
Victor Sholis was on leave of ab- 
sence to serve on the campaign 
staff of Adlai Stevenson. John 
Fouts has been named to the radio 
sales manager post, and A1 Gillen 
has been moved into the TV sales 
manager spot. 


: Qv&Uh/ 

• MANHATTAN 

« 31 BEEKMAN PLACE 

• Between E. 50 Sc 51 St. in exclu- 
m slve Sutton-Beekman Place. 

Residential section. 0 blocks 

• from United Nations. Five story 
brick. 4 room apt. each floor. 




apt. 75% on rntge. 

WEDNESDAY. DEC; 10 

1 P. M. HOTEL McALPIN 
34TH ST. Sc BWAY., N.Y.C. 
SEND FOR BOOKLET S. 


Mmam r • 

• Auctioneers: F.P. Day 5.A. McDonald * 

• 7 DEY ST.. N. Y. 7 Dlgby 9-2000 # 




BILLY 

NALLE 


Thesaurus Band Series 

RCA Thesaurus is releasing a 
new transcriber of military and 
patriotic music by the U. S. Army 
Band. 

Series will be programmed as a 
quarter-hour feature and used with 
U. S. Army recruiting announce- 
ments by Pfc. Eddie Fisher and 
other celebs. 


Tunis in Talent Hunt 

Hal Tunis, disk jockey of 
WMGM, N. Y., is conducting a tal- 
ent search in a tieup with Jubilee 
Records. 

Tunis is spending six weeks 
apiece in each of seven night clubs 
emceeing the contests. Overall win- 
ner at end of 42 weeks will get a 
pact with Jubilee. 


FEATURE FILMS 
WANTED FOR T. V. 

Out Company Is on* of tbe for*' 
most distributors of film proportion 
for television. Wo aro open for 
feature films suitable for television 
syndication.. Ploaso submit sum- 
mary of wbat yoM havo or, if you 
prefer, write for an appointment to 
discuss. 

Box V-22IS7, Variety, IM W. S6tli Street 
Hew York 36. N. V. 





Wednesday,? November 26, 1952 

L’ville Just One Big 
Classroom for Week In 
55-Program TV Splurge draggi 

Louisville, Nov, 25. stead. 

Local citizens, both young and mu sic 
old, last week took part in a 55- a SSJf 
program series of telecasts during p 
National Education Week, with the si Jg S ® 
City, County, Louisville parochial, p 0]rt ’ * 
Jeffersonville, Indiana, and New great" 
Albany, Indiana, school systems co- ceedin 
operating with WHAS-TV in pro- Blur 
during the series “Inside Our cannec 
Schools.” Every day during the Clothe 
week, from 10 to 11 a.m., 12:05 to the la 
12:30 p.m., and 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Dick I 

residents of the three cities area 

were able to watch the classroom I 
teaching of their children. 

Besides the classroom televising, 
the “Inside Our Schools” series in- 
cluded 25 shows with a National 
Education Week theme, and featur- 
ing local students and educators. 

The Louisville station's coverage of 
local school plants and instruction 
methods and activities was even 
more extensive than its first “In- 
side Our Schools” series of last 
year, when the series was rewarded 
with Variety’s Showmanagement 
Award, and other citations from 
Ohio State University and a com- 
mendation from the Alfred L, Du- 
Pont Awards Foundation. 

Summation of the series on the 
part of WHAS-TV was that there 
has been a change and an indica- 
tion of the viewing public’s readi- 
ness to accept programs designed 
for more than “entertainment.” 



Radio Reviews 

Continued from page 30 — . -..-' 1 

dragging the pace, considerably in- 
stead. If wide patches between 
music can be mended, this one has 
a chance. 

Eddie Cletro and his Round-Up 
Boys are very good on the musical 
side, and a. pert dish, Devvie Daven- 
port, socks across her numbers in 
great style, brightening the pro- 
ceedings considerably. 

Blurbs for Life ciggies are both 
canned and live, and Jim Clinton 
Clothes commercials are live, with 
the^ latter being handled ably by 
Dick Lane. Daku. 


PfiRiEfr 


Sarnoff Mike Shy 

Philadelphia, Nov. 25. 

RCA board chairman David 
Sarnoff was guest of honor 
at the 75th anniversary dinner 
of the Philadelphia Engineers 
Club (18). Called upon to make 
a few off-the-cuff remarks, 
Gen. Sarnoff shied at the forest 
of microphones, which the 
town’s radio stations had 
planted about the room, and 
delivered his speech without 
benefit of amplification. 

“You won’t (latch me talking 
into one of those things,” he 
told an eager young announcer 
who shoved a hand mike at 
him. 


RADIO^ELEWSION 


CIRCLING THE KILOCYCLES 


Radio FoHownp, || Chi NBC Sales Arm 

Revamp Due Soon 


I 


‘Paley Comet’ 




Continued from page 29 
“new horizons” projects growing 
out of TV City’s creation is the in- 
tent of Paley & Co. to vest Coast 
video with outstanding creative en- 
tities. exclusive of talent. Spe- 
cifically, CBS envisions the day, 
not so far off, when major per- 
sonalities in the creative facets of 
the film business, will accept TV’s 
emergence into a mature art form 
and be ready to make the plunge. 
Basically, this is one of the vital 
contributing factors in CBS’ stak- 
ing its major claim in Hollywood- 
originating TV. 

“Let’s not kid ourselves about 
it,” says program chieftain Robin- 
son. “The creative, inventive guy, 
with the flair and the know-how, 
the guy who’s jumping with ideas 
and tastes, is here in Hollywood, 
doing duty in the picture busi- 
ness, but beginning to feel the pix 
slack. There isn’t enough picture 
business to go around. Some day 
soon he’ll accept TV’s bigtime 
stature and when that day comes 
there’s no telling how far TV will 
go in writing, producing, directing, 
designing and other dimensions. 

“Like the film business, we ac- 
cept New York as the administra- 
tive base in TV. We're involved 
in too many operational facets. 
Here in Hollywood the creative guy 
is permitted to remain aloof to 
create. It adds up.” 


Except for a couple of incidental 
comments, the WSM-originated 
“Grand Ole Opry” show last Satur- 
day night (22) made no special 
occasion out of the program’s 27th 
anni on the air. Session was just 
another spirited country clambake 
with a familiar cast of hillbilly 
performers topped by Red Foley. 

It was the same Informal, but 
sturdy format which has made the 
“Opry” the oldest show in radio. 

Foley, who doubles as emcee, de- 
livered a couple of vocals while 
Minnie Pearl, another regular, 
socked over that brand of cornball 
humor which has become standard 
for this show biz genre. In the 
same groove was the cider-jug gag- 
ging of Rod and Boob Brasfield. 
Show also featured a fiddler, Tom- 
my Jackson, in a hoedown produc- 
tion while Marvin Hughes hit the 
keyboard on a ragtime item. Other 
performers Included a country 
choral group working over “Wait- 
ing For The Robert E. Lee” among 
several other hillbilly artists who 
rotate as guest artists on this 
series. 

“Grand Ole Opry” continues to 
cover the whole Saturday night 
schedule for WSM in Nashville 
with the NBC network carrying 
only a half-hour segment under 
the sponsorship of Prince Albert. 

Herm. 


PSI-TV 

Continued from page 27 




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Duryea telepix will be shot south 
of the border. 

While here White also became 
enmeshed in the intricate RKO 
situation. He says while in Europe 
he was cabled by two syndicates, 
one from Wall Street, the other 
from Beverly Hills, each wanting 
PSI to act as liaison for negotia- 
tion of Ralph Stolkin’s Interest in 
the studio. White says he couldn’t 
reveal their names at this time, 
but is huddling with BevHills 
group while here. He says he 
would like to see Stolkin syndicate 
interest bought .hy one of groups 
with which he’s talking, and PSI 
then using RKO exchanges for dis- 
tribution and physical facilities for 
production of telepix. 

He believes this should be done 
In co-ordination with exhibitors: 
that a plan of theatre-TV should 
be set up whereby exhibs would be 
cut into the teevee pie, and opines 
soundest basis for RKO would be 
a plan incorporating production 
and distribution of both feature 
films and vidpix, averring theatri- 
cal pix produtcion and TV can Jbe 
compromised so as not to destroy 
one or the other. 

White said a deal for a studio 
will be closed definitely by the 
first of the year. 


14 More Video 

Continued from page 31 


■ 


Prairie Television Co. in Decatur, 
111.; Signal Hill Telecasting Corp. 
in Belleville, 111.; WIBM in Jack- 
son, Mich.; WBCK in Battle Creek, 
Mich.; WTAC in Flint, Mich.; 
WLOK in Lima, O.; Rivoli Realty 
Co. in Johnstown, Pa.; Rudman 
Television Co. in Galveston, Tex., 
and Ohio Valley Television Co. in 
Henderson, Ky. 

Theatre interests own the ma- 
jority of stock in Rivoli Theatre Co. 
in Johnstown, Pa. Margaret E. 
Gartland, exhibitor and real estate 
operator, owns 57%. Walter M. 
Thomas, theatre owner, holds 
12.5%. 

Ohio Valley Television in Hen- 
derson, Ky., is also controlled by 
exhibitors. Company, which op- 
erates radio station WSON, is 60% 
owned by Citizens Theatre Co. and 
21% owned by Malco Theatres. 


Chicago, Nov. 25. 

The revamp of NBC’s sales arm 
is due to hit the web’s Chi office 
in a few weeks when Edward Hitz, 
currently eastern sales chief for 
the TV side, comes out to take 
over as overall topper of both the 
AM and TV central division net- 
work sales crews. Move is part of 
the general re-integration going on 
at NBC, which has discarded the 

“down-the-middle-split” concept 
espoused for the two media by the 
Booz, Allen & Hamilton organiza- 
tional blueprint. 

For the time being and until 
the reshuffling is fully completed 
around the first of the year, Gor- 
dan Mills, presently Chi AM net- 
work sales manager, and Gene 
Hoge, the video counterpart, will 
report to Hitz. 

Meantime, plans are being whip- 
ped into final shape for further 
.AM-TV consolidation at the NBC 
plant here. Since under veep 
Harry Kopf’s guidance the past 
year and a half the operation has 
taken on “fat-free” proportions, no 
major personnel pruning is ex- 
pected in either the radio or tele 
departments. Realignment likely 
will be chiefly along organizational 
lines. 

For example, it’s figured that 
Jules Herbuveaux,' presently direc- 
tor of TV operations, will take over 
a similar role on the AM side.' 
That means that WMAQ program 
chief Homer Heck will report to 
him, along with web TV exec pro- 
ducer Ben Park and WNBQ-TV 
program manager George Heine- 
mann. 

WEOL Newsman Slugged 
In Lorain Hassle Over 
Allegation of Pirating 

Cleveland, Nov. 25. 

Two newsmen cooked up their 
own news story at nearby Lorain 
when. Don Miller, news editor of 
the Lorain Journal, assaulted 
WEOL newsman James Cochran 
for what Miller charged was “pirat- 
ing of a Journal story.” 

Miller, arrested for assault and. 
battery, spent the night (20) in jail, 
pleaded not guilty before ‘Munici- 
pal Judge Leroy C. Kelly, and was 
released on $200 bond for trial 
Dec. 9. 

Cochran denied the pilfering 
charge and said he recorded the 
entire incident that took place in 
the Hotel Antlers studio when Mil- 
ler^ visited him after phoning he ! 
was coming’ up". Miller charged ! 
WEOL lifted an exclusive road : 
building story like so many 
others. 

“I’ve heard them read stories 
over the air word for word as Writ- 
ten in the Journal,” Miller said, 
adding he suspected Cochran had 
a recorder going but “when I told 
Cochran that what I should do is 
bop you on the chin, and he said 
’why don't you try, 4 I bopped him.” 

Miller -denied the pirating 
charge, said WEOL had had the 
story long before the Journal’s af- 
ternoon edition: That newswriter 
Jack La Vriha had known the story. 
La Vriha witnessed the assault. 

WEOL-Joumal feud was long in 
the making. A year ago the U. S. 
Supreme Court upheld a charge 
against the Journal’s violating of 
the anti-trust law by refusing to 
accept advertising from WEOL pa- 
•tronizers. 


Albany — Harry V. Poor, of Min- 
eola, has been appointed counsel 
to the" State Commission on Edu- 
cational Television, members of 
which were recently named by 
Governor Dewey. Group; which 
will submit a report to the Legis- 
lature by Feb. 10, 1953, includes 
Bernard Duffy; of BBD&O, and 
Michael R. Hanna, of WHCU, 
Ithaoa. 

Detroit — Max Lieb has been ap- 
pointed musical director of radio 
station WJR, it was announced by 
Worth Kramer, vice president and 
general manager of the Goodwill 
i station. Lieb has been a violinist 
I with the station orch since 1938. 

I He has also been a member of the 
Detroit Symph, conducted the pit 
orch at the Fox theatre for years 
and was a member of the Ford 
Sunday Evening Hour and Ford 
Summer Hour orchs. 

San Diego — John Halvorson, 
KCBQ staff announcer, has been 
named director of news for the 
station by Harry Mitchell, program 
director. Ralph Menard has been 
added to the announcing staff. 
Menard will conduct the “Mid- 
night to Dawn” deejay seg, with 
Merrit Hadley going to daytime 
chores. 



Paris, Tex. — David W. Brawner^ 
has purchased KFTV hero from 
the Lamar Broadcasting Co., of 
which Cecil Hardy is prez. Braw- 
ner paid $22,000 for the outlet, 
sale of which was approved by ! 
the FCC. Outlet operates on 1,250 i 
kilocycles with a power of 500 
watts daytime, 

Denver — Berry Long, sales man- 
agter at KLZ, formerly in a sim- 
ilar job at KOA and WNBC, N. Y., 
has quit to enter other business. 
No successor as yet. 

Columbus — Mort Sherman has 
resigned as president and editor 
of TV Dial Magazine in Spring- 
field and has been named mer- 
chandise director at WBNS-TV' 
here. He succeeds Janet Benoy, 
who resigned to go to New York. 
Prior to his 'two-year association 
with TV Dial. Sherman was rep- 
resentative for Publishers News 
Co., handling sales functions for 
Independent Publishers Magazine 
groups in a nine-state area. 

New Orleans— Larry McKinley, 
formerly of WMFS, Chattanooga, 
has been named program director 
of WMRY here. He also will dou- 
ble as news, shorts and special 
events commentator, Mort Silver- 
man, gen.-mgr. of the station said. 

Daniel G. Evans, recently re- 
turned from active duty with the 
Navy, has rejoined the sales staff 
of WDSU and WDSU-TV. 

Dallas — Bob Shelton rates as 
busiest entertainer in local radio. 
Monday through Friday he appears 
with the “Sunshine Boys” from 


5:45 to 6 a.m. and from 6:15 to 6:40 
a,m, Every morning from 7:15 to 8 
he’s- a member of “The Early 
Birds,” and every Saturday night 
he’s on the four-hour “Saturday 
Nite Shindig,” all on WFAA. 

Greensboro,' N. C. — Ben Greer, 
news and farm director for WFMY- 
TV, has resigned to become pro- 
gram director of radio stations 
WORD and WDXY at Spartanburg, 
S. C. The Spartanburg stations 
propose to place in' operation a 
new television station, WOftD-TV. 
If these plans materialize, Greer 
will be named operations director 
for the three units. 

Schenectady — Ed Flynn, who ap- 
peared on many WGY and WRGB 
programs, as well as on special net- 
work originations from the Sara- 
toga racetrack in ^August, has re- 
signed from George R. Nelson, 
Inc., to join Lennen-Newell in New 
York. Flynn acted on numerous 
WRGB shows during the experi- 
mental era. His wife, the former 
Sally Martin, broadcast over 
WOKO, Albany, for a time. 

7 UP TO CO-SPONSOR 
TV ‘CHILDREN’S HOUR’ 

Philadelphia, Nov. 25. 

The 7 Up Bottling Co. of Phila- 
delphia has signed for 52-week co- 
sponsorship of “The Children’s 
Hour” simulcast over the WCAU 
stations. Firm will share sponsor- 
ship with Horn & Hardart Baking 
Co., which has been associated with 
“Children’s Hour” since its Incep- 
tion 25 years ago. 

Signing of the contract marks 
7-Up’s first attempt at TV program- 
ming. Firm kicks off one of the 
most ambitious promotion drives in 
its history to tie in with simulcast. 
Radio programs and spot announce- 
ments on both AM and TV were 
■'used prior to debut on show, along 
with newspaper and billboard ads. 

“Children’s Hour” is longest lo- 
cally sponsored AM show. 

WCKY Vets Cited 

Cincinnati, Nov. 25. 

Eleven WCKY employes with 
service records of 10 years and up 
were given diamond-studded micro- 
phone lapel pins by L. B. Wilson, 
president. Oldest staffer is George 
Moore, account executive, who 
joined the station in 1929. C. H. 
Topmiller, manager, and Jeanette 
Heinz, traffic manager, have 21- 
year records. 

Other pinners are Arthur Gil- 
lette, Bud Spenlen and Ardian 
Lentz, engineers; Essie Rupp, con- 
tinuity and music manager; Paul 
Sommercamp, sports editor; Robert 
Fleming, publicity and promotion 
director, and Thomas Ware and 
Alex Sanford, maintenance work- 
ers. 


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OKCHESTIlAS-MtTSIC 


Jocks , Jukes and Disks 


By HEKM fc CHOENFELD* 


Patti Andrews: “You Blew Me a 
Kiss”-“No Deposit No Return” 
(Decca). Patti Andrews can get 
back into her hit stride with this 
disk. “Kiss” is a melancholy bal- 
lad with a .folk flavor .which MisS 
Andrews projects with commercial 
Impact. Ginny Gibson also has a 
charming version of this tune for 
M-G-M. On the Decca flip. Miss 
Andrews socks • over a bright 
rhythm item which is du ;■* for 
plenty of juke spins. Vic Schoen’s 
orch and a couple of unbilled 
voices (the two other Andrews sis* 
ters?) back up smartly. 

Don Howard: “Oh Happy Day”- 
•‘You Went Away” (Triple Ah This 
is another one of those indie- 
launched sides that could break 
away to load the pop parade. “Oh 
Happy Day” jis an"“utterly simple 
but fetching tune delivered in a 


treatment, with Buddy Weed solo- 
ing on harpsichord. 

Prances Faye: “I Wish I Could 
Shimmv Like My Sister Kate”- 
“jSlje, Lopks” (Capitol). “Sister 
Katf*’ great standard which 
co'uld be* launched on a revival via 
this etching. Frances Faye pro- 
jects it with proper innunedo for 
the sense of the lyric although 
this could limit the air plays. It's 
a natural for the jukes, however. 
Flip is a piece of special material 
for niteries, being even more sug- 
gestive than “Sister -Kate.” Dave 
CaVanaugh orch accomps ably. 

Joe Allegro: “Open Your Heart”- 
“Gigolette” (Victor). Joe Allegro 
is one of the more 1 recent entries 
in the male vocalist sweepstakes 
and he shows enough equipment 
to break through sooner or later. 
“Open Your Heart” could be it. 


Best Bets 


PATTI ANDREWS YOU BLEW ME A KISS 

Decca No Deposit, No Return 

DON HOWARD OH HAPPY DAY 

Triple A You Went Away 


HELEN O’CONNELL . . 
Capitol . . , 

MITCH MILLER ORCH. 

Columbia 


YOU’RE ONLY ONE I ADORE 
Don't Bother To Knock 


WITHOUT MY LOVER 
Just Dreaming 


light swinging fashion by Howard, 
It has immediate appeal. Dick 
Todd’s slice for Decca is more 
elaborate but this is the type of 
number which doesn’t gain much 
from the addition of a choral back- 
ground and fancy arrangement. On 
the Triple A reverse, Howard de- 
livers a similar-grooved number 
with the same catching style and 
guitar ^background. 

Helen O’Connell: “You’re the 
Only One I Adore”-“Don'4; Bother 
to Knock” (Capitol ). “Adore”, is a 
fast rhythm novelty with a verv 
clever lyric which could send it 
over the top. Helen O’Connell 
belts it across in snappy jukebox 
style for one of the most likely of 
her recent sides. “Don’t Both ' * to 
Knock” is another rhythm item 
With a lyric that’s clever, but 
stained with a touch of indigo that 
will probably limit jock spins. 
Harold' Mooney’s orch lends stand- 
out jazz backing. 

Mitch Miller Orch: “Without My 
Lover”-"Just Dreaming” (Colum- 
bia). Mitch Miller here batons a 
couple of tasteful instrumentals 
which again spotlight the versatili- 
ty and inventiveness of Col’s, a&v 
chief. “Without My Lover” is a 
Latin-tailored number with a light 
bolero beat enhanced by a per- 
fectly. balanced arrangement fea- 
turing Stan preeman on harpsi- 
chord. Flip is a fine pop which 
gets another, excellent orchestral 


It’s a big ballad which Allegro 
belts over in open-voiced style 
with a heavy spread of schmaltz. 
If the belting cycle hasn’t already 
exhausted itself, Allegro has good 
chances. “Gigolette” is an at- 
tractive waltz-tempoed ballad 
which Allegro also projects 
strongly. 

Tony Alamo: “Merry Christmas, 
Darling”-“It’s Merry Christmas 
Time” (M-G-M). “Merry Christ- 
mas, Darling” is one of the few 
successful attempts to combine a 
good ballad idea with a seasonal 
theme. It has solid chances via 
this cut by Tony Alamo. It’s a 
pleasant relaxed vocal somewhat 
reminiscent of Frank Sinatra. Flip 
is a routine Xmas number. 

John Arcesi: “I Promise You”- 
“I’m Alone Because I Love You” 
(Capitol). Jojm Arcesi follows up 
his initial -waxlngs for Capitol 
with another fine coupling for 
Capitol. Arcesi has a distinctively 
masculine set of pipes which have 
style and flexibility. .He is espe- 
cially effective,, on the Mercer- 
Arlen tune, “I Promise You.” He 
also hits strongly with the stand- 
ard on the reverse. 

Bill Darnell: “I Miss You So”- 
“Why Do I Cry” (Decca). “I Miss 
You So” is an old blues and 
rhythm number which is beginning 
to stir attention in the pop market. 
Bill Darnell’s stylized interpreta- 
tion will help to give it a push. 


PfitilETY 


ASCAP-BMI Lovefest 

Although current rhubarb 
between ASCAP.and BMI has 
been building some publisher 
I feuds around the country, 
Philadelphia is still the city of 
brotherly love — even for music 
pubs. 

While ASCAP pub James E. 
Meyers is ailing in Naval Hos- 
pital, his business is being han- 
dled by rival BMI pub Jack 
Howard. 

It’s a slow-moving dramatic slice 
which contrasts to the more lucid 
version by June Hutton and Axel 
Stordahl for Capitol. Both ver- 
sions are due for a big play. Lib- 
cracc also has an interesting cut 
for Columbia. On the Decca flip, 
Darnell essays a genre of folk- 
styled number which has been 
done to death in the last year. 

Ames Bros.-Les Brown Orch: 
“No Moon At All”-“Do Nothin’ 
Till You Hear From Me” (Coral). 
'Coral’s best swinging vocal combo, 
the Ames Bros., and one of the top 
pop bands in the business, Les 
Brown’s, team up for a highly lis- 
tenable coupling, “No Moon At 
All” gets a solid ride vocally and 
instrumentally and could climb to 
a mid-hit standing. The standard 
on the reverse is worked over with 
beat and color for maximum im- 
pact. 

Platter Pointer* 

Les Paul & Mary Ford have 
packaged another standout set of 
their guitar-vocal workout for Cap- 
itol under the collective title of 
“Bye Bye Blues” . . . Three Suns 
and Gogi Grant team up for good 
results on “Mommy's Little Angel” 
(Victor) .. .On the same label, 
Harry Belafonte continues to im- 
press with his cut of “Shenandoah” 
. . . Johnny Desmond comes up 
with a fine vocal of “April in 
Paris” for M-G-M ... Freddy Mar- 
tin orch gives an attractive instru- 
mental arrangement to “April in 
[Portugal” (Victor) . . . Ray An- 
thony’s band dishes up some ex- 
cellent sounds on “People in 
Love,” Tommy Mercer and choir 
handling the vocal . . . Bill Kenny 
shows his usual good form on a 
promising tune, “I Counted On 
You” (Decca) ... Some of Lionel 
Hampton’s brand of jazz is sam- 
pled on “Gates Steps Out” (M-G-M * 

• . . . Hot Lips Page has a driving 
side in “Old Paree” (King)... Two 
tunes from “Hans Christian An- 
dersen,” “Thujmbelina” and “Won- 
derful Copenhagen,” get excellent 
slices by Guy Lombardo’s orch 
(Decca) ... Meg O’Shaughnessy 
shows standout blues form on 
“Who 3others About the Bad” 
(Pyramid) . . . Teddy Phillips’ orch 
has a cute slice of “Open House” 
(King). . .Hank Snow’s vocal of “A 
Fool Such as I” points up the pop 
potential of this hillbilly number 
(Victor-). . .Lorry Raine does nicely 
on “Gee, Ain’t It Bad I Gotta Be 
Good” (Universal) ... Gisele Mac- 
Kcnrie could have a potential hit 
in “The New Wears Off Too Fast” 
(Capitol). 


Wednesday, November 26, 1952 


^ KrEfr 10 Best Sellers on Coin-Machines Week of Nov - 22 


1/ WHY DON’T YOU BELIEVE ME (4) (Brandon) 
3. GLOW WORM (8) (Marks) 


3. YOU BELONG TO ME (13) (Ridgeway) 


4. I WENT TO YOUR WEDDING* <11}„ (Si. Louis) 

5. TRYING (71 (Randy Smith) . . . '. ! . “! 

6. TAKES TWO TO TANGO (4) (Ha'i^wan V’ . 

7. . YOURS (1) (Marks) . . . 

8. LADY OF SPAIN t U?) (Fox) . . * .V. JW .*; . . . ; . . i , . •; . v ....... 

9. JAMBALAYA (X3) (Acu«-R> V. VV\ <V*. . l'\ . . . . .... /. V 

10. IT’S IN THE BOOK (3) (Magnolia) ... . . . . . 


Second Group 

WISH YOU WERE HERE (14) Chappell) 

BLUES "iN ADVANCE (iio 1 lis»> V'"*. “Vr: . ! . . '.V.'T.'V.'. .“.T. .". 

MEET MR. CALLAGHAN (7) (Leeds) 

KEEP IT A SECRET (Sliaptro-B) 

MY FAVORITE SONG (Jack Gold) 

I LAUGHED AT LOVE (Redd Evans) 

BECAUSE YOU’RE MINE (3) (Feisl) 


HIGH NOON (9) (Feist) 


OUTSIDE, OF HEAVEN (B.V.C.) 

STRING ALONG (Regent)' *. 

COMES ALONG A-LOVE (Shapiro-B) 

SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY (8) (United), 

EARLY AUTUMN (Cromwell) 

HALF AS MUCH (8) (Acuff-R) 

YOU'LL NEVER GET AWAY (Bourne) ..... 
INDIAN LOVE CALL (Harms) 


Joni James M-G-M 

Mills Bros . . Decca 

\Jo Stafford Columbia 

\ Dean Martin . . . . c Capitol 

Patti Page. Mercury 

Hilltoppers Dot 

Pearl Bailey Coral 

V#ra £>ynn London 

Eddie Fisher Victor 

‘ • Jo Staff ord Columbia 

Johnny SLandley Capitol 


Eddie Fisher Victor 

"Dinah ‘ Shorts .* . ~. v v . . . ". v : . v . V ictor 

Les Paul-Mary Ford Capitol 

Jo Stafford Columbia 

Georgia Gibbs Mercury 

Sunny Gale Victor 

l Nat ( King ) Cole Capitol 

l Mario Lanza Victor 

| Frankie Laine Columbia 

I Bill Hayes MGM 

Eddie Fisher Victor 

Ames Bros Coral 

Kay Starr Capitol 

i Nat ( King ) Cole ....... Capitol 

{ Tony Bennett Columbia 

Jo Stafford Columbia 

Rosemary Clo s oney Columbia 

D. Cornell-Ti Brewer ....Coral 
Slim Whitman Imperial 


t Figures in parentheses indicate number of weeks song has been in the Top 10] 


Longhair Disk Review 


Liszt: Concerto No. 3 in A, and 
Weber: Concertstuck in F Minor. 
Two of the concert hall’s most fa- 
miliar as well as most dazzling dis- 
play pieces for piano and orches- 
tra are here dashed off by Robert 
Casadcsus with a great deal of 
flair as well as technical brilliance. 
Cleveland Orchestra under George 
Szell adds fine assists. Though 
frankly showpieces, these works 
also have good musical values, 
which Casadesus’ fine playing en- 
hances. (Columbia, LP, $5.45). 

Puccini: “La Boheme.” A lively, 
pleasant recording of the Puccini 
opera, with two excellent perform- 
ances by the romantic leads, Fer- 
ruccio Tagliavini and Rosanna Car- 
teri. Tagliavini is in good form. 
Miss Carter!, a 22-year-old lyric 
soprano, is a comer, with lovely 
tones and sure, dramatic bearing. 
The Musetta of Elvina Ramella is 
a little shrill and light, but other 
support is good. Orch and chorus 
under Gabriele Santini’s baton 
round out an attractive album. 
(Cetra-Soria, 2 LPs, $11.90). 

Bron. 

King Pacts Shannon 

Thrush Linda Shannon has been 
inked to a longterm pact by King 
Records. Pact is Miss Shannon’s 
initial diskery affiliation. 

She’ll cut her first sides for the 
label next week. 


SAUTER-FINEGAN CREW 
SET FOR 1953 P.A. TOUR 

The new (Ed) Sauter-(Bill) 
Finegan orch will come out of the 
recording studios for its first 
string of live dates in late Febru- 
ary or early March. Orch, which 
was kicked off by RCA Victor sev- 
eral months ago, has been confin- 
ing its output to waxings only 
while prepping arrangements and 
book for an in-person showcasing. 

Orch, which will carry 19 
pieces, will be alternately batoned 
by Sauter and Finegan. Willard 
Alexander is lining up dates for 
the tour which will include con- 
certs as well as dance and theatre 
dates. 


Big 3 Plugs Tool* 

On the strength of a Hank Snow 
slice for RCA Victor, Abe Olman, 
head of Robbins, Feist & Miller, 
has picked up a hillbilly tune, “A 
Fool Such as I,” from the indie 
publishing firm of Bob Miller 
Music. Olman has assigned the 
number to Robbins for exploitation 
as a pop number. 

Bob Miller, incidentally, is one 
of the earliest of the publisher- 
affiliates of the American Society 
of Composers, Authors & Publish- 
ers to accent country and western 
music in his catalog. He has a par- 
ticipation deal on “Fool,” in which 
he will share profits with Robbins. 


Songs With Largest Radio Audience 

The top 30 songs of week ( more in case of ties), based on 
copyrighted Audience Coverage Index & Audience Trend Index. 
Published by Office of Research, Inc., Dr. John Gray Peatman, 
Director, Alphabetically listed. 

Survey Week of November 14-30, 1953 

Shoulder to Weep On Laurel 

Because You’re Mine — t“Because You’re Mine .... Feist 

Don’t Let the Stars Get In Your Eyes Four-Star 

Everything I Have Is Yours Robbins 

Forgive and Forget Leeds 

Glow-Worm Marks 

Heart and Soul 

I Went to Your Wedding St. Louis 

I’m Never Satisfied • • • • * Simon H 

Jambalaya Acuff-R 

Keep It a Secret Shapiro-B 

Lady of Spain ; Tox 

Lazy River Southern 

Love of My Life - Chappell 

My Favorite Song Gold 

Outside of Heaven T'regman-V-C 

Ruby and the Pearl Famous 

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer St. Nicholas 

Silver Bells Paramount 

Stay Where You Are BMI 

Takes Two to Tango Harman 

That’s A-Why Santly-J 

To Know You (Is to Love You) Roncom 

Walkin’ by the River Sheldon 

Walkin’ to Missouri Hawthorne 

White Christmas Berlin 

Why Don’t* You Believe Me Brandon 

Wish You Were Here— +“Wish You Were Here” Chappell 

You Belong to Me Ridgeway . 

You Can Fly, You Can Fly, You Can Fly Disney 

Yours Marks 


Second Group 


Blue Violins 

Blues in Advance 
Early Autumn . . 
Forgetting You . . 


Live Oak Tree ; 

Meet Mister Callaghan 

My Lady Loves to Dance 

My Love and Devotion 

Nina Never Knew 

No Two People 

Second Star to the Right 

Sleepytime Gal 

Sinner or Saint 

Somewhere Along the Way 

Take Me in Your Arms and Hold Me 

Thanks to You 

Trying 

Winter Wonderland 

You’ll Never Know 

Your Mother and Mine 

Zing a Little Zong— t“Just for You” 


Pickwick 

Hollis 

Cromwell 

DeSylva-B, II 

Shenvin 

Burvan 

Leeds 

United 

Shapiro-B 

Jefferson 

Frank 

Disney 

Miller 

Witmark 

United 

Hill & R 

Paramount 

Smith 

Bregman-V 

Bregman-V 

Disney 

Burvan 


Top 10 Songs On TV 


,i.i ) ‘V u V,*i . .* . »*t. , • ill . *4 J I - Ulj l ) ^ . , y 




- 'Hi til, .HI 


Al-Lee-o Al-Lee-Ay Hillcrest 

Because You’re Mine Feist 

I Went to Your Wedding . St. Louis 

I’m Never Satisfied Simon H 

Jambalaya Acuff-R 

Lady of Spain Fox 

Never Smile at a Crocodile Disney 

Takes Two to Tango Harman 

There’s a Ship Coming In Amusement 

To Know You (Is to Love You) Roncom 

FIVE TOP STANDARDS 

Forty-second Street Remick 

I Ain’t Got Nobody Triangle 

June Night Feist 

Most Beautiful. Girl in the World Harms 

You Gotta Start Off Each Day With a Song. Bobbin* 

t Filmusical. * Legit musical. 


• ‘ l * I’ - « • » g-.Il I. 




MlCUKSTRAS-MUSIC 


Wc<ln«stTay, November 26, 1952 


pMmt 


43 



City of Brotherly Lore Dee jays 
Ping ’Em for Free— It Says Here 


Recent spotlighting in Variety- - 
of t lie payola situation in Philadel- 
phia has provoked several protests 
and denials from indie diskers and 
publishers in that city. It has also 
caused the managers of several 
Philly radio stations to keep a 
closer watch on the disk jockey 
operation to stop the alleged pay- 
ola practices. 

Ivin Ballen, head of the Gotham 
and 20th Century labels in Phila- 
delphia, states: “Please be advised 
that we are having no difficulty 
getting our pop records played at 
this time and we are not making 
any payolas to disk jockeys.” Bal- 
len also claims that Variety’s 
“article has put the disk jockey fra- 
ternity in Philadelphia under a 
pall of suspicion with management 
of the various radio stations and 
has disheartened many individuals 
because you accuse them of a prac-« 
tice which they do not follow. It 
may even make it difficult for the 
Independent manufacturers and 
distributors to get plugs in the 
future.” 

Philadelphia- is the bailiwick for 
numerous indie diskers and in no 
other major city have the small 
companies been getting so many 
spins from the local disk jockeys. 
Several local hits on indie labels 
have been created by the consistent 
deejay plugging and a situation has 
developed in which the major com- 
panies have not been getting a 
proportionate share of spins. That 
has led one major company exec 
to state that “if we have to pay to 
get disk plays in Philadelphia, then 
we’ll pay because the disk jockeys 
have proved they can ' make hits 
there.” 

ASCAP Paying Tab 
To Disk Pitt Fete As 
Goodwill Gesture 

As part of it* public relations 
program, the American Society of 
Composers, Authors & Publishers is 
footing the recording bill in put- 
ting on wax the full repertory of 
the First Pittsburgh International 
Contemporary Music Festival, 
which opened in Pittsburgh Mon- 
day (24) and closes Sunday (30). 
ASCAP is cooperating in the proj- 
ect with the A. W. Mellon Educa- 
tional and Charitable Trust, admin- 
istered by the Carnegie Institute, 
and the Pennsylvania College For 
Women. 

ASCAP will underwrite the cost 
of pressing 500 disk sets of the 
Festival, which will be distributed 
to university music departments, 
music schools and to institutions in 
friendly countries via the Depart- 
ment, according to ASCAP prexy 
Otto A. Harbach. Capitol Records 
will record and press the libraries, 
which will consist of 18 long-play 
disks. The albums will not be avail- 
able through commercial channels 
and will be reserved strictly for 
gifts to cultural groups. 

Harbach said the project was un- 
dertaken as part of “ASCAP’s pol- 
icy of furthering the cause of Seri- 
ous music in America.” As part of 
its program to contribute to the 
economic security of serious com- 
^ s ^ r ^ -Hei?ba€h- : pointed-- out -that 
AbCAP distributed among serious 
composers “a sum greatly exceed- 
ing the amount collected for per- 
formances of such works.” 

The Festival’s program is based 
upon 20th Century music selected 
oy an international jury of com- 
posers, conductors and critics. 
Many, but not all, of the composers 
represented by selections are 
AbCAP members. Roy Harris, the 
composer, is exec, director of the 
festival. 


Alan Livingston 

In N. Y. for 2 Weeks 

Alan Livingston, Capitol Records 
vcepee and artist' & repertoire top- 
per, arrived in New Yofk yesterday 
|Tiu\s. ) from the diskery’s Coast 
headquarters. ” 

He’s expected to remain, in N. Y. 
for about two weeks. 



detolls how 

Tin Pan Alley Glorifies 
Ziegf eld’s Name in 

Song and Story 

* * * 

on Interesting byline story In the 
forthcoming 

47th Anniversary Number 
off 

PRriety 


Col Emphasizes: 
‘No LP Cuts’ 

Throttling rumors of impending 
cuts on list prices in the long-play 
disk field, Columbia Records has 
again made a flat announcement 
that it plans no such move. On 
the contrary, Columbia execs 
warned retailers that a price hike 
may be necessary, Government 
regulations permitting. 

Columbia informed the retail 
trade that increased costs have ex- 
cluded any consideration of price 
cuts. The diskery pointed out it 
was making constant improvements 
fn the quality of product, both tech- 
nically and artistically, and “this 
program has been extremely pains- 
taking and costly.” 

The announcement was made to 
reassure retailers who were hold- 
ing off from stocking up on long- 
play disks because of an anticipated 
price cut. While not lowering 
prices on their regular longhair 
catalog, Columbia, as well as RCA 
Victor and Decca, have been is- 
suing a special series of LP disks 
at reduced prices as a way of at- 
tracting a new classical market. 
These disks, however, either are 
shorter classical selections or fea- 
ture lesser-known artists. 


FOLSOM PLANS VICTOR 
MUSEUM IN CAMDEN, NJ. 

Camden, N. J„ Nov. 25. 

RCA prexy Frank M. Filsom, 
who was first brought Into the or- 
ganization as head of the RCA Vic- 
tor subsidiary, plans making a wing 
of the Eldridge R. Johnson library, 
which that Victor Talking Machine 
Co. pioneer donated to this city, 
into a museum. Ii would be a per- 
manent exhibit for phonographs, 
records, radio, pioneer strides in 
TV receivers, and the like. 

Incidentally, RCA board chair- 
man David Sarnoff this past week- 
end made an address in honor of 
the 1,200 Victor employees who 
have been 25 years and over with 
the . company. 

Eddy Arnold’s 20G For 
Houston Fat Stock Date 

Nashville, Nov. 25. 

Eddy Arnold's Houston Fat 
Stock Show appearances Feb. 4-15 
will bring a flat $20,000. This is a 
return engagement after Arnold’s 
click at the event last season. 

Troupe will Include Arnold's 
regulars, The Oklahoma Wran- 
glers, Dickens Sisters, and fea- 
tured instrumentalists, Roy Wig- 
gins and Hank Garland. The 
Houston affair is one of the nug- 
gets of the country music circuits. 


Frank B. Walker, M-G-M Rec- 
ords topper, returned to New York 
Friday (21) after a two-week tour 
through the south and southwest 
visiting the diskelYs distribs. 


IP PA TO SEEK 


■ ■ ■ ii i oiuuiiB mu 

In a move to erase a widespread 
“evil” in the music biz, major pub- 
lishers will make a bid to stop al- 
leged “pressure” on them by disk 
companies to share trade ad 
costs on wax versions of their 
tunes. Problem was a key point 
discussed at the membership meet- 
ing of the Music Publishers Pro- 
tective Assn, last week. 

The MPPA board, in accordance 
with a recommendation passed by 
the member, publishers, is planning 
to contact the Record Industry 
Assn, of America, trade organiza- 
tion repping the important disk 
companies, for an industrywide 
solution. Some publishing execs 
are frankly skeptical at the fruit- 
fulness of such a step but are 
ready to try all possibilities to halt 
the practice. 

The pubs claim that the disk 
companies are coercing them into 
sharing advertising tabs under 
threat of not cutting their tunes if 
they refuse. According to the pub- 
lishers, advertising should be 
borne by the diskers as part of 
their costs, since they make . the 
bulk of the profits on disks as com- 
pared with the lc royalty obtained 
by the pubs. 

The disk companies, on the 
other hand, disclaim all knowledge 
of any undue pressure. Position 
of the disk execs is that the pubs 
themselves make the offer to share 
ad costs as an inducement to get 
their tunes on wax. They point 
out, moreover, that publishers 
stand to gain a great deal from 
helping to promote disks since 

(Continued on page 48) 

High Court to Decide 
Crucial Featherbedding 
Dispute Early Next Year 

Washington, Nov. 25. 

Supreme Court is expected to 
hand down its ruling early next 
year in the musicians’ “featherbed- 
ding suit,” with the employment of 
scores of local bands across the 
nation to be affected by the deci- 
sion. 

Court sat last week on the case 
involving Local 24 'of the AFM and 
the Palace Theatre in Akron, a link 
in the chain of Gamble Enterprises. 
Action was brought to the Supreme 
Court by the National Labor Rela- 
tions Board which' contends that 
Local 24 did not violate anti-feath- 
erbedding provisions of the Taft- 
Hartley Act when it insisted upon 
a local pit band playing and getting 
full pay in the weeks when the 
Palace employed name bands on 
stage. 

“The House bill,” said ’ Dunau, 
“fought any type of standby. But 
the Senate did not share Ijhat view. 
It objected to standby practices 
but not to made work. Unions have 
used ‘ made work as a cushion ’ to 
unemployment and Congress .finally 
accepted that view. All we have in 
(Continued on page 48) 


NEW 3-YEAR PACT FOR 
4 ACES AT DECCA 

The Four Aces, one of the big- 
gest new turns established via 
disks during the past year, have 
been signed by Decca Records to 
a new three-year pact. On' the 
basis of its indie label click on 
“It’s No Sin” in the summer of 
1951, the vocal combo was signed 
by Decca to a one-year deal last 
November and has since sold over 
3,000,000 platters for the company. 
Their biggest number for Decca 
was “Tell *Me Why,” which hit 
1 , 200 , 000 : 

Saga of the Four Aces is A Re- 
prise of the $75 to $7,500-a-week 
story of such other - recent* new wax 
stars as Rosemary Clooney, John- 
nie Ray, etc. Since their original 
disclick, they have been playing 
the top theatre, nitery and one- 
niter spots across the country for 
top coin. 


Major Pubs to Fitch Co-op Deal 
With Indies on Title Registry Setup 


Alan Lipscott 

reminisces on 

'A Memory of the 

Ole Maestro 

* * * 

another editorial feature In the 
forthcoming 

47th Anniversary Number 
off 

PSniETY 


A determined bid to eliminate 
the confusion caused by duplica- 
tion of song titles will again be 
made by the publishing industry 
as a result of a rash of same-titled 
tunes in the last couple of years. 
Ways and means to solve the prob- 
lem were on the top of the agenda 
at the annual meeting of the Mu- 
sic Publishers Protective Assn, in 
New York last week. 

Crux of the title problem lies 
with the small indie publishers, 
many in the folk field, which have 
been using the titles of old stand- 
ards for many of their current 
numbers. Such practice, it’s held, 
not only generates complaints on 
the retail level but also tends to 
reduce the value of the oldies, 
hence destroying important catalog 
values. 


Decca, Cap Dip 
In Pub Royalties 

Royalty payments £o publishers 
for the last quarter ending Sept. 
30 have fallen from both Decca and 
Capitol Records. Capitol dipped 
mosff sharply, going 20% under 
the same period last year and 
about 10% under the previous 
quarter. 

Decca fell off by 10% from, the 
same quarter of 1951 but was even 
compared with the preceding 
period. These percentages cover 
royalties paid to most of the major 
publishing houses but do not in- 
clude the smaller companies, par- 
ticularly in the hillbilly field. 


Cap Net Dips 

Hollywood, Dec. 5. 

Capitol Records racked up $14,- 
312,017 in sales for the year end- 
ing Sept. 30. Figure marked *an 
increase of $1,068,172 over the 
sales mark set during the preced- 
ing year. 

Cap’s net income was $439,721 
on 476,230 shares, or 87c a share, 
as against prior year’s earnings of 
$477,738 or 88c a share. Earnings 
.before taxes were $953,721 com- 
pared with $868,738. 


ACUFF EXITS COL 

AFTER 20 YEARS 

Roy Acuff, vet hillbilly artist, 
obtained a release from his Co- 
lumbia Records recording pact 
which has had him on the label for 
just over 20 years. It 'has been 
'known that Acuff has been un- 
happy with waxery’-s handling dur- 
ing the past year. Contention was 
over lack of Acuff disk promotion 
during recent years, 'failUre* of 
company's execs to throw top 
cover material into Acuff sessions, 
and lack of distribution on artist’s; 
old catalog. 

The Acuff-Columbia relatois 
began when Arthur Satherly signed 
Acuff for Columbia while Acuff 
was working on a small East Ten- 
nessee radio station. This com- 
bination produced such hillbilly 
standards as “Precious Jewel,” 

■"Night" Train To Memphis,'” 

“Wabash Cannonball” and “Great 
Speckled Bird.” Acuff organized 
his Smoky Mountain Group and 
made his WSB “Grand Ole Opry” 
connection 16 years back on the 
strength of his wax popularity and 
since has been the mainstay of 
WSM’s oater. 

Under release, Columbia will 
continue to hold all masters of 
which there -are many unreleased 
to date. Acuff, however, will be 
able to recut most of his known 
standards as they were cut for 
label more than five years back. 
Negotiations were handled by 
Nashville attorney, Ward Hudgins, 
who said that no definite record- 
ing connection for artist had been 
made so far. 


Jan Garber orch signed to appear 
in Beaumont, Tex., for a one- 
nighter Dec. 1 at the Harvest Club. 


An effort will be made by MPPA 
toppers to enlist the cooperation 
of the indie pubs' for an industry- 
wide title registry bureau. MPPA 
already has such a service for its 
members but with the influx of 
hundreds of small pubberics into 
the business, this service has 
proved ineffective. 

A bid will be made to Broadcast 
Music, Inc., which licenses the 
tunes of many of the small com- 
panies, to enter into the industry 
plan. This would work along the 
safe lines of the title registry bu- 
reau of the Motion Picture Assn, 
of America, which settles disputes 
among various pic companies over 
film title claims. 

Main reason why the problem 
has cropped up Is that the Copy- 
right Act gives no protection to 
song titles. Aside from straight 
duplication, the MPPA execs 
would also like to wipe out the 
minor variations on standard titles. 
A sample of this was a Tecent 
country tune, “Take Me In Your 
Arms and Hold Me,” which was too 
close for comfort to the oldie. 
“Take Me In Your Arms.” 

Pubs Sue Remington 
For Treble Damages 
In Royalty Hassle 

The publisher crackdown on un- 
licensed recordings began to take 
shape Monday (24) when suit was 
filed in U. S. District Court, N. Y., 
against Remington Records -and 
its prez Donald H. Gabor by Sha- 
piro-Bemstein, Meridian Music (an 
E. H. Morris subsid), Oxford Mu- 
sic (a Santly-Joy subsid) and St. 
Nicholas Music. Complaint alleges 
that Remington, an indie low- 
priced disk label, failed to pay 
royalties on copyright tunes. 

A<fcordin£ to Harry Fox, pub- 
'lishefrs*kgfent and trustee, the pubs 
are ^entitled to^treble damages in 
cases w^ierqjroyaltjes are not paid 
op tinjie pn unlicensed tunes. Suit 
was ’Sparked by Remington’s fail- 
litoPto £ay $4,000 ’ tfhich auditors 
from the 1 FoX ^office claim is due 
to the publishers. Attorney Julian 
T. Abeles is repping the pubs in 
this action. 

Music Publishers Holding Co. 
(Warner Bros, music firms) filed 
suit against Remington independ- 
ently • several weeks * ago. 

Donaldson Heirs Sue 
for MPHC Accounting 

Los Angeles, Nov. 25. 

Suit for an accounting of th# 
songs of the late Walter Donalar 
son, who died in 1947, was filed 
in L.A. Federal Court by hit 
daughters, Sheila Lynn and Ellen 
Bernice, through their ntotheF. 
Dorothy Donaldson. Defendant* 
are Music Publishers Holding 
Corp., Remick Music and Harm#, 
all part of the Warner Bro*. aonv* 
bine. 

- Plaintiffs declare they renewed 
the copyrights on 12 Donaldson 
tunes and are entitled to a share 
of the profits on songs reprinted# 
copied and sold since that time. 



•ftCmSTKAS-MITSrc 


Wednesday, November 26 , 1952 











































































Wednesday? Novtmki* 1952 


zs&smff 


ORCHESTRA-MUSIC 43 





Scoreboard 


OF 


TOP TM.EHT MB T11HFS 

Compiled from Statistical Reports of Distribution 
Encompassing the Three Major Outlets 

Coin Machines Retail Disks Retail Sheet Music 

as Published in the Current Issue 

for 

= === WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 22 — 


NOTE: The current comparative sales strength of the Artists and Tunes listed hereunder is 
arrived at under a statistical system comprising each of the three major sales outlets enu- 

es *fi” dings we correlated with data from wider sources, which are exclusive 
with Variety. The positions resulting from these findings denote the OVERALL IMPACT de- 
veloped from the ratio of points scored: two ways in the case of talent {disks, coin machines), 
and three ways in the case of tunes (disks, coin machines, sheet music). 


TALENT 

POSITIONS 

This Last... 

week. week. ARTIST AND LABEL 

1 1 JO STAFFORD (Columbia) 

2 5 JONI JAMES (MGM) 

3 4 MILLS BROS. (Decca) 

V 

4 2 PATTI PAGE (Mercury) 

5 6 HILLTOPPERS (Dot).... 

6 3 EDDIE FISHER (Victor) 

7 8 PEARL BAILEY (Coral) 

8 . . VERA LYNN (London) 

9 7 JOHNNY STANDLEY (Capitol) 

10 9 MARIO LANZA (Victor) .... 




TUNE 

fYou Belong to Me 
{Jambalaya 
[Keep it a Secret 

Why Don’t You Believe Me 
Glow Worm 


fl Went to Your Wedding 
{You Belong to Me 
[Conquest 
• Trying 


f Wish You Were Here 
•j Lady of Spain 
(Outside of Heaven 

Takes Two to Tango 


Yours 


It’s in the Book 


Because You’re Mine 


TUNES 


POSITIONS 
This Last 

week. week. TUNE PUBLISHER 

1 5 WHY DON’T 'YOU BELIEVE ME Brandon 

2 3 GLOWWORM ' E. B. Marks 

3 2 YOU BELONG TO ME Ridgeway 

4 I I WENT TO YOUR WEDDING St. Louis 

'5 6 TRYING : Randy Smith 

6 4 JAMBALAYA Acuff-R 

7 8 TAKE§ TWO TO TANGO Harman 

8 .. BECAUSE YOU’RD MINE ..Feist 

9 10 WISH YOU WERE HERE Chappell 

10 .. IT’S IN THE BOOK Magnolia 


RETAIL SHEET BEST SELLERS 


S 


P^RIETY 


Survey of retail sheet music 
sales based on reports obtained 
from leading stores in 12 cities 
and showing comparative sales 
rating for this and last week . 


National 
Rating - 

This Last 
wk. wk. 


Week Ending 
TTbv. 22 


Title and Publisher 


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1 1 You Belong to Me (Ridgeway) ... 3 1 2 1 


2 I Went to Your Wedding (Hill-R). 4 2 


8 


1 

2 


8 


1 

2 


1 

2 


3 

1 


Glow Worm (Marks) 6 4 


4 9 Don't You Believe Me (Brandom), 18 15 1_ 


5 3 Jambalaya (Acuff-R) 

0 4 Because You're Mint (Feist) 


4 « • 4 * 


7 2 


6 


10 


9 10 


J 10 Trying (Randy Smith) 8 

8 6 Wish You Were Here (Chappell). 


10 


5 

8 


6 

7 


6 


3 

10 


4 

7 


10 


8 


5 


J ) 10 Outside of Heaven (B.V.C.) 

10 11 Somewhere Along Way (United) 3 8 

] f 7 Half As Much (Acuff-R) . . • • ^ 

1 2 8 Takes Two to Tango (Harman). 

13 


6 


9 


8 


9 


9 


9 


« • i • 


10 


12 Lady of Spain (Fox) 


8 


6 


14 

15 


My Favorite Song (Gold) . . . 


• • • 4 


Rudolph, Reindeer (St. Nicholas). 2 


in 

0 % 

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_97 

70 


67 

66 


55 

51 


38 


32 

28 


20 

15 


8 10 14 


12 


U 

9 


Best British Sheet Sellers 

(Week ending Nov. 15) 
London, Nov. 18. 

’Here In My Heart Mellin 

Half as Much Robbins 

Isle of Innisfree Maurice 

You Belong to Me . . . Chappell 

Homing Waitz Reine 

Forget-Me-Not Reine 

Walkin’ My Baby .... Victoria * 
’ Zing a Little Zong. . . .Maddox 

Sugarbush ..Chappell 

Feet Up Cinephonic 

l Somewhere Along Way. Magna • 
Auf Wiederseh n . Maurice 

Second 12 

Walkin’ to Missouri Dash 

Meet Mr. Callaghan Toff 

Blue Tango Mills 

High Noon . Robbins 

Faith Move Mountains. . .Dash 

I’m Yours Mellin 

Faith Hit Songs 

Because You’re Mine. .Robbins 
When I Fall in Love. . .Avenue 
My Love and Devotion. .Fields 

Kiss of Fire Duchess 

Rock of Gibraltar Dash 


Disk Biz 

— — = Continued from page 1 ——— I 

ing the shots and the rival disker- 
ies had been sending in their 
chirpers with covering platters to 
cash in on her highriding entries. 

. Another, instance -of the ephem* 
eral quality of disk popularity is 
Capitol’s recent pactee, A1 Mar- 
tino. He broke big several months 
ago on the indie BBS label with 
"Here In My Heart” and Cap 
latched on to him immediately for 
a strong promotional push. Mar- 
tino’s still to break out for Cap 
despite release of about five new 
waxings. Meantime, the diskery is 
racking up its biggest sales from 
an offbeat platter, "It’s In The 
Book,” cut by Johnnie Standley. 
Tune initially was made by the in- 
die Magnolia label (a Horace 
Heidt operation) and Cap nabbed 
the- master for release under, its 
own label. 

What Happened To Ray? 

Still another mercurial aspect of 
popularity on shellac is the ab- 
sence of Johnnie Ray from the Co- 
lumbia bestseller lists during the 
past couple of months. Ray, who 
hit the bigtime with "Cry” on 
Okeh (a' Col subsid) was' riding 
the bestseller list earlier this year 
with that platter as well his Col re- 
leases of "Please^ Mr. Sun,” 
"Broken-Hearted” and "Mountains 
In The Moonlight.” Col’s current 
top slotting has reverted to vet 
thrush Jo Stafford who is racking 
up sock sales with "Keep It A Se- 
cret” and "Jambalaya.” 

Predominance of one artist on a 
record company’s hit list is an- 
other phase of the biz which keeps 
the diskery execs guessing. In re- 
cent weeks some execs have con- 
templated pruning their artists’ 
stable of "deadwood” but none of 
them are too sure when an artist 
the company .has been carrying will 
begin to carry the company or 
vice versa. It’s been evidenced 
that wax properties who’ve been 
dormant for years can suddenly 
break through with a hit etching 
and pay off the company’s invest- 
ment. 

Eddie Fisher Tops 

According to the Variety Disk 
Company ,Best. Seller chart last 
week the predominant artist in all 
the’ companies * listed was Eddie, 
Fisher.' fisher .plaq^d four? of fr|s 
recent platters ( sCfiristmak Dayi ;, ' ; 
f Wish You Were*:. Here ” ^Every- 
thing I HaVe IS' Yours, "Lady t>f. 
Spain”) on RCA Victor’s list <Jf-. 
its bestselling five. Mario Lanza’s 
"Because You’re Mine” was in the 
other slot. 

• Record company execs are quick 
to admit, however; that there’s no 
guarantee that Fisher’s frext re- 
lease will receive the same ac- 
ceptance'as ' the others'.' * The "disk- 
buying public is much too fickle to 
j be counted on for any wax prece- 
dent that’s been established, one 
artists & repertoire man claimed. 

On the other hand, it was 
pointed out that Don Cornell was 
riding with three of Coral’s five top 
sellers ("I’ll Walk Alone,” "I’m 
Yours,” "This Is The Beginning of 
the End”) last June while now he’s 
repped on the same list with only 
one entry, "I.” 

The increasing impact of coun- 
try artist? as sales factors in ma- 
jor label operation was pointed up 
last week in Decca Records’ best 
seller listing. Red Foley, a Nash- 
ville product, placed two of his 
waxings on Decca’s best-five chart. 
Currently moving for the stable at 
a clicko sales pace are his slices 
of "Don’t Let The Stars Get In 
Your Eyes” and "Deep Blues.” 


N.Y. Philharmonic Preps 
110th Birthday Concert; 
Pearl Harhor Anni Tie-In 

N. Y. Philharmonic - Symphony 
will celebrate its 110th birthday 
Dec. 7, with a regular Sunday con- 
cert from CprnOgie Hall, N. Y. 
Program, batoned by Dimitri Mi- 
tropoulos, will include the Beetho- 
ven Fifth SyjnripJjony, which was 
played at the brich’s first concert, 
Dec. 7, 1842, when Ureli Corelli 
Hill conducted. Program will also 
include Saint-Saens’ Piano. Con- 
certo No. 4 in C Minor, with Lelia .. 
Gosseau as soloist. It will be broad- 
cast as part of the regular CBS 
Sunday symph airing. 

Since the birthday also marks 
the 11th anniversary of Pearl Har- 
bor, CBS plans to mark the occa- 
sion with a special ceremony dur< 
ing the broadcast. It was during 
the performance of the Brahms 
Piano Concerto No. 2, with Artur 
Rubinstein as soloist, that the Phil- 
harmonic concert of Dec. 7. 1941, 
was interrupted (the only time it 
was ever .broken into) to announce 
to the radio audience the attack 
on Pearl Harbor. 

At the end of the concert War- 
ren S w ee n e y, CBS announcer, 
stepped before the audience at 
Carnegie Hall (conductor Artur 
Rodzhrski was- ioo ■ nerve its tty do it 
himself) and gave the news to the 
: public, after which the orchestra 
repeated The Star Spangled Ban- 
ner, with which the program had 
begun. This time the audience, 
rising to its feet to sing, was sup- 
ported by Rubinstein at the piano. 


ORIGINAL DISK SCORE 
FOR COL ALBUM 

Columbia Records will pioneer 
an original musical score on wax, 
written especially for a disk set, 
-with its album of “Archie arid Me- 
hitabel,” based on characters cre- 
ated by the late newspaper column- 
ist, Don Marquis. George Klein- 
singer is writing the score for the 
wax production, which will be 
handled by Goddard Lieberson, 
Col’s exec vice-prexy, who has 
produced a flock of legit score al- 
bums for the company. 

Lieberson is currently casting 
the production, with the set likely 
to be released early In 1953. 

Shapiro-Bernstein Wins 
‘Rainbow’ Injunction 

Shapiro-Bernstein won an in- 
junction against King Records and 
Lois Music in N. Y. Federal Court 
last week in a suit involving the 
defendants’ use of the song, 
"Answer to Rainbow At Midnight.” 
S-B claimed that this title and song 
damaged its copyright, "Rainbow 
At Midnight,” published a couple 
of years ago. 

Before trial, the defendants 
agreed to settle the dispute on 
S-B’s terms and Federal Judge 
Sylvester Ryan okayed the settle- 
ment without giving an opinion. 
Trade execs were interested 
whether the judge would uphold 
the plaintiff’s side insofar as this 
was the first case involving a so- 
called ‘lanswer” song. These tunes 
are gdh.^Pally handled by the origi- 
naX publisher, arild no one has ever 
attempted to ca?h in on the publi- 
cation “df-the original song without 
paying the copyright owner. 

lip * II . — I. i n . ■■ ■.-I. M il MU— . 

| Radio Over TV | 

Continued from page 1 — ■ 

ASCAP earned about $8,000,000 
from AM broadcasters and under 
$8;OO0>OOG- fyem-TV performances. 
It’s expected that TV performance 
# coin will grow rapidly as more sta- 
tions open up but that eventuality 
is still regarded as several years 
away. 

There are 2,300 radio stations 
from which ASCAP collects per- 
formance coin against slightly over 
110 TV outlets. The major source 
of TV coin for ASCAP comes from 
the networks, with many of the in- 
dies operating under interim li- 
censes which contribute only a 
small part of the total. 


BBS Inks Dixon 

Vocalist Bob Dixon has been 
pacted by the BBS label, indie disk- 
ery headquartering in Philadel- 
phia. 

Dixon Is featured singer in the 
current Broadway legituner, "Wish 
You Were Here.” 



















46 obom:stkas-misic 


Nashville Notes 


Prince Albert "Grand Ole Opry” 
guest spots with Red Foley on 
NBC are lined up as Ray Price 
Nov. 29, George Morgan Dec. 6, 
and Foley’s three daughters will 
take over on Dec. 20 With their 
•regular Christmas appearance. •- 

Capitol’s Faron Young reported 
for his Army induction examina- 
tion last Tuesday (18), and was 
shipped to his first station imme- 
diately. 

James Melton in town reminisc- 
ing last .Friday. (21) and heard 
again on His old WSM spots where 
he first gained national recognition. 

Fred Rose in Memphis Sunday 
(23) for confab with Gene Autry, 
who was playing locally during 
week end. 

William Esty execs, Max Wylie 
and Eddie Birnbryer, in Nashville 
last week end on WSM business 
for client, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco 
Co., who bankroll the "Opry” 
Prince Albert NBC’er. 

Audrey Williams back from 
Coast junket to organize all-girl 
troupe under her heading. Group 
is expected to be in operation by 
Jan. 1 with club bookings being 
eyed. 

WKDA’s Noel Ball back at the 
turntables after a two week's local 
vacation. 


Country Chatter 

Don Law flew from New York 
to Dallas last Wednesday (19) for 
meeting with Columbia’s artist 
Gene Autry. Planning was done 


for Autry’s next cutting in De- 
cember. 

Mervin Sliiner returned to his 
Pennsylvania home last week after 
a 10-mprtth' "Camel Caravan” tour 
of service gaimps in 46 states. Last 
.stand with tour was in Boston area 
jfar a iWC&k with the Decca singer 
appearing on Eddie Zack's "Dude 
Ranch Jamboree” from Providence, 
R; I. last 1 Saturday, Nov. ‘22 over 
NBC: 

Mercury Records reissuing the 
Dick Thomas "Sioux City Sue” 
disk. Tune is getting a revival via 
a Johnny Maddox Dot cutting. 
Thomas currently doing a series 
of one nighters through Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Australian folk name, Tex Mor- 
ton, currently pulling top houses 
in Montreal with his cowboy hyp- 
notist act. Morton has plans to 
record in Nashville during Decem- 
ber before New York dates set 
in January. . 

Porter Wagoner in Des Moines 
last Saturday (22) along with guitar 
man, Speedy Haworth, as feature 
on "WHO Barndance.’’ 

George Morgan and guitarist 
Don Davis scheduled to meet The 
Whippoorwills and Sweet Georgia 
Brown in Springfield, Mo., Dec. 5 
for a week’s recording of Robin 
Hood Transcriptions at Radiozark. 

Dave Miller returned to his coun- 
try record * chores at Newark’s 
WNJR - recently; - • - 

Tex Ritter scheduled for appear- 
ances on Shreveport’s (KWKH) 
"Louisiana Hayride” and the "Big 
D Jamboree” in Dallas on his re- 
turn to Coast from his one-week 
run at the Capitol Theatre, Wash- 
ington^ 



"MUT A A FULL TIME JOB (Aouff-Roae)— An Eddy Arnold (Vic. ) 
gyyi» country hit now smashes into pop circles via the 

Doris Day~Johnnie Hay (Col.) release. Cash Box 
names it "Sleeper of the Week" and says, "sure to 
rook the wax world." Variety praises Ray|s "change 
of pace" and cites it a "BEST- BET,* Billboard re- 
ports disk a "BEST BUY." - 

* ★ 

"STRONG ± MUST I CRY AGAIN (Raleigh)— The Hilltoppers (Dot) , 

OVERALL" 4 who've been clicking on their last platter, have 

another winner here. Billboard feels it has "a 
strong overall potential," 

k k k k k 

RAKING ± THE GAL WHO INVENTED HIKIN' (Hill & Range)— Hank 
Off" Snow (Vic.) takes "BULLSEYE" honors in Cash Box. 

Billboard names it a "new record to watch* and now 
reports, "disk has started taking off." It's a' 
•BEST BUY," 

k k k k k 

COINING A THE NEW WEARS OFF TOO FAST (Brazos Valley) 

CASH ^ YOU'RE WALKING ON MY HEART (Brazos Valley)— Hank 
Thompson (Cap.) turns up a double-sided country 
hit that is coining cash in the Juke boxes. Bill- 
board sees it as a "BEST BUY." 

Ar At ★ k ★ 

"REST ^ MY IHEART BELONGS ONLY TO YOU (Regent)— Tune is 
SEILER" beginning to show its. colors. Billboard finds. the 1 

Betty MoLaurin (Derby) disk a strong "Territorial 
Best Seller," listing it No. 4 in Philadelphia. 

k k k k k 

XMAS A SANTA SANTA, SANTA CLAUS (Republic ) (hoh-Mv bmi } 

HITS ^ AU AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE (Republic ) 

bmi} — Sammy Kaye (Col. ) hits the seasonal market 
with a pair of items Billboard commends as "impor-. 
tant for the holidays • • . kids will enjoy it." 
Cash Box rateb the "happy bouncer" a "B". 

k k k k k 

•IULLSEYI" A MIDNIGHT (Tannen) —Red Foley’s (Dec.) offering 
/ moves this Rhythm and Blues number high into the 

pop field. The polished version.earns a Cash Box 
"BULLSEYE." Ballad is given varying treatments. 

. .. . by sucka tar disks as. Lenny P e.e. n-ChotAtkins. 

(Vic.) and Marjorie Day (Dot). 

. Ar. k k k k 

RATED 4 THIS LOVE OF MINE (Embassy) — Tommy Dorsey and 
HIGH Gordon Jenkins (Deo. ) , with T.D. providing a fine 

exhibition of sweet trombone ploying, have pro- 
duced a side that merits a Cash Box "B" rating. 

k k k k k 

UR A, CALLING YOU (Duchess) — Herb Kenny (MGM) is on the 
COMING verge of Jumping to the top with this strong con- 

tender. Throe other diskeries are covering. . 

k k k k k 

"SOCK 4 DON’T LET THE STARS GET IN YOUR RYES (4-Star) - 
1 ITEM" Perry Como (Vic.) follows the Eileen Barton 

(Coral) smash with a "Disk of the Week" selection 
by Cash Box. Variety calls it a "sock entry." Bill- 
board names it a "new record to watoh." 


BROADCAST MUSIC, INC. 

500 FIFTH AVENUE • NEW YORK 19 N V 


New Yctk • Chicago 
Ho.lywood ■ Toronto 
Montreal 


pfissitufr 


4 » 

Wednesday, November 26, 1952 


Disk Companies' Best Sellers 

J CAPITOL ARTIST 

- 1. IT’S IN THE BOOK (2 Parts) Johnny Standley ± 

J 2. LADY OF SPAIN ..Les Paul-Mary Ford + 

MY BABY’S COMING HOME 

3. MEET MR. CALLAGHAN Les Paul-Mary Ford 

TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS AND HOLD ME 

4. HIGH NOON .Billy May 4 

DO YOU EVER THINK OF ME * 

4 tf. COMES A-LONG A-LOVE Kay Starr 

THREE LETTERS 

COLUMBIA 

| 1. I SAW MOMMY KISSIN’ SANTA CLAUS Jimmy Boyd ^ 

THUMBELINA 

X 2. MA SAYS PA SAYS Johnnie Ray-Doris Day 4 

A FULL TIME JOB 

X 3. KEEP IT A SECRET Jo Stafford 4 

ONCE TO EVERY HEART 

4 4. JAMBALAYA Jo Stafford 4 

EARLY AUTUMN 

4 5. THREE BELLS Les Compagnons De La Chanson 4 

♦ 0 WHIRL WIND T 

t CORAL 

’ ^ 1. TAKES TWO TO TANGO Pearl Bailey 4 

♦ LET THERE BE LOVE " 

2. I Don Cornell T 

BE FAIR 

<■ 3. TILL I WALTZ AGAIN WITH YOU Teresa Brewer 4 

;; HELLO BLUE BIRDS ^ 

4. HOLD ME, THRILL ME, KISS ME Karen Chandler " 

♦ ONE DREAM T 

4 5. MY FAVORITE SONG Ames Bros. 1 

AL-LEE-O-AL-LEE-AY 

DECCA 

X 1. GLOW WORM Mills Bros. X 

AFTER ALL 

4 2. DON’T LET THE STARS GET IN YOUR EYES. . . Red Foley 4 
SALLY 

4 3. JUST SQUEEZE ME ...Four Aces 4 

HEART AND SOUL 

4. LA ROSITA .....Four Aces 4 

;; TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS ” 

f 5. TRYING Elia Fitzgerald t 

MY BONNIE LIES OVER THE OCEAN 

t MERCURY 

1. I WENT TO YOUR WEDDING .Patti Page 4 

YOU BELONG TO ME * 

X 2. WHY DON’T YOU BELIEVE ME Patti Page t 

CONQUEST 

4 J. - FORGETTING YOU Richard Hayes I 

FORGIVE AND FORGET 

4. IT’S WORTH ANY PRICE YOU PAY Eddy Howard I 

KENTUCKY BABE 

4 5. GREYHOUND Vic Damone X 

I DON’T CARE 

4 

:: m-g-m 

1. WHY DON’T YOU BELIEVE ME Joni Jame* i 

PURPLE SHADES * 

2. LAZY RIVER Art Mooney t 

HONESTLY T 

3. JAMBALAYA Hank ‘Williams t 

WINDOW SHOPPING 

- 4. YOU WIN AGAIN Tommy Edwards 1 

‘ SINNER OR SAINT 

5. BE FAIR Billy Eclcstine I 

COME TO THE MARDI GRAS 


:: RCA VICTOR :: 

1. 1 SAW MOMMY KI&SIN’ SANTA CLA"US Spike Jones 

winter 

“ 2. CHRISTMAS DAY Eddie Fisher ^ 

THAT’S WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME " 

V, 3. DON’T LET THE STARS GET IN YOUR EYES. .Pe»ry Como “ 

LIES ! > 

:: 4. LADY OF SPAIN Eddie Fisher " 

OUTSIDE OF HEAVEN 

- 5. THE GAL WHO INVENTED KISSIN’ Hank Snow ^ 

;; A FOOL SUCH AS I 


J. RUSSEL ROBINSON i 
STARTS OWN PUB CO. 

J. Russel Robinson, vet ASCAP 
composer of numerous standards, 
has opened his own publishing 
..company bearing..his_name .in New. 
York. 

New firm’s catalog consists of 
over 50 copyright renewals of Rob- 
inson’s own numbers plus a flock of 
instrumental ragtimers. 

Burnette Sells 50% 

Of Coast Pubbery 

Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

Earl Barton Music, of Spring- 
field, Mo., has bought a 50% share 
in Rancho Music, Coast pubbery 
owned by film comedian Smiley 
Burnette. Coin involved totals 
$35,000. 

Rancho’s catalog has over 300 
tunes used on Burnette’s radio 
shows and in his pictures. Both 
Barton and Rancho pubberies are 
Broadcast- Music, -Inc., affiliates-. 


Johnny Long orch booked for a 
two-week stand at Showland in 
Dallas, opening Friday (28). 



‘ASTAIRE STORY’ SET 
AS MERCURY ALBUM 

Norman’ Granz, "Jazz At the 
Philharmonic” impresario, i s 
readying a $50 disk set comprising 
38 sides of Fred Astaire’s top song 
and dance numbers. . It will b e 
called "The Astaire Story” and 
will be released for the Christmas 
market by Mercury Records. 

Set will feature a commentary 
by Astaire on each tune and the 
relationship it had to his career. 
Astaire will be backed by several 
"JATP” instrumentalists, including 
pianist Oscar Peterson, bassist Ray 
Brown, guitarist - Barney Kessel 
tenor saxist "Flip” Phillips, trum- 
peter Charlie Shavers and drum- 
mer Alvin Stoller. It will be a 
limited edition of slightly under 
1,200 sets. 

_ . _ 

Rosson Named Prez Of 
Can. AFM Western Group 

Regina, Sask., Nov. 25. 

Henry Rosson was reelected pres* 
ident’ of the western conference, 
American Federation of Musicians, 
at a two-day conference in Edmon- 
ton, Ala. 

Vicepresident is George Leach, 
of Vancouver, and secretary is Her- 
bert Turner, Edmonton. 


the shawl collar 
tuxedo that's making 
style news! , 



THI ORIGINAL 

TONY MARTIN 

TUXEDO 

The slender Skinner satin 
lapel# make you look 
taller, sUromer, trimmer. 
The 2 -ply imported 
worsted in midrnte blue 
is lightweight enough for 
year 'round wear l Look 
for the Tony Martin 
signature on the label. 

At Better 

Dealers Everywhere 


0 


Wednesday, NovemXxer 26, 1952 


POaRtWft 


47 


The Biggest Xmas Novelty Since “TWO FRONT TEETH” 



g&rsBiM mto&tfootdi 

I SAW MOMMY KISSIN 7 SANTA CLAUS/WINTER 20-5067 (47-5067)* 3:02/1:57 

SPIKE JONES 

CHRISTMAS DAY/THAT'S WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS XO ME 20-5038 (47-5038)* 3:07/3:32 

EDDIE FISHER 

DON'T LET THE STARS GET IN YOUR EYES/LI ES 20-5064 (47 -5064)* 2:37/2:30 

PERRY COMO 

LADY OF SPAIN/OUTSIDE OF HEAVEN 20-4953 (47-4953)* 3:06/2:36 

EDDIE FI5HER WITH HUGO WINTERHALTER ORCH. 

THE GAL WHO INVENTED KISSIN'/A FOOL SUCH AS I 20-5034 (47-5034)* 2:35/2:30 

HANK SNOW 

BLUES IN ADVANCE/BELLA MUSICA 20-4926 (47-4926)* 2:47/3:03 

DINAH SHORE 

BECAUSE YOU'RE MINE/SONG THE ANGELS SING.;: ....;....,..;. v ...io-39i4 (49-3914)* 3 = 30 / 3=30 

MARIO LANZA u s . 

I WANT TO THANK YQU/MY DESIRE -20-5020 ■ (47-5020)* 2:35/3:08 

EDDY ARNOLD * i ' ‘..I , i . ‘ I . m,*' ! V 

EVERYTHING I HAVE IS YOURS/HOLD ME ..W:. . 20-4841 (47-4841)* 2:58/2:27 

EDDIE FISHER 

TENNESSEE TANGO/THE CRAZY WALTZ 20-5009 ( 47 - 5009 )* 2 : 22 / 2:51 

PEE WEE KING 

WISH YOU WERE HERE/THE HAND OF FATE 20-4830 (47-4830)* 2 = 37 / 2=19 

EDDIE-FISHER WITH HUGO WINTERHALTER ORCH. 

KEEP IT A SECRET/HI LILLI, HI LO 2 °- 4 ’ 92 (47-4992)* 2 = 37 / 2=18 

DINAH SHORE 

NINA NEVER KNEW/LOVE IS A SIMPLE THING 20-5055 (47-5065)* 3:16/346 

SAUTER-FINEGAN ORCHESTRA ‘ 

JAM-BOWL-LIAR/YOU BELONG TO ME No. 2 * ( 47 - 5043 ) 2 = 42 / 2:14 

HOMER AND JETHRO „„ , r „ „ „„„ r „ 

AVE MARIA/THE LORD'S PRAYER. 28 ' 0436 l52 -° 0711 4 = 40 / 2=52 

PERRY COMO 


RCA Vi CTOR 


FIRST 


RECORDED MUSIC 



• HIS MASTER S VOlCC* 


OB€HK$TEA^MIJSI€ 


Wednesday; NorensLer 26, 1952 


On the Upbeat 


RETAIL DISK BEST SELLERS 


New York 

Felix Greissle, director of publi- 
cations of E. B. Marks Music, will 
conduct ’a course .on “Editing of, 
Music” at<?Oljtobi*;ir,* .v 4 
Vaughan Monroe pjay&"a! • one- 
niter at the Chalfont; Atlantic €ity,’ 
Dec. 6 . . . Benny Goodman back 
in town after appearing with the 
Wheeling (W. Ya.) Symphony over 
the weekend (22-23) . . . Art 
Mooney orch pacted by General 
Artists Corp, . , . Joni James opens 
at the Hialeah Club, Atlantic City, 
Dec. 1 . . . Billy Eckstine’s speqjal 
taping for the Veterans Adminis- 
tration will be aired on 2,600 sta- 
tions . . . Symphony Sid, former 
WJZ, N. Y„ disk jockey, now plat- 
ter-spinning for WBMS, Boston 
. . . Arthur Prysoclc booked into 
the Flame Club, Detroit, Dec. 5 
. . . Illinois Jacquet orch opens 
at the Hi-Hat Club, Boston, Friday 
(28) . . . Mabel Scott opens at the 
Baby Grand, N. Y., Dec. 5 . . . Gene 
Ammons orch into the Playhouse, 
N. Y., Friday (28) . . . Billy May 
orch playing annual Harvest Moon 
Festival in Chi Friday (28) . . . Ella 
Fitxgerald currently at the Tiffany 
Club, Los Angeles . . . Rose Mur- 
phy began a week’s engagement at 
the Glass Bar, Edwardsville, Pa.,. 
Monday (2^) . . . Wally Gingers 
orch debuts in New York with a 
week’s engagement at the Roseland 
Ballroom beginning Dec. 19 . . . 
M-G-M Records and £oth-Fox have 
teamed up on a promotional cam- 
paign for the soundtrack album of 
the 20th pic, “Stars and Stripes 
Forever,” wth a dealer-exhibitor 
window display contest. 

Pittsburgh 

Organists Ralph and Buddy 
Bonds opened six-week stay at 
Bill Green's cocktail lounge yester- 
day (Tues..> * „ ... Gabrs D'Amico. left 
Morry Allen’s band to organize his 
own four-piece combo . . . Jimmy 
Morgan, out of the Army after a 
two-year stretch, launched his new 
nitery singing single in Erie, Pa., 
over the weekend . . .Billy Merle 
unit goes into William Penn Tav- 
ern’s Dream Room tonight (Wed.) 
for an indefinite stay . . . Frank 
Magnanti is new pianist with Jim- [ 
my Spaniel orch . . . Duke Elling- 



MGM RECORDS 


THE GREATEST NAME i 



IN ENTERTAINMENT 


7 0l SEVENTH AVE NEW YORK 36 N y 


ton package show scheduled for 
Gardens Thanksgiving Night was 
cancelled . Variety Club ha? 
ffiropted as aftthem a new song 
i$tted * $ttle Child ShaH 

I® l«®y^in;Catia{qh«>i : <5>ndnc- ! 

Ames Bros. fj close ‘ week’s engage- 
ment at Stanley Theatre tonight 
(Wed.) and go into Twin Coaches 
for three days . . . Pianist Dave 
Brubeck comes to Midway Lounge 
Dec. 12 for limited engagement . 


Kansas City 

Billy May orch comes into Pla- 
Mor Ballroom for a one-nighter 
Dec. 6 . . . Ken Harris orch to Casa 
Loma Ballroom, St. Louis, Dec, 9 
for one week iff ter winding its 
three weeks in the Terrace Grill 
of the Muehlebach. Later set for 
the Schroeder Hotel, Milwaukee, 
by MCA ... Jon and Sondra Steele 
to El Rancho Vegas for two weeks, 
opening Nov. .26, and Commercial 
Hotel, Elko, opening Dec. 23 . . . 
Olsen & Johnson with the Skating 
Vanities which come in for annual 
stand Dec. 5-9 in the Municipal 
Auditorium. 

‘Near You’ Again Subject 
Of Tennessee Suit 

Nashville, Nov. 25. 

Thelma Jones, „ of Los Angeles, 
through Nashville attorney James 
Swiggart, has filed suit here, 
charging that Francis Craig’s “Near 
You” hit dittie of past years is an 
infringement on her 1934 copy- 
right, “Just An Old Fashioned 
Mother and Dad.” Suit is identical 
with the one brought by Miss Jones 
against Supreme Music in New 
York in 1951 when writer was not 
made a party of the action. Cur- 
rent filing is ^possible on technical- 
ity that Craig was not a defendant 
in the N. Y. suit. 

Filing was in Tennessee Federal 
court. Craig, music head of WSM 
here, is only defendant named. 
Decision in a former case Decem- 
ber, 1951 was in favor of the 
publisher. 


vmrET? 

Survey of retail disk x best 
■jfetTi $rs based on reports ob- 
tained from leading stores in 
11 and showing* com* 

/ par 4 tsyer- sales rating for this 
and test week. 



Week Ending 



a 3, I f * £ & 


«. M 

*3j £ 

s s 


i ui 

& 

m n 


M o 

S 4 


National 

Rating 


This Last 
wk. wk. 


Nov. 22 


Artist, Label, Title 


JONI JAMES (MGM) 

1 3 “Why Don’t You Believe Me” 2 

~ MILLS BROS. (Decca) 

2 2 “Glow. Worm” 1 

PATTI PAGE (Mercury) 

3 1 “I Went to Your Wed ding” * 6 

HILL TOPPERS (Dot) 

4 4 “Trying” 5 

JOHNNY STANDLEY (Capitol) 

5 7 “It's in the Book” 


PEARL BAILEY (Coral) 

6 5 “Takes Two to Tango!' 3 

JO STAFFORD (Columbia) 

7 4 “You Belong to Me” 4 

JO STAFFORD (Columbia) 

8 A 6 “Jambalaya” 8 

VERA LYNN (London) 

8B 11 “Yours” 


MARIO LANZA (Victor) 

9 9 “Because Your Mine” 10 


EDDIE FISHER (Victor) 

10 8 “Outside of Heaven” 7 


EDDIE FISHER (Victor) 

11 A 13 “Wish You Were Here” 


EDDIE FISHER (Victor) 

11B .. “Lady of Spain” 


L. PAUL-MARY FORD (Capitol) 

12 15 “My Baby’s Coming Home” 


KAREN CHANDLER (Corat) ■ " 

13A 13 “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me” 


ROSEMARY CLOONEY (Col) 
13B .. “Half as Much” 


DON HOWARD (Essex) 

13C . . “Oh Happy Day” 


LES COMPAGNONS (Columbia) 

13D . . “Three Bells” g ... . . . 


TOMMY EDWARDS (MGM) 

14A 14 “You Win Again” 


DEAN MARTIN (Capitol) 

14B . . “You Belong to Me” 


■erasi 

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FIVE TOP 
ALBUMS 


1 2 

WISH YOU WERE I'M IN THE MOOD 
HERE FOR LOVE 

Bway Cast Edd j® fish* 

. „ Victor 

Victor LOC-3058 

LQC-1007 EPB-3058 


OC-1007 


P-3058 


BECAUSE YOU'RE 
MINE 

Hollywood Casl 
Victor 
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NEW FACES OF 
1952 

Bway Cast 

Victor 

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5 

LIBERACE 

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High Court 

Continued from page 43 


I 


this case are the union’s proposals 
of work rejected by management.” 

“Is It featherbedding to the fel- 
low paying the bill?” asked Justice 
Felix Frankfurter. Dunau admitted 
it was. The attorney- quoted from 
the Senate debate on the bill to 
bolster his argument of what Con- 
gress. meant in the bill. He was 
rebuked by Justice Robert H. Jack- 
son, who said both sides could 
doubtless find, support for their 
arguments by sentences taken out 
of the full context of the debate, 
and that such quotations were 
'valueless. 

Frank C. Heath, of Cleveland, 
attorney for Gamble, argued: “The 
pre-Taft-Hartley orchestra was a 
typical standby orchestra. Yet it 
never refused to play and it was 
willing . to play. Their statement 
was, ‘You pay us. We’ll play if you 
"want 'us" to. ? The ■ post-Tu f t- Hartley 
orchestra merely wants to do what 
the pre-Taft-Hartley orchestra was 
willing to do but didn’t insist upon 
doing. 

“Befote Taft-Hartley an employ- 


MILLS MUSIC Presets 


er at least was free not to have 
the orchestra play if he didn’t want 
to. Now, National Labor Relations 
Board says, be must pay the or- 
chestra and must uso it, even if he 
'doesn’t want it to play.” 

Heath went on to argue that it 
was AFM activities which caused 
Congress to write an anti-feather- 
bedding section into the Taft-Hart- 
ley Act and that the debate clearly 
shows this concern with the musi- 
cians’ union. 



Thv Hr 11 rd S’-c '-c" M-G M . 

“EVERYTHING I HAVE IS YOURS" 


EVERYTHING 
I HAVE 
IS YOURS 


ROBBINS MUSIC CORPORATION 



EXCITING RENDITIONOf 




VICTOR 2.0-4997 


Continued from page 43 


that’s the only avenue to establish- 
ing a hit these days. 

Publishers have been stewing 
over the so-called diskers’ pres- 
sure, whether explicit or implicit, 
for the past couple of years and 
have -been -unable thus- far -to halt 
the cost-sharing practice. The 
new momentum stems from the 
fact that coin from mechanicals 
has been dipping over the past pe- 
riod, compared to the rising costs 
of plugging tunes. The compul- 
sion to pay part or all of their disk 
versions’ ad costs is regarded as 
heaping another cost on their al- 
ready loaded operational budgets. 


The Perennial Favorite 

Santa Claus 
Is Cornin' 
To Town 



America's -Fastest 
fSelling^Recofds! 












Wednesday, iNovemben. 26+ 1952 


* 




*C* H M etiue ’ 

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Current Smash Release— 20-5065 47-5065 

“NINA NEVER KNEW” 

Yocal by JOE MOONEY 
B/W 

“LOVE IS A SIMPLE THING” 

Vocal by JOE MOONEY 

RCA VICTOR RECORDS 


■-Our -sincere- thanks to ALL of 

» 

the disc jockeys for the won- 
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EXCLUSIVE 



MANAGEMENT 


TVilUnd /fCexando x, *1 kc. 


30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA 
NEW YORK, N. Y. 


333 N. MICHIGAN AVE. 
CHICAGO, ILL. 


so 


VAITBEVIIXK 


‘Wednesday, November 26, 1952 




Miami’s New Law 
On Peels & Spiels 

Miami, Nov. 25. 

Miami City Commission passed 
this week an emergency measure in 
amended form on strippers and ob- 
scene comedians, with the ordi- 
nance completely rewritten irom 
original. Amendment came after 
Jerry Baker, local head of Ameri- 
can Guild of Variety Artists, point- 
ed out the impossibility of proper 
enforcement and suggested the 
changes incorporated, with the 
union undertaking policing of the 
cafes and acts concerned. 

Under the agreement between 
city officials and AGVA, any per- 
former convicted of violation would 
be deprived of all working rights 
within the city of Miami for one 
year. 

With the set rules now imposed 
on how much the unveilers can 
drop, all spots featuring “exotic” 
dancers will continue in operation. 


SCHINE’S 1-SITE VAUDE 
IN UPSTATE NEW YORE 

The Schine circuit has resumed 
vaude on a spot basis. On a direct 
deal, the chain bought a unit 
topped by the Bowery Boys for a 
tqur of seven one-nighters in up- 
state New York. Gus Lampe, cir- 
cdits’s general manager, made the 
deal direct with Jack Kalcheim. 
Four .. started last night (Tues.) ,in 
Oswego., 

Other acts comprise Mage & 
Karr, Shirley Jones, Jack Parker 
& Doll._ 



Talent’s Little Casino Role 
In Cuba’s Big Casino Lure 

American talent will augment 
the gambling tables to lure addi- 
tional tourists to Cuba, according 
to Matio Aguerre Medrano, opera- 
tor of the Montmartre, Havana, 
who returned this week to Cuba 
after a talent prowl in New York. 
However, Aguerre feels that the 
Cuban night spots will not shell 
out the real heavy sugar for the 
top layer of names. 

• Aguerre thinks that many tour- 
ists who fly over from Florida will 
come in for the lure of the casino 
operations. The Havana cafes will 
be unable to compete with Miami 
Beach niteries on coin for attrac- 
tions, and so they’ll plan for good 
shows with enough American acts 
to make the Florida fugitives feel 
at home. .. 


Joe Smith & 
Charles Dale 

detail k»w tke all-time vaudeville 
classic “Dr. Kroakklt# and his 
only living patlehl" was barn 
— another excerpt from their 
forthcoming biography, 
"Stagestrack" 

(as narrated by Aaron Fishman) 
titled 

Are You a Doctor? 

* * * 

an amusing byline piece In the 
forthcoming 

47th Anniversary Number 
of 

pSfcRIEfY 


New Frames 


3 Continued from page 1 




DflRVAS and JULIA 

Opened MOCAMBO 

Hollywood 

So* Back Pag# 
NEXT WEEK 


Kaye’s Palace Teeoff 
Changed to Sun., Jan. 18 

Danny Kaye’s opening at Palace, 
N. Y., two-a-day, originally set for 
Jan. 19, has been changed to the 
day previous, a Sunday. So far, no 
acts have been set for the Kaye 
bill, but Darvas & Julia are likely 
for the unit. Other possibilities are 
the Three Dunhills, who have 
toured with Kaye numerous times. 

Under terms of the deal, Kaye 
will play on a straight 75% basis. 
However, comic will pay for the 
rest of the talent, orchestra and 
advertising. 


ROGER 

CARNE 

and CANASTA tht Cat 

Currently Resident Season 

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE 

Johannesburg, South Africa 
b beetle* 

WM. MORRIS AGENCY 


Vaude, Cafe Dates 


New York 

Janis Paige into the Paramount 
Theatre, N. Y., Dec. 3 . . . Margaret 
Phelan, who drew a holdover at 
her current Cotillion Room of the 
Hotel Pierre, will be succeeded by 
John Sebastian & Dorothy Jarnac, 
who are doing a boy and girl ver- 
sion of the Paul Draper & Larry 
Adler act . . . Sophie Tucker set 
for the Riverside Hotel, Reno, April 
16 . . . Ethel Waters tapped for La 
Vie en Rose, Dec. 16 . . . Zero 
Mostel, Helen Forrest and the 
Gerardos will comprise the Feb. 5 
bill at the Latin Casino, Phila- 
delphia. 


Ohio Tribunal Puts Teeth 
Into Law on Liquor Sale 
Near Churches, Schools 

Columbus, Nov. 25. 

Ohio’s Supreme Court has put 
muscle into»the State Liquor Con- 
trol Board’s enforcement of a law 
requiring hearings for liquor per- 
mit applicants seeking to operate 
within 500 feet of churches and 
schools. The court upheld the 
validity of the law last Wednesday 
(19) when it refused tq, review two 
Canton cases in which the Frank- 
lin County Court of Appeals here 
had held that hearings are manda- 
tory in such cases. 

The county court also held there 
was no abuse of discretion on the 
part of either the State Liquor 
Dept, or of the four-member liquor 
board, which had rejected the ap- 
plications for renewal of permits. 

Told of the decisions, William 
C. Bryant, state liquor director, 
said:. 

“That will materially strengthen 
our continuous efforts to protect 
school children from the encroach- 
ments of liquor spots. We think 
this protection is the most im- 
portant part of the law requiring 
hearing. This is a real assistance. 

In the one case, Emmanuel R. 
Diaz, operating the Canton Tavern, 
secured a D-2 permit (high-pow- 
ered beer and wine) and a nitery 
permit in 1949 without any formal 
hearing. When he asked for a re- 
newal, the Liquor Dept, found the 
establishment within 500 feet of 
the First Reformed Church and 
the Good Will Mission, and ordered 
a public hearing. When both re- 
ligious groups objected, the depart- 
ment rejected the application and 
the Liquor Board upheld the di- 
rector. 

In the other case, beer and 
liquor permits were issued to 
Louis Mantho, operator of the 
Lincoln Restaurant in Canton, 
early in 1949, without any notifi- 
cation of a nearby church. There 
was no evidence of any miscon- 
duct, but the application was 
turned down. 


RENALD - RUDY 





Currently 







-m 


‘ *; 6 


. fc U • 


Just Concluded 

Radio City 
MUSIC HALL 

NEW YORK 

* 

Recently Returned 
from a Successful 

European 

Tour 

• 

Personal Management 
THE WILSON AGENCY 
Pliil Grae - Phil Coscia 
1501 Broadway, New York 
BRyant 9 r 0543 


Saranac Lake 



J 


By Happy Benway 

Saranac Lake, N.Y., Nov. 25. 

Dorothy Dutton back to South- 
ern Pines, N.C., after a week of 
bedside chat with husband Robert, 
theatre manager whose progress 
has upped him to the ambulatory 
sector. 

, . Dr. and Mrs. Saul Fliegel mo- 
tored in from Pottsdam, N.Y., for 
a hello to Pearl (Loew) Grossman, 
who has mastered the routine and 
now enjoys all ambulatory' privi- 
leges. 

Jean Standridge, assistant man- 
ager of Loew’s Apollo, N.Y., who 
registered recently, is taking to 
the observation routine like a vet- 
eran. 

A red carnation to Otto Kraus 
of the Pal Blade Co., Jack and 
Leonard Rosen and Charles Kash- 
er of Charles Antell, Inc., for their 
pre-Yuletide gifts to the gang. 
Thanks to Ted Green, Brooklyn 
radio and TV columnist, for his in- 
terest in this worthy cause. 

Special mention concerning pro- 
gress of these surgery cases. Pa- 
tricia Payne, Shirley Houff, Helene 
Baugh and Kenneth Derby, all of 
whom are definitely on the good 
health ledger. 

Write to those who are ill. 


a matter of emoting in front of a 
camera, 

Chief reason for the move into 
possibly greener pastures appar- 
ently is the desperate need of 
good talent, particularly in the 
nitery field, and the dearth of 
promising newcomers who can 
continue to' lure * customers. The 
bistros have shown more ingenuity 
than other phases of show biz in 
this development of “new faces,” 
such as the recent nitery stints of 

Edward Arnold in his “Diamond 
Jim Brady” revue in western 
cafes. Similarly, the cafes are wel- 
coming Buster Keaton, known al- 
most exclusively in this country 
as a silent film comic, and Ken 
Murray who, strangely enough, 
has never worked the saloons de- 
spite his years in other branches 
of the biz. Similarly, there’s grow- 
ing interest in Chico & Harpo 
Marx, who’ve played a few west- 
ern dates and are mulling offers 
to make the swings around the 
cafe circuit. 

Donald O’Connor, Etc. 

Success of this trend has cued 
Donald O’Connor’s entry into the 
field and he’s prepping a nitery 
package which he hopes to break 
in around New Year’s in Las 
Vegas before essaying such other 
dates as his film and TV commit- 
ments will permit. And Paul 
Whiteman, long absent from the 
after-dark entertainment field, 
may return to niteries next sum- 
mer, also with a Las Vegas kick- 
off. 

Legit recently has seen a new 
crop of vet film names strutting 
the boards. Most of them came 
originally from the stage but, 
hadn’t emoted “in the flesh” for 
a considerable period. Edward G. 
Robinson recently returned to 
legit for the first time in two 
decades for a starring role in the 
national company of “Darkness at 
Noon,” and Robert Young cur- 
rently is touring in “Country Girl” 
after a legit absence of a similar 
period. 

Tyrone Power, now on an eight- 
week junket with “John Brown’s 
Body,” hasn’t been seen on a 
stage in the U. S. since he began 
his film career years ago, although 
he starred irt the London company 
of “Mr. Roberts” a few years back. 

The most publicized return to 
the stage, of course, is that of 
Bette Davis, who * not only 
switched from the familiar film 
medium but is starring in a mu- 
sical revue, “Two’s Company,” 
which represents a departure from 
her usual loles. 

Bible and Classics 

Power's “John Brown’s Body” 
stint is one of the packages cooked 
up by Paul Gregory, who also 
takes credit for plucking other 
film names off the celluloid and 
presenting them in footlights. He 
launched Charles Laughton’k Bible- 
and-classics reading tour and the 
successful “Don Juan in Hell” 
starring Laughton, Charles Boyer. 
Agnes Moorehead and Sir Cedric 
Hardwicke. Of the latter trio, 
Boyer had been seen only briefly 
on stage, in “Red Gloves,” and 
then only in a few key eastern 
cities. 

Gregory also Is presenting Elsa 
Lanchester’s “Music Hall” through 
which longtime film fans are dis- 
covering for the first time that 
JVyss Lanchester is an accom- 
plished music-hall comedienne and 
not just a character actress. She’s 
been seen In a few of the coun- 
try’s top intimer^s aJD.d.jat Holly- 1 
wood’s Turnabout Theatre, but I 
most U.S. audiences know her only | 
through her film characterizations. 


like that of Judy Garland, repre- 
sents a new departure, and Danny 
Thomas, a nitery and screen fa- 
miliar, is considering a similar 
junket. Another bistro name who 
may essay the “one-man concert” 
routine is mimic Arthur Blake. 
And there are indications that the 
few in-person dates played by 
Betty Huttdn may be enlarged 
next year. 

The list grows daily, Jack Haley 
is readying a nitery routine. Char- 
acter actors John Carradine and 
Emlyn Williams are doing “read- 
ings.” Mickey Rooney has already 
taken a floorshow fling and Doro- 
thy Shay is readying a legit debul. 

Present indications are that by 
the end of 1953, audiences all over 
the country will have “rediscov- 
ered” old favorites in new sur- 
roundings. The results are ex- 
pected to be beneficial not only to 
the new venture, but to the con- 
tinuing status of the particular 
star. 

At the very least, it’s figured the 
trend will insure that no name 
player is out of the public eye for 
too long while searching for a 
suitable vehicle in his or her own 
familiar medium. 



k 1 $ -v i 
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THE CHORDS 

Instrumentalists without Instruments 

Club dates Week of Nov. 27 
NASHVILLE, TENN., PEORIA, ILL. 
and CHICAGO 

Dir.; GENERAL ARTISTS CORA 
Club Date Bookings by 


HARRY GREBEN 
203 N. Wabash Av«. 
Chisago, III. 


NAT DUNN 
1630 B'way 
New York 


COMEDY MATERIAL 

for All Branches of Theatricals 

G LAS ON'S FUN-MASTER 

THI ORIGINAL SHOW til GAG flU 
(Th# Service of the Stars) 

95 ISSUES 925 

First 13 Flits $7.00. All 35 Issues $25.00 
Singly: 91.05 Each IN SEQUENCE Only 
(Beginning with No. 1 — No Skipping) 

• 3 Bks. PARODIES par book 910 • 

• MINSTREL BUDGET 925 • 

® 4 BLACKOUT BKS., t*. bk. 925 • 
HOW TO MASTER THE CERIMONIS9 

(reissue), 93.00 

GIANT CLASSIFIED ENCYCLOPEDIA 
OF GAGS, 9300. Worth over a thousand 
NO C.O.D.'S 

BILLY GLASON 

ZOO W. 54 St.. New York 19 Dept. V 
Circle 7-1130 


FOSTER AGENCY. LONDON, 

presents 



Currently 

TOURING ENGLAND 

American Rep. WM. MORRIS AGENCY 
TAVKL-MAROUANI AGENCY, PARIS 


Danny Kaye’s one-man concert, 


Grant’s Riviera 

RESTAURANT AND EAR 
1 51 W. 44 St., New York LU 2-4480 

WHERE SHOWBUSINESS MEETS 

* TALENT CONTEST* 
MONDAY NIGHTS 

Prixtj Professional tngagement 
Duplliati Prim Awarded la the Case et Tier 


A HAPPY THANKS GIVING 

to All tht Club Agents Who Art 
Keeping Mo Nice and Busy 

SIBYL BOWAN 


DANCERS OF DISTINCTION 


NEUE FISHERY JERRY R055 

Management Associates — JACK VAUGHAN— PEGGIE GATES 7 East 55th Street. New York COlumbus 5-0232 


Prom Hollywood 

GEORGE JESSEL SHOW 

NBC-TV 

JXTURDAY, NOV. 29 



Wednesday, November 26, 1952 


P%SSiETr 


VAUDEVILLE SI 


Qne. Cafes Bemoan Annual ‘Blackout’ 
On Year-End Liquor; Monti Hard Hit 


Montreal, Nov. 25. 


With the recent announcement 
from Premier Maurice Duplessis’ 
office on closing hours for the up- 
coming holiday season, the annual 
hassle starts and the crying towels 
fli'C out. 

According to the Duplessis edict, 
issued through the Quebec Liquor 
Commission, all hotels, cafes, 
stubes and niteries must close their 
bars at 9 p.m. Christmas Eve and 
10 p.m. New Year’s Eve. In addi- 
tion, the sale of giggle juice is re- 
stricted to beer and wine only, 
between the hours of 1 and 9 p.m. 
on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day 
and Epiphany (Jan. 6). As a further 
dampener, cafe operators have to 



LEW 

BLACK 

and 

PAT 

DUNDEE 

(Beauty end 
the Least) 

A new not* In 
Glamor Comedy 

GERBER-WEIS8 

AGENCY 

1697 Broadway. N.Y. 
Club Bates 

NAT DUNN 



( WHEN IN BOSTON 

It's the 


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Avery & Waihlngton Sts. 

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TANNEN 

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close at 11 p.m. on the Eve of 
Epiphany. 

Most owners are in accord with 
the Christmas Eve ruling because 
biz is always bad on this night due 
to it being a big time for house 
parties in this predominantly 
French Catholic town. But oper- 
ators can see no just cause for the 
New Year’s Eve closing, particu- 
larly when the night falls °during 
the week and doesn’t interfere with 
the weekend religioso skeds. 

In a city such as Montreal, which 
has always had a rep for plenty of 
night life with a wide-open Gallic 
flavor (Montreal is the second 
largest French-speaking city in the 
world), these closing hours are 
murder. Biz in most spots has been 
only so-so over the past months, 
with few exceptions, and this time 
of the year is when most hope to 
clean up or at least cover the poor 
pre-Christmas returns. 

Some operators are considering 
a real holiday and may shutter 
their boites from Dec. 23 to Jan. 6. 
Others are already cancelling res- 
ervations, many of them from the 
hundreds of Americans who come 
up this way over the holiday sea- 
son. Some bonilaces plan to spend 
this time of the year in the Lau- 
rentians — which is turning into a 
French-style borscht belt — where 
they claim most joints will be run- 
ning wide open despite the regu- 
lations. 

Seville, iont’l, Ups Scale, 
Sets 3-a-Day far iorton 

Montreal, Nov. 25. 

Due to the number of turnaways 
when the Great Morton, hypnotist, 
played the Seville Theatre in No- 
vember, housemanager A r q h i e 
Laurie is breaking precedent for 
his return Dec. 4 by reserving all 
seats. 

A wide ad sked and evening 
prices upped to $2 may set a new 
formula for this successful vauder. 
Plan is to run only three shows 
a day cutting out the 4 p.m. stint 
which never does much biz regard- 
less of the featured performer. 



BOSTON DAILY RECORD 
November 5, 1952 

Around Mtoston 

By GEORGE CLARKE— 

MEN BARRY, who ranks right along with PMl Foater,^ Steuben? 
others in Your Reporter’s estimation, had a sensational opening av 

Ken found an audience exactly suited to his *be t te r^vvi t h *every 

McDermott, the young Red Sox pitcher, wonderful, 

performance. If you haven’t seen cither don’t miss em, they re wonaenu 

Direction: PHIL-WEB ATTRACTIONS 
48 W. 48th Street. Mew York PLow * 7-2280 


THE SATISFIERS 


in the Foursome of Song! 

PALACE • New York, Nov. 28 

Mgt.: Eddie Heilman. 151 R. 53rd. New York 


FLaza 8-0677 


Pbilly’s Garden Terrace 
Returns Orcbs, Melts Ice 


Philadelphia, Nov, 25. 

Name orchs return to the Hotel 
Benjamin Franklin’s Garden Ter- 
race room tomorrow (Wed.) al- 
though the 10-year iceshow policy 
seems to be finished,. 

Opening podium occupant will 
be Jose Ricardel, violinist and 
composer. Room will feature danc- 
ing from 8 p.m. to closing, with 
tax-free policy during the dinner 
hour. 




AGVA Welfare Tax 


‘Suicide’: Pitt Cafes 

Pittsburgh, Nov. 25. 

American Guild of Variety Art- 
ists, which has selected Pittsburgh 
as a proving ground for its new 
Welfare Construction Plan, ran 
into a stone wall last week from 
nitery owners here who insisted 
the plan was economically impos- 
sible and offered a counter-pro- 
posal instead. 

Cafe operators met with Nat Na- 
zarro, Jr., executive secretary of 
AGVA in this district,' and told him 
that demands of $2.50 per person 
a week on a show would be suicide 
for half of the rooms In the area. 
They further pointed out that if 
AGVA' remained adamant, employ- 
ment of acts would be sharply cur- 
tailed in most spots. 

Nitery men countered with an 
offer of an annual fee of $90 from 
each club for the Welare Contribu- 
tion Plan or an assessment of $2 
per week per show. Nazarro said 
he would present this to the na- 
tional board but that the $2.50 per 
person scheme would go into effect 
immediately until AGVA heads 
studied the proposal and came to a 
decision. 

In addition to the $2.50 per per- 
son in cafes, union will assess ban- 
quet circuits $1 per person a night 
and $3.50 per week per person in 
ice shows, circuses and other more 
hazardous fields of entertainment. 


Sonia Henie Runs Smack 

% 


AGVA Has New Fight on Its Hands 
In Nitery, %er Rap of Welfare Tap 


The welfare plan of the Ameri- 
can Guild of Variety Artists is set- 
ting off a series of battles through-*- 
out the country. Numerous cafe 
operators and agents are reported 

objecting to paying tor costs of the 
union’s welfare setup. New Eng- 
land agents are lined up against 
the impost and several operators 
have declared their intention not 
to pay the extra charges. Pitts- 
burgh bonifaces are solidly op- 
posed (see separate story). So far 
AGVA hasn’t pulled any shows on 
that score, but It’s likely that it 
will forbid acts to work for re- 
calcitrants. 

The old insurance payments 


Jersey Justice Puts In 
A Good Word for Burley, 

So Minsky Awaits License 

Newark, Nov. 25. 

Superior Court Justice Frederick 
Colie has ordered the City of New- 
ark to grant license to. Harold 
Minsky for the Adams Theatre 
here. Minsky, - who plans to op- 
erate the house on a burlesque 
policy, had applied for a license 
last June. His application was 
nixed and Minsky appealed. 

In his opinon, Justice Colie de- 
clared that there is nothing “in- 
herently illegal, immoral or im- 
proper” in this phase of show biz. 
He declared that the city had no 
right to state that operation of this 
theatre as a hurley house would 
constitute an offense to public 
morals. 

Minsky leased' the theatres for 
15 years. The city now has* 20 
days in which to appeal the Su- 
perior Court decision, or to grant 
a license. 

Should the paper be granted, 
Newark will have its second bur- 
lesque house. The Empire Thea- 
tre operates within a block of the 
Adams. 


stopped Friday (22) and the wel- 
fare tariff became effective. Actu- 
ally, there is ho difference between 
the cost of the now defunct insur- 
ance program and the welfare plan. 
Under the insurance setup, em- 
ployers paid $1 per night; $2.50 
weekly in theatres and cafes and 
$3.50 per week in the outdoor 
fields. 

Jack Irving, AGVA’s national ad- 
ministrative secretary, declared 
that the union will start cracking 
down. He said that virtually every 
union in every industry has fringe 
benefits written into their con- 
tacts. He feels that the cost of 
AGVA’s welfare program is lower 
than that which prevails in most 
unions. . 



Currently at Chicago's 
EDGEWATER BEACH HOTEL 





4 


; "BEST COMEDY BITS" ; 


| 5 Act: ot Comedy for TV, Vodvil and Night 
, Chib Entertainer* Containing Monologues, 
■ Sketches & Pantom I mlcry. 

• Price Five Dollars 

• 

; A. GUY VISK WRITING ENTERPRISES 

• 12 Liberty Street Troy, N, Y. 

| (The Mlrtliplnce of Show Biz) 

l 


Into Barbara’s Hometown 
In Canuck Tour Teeoff 

St. Andrews, N. B., Nov. 25. 

Sonja Henie chose the adopted 
hometown of her arch-rival to open 
a tour of the eastern provinces. 
She teed off coverage of the prov- 
inces for the first time she has been 
in this territory, at the community 
owned and operated St. Andrews 
rink on the U. S. side of the St. 
Croix river, the international 
boundary line. With a reduced 
cast, Miss Henie showed at the St. 
Andrews arena last week (21-22) 
for three performances. 

St. Andrews is the summer home 
of Barbara Ann Scott, star of “Hol- 
lywood Ice Revue,” and It was here 
she launched her career as a pro- 
fessional, returning annually. 

It marks the first time any other 
skater has challenged the Miss 
Scott’s boxoffice leadership in St. 
Andrews, a snazzy seashore resort 
where many of the wealthy remain 
for the winter. 

Before taking to the ice for .the 
opening of her Canadian tour, Miss 
Henie denied she challenged Miss 
Scott or a $30,000 side bet to com- 
peie in a special exhibition in the 
St. Andrews rink some time in the 
near future. 


JAY MARSHALL 



Happy 

Thanksgiving 

from 

Jay Marshall 
—and the 
Choice of Two 
Vegetables 

Mgt.: 

MARK LEDDT 


WANTED 

FEMALE SINGER 

Flay own instmment. To act as 
social hotleu in Miami Roach hotol. 
CALL: GRammercy 7^1 043 


THANX ! ! 
to the Corner of 
Randolph and 
Dearborn 
for a 

TERRIFIC 3 WEEKS! 


Vl. !</,/. 




JOHN PAYNE and JACK DENTON 


Thanx to J«*hn Payne for three great performances 
with you at the Woods Theatre— World Premier of 
your thrilling p¥^dnsa$’Xily 

Thanx to Harry Rich and Jack Belasco 
for holding me over 3 big weeks at 
the new BANDBOX CLUB. 

JACK DENTON 

World's Greatest Comedian 


(H« should livo so long) 


CHICAGO 

IVAN CHARNOFF 
203 N. Wabash 


Impersonal Management: 


NEW YORK 

IRVING CHARNOFF 
ROBERT REXER 



52' 


NIGHT CI.I7B REVIEWS 


PSkUffFf 


Wednesday, November 26, 1952 


Latin Quarter, N. V. 

Lou Walters jyresentation of 
- Folies Parlsienne,” with Warren 
Latona & Sparks , Caroli Bros. 
(2), Dagenham Girl Pipers (10), 
Marcel Le Bon , Pat Rhodes, Au- 
drey Sperling, 4 Fleetwoods, Paul 
White, Pat Adair, Piroska. Mur- 
phy Sisters (3), Art Waner Orch, 
Buddy Harlow e- Trio, Line; staged 
by Natalie Kamarova; music, 
George Kamaroff ; ' ' special songs 
a.vd lyrics, Walters , Waner, Sammy 
Gallop; costumes, Elizabeth Ad - 
Ion; $4, $5 minimums. ' 


The production of lush revues 
has apparently passed from the 
sphere of the legit theatres to the 
niteries. The present-day theatrical 
economics are such that the large- 
seaters staging two shows nightly 
can gross more than the average 
legit house. An outsized spot like 
the Latin Quarter, running capaci- 
ty, as it virtually does every night, 
can financially outdistance the top 
shows. 

Consequently it's little wonder 
that the mantle of Ziegfeld has 
passed on to Latin Quarter boni- 
face Lou Walters. Hd has created 
a standard of presentation that will 
become increasingly difficult to 
surpass or even equal. Walters has 
educated the moderate Spender to 
a' new criterion of lushness, and 
has helped make the N. Y, cafe an 
entertainment medium for the 
person of less than tycoon income. 

The new presentation “Folies 
Parisienne” is in the Walters tradi- 
tion, being a fast-moving, elegantly 
dressed and visually exciting bit 
of entertainment that measures up 
to the high standards of his previ- 
ous displays. The costuming, de- 
signed by Elizabeth Adlon, is in 
the orb-popping vein. The LQ 
brand of nudity is especially ar- 
tistic. 

Walters has taken a longshot 
view on new talent. This revue is 
loaded with acts that have broken 
in out of town, mainly in Europe 
and Australia. In this respect. 
Walters has chanced their meshing 
with the rest of the show. In the 
majority of cases, the imports 
would do better in theatres than 
in niteries. 

The imported acts are generally 
in a less sophisticated vein thafi 
per usual at this spot. As presently 
constituted, there has to be an 
added fillip for the Broad wayite 
Walters was originally slated to 
1 import the Continental dance team 
of Chiquita & Johnson for this 
revue. This pair might have pro- 
vided the sophistication. Unfortu 
nately, the duo elected to remain 
at thp Tropicana, Havana, for the 
time being. 

Withal, it's a display that should 
* be a must for every cafegoer. The 
show will accumulate the LQ vin 
tage with more playing time here 
and with the periodic changes tha 
Walters introduces in order tha 
the show may retain its freshness 

In the top comedy display is an 
American act, the Negro comic, 
Paul White, who was with Ted 
Lewis for many years. White is an 
effective worker who provides 
considerable satisfaction in his 
spot. Of course, any talking act in 
this particular segment of the show 
would get a fairly good head start 
by virtue of the fact that verbiage 
isn’t a keystone in the preceding 
turns. 

White, who show? .considerable 
Ted Lewis influence, is an ex- 
perienced showman. He knocks off 
his songs and lines and terps with 
sufficient showmanship to excite 
the mob. 

The new talent sector (see New 
Acts) comprises Warren - Latona & 
Sparks, who have worked Australia, 
and Europe; Caroli Bros., a novelty 
musical clown turn; Dagenham Girl 
Pipers, authentic Scottish ; folk 
dancers and instrumentalists,’ and 
. the Four Fleetwoods. 

Marcel Le Bon, a recent French 
import, doesn’t get enough time 
on his own to indicate his full 
potential for U. S. audiences. He’s 
a well-built and handsome gent 
.... with a..cbarxmjQg.accent.j£uid.JL good 
utilitarian voice. . He sings in 
French and English. 

Unfortunately, the general pat- 
tern of the show is such that Le 
Bon doesn’t get sufficient time to 


hefty femmes who qualify for mem- 
bership in. the beef trust. 

Art Waner’s musicians showback 
an exacting score \vith their usual 
excellence, Mme. Kamarova is 
again responsible for the choreog- 
raphy and has made sterling use 
of the large stage in presenting 
the girls. George Kamaroff pro- 
vided a sprighly score for this 
display. Walters has apparently 
taken part in every phase of the 
production. The special numbers 
contain his contributions along 
with" those of Waner’s and Sammy 
Gallop. All in all, this is a session 
that should keep maitre d’ Gigi 
busy at the tape. Jose. 


Giro’s, Hollywood 

Los Angeles, Nov. 18. 
Amru Sani, 7 Ashtons, Dick 
Stabile Orch (T), Bobby Ramos 
Rhumband (5); $2 cover. 

This rendezvous of the film crowd 
likes nothing better than a glamor- 
ous figure with an exotic air of 
mystery enveloping her personality. 
Amru Sani, said to be of Hindu- 
Spanish extraction, was a natural 
to bring out the first-nighters in 
force. What they saw they liked; 
what they heard they didn’t dis- 
like. Her visual appeal transcends 
her vocal competence. 

For a singer making her first 
Coast appearance after, it sez here, 
“being the rage of two continents,” 
her diction is almost perfect with- 
out a trace of ancestral accent. 
She is most impressive in num- 
bers sung in French and Spanish, 
displaying a good emotional range 
that starts with a whisper and cer- 
scendos to a full-piped boom. Hers 
is a voice of throaty resonance and 
at times guttural, a vocal quality 
indigenous to her race. 

Miss Sani.’s attempt at stylizing 
two domestic tunes doesn’t come 
off too well because of occasional 
off-key slips and- at flattening out 
in some passages. Her. best num- 
ber is “The Angelus,” in which 
she exhibits a good flair for chang- 
ing moods and volume. She makes 
a striking figure clad in a tight- 
fitting gold lame gown above which 
flashes dark, haunting eyes. 

The Ashtons, six men and a slip 
of *a girl, have been around on 
TV and are handicapped by a small 
stage. They’re still the best in their 
risley line of foot balancing, speedy 
whirls and pinwheel spins, all on 
the upraised feet of the bed-men 
propped on their backs. It’s the 
fastest turn on any nitery floor 
and brought them a greater ova- 
tion than the star act at show 
caught. 

Dick Stabile is back fronting the 
band and tending the introductions 
in his usual breezy fashion. Bobby 
Kamos brings out the rhumbad- 
dicts. Helm. 


Avlif Ijifl Vetf a s room is hushed. After this there s 
Tllimuerllira, an encore series of her husband's 

Las Vegas, Nov. 20. (Vic tizzy's) tunes, including 

The Dancers of Bali, with ti ^ ake It Easy » “Three Little Sisr 

Ni Gusti, Raka, Sampih, Serog, ters »» an( j “Whatta Yuh Know.” 
Sangaju, Desak Pufu, Tjofcorau she nets p i ep t y G f palm-pounding. 
Oka, Kakul, Rinda, Anak Agung Tony & Sally DeMarco take the 
Raka, Supianti Coast; Dancers (9 spotlight from here on to leave 

girls, 7 boys); Gamelan Orch (19), cus t 0 mers with a pleasant feeling 

directed by Anak. Agung Gae Q £ comp i e t e satisfaction. 

Mandera; special ^oreography bi/ ^ . g ^ du0 , s first Blue Room 
Mario; produce ‘d by John Coast, appearance with the i r ballroom 
no cover or minimum. artistry and they charm in a man- 

_ ner which furthers the prestige of 

With Dancers of Bali a complete ^ popu i ar spo t. The pair dance 

sellout several days before ope 1 *" a variety of numbers and score an 
ing at the Thunderbird, special app i ause touchdown. Offerings run 
praise goes to house producer Hal g amu t from waltz to t&ngo, 
Braudis for taking a long chance w j tIl some novelty, smooth gliding 
and bringing forth something very and a hjt -of aero and tapping 
special for this gambling belt. In- tosse( j j n . They are a treat to 
dications are that the Balinese W atch. 

troupe, in for a DeMarco prefaces each set with 

the Thunderbird for another seven apt j n ^ roeS( enlightening the ring- 

day s . , J A , , siders and, of course, providing 

So far off the beaten track of some breathing spells. His love- 
the productions brought or made i y redhaired partner's vibrancy, 
for Vegas is Dancers of Bali, that spar kle and animation are winning 
even blase gamblers are excited, embellishments that are enhanced 
They might not understand, or b y c hic gowning and her shapely, 

even like the strange terps and mu- nnnble gams. Tony DeMarco is 

sic from Bali, but everyone of still a top dancer and never falters, 
them pulled influence to get ring- though he may appear just a trifle 
side sometime during the week, slower to those who have watched 
The dancing strikes a closer chord him over the years, 
than the odd percussive effects of p aP l Neighbors and his orch pro- 
the Gamelan orchestra, with in- v i Pe heat for dancing and 

doctrination having been made background the acts. The band, 
along such lines by several Amen- competent in the more mellow 
can troupes affecting the stylized selections, is at its best in spirited 
posturings of Indonesia, Java, or a irs. Crew also features bouncing 
Far-Eastern terpsichore. arrangements of oldies. Neighbors 

Ni Gusti Raka, the production’s sings capably, takes a turn at the 
star dancer, is unquestionably the drums for some Latin rhythms and 
pivotal point within the 50-minute registers heavily. 

Balinese sojourn. Her expressive Biz’ capacity when caught, 
child’s face, fluttering fingers, and Luiz. 

rhythmic punctuations marked by 
subtle neck and body movements, 
draw cheers. Counterpointing her 
delicacy of form is Sampih, male 
star. Unlike most Western Hemi- 
sphere productions, the stars’ ap- 


Grazy Horse, Paris 

Paris, Nov. 18. 

Julia Rouge, Jack Reverdy & 
Adela Scott, Anne Burning, Devos 
& Gille; $1.50 minimum. 


Western style nitery cave, off the 
Champs Elysees, pays off in the 
Gallic interest in pic oaters and 
has a saloon door entrance, old- 
time decors^ and sideburned and 
fancy waistcoated waiters. Spot is 
also headquarters of the Paris 
Cowboy Club which has stipulation 
of possessing an outfit bought in 
Texas and a horse and saddle. 
Reasonable tariff and pleasant 
show attract good biz with clien- 
tele predominantly native despite 
the Crazy Horse Saloon tag. 

Built in two tiers down to level 
of stage, there’s, good staggprbcl 
visibility for all and a dance 
floor , is. in the corner where pa- 
trons ■ to* ’a piano and ac- 
corthbii, : 

SnjcM starts with throaty Chirp 
inj of Julia Rouge. Tight-fitting 
gown dovetails with her torchy 
repertoire . and she brings atten- 
tion and appreciative mittifig for 
oldie French, songs. 

Jack Reverdy & Adela Scott, 
two dusky stay-ons from the 
-Katherine- -E^nham groupr-cto - a- 
snaky tom-tom dance in keeping 
with cafe’s atmosphere. Then 
comes the laconic stripping of 
Anne Burning. Gal adds no com- 


Ulount Royal, Mont’I 

(NORMANDIE ROOM) 

Montreal, Nov. 22. 

r ^ Eric Thorsen, The Talbots (2), 

pearances are made at the halfway Max Chamitov Orch (8) with 
point. But, so well conceived is Norma Hutton, Bill Moodie Trio; 
John Coast’s mounting of the over- $1.-$1.50 cover. 
all exhibit, that interest is height- 
ened, not reduced, as the show un- Prepping for Kay Thompson & 
folds toward its climax. Williams Bros. Dec. 1, manage- 

First impact of the Gamelan 
orch, under direction of Anak 

Agung Gde Mandera (seated cross- * or in l er i m -’ ^®^ urin S the 

leeeed centre and with alwavs h baritonmg of Eric Thorsen and 
S fiSwer behind his riehtea? the ballroomology of the Talbots. 

every performance), smacks the hoofefs^i^th^acc^pt^d manner 16 
audience sharply with atonal har- hooieis in the accepted manner. 

monies On night caught, both acts suf- 

A Northern Bali-stvled dance fered considerably from a large 

entitled “Olec" has two Ih'ls mov-' rin g side table that thought the 

fng'^n 'perfect uniloMe bam- jESS? faKHn 

^°tn Pe a r r C e US ^ve; a]d sessions. Thorsenmanaged a 

K£f p 62Sn!2 great deal of tact and savvy as he 
choreography Serog a^aH clown spotlighted the kid with an early 

mimes ^hfs > trance dance “Ketiak ” song and the exhibitionists took 

J nor the hint and retired with the in- 
fant. The party may have been 
forming od^ d cries and explosive but there should, be some 

S T, dS Z* “? nkey a , lmy ' „„ regulation to sidetrack parents of 
7^1) e Tumulilingan, or Bum- this type. It may amuse the imme- 
blebees, of Ni Gusti Raka and diate family, but the rest of the 
Sampih, and spectacular Djan- clientele (who are also contribut- 
ger,” with its chorus of nine girls i n g to the layout) don’t think so. 

back Ed forth' "are ^o?S£to5 In the opening slok the Talbots - 
i!fv C 3 C alS ° 0t Part CU after the first hassle with the situ- 

131 * nc f re ? C 1 . , ation, round out" a fine group, 

Finale takes form in enactment winding up with a batch of oldies 

of a condensed play, wherein the that are amusing and diverting if 

mostloved symbol of Bali, the Ba- rather overdone. 

mons and triumphs. At show caught, Montrea| n ’ swera^Umes ^before 

audienc^ was satisfied Ca *' S ^ Sly. IdtSng 

auaience was sausned. .all corners with plenty of nostalgia 

Richard Harrison Seme’s orig- and a hefty voice. “September 

inal settings could not be used at Song” and “Dancing in the Dark” 

the Thunderbird, having been de- are standout and his table-hop- 

signed for theatre facilities. Back- ping, sometimes chirping directly 

grounds by Irving and Louise to some femme, plus the biz df giv- 

Stone. were added to hangings ing away his boutonniere, have 

around the proscenium centered strong distaff appeal. Newt. 

by symbolic golden umbrellas — ef 


Hotel New Yorker, N. Y, 

(TERRACE ROOM) 

u Nieuw Amsterdam From 1653.” 
ice revue with Joan Walden, Col- 
lin & Leeman, Ray Frost, Sid 
Krofft, Line (4), Teddy Powell 
Orch (11); staging and choreog- 
raphy by Dolores Pallet; $2,50 
minimum weekdays, $2 cover Sat. 

Getting a year’s jump on the 
tercentenary celebration of the 
founding of New York City, the 
current ice show at the Hotel 
New Yorker latches on to local 
history with an eye-filling series 
of hoofing sketches. Although the 
choreography isn’t; too original, 
some of the costuming is well done 
and the blade performers are all 
adept at their craft. 

Opening production keys the 
show with four skating chorines 
garbed as Indians in a depiction 
of the buying of Manhattan by 
the Dutch. Ray Frost handles the 
solo routines with a standard rep- 
ertory of leaps and spins, all ex- 
ecuted in top form. 

Collin & Leeman, an imported 
ice turn from Europe, also register 
in several historical sequences 
with their adagio routine. Duo’s 
standout stunt is a whirling bit in 
which the man swings his femme 
partner’s face a few inches above 
the ice. This. is done in several 
variations. 

The blade lineup is headed by 
Joan Walden, a petite looker with 
considerable grace in the ballet 
genre. Miss Walden works through 
her piroutes in a couple of rou- 
tines, also teaming up with Frost 
for one production. 

Best turn of the show, however, 
is not an ice act. Sid Krofft hits 
most strongly with his marionet 
artistry. Krofft manipulates a flock 
of dummies through various hoof- 
ing routines which are inventive 
and humorous. One bit involves a 
skeleton dance and another is 
based on a burlesque striptease in 
which the ingeniously constructed 
puppet sheds down to the nude 
wood. 

Teddy Powell’s orch cuts the 
show neatly, also furnishing a 
highly listenable brand of dansa- 
pation in assorted tempos but al- 
ways in a sweet groove, featuring 
reeds and violins. Powell makes 
an ingratiating maestro on the 
podium. Herm. 


fective and simple, contrasting TV V 

•wilh'^hff gilded carvings fronting society, Iv • m • 

the Gamelan orch. ■ . . (FOLLOWDP) 

John Coast, in reducing the Nev^ York for^somp 
length of the many dances allow- introducing herself via ^ 
ing for nitery time limitations, det? Downtown Her i Sfffi 
achieved a fine effect which is nearance^hpi^ ind^tp^that w 
“fly to ^corne a milestone for 

siiPh rarp Vptfas nrpQpnratiDnc ^ r ° * ni, . 1 

premise for an act. Miss O’Brien 

has looks and a voice and should 
set herself up with a couple of 
tunes, 

... .The., pokerface ..renditions- should 
be used merely ,as a novelty. Of 


such rare Las Vegas presentations 

Will 


ment or suggestion to her peeling, 
register on his own. Like most | She does a slow, exotic roll to 




Continental chanteurs, he needs at 
least 15 minutes “to get off the 
ground. There' isn’t that much time 
available to him and the most he 
can do is leave a good impression 
—-and that he does. 

In the production are Audrey 
Sperling and Pat Rhodes, who take 
care of the femme vocal chores. 
Each is a looker and competent 
piper. Pat Adair and Piroska have 
been 'at the LQ in previous pro- 
ductions. Piroska is skilled at 
ballet steps, can take some excel- 
lent leaps and holds up his end 
excel'ently. Miss Adair, a petite 
toe worker, presents a charming 
facai” ' that is enhanced by good 
routir.e A brief bit in the produc- 
tion is by the Murphy Sisters, three 


Chinese music and sheds her Ori- 
ental garb with the aid of long 
silver fingernails. Femme has a 
fabulous chassis and strips down to 
a strategically placed daffodil to 
display a perfectly proportioned 
torso. 

Last part of show has some good 
skits by Devos & Gille. They give 
out with the story of the half- 
witted sheriff and the wily outlaw 
for good yocks. They do some good 
sagebrush song takeoffs and the 
Devos deadpan and fey antics are 
a fine counterpoint to proceedings. 
They put a good finish on a pleas- 
ing but not extraordinary show. 
Patrons get the cowboy back- 
ground strained via the Gallic 
route. Mosk. 


Roosevelt Hotel* N. O. 

(BLUEJRQOM) 

New Orleans, Nov. 21. _ __ _ 

Tony & Sally DeMarco, Mary course, she’s best remembered in 
Small, Paul Neighbors Orch (14); the expressionless department be- 
$2 couer. cause of film renditions of this 

brand of comedy. Unfortunately, 

Seymour Weiss has come up that visage produced that effect on 
with another bellringer in this the audience as well at show 
two-act layout. Package provides caught. 

thnt eX Ji»!lt Q ! 1 i!J lr u 0f enter^nment, Other new turn on this session 
|l e ^ 1 ^ eied heavily with the is Danny Davis, a singer who gives 
Dackod nrppni andipnoo the i mpress i on 0 f ^eing much too 


packed preem audience. 

Making her first appearance 
here, chanteuse Mary Small turns 
in a tune stint that is litle short of 
perfection. The blonde,, blue-eyed 
thrush is a vocalist of force and 
charming personality. She has a 
torchy voice that handles straight 
ballads, novelty tunes and special 
material numbers with equal ease. 

Little warbler opens with “You 
Gotta Learn to Lose,” follows with 
“Wish You Were Here” and the 
sarcy “Only For Americans,” and 
is n by a mile. Then comes “I 


Don’t Want Him” and the big I ground. 


tense and somewhat overdramatic. 
There’s little brightness to his 
turn as presently constituted. 
Some changes in repertoire are 
indicated. His trumpeting should 
be eliminated. 

Other acts, Cy Coleman Trio 
and comic Gene* Baylos, are hold 
overs. Baylos was off form. Cole 
man is an artistic pianist who 
should be left more to his own mu- 
sical resources than confined to an 
act. He's a terrific 88er when he’s 
on his own or with light h, mk- 


IV civ Golden* Reno 

Reno, Nov. 19. 

Margaret Whiting, Larry Storch, 
The Dunhills (3), Golden Girls, 
Sterling Young Orch; no cover or 
minimum. 


Jose * 


Margaret Whiting ends the first 
era of the New Golden — playing 
the last two-week show for the 
year. Anticipating slower b.o., 
booker Milton Deutsch will begin 
one-frame stints Dec. 3. 

Miss Whiting does not linger on 
any song long enough for impact. 
Sometimes there’s hardly, a chance 
to recognize the tune. Her chatter 
is pleasing and light, however. The 
trend is medley---music from al- 
bums, music from the time “I was 
little girl,” “Dad’s best,” etc. High 
point, of course, is a little stroll 
through Dick Whiting’s melodies, 
including “Too Marvelous” and 
“Beyond the Blue Horizon.” 

She opens with “There’s a Great 
Day Coming Manana”; “You Be- 
long to Me” is next with only a 
pause. First patter comes as she 
rings up some of the tunes she’s 
known for — “Tree in the Meadow,” 
“Might As Well Be Spring,” “Slip- 
pin’ Around,” “My Ideal.” Oldies 
get their inning in “Japanese Sand- 
man,*’ “Sleepy Time Gal,” “Louise” 
and “Honey.” 

Singer is tastefully decked for 
her thrice-nightly stint. Personality 
is friendly, with some individually 
directed songs to aud. 

Larry Storch starts slow as the 
comic here but shapes better than 
average. Most his work is in swing- 
ing from story to story. There are 
some pretty well-worn jokes, but 
they look better when he takes all 
the parts vividly. 

- - G-omie -ttnties hi& paekage -with a 
story, about- dropping $300 at the 
tables, which he swears doesn’t 
bother him. But the longer he talks 
about it, the sadder he gets, finally 
breaking up in shivering sobs. Best 
bits are English fight announcer 
and drunken femme at bar. This 
sort of thing, hangs mostly on mug- 
ging and clowning. The lines are 
okay but not impressive. 

The Dunhills break this show 
open with some sensash precision 
tapography. Young and personable, 
they trade off for some unusual 
gimmicks in taps. Trio has some 
cute walkoffs such as double takes 
and working audience up to a 
rhythm clap which turns out to be 
applause. 

Golden Girls, the Terry True 
Dancers, have a bright little starter 
in fluffy sweaters for “Sleigli 
Ride.” Midway, before Miss Whit- 
ing, they appear briefly — ana 

briefly — for a Latin whirl. 

Mark. 


Wednesday, November 26, 1952 


PXkTETy 


NIGHT CLUB REVIEWS 


53 


Embassy Club, London 

London, Nov. 16. 
Bobby Short, Don Carlos Samba 
Band, Billy Sproud Orch; $4.25 
minimum. 


After a six-month stint in Paris, 

Bobby Short makes * his London 
debut via this elite Bond St. nitery, 
and although it’s a lean period 

liusincss-wise, he succeeds in evok- , . . . . , — - — 

generous and merited audience ! 5}? . ha ? ds rev elers. 
oCponse. The colored singer, in a 1 Drv Rnn ' , « ' ' 

sell -accompanied program of bal- 
impresses with an individual- 
istic style which, displays full 
measure of sincerity. 

Short has a powerful set of pipes i 
-and succeeds in filling the room ' 
without the artificial aid of a mike. 

Occasionally, however, he tends to 
overwork the loud pedal of the 

Stcinway.and^ro^s^ome^of^iSibon^ng , tambourines placed on 


have to be dreamed up for future 
dates, 

Day, Dawn & Dusk concentrate 
on highly commercialized warblings 
during their mid-spot, and reach 
audiences easily with all their fare. 
Sepia trio warbles on with “San 
Fernando Valley,” spreading south- 
ward musically to “Basin St.” Dusk 
is featured in “You’ll Never Walk 
Alone,” with bary pipes bringing 
n revelers. A hit is 
Dry Bones.” speeding the tempo 
upward into “Sweet Georgia 
Brown,” a rocking “St. Louis 
Blues.” and their tour de force. 
"Calliope,” which never fails to 
grab salvoes. 

Return is marked for finale, 
when the lads set up a revival 
meeting in midst of Sa-Harem 
Dancers, with audience adding 
■: rhythmic touches by shaking and 


own words. 

which is easily remedied. 

Like most sepian performers, 
Short has an ingrained sense of 
rhvthm and he imparts a stirring 
vilalitv to his songs. He opens 
u ith “Let There Be Love,” which 
he treats boldly in his deliberate, 
gtvlized manner, and this sets an 
effective pattern for the remainder 
of his stint. His next, “Solomon 
Had a Thousand Wives,” is in the 
same ballad style and rates hefty 
reaction. The one pop number in 
the routine is “Just One of Those 
Things.” which he puts over with 
refreshing vigor, but ballads are j 
undoubtedly his metier, and it is 1 
with these that he gets his biggestrl 
clicks. “Give Me a Pig’s Foot and 
a Bottle of Beer,” “Josephine” and 
“Sunday in Savannah” fit comfort- 
ably into the program. 

No orch backgrpund is needed 
for the act, but the two resident 
combos, the Don Carlos Samba 
Band and the Billy Sproud outfit’s 
provide the dance music. Myro. 

Sugar Hill, Boston 

Boston, Nov. 20. 

“ Harlem Express” with Jackie 
“Moms” Mobley, 3 Rhythm Kings , 
Joe Noble, Mel Collins, Sugar Hill 
Girls <8), George “ Rubberneck ” 
Holmes, Sabby Lewis Orch (8); 
no cover or minimum. 


tables. Bowout of show is effec- 
tive. 

Dolinoffs & Raya Sisters begin 
their inning by mechanical doll 
terps, with aero inserts by the 
sisters. High point is reached 
when against the deceptive black 
diorama, three femmes are whirled 
into upside clown positions, pin- 
wheels and other impossible tricks. 
Two lighted question marks placed 
in front of the eye cast rays into 
eyes of tablers to facilitate the de- 
ception. Everything is explained 
visually at close when Dolinoff 
comes forward with black velvet 
costume for bows. Act receives 
peak mitts. 

Sa-IIarem Dancers once more 
glorify the large stage expanse 
with lerrif romps on a Spanish 
theme. Costuming is superb, with 
each femme filling every require- 
ment for both looks and terps. Aid- 
ing the mood. Gene Nash sings 
"Granada.” and adds his know- 
how of footwork to sock routine. 

Cee Davidson pulls forth all the 
needed cues and measures from 
his crew with expert direction. 

Will 


Hotrt Nicollet, Mpls. 

"(MINN. TERRACE) 
Minneapolis, Nov. 22. 
Penny Singleton., Cecil Golly 
Orch 1 9) with Mildred Stanley; 
$2.50 minimum. 


Sugar Hill’s “Harlem Express.” | 
produced by emcee George “Rub- 1 
berneck” Holmes, is a fast-paced 
presentation with accent on terp- 
ing and indigo-tinted comedies of 
Jackie “Moms” Mabley. Latter, 
wearing gingham dress and flat- 
heeled shoes, slouches onstage 
vocalizing such gagged-up songs as 
“I May Be Brown as a Berry,” “If 
He’s Good Enough to Fight for His 
Country, pon’t Make Him Fight 
for His Love” and “Old Man Mose 
Is Dead” interspersed with double- 
entendre quips. Her entire stint 
including windup, story of a post- 
poned tennis match, is strictly cel- 
lar stuff but grabs yocks. 

Balance of bill is heavy with ' 
torping. Three Rhythm Kings grab 
spotlight for nifty acrotap routines 
and Joe Noble scores in an exotic 
Calypso bit aided by a couple of 
line girls. “Rubberneck” Holmes, 
in .addition to producing and em- 
ceeing, follows the terp line with 
sesh of “request” steps giving his 
impresh of Charleston, boogie 
woogie, mambo and Mexican hat 
dance. Line prances through a cou- 
ple of routines, overall effect be- 
ing enhanced by stroblighting. 

Mel Collins, local blues singer, j 
fares okay in opening spot. Back- 
grounding by Sabby Lewis band 
is solid. Elie. 


Sjiluirrt, Las Vogas 

Las Vegas, Nov. 18. 

Buster Keaton (2), Day, Daum 
& Dusk, Dolinoffs & Raya Sisters 
14 1 , Gene Nash, Sa-Harem Dane- 
ers (12), Cee Davidson Orch (12), 
no cover or minimum. 


Ii the remembrance of Buster 
Keaton as a top flicker comic 
hnngs in the loads of turislas* it 
'vul be the skillful' pantomiming 
01 . a 12-minute sketch that will re- 
ceive chejcrs from the cognoscenti. 
,^-tivnt' ill Oke ifriTiepTo' expert bits 
nt business do not respond fully 
lo the Keaton comedies. They 
sense the unusual quality of this 
a *'t torm, perhaps without knowing 
"hy. but being both touched and 
amused by the sketch, keep yocks 
roiling from start to finish, 

, Keaton works with his wife in a 
^mp.le tale sans words of <x couple 
returning lioyie from a party a bit 
on the inebriated side. Attempts 
oi Keaton to put his wife into bed 
and to successfully complete the 
s;iinc chore for himself occupies 
‘he entire period. Setting has 
been made onstage to aceommo- 
oate the gyrations of the comedian, 
Mill sad-pussed, baggy-cyed and 
yuh clothes to match. Mounting 
jh‘0 ridiculous concentration with 
tji'-k on hand, Keaton tosses in 
utile pieces of biz delightful to be- 
hold. The bit is good for one time 
around the cafe circuit, but a 
longer and more varied turn will 


This swanky supper club’s pa- 
trons are finding Penny Singleton 
as engaging in the live as she has 
been as Blondie on the screen and 
radio. In her first Minneapolis 
personal, she displays a vibrant 
personality, charm and first-rate 
vocal and- comedic talents. Friend- 
liness and an evident desire to 
please help her win local cafe 
society friends and influence ap- 
plause. 

Miss Singleton creates a welcome 
intimacy as she smilingly unfolds 
patter about herself, her family 
and her numbers and engages in 
song, a bit of comedy and some 
stepping. Her routine possesses 
a continuity that adds smoothness 
to the proceedings, and everything 
smacks of an aura that befits this 
type of room. A number of her 
contributions awaken pleasant nos- 
talgia. 

Sailing blithely along the enter- 
tainment road, Miss Singleton re- 
vives songs which she did* in 
Broadway musicals, notably “Fol- 
low Through.” There are vocal 
changes of pace as she swings 
from “Versatility” into the serious 
“Hello, Young Lovers,” and then 
gives out snatches of melodic offer- 
ings associated with Eva Tangiiay, 
Eddie Leonard, Fanny Brice, A1 
Jolson. George M. Cohan and Mari- 
lyn Miller. After several begoffs 
following a “Is It True What They 
Say About Dixie?” medley and an 
amusing “Take Your Date to the 
Drive-in if You Can’t Make Love 
at Home.” she tells her audience 
“hello” for a “goodbye.” 

Cecil Golly orch. with vocalist 
Mildred Stanley, are clicko, as 
usual. * Rees. 


Ang< k lo*s. Omaha 

Omaha, Nov. 21. 

Milt Herth Trio: no cover, $1.50 
ruinimum (this bill only). 


Hotel Chase, St. Louis 

(CHASE CLUB) 

St. Louis, Nov. 18. 
George Gobel, Bud & Cece Rob- 
inson, Ray Shaw, Eddie O’Neal 
Orch (12'; $1-$1.50 cover, no 
minimum. 


After a two-year absence fr6m 
this swank west end room, comic 
George Gobel is back to headline 
a layout that includes three new 
faces. 

..With a style akin to that of Herb 
Shrincr, Gobel. in closing slot, 
cops almost continuous ypeks with 
his zany tales. In addition to his 
series of clicko stories, he plucks 
his guitar for two hillbilly ditties, 
some of it in yodel style, inter- 
rupting frequently . to mugg with 
Eddie O’Neal and the tooters and 
drawing more belly guffaws. 

Proceedings tee off with O'Neal 
emceeing and Bud & Cece Robin- 
son uncorking some clever tap 
stuff. The gal' a blonde looker with 
shapely gams, wearing a semi- 
ballerina sequin outfit, and her 
partner not only present some 
eccentric steps but a red-hot 
jitterburg routine that garners a 
hefty mitt. 

Ray Shaw from “Guys and Dolls” 
is a well-constructed, personable 
baritone. He scores solidly with 
his interp of “That’s What A Song 
Can Do,” a newie, in addition to 
“I’m Gonna Live Till I Die,” “The 
Show Must Go One,” “Wild 
Grapes” and “Because You’re 
Mine.” Bill is in fast tempo and 
ably backed by the orch. Sahu. 


Billy Oi’ay ? s, L. A. 

Los Angeles, Nov. 18. 
Billy Gray, Patti Moore & Ben 
Lossy, Taylor Maids (3), Larry 
Green Trio; $2.50 minimum. 


Si 


New Acts 


Every time bossman Billy Gray 
and his cohorts Patti Moore & Ben 
Lessy come back to this off-Holly- 
wood hideaway, business booms. 
This trip will be no exception, 
even though the principals are 
forced to rely largely on the old, 
familiar material ta reach their 
peak response. 

it's Gray who suffers principally 
from the weak new material they 
debuted opening night. A canny 
comic, he quickly falls back upon 
such yock-filled • reminiscences as 
his experiences in Miami and then 
proceeds to reprise such parodies 
as ‘Magic,” “Mule Train” and “An 
Appliance for Jake.” It’s a tribute 
to his delivery and timing that he’s 
able to make the old stuff sound 
great and an occasional new line 
here and there helps dress it up. 

Moore & Lessy score, as always, 
with a half-hour of song and 
clowning that constantly rings the 
bell. Miss Moore, a vibrant sou- 
bret, serves as an effective coun- 
terpoint for Lessy’s grand buffoon- 
ery and they join vocal forces Tor 
such items as “Pretty Boy,” 
“Wish’t I Was” and the Calypso, 
“Television,” all of which earn 
salvoes. 

Straight vocalizing is by the 
Taylor Maids, a winsome trio 
whose efforts pass muster in a 
room where song is secondary to 
comedy. Some of their arrange- 
ments, however, are a trifle over- 
familiar, such as "I Wanna Be 
Loved,” which bears more than a 
passing resemblance to the An- 
drews Sis' platterizalion. Larry 
Greene Trio (Greene on piano, A1 
Viola on guitar and Allen Burns 
on bass) ably backs the show and 
provides strong interim music that 
might cue some jam sessions at 
the Band Box. Kap, 


Francis IIolH. S. F. 

San Francisco. Nov. 21. 
(MURAL ROOM) 

Guy Cherney, Dick Hoy Orch 
(11); $1.50-$2 cover. , 


This is a break-in spot for vet 
Milt Herth and his new crew, Jack 
Bnnan (piano) and Herb Ross 
(drums). And the deft Hammond 
organist lias another winner ready 
to take into New York’s Park- 
Sheralon latter part of this 
month. 

Herth celebrated his 15th anni 
at show caught (ID and included 
his original Decca waxing, “Dipsy 
Doodle,” in half-hour program. 

Trio features plenty of variety 
and changes pace from “South 
Rampart Street Parade” to “War- 
saw Concerto” with aplomb. Herth 
wraps up show with his ten if no- 
hands footwork- on “St. Louis 
B1 lies.” 

Troupe has a comer in Banan. 
The 88er holds forth in “Tea for 
Two” and “Little Rock Getaway 
and is ahead all the way. Sound 
system trouble earlier was cleared 
,, n Trump. 

I Jr • 


WARREN, LATONA & SPARKS 
Acrobatics 
9 Mins. 

Latin Quarter, N. Y. 

Warren, Lalona & Sparks, novel- 
ty aero trio, are disciplined Euro- 
pean performers who have also 
worked in their native Australia. 
They appear to be staples abroad 
and show a considerable savvy for 
comedy aero work. 

The trio are rapid worker's, show 
a considerable catalog in the tum- 
bling field, some unusual aero for- 
mations and many comedy touches. 
Like most of the other turns on 
this Latin Quarter bill, they carry 
tremendous sight values which 
would serve them well in theatres 
and outdoor situations. Their 
cafe work should be confined to 
the large-seaters with lots of floor 
space and height. Threesome 
would also hit it off well in video. 

Jose. 


This swank room would be a 
challenge to any featured singer, 
being almost exclusively a band 
attraction spot, but Guy Cherney 
takes it in easy stride and scores 
for solid opener. 

Having whipped up a breezy 
compote ‘of - temes; sormr punchy 
special items, and standards and 
oldies, he moves through his stock 
in trade to garner a hefty okay 
from customers. Cherney sings 
with warmth and mixes enough 
palter to keep the crowd happy. 
He’s particularly strong when 
rolling off his nostalgic “Broad- 
way Hall of Fame” in which 
he ’warbles "Whoopee” (Cantor), 
“Birth of the Blues” (Richman), 
“Ida” (Leonard), "Mary” (Cohan), 
with tributes to each, for a high 
peak plus “Mammy” and “April 
Showers” 'Jolson'. It’s lop stuff 
and pays olf to mucho mitting. 

Cherney ’s chore includes a neat 
warmer. “Great Day,” followed by 
“Be Yourself.” “Lady of Spain” 
“Squeeze Me” and “You Belong 
To Me.” He had to give a flock of 
encores, including ‘Wish You 
You Were Here,” "Pretty Baby,” 
“Cecelia,” “Goodbye Sue” and “A 
Fool There Was.” Ted. 


4 FLEETWOODS 
Dance 
7 Mins. 

Latin Quarter, N. Y. 

The 4 Fleelwoods are nice-look- 
ing boys, two members of which 
have been working Latin Quarter 
productions in previous displays. 
Their current routine represents 
considerable ( rehearsal and they j 
should be eligible for most visual 
media. 

At this point, the routines Jiccd 
punching up. There should be 
some tricks to excite interim ap- 
plause and additional numbers 
that would give them a wider 
sphere of operations. What they 
do is good commercial stuff, al- 


though 

groove. 


it’s in 


well- 


worked 

Jose, 


BROS. (2) 
Novelty 


expert 
in the 
under- 


CAROLI 
Musical, 

10 Mins. 

Latin Quarter, N. Y. 

The Caroli Bros. <2) are 
musical clowns who work 
style that can be readily 
stood anywhere. The duo, who 
have vsorked for years in Europe, 
are essentially accomplished musi- 
cians who have a funny bone. One 
is dressed in a Chaplinesque cos- 
tume and provides the bulk of the 
comedy, while the second has a 
standard clown outfit. 

They work on a variety of mu- 
sical instruments, including so- 
pranetto saxes, trombone, trumpet, 
concertina and accordion. They 
integrate some chatter and non- 
musical bits of business into a sock 
act lor theatres and cafes. Jose. 


HELENA BLISS 
Songs 
35 Mins. 

Ritz Carlton, Montreal 

Following a successful operatic 
career and as lead chirper in “Song 
of Norway” and other legituners, 
Helena Bliss makes her intimery 
debut at the Ritz Cafe. Gal is a 
comer from all angles. 

A striking brunet of beller-than- 
average height. Miss Bliss possesses 
all the physical attributes neces- 
sary for .the sophisticated chan- 
tootsie; sports a clicko wardrobe 
and, above all, has the basic train- 
ing. 

The writer-composer team of 
Robert Wright and George Forrest 
(who wore responsible lor the 
words-and-musie of “Song of Nor- 
way,” “Magdalena" and others) 
have assembled a trim songalog for 
Miss Bliss, with Forrest coming to 
Montreal to play her first night. 
Opening with a piedley built around 
“Who Cares,” songstress moves into 
the rather intricate lyrics of “1‘in 
G t lad There Is You” and then comes 
back fast with “Wish I Were in 
Love Again,” which garners plau- 
dits. Gelling off the pop beat, she 
does a hefty interpretation of 
“Granada” in her best operatic 
manner, and then a French num- 
ber to please the bilingual patrons. 

Encoring with a slightly over- 
board version of “Preach to Me,’’ 
w'hich. with its movements and 
comedy approach, seems a trifle 
unwieldy at this point of her cafe 
career, chanleuso then follows with 
a group from “Song of Norway” 
for her best reception. An oldie by 
Noel Coward and “Down With 
Love” wind up session. 

The swutch from w’orking in 
theatres to the confines of a boite 
such as this, both from an acoustic 
and patron point of view, are evi- 
dent in some of her numbers; 
with the necessary relaxing 
more personalized intros, 
should be a sure thing for any of 
the better niteries. » ' Newt. 


but 

and 

gai" 


JUNE ASTOR 
Songs 
10 Mins. 

Palace, N. Y. 

June Astor is a schmaltzy singer 
who draw r s mainly on standards, 
coupling her songs with top singers 
and composers. She opens with an 
Irving Berlin medley and then 
docs a series ol‘ songs identified 
with some of the theatrical greats. 
Her finale is an overdram atic rendi- 
tion of “Mother's Sabbath Candles,” 
w'hich seems out of place in this 
house. 

Miss Astor is no stranger to 
Broadw’ay, having been in the 
Yiddish-American revue, “Bagels & 
Yox,” She gets over exceedingly 
well here, but it seems that in other 
situations where some subtlety is 
needed, she’d have’ some trouble. 

Jose. 


COURT & SAUNDERS 

Songs 

12 Mins. 

Bellevue Casino, Montreal 

As principal vocalists in current 
Bellevue Casino layout. Court & 
Saunders please in all numbers, 
showing to best advantage during 
the lavish Madame Knmarova pro- 
duction efforts. 

Both have clear, strong voices 
wdthout any of the corny heroics 
that seem part and parcel of usual 
guy-and-gal chirping team. Each 
approaches a song with ease and 
neither tries to fight the house 
when the customer yacking starts 
to rise. 

Their choice of songs for their 
solo session, however, leaves much 
to be desired for this particular 
cafe. An item such as “Go to Sleep” 
may be good in an intimery with 
full attention but here it tends to 
drag and team would be w’iser to 
stay w'ith the more obvious for a 
better reception. Between song 
stints, male half of duo does neat 
job of emceeifrg. Nevit: 


JACK RADCLIFFE 
Comedy * 

15 Mins. 

Tivoli, Aberdeen 

Comedian, crisp and fncisive in 
style, has characterization for his 
forte. His old-man studies are best, 
linking comedy with pathos in un- 
usual style. Artist ma'kes his old 
men vigorous characters W'ho re- 
( fuse to be beaten by old age and 
j have a gay spark about them de- 
f spite senility. He ends by bursting 
I into song, using rich voice to top 
effect. 

Comic rattles off 
pace, being ahvays 
He has advantage 
Scottish speaking- 
doesn’t suffer from 
cally limited. 


DAGENHAM GIRL PIPERS 
Dancing, Bagpipes 
8 Mins. 

Latin Quarter, N, Y. 

The Dagenham Girl Pipers, au- 
thentic Scottish group, are skilled 
native dancers, and pipers whose., 
costuming and routines are tradi- 
tional. Niteries aren't the proper 
showcasing for this 10-girl troupe. 

They would be more suitable for 
special spots in theatres or novelty 

bookings elsewhere. They doubled j </i 1 ♦ • xu\ nt •/*. « 

on me cbs-tv To^t of the tapades m HQ bhitt r roni 


gags at rapid 
on the attack, 
of melodious 
voice w'hich 
being dialecti- 
Gord. 


Tow'n” Sunday (23). 

The girls play the bagpipes, one 
-wiekl-s-a- native- version of the- ba- 
ton and there are the sword dances 
and the other native terps that are 
pleasant, but unfortunately not too 
forceful in this situation. 

The LQ makes the best possible 
use of this group, having spotted 
them in the finale in midst of a 
Scotch number. Jose. 


BOBBY DAY & BABS 
Dancing 
7 Mins. 

Palace, N. Y. 

Bobby Day & Babs are a pleasant 
pair of tapsters. They work ener- 
getically. are fresh and exuberant, 
and look youthful. The routines 
are okay, being well larded with 
taps and soflshoe. Costuming is 
also good. 

Pair are well suited for cafes 
and family theatres. Greater depth 
to their work would make them 
eligible for some smart rooms. 

Jose. 


New York toJ5.ev.hiUs. 

Hollywood. Nov. 25. 

All “Ice Cnpades” activities will 
be shifted from New York to the 
Coast Jan. 15. when Norman Fres- 
cott. general manager of that show 
as well as “Ice Cycles.” will make 
his headquarters in the recently 
completed Beverly Hills building. 

New York office will continue to 
function with John Hickey at the 
head. Hickey will book attractions 
for member arenas of Arena Mgrs. 
Assn, r 


George W. Eby on Own 

Pittsburgh. Nov. 25. 

George W. Eby, treasurer of 
Harris Enterprises, has resigned 
that firm after 13 years to open his 
own accounting offices. 

He’ll service the "Ice Capades” 
and “Ice Cycles” accounts, both of 
which are headed by John H. Har- 
ris. 


M 


PUftiEfr 


Wednesday November 26, 1952 


VARIETY BILLS 

WEEK ENDING, NOVEMBER 2# 

Numerals In connection with bills below indicate opening day of show 

whether full er split week 

Letter in parentheses Indicates circuit. (FM) .Fanchpn Marco; (!)■ Independent; 
(L) Loew; <M) Moss; <P> Paramount; <R) RKO; IS) Stoll; ( T) Tivoli; <W> Warner; 

.. . iWR) Walter Reade 


:W YORK CITY 
uslc Hall (I) 20 
ricla Drylie 
l Norman 
i Gatos 
okettes 

)rps do Ballet 
Symph Ore 

Palace (R) 28 
G 8c A Oliver 
Raymond Chase 
Florida 3 
Bob Hammonds 
Birds 

Jesse James Sc 
Cornell 
Steve Evans 
Dalton & Bailey 
Paramount (P) 26 
Toni Arden 
Jack E Leonard 
S Condos & J 
Art Mooney Ore 
Roxy (I) 25 
Jimmy Nelson 
Mello Larks 


Renale & Rudy 
Johnny Conrad 
Dancers 
Rosette Shaw 
CHICAGO 
Chicago IP) 28 
Nat Kins Cole 3 
Teddy Hole 
T Herbert & D 
Saxon 

Nancy Evans 
Congress (P) 21 only 
Asylum of Horrors 
JL ROCKFORD 
Palace (P) 26 only, 
Asylum of Horrors 
Doctor Conrad 
Ladd Sis (3) 

Billy Romano 
Egan & Parker 
Hawthorne’s Bears 
WASHINGTON 
Capitol <L) 27 
Woodford Pets 
Gale Robbins 
Jean Davis 
Earl Wrightson 


Cabaret Bills 


NEW YORK CITY 


AUSTRALIA 


BRISBANE 

His Majesty's (T) 24 
Armand Pcrren 
3 Fayes 
Pat Gregory- 
Gerd Bjorns tad 
Chirbi 

Marika Saary 
Phillip Tappin 
Wim De Jong 
Jacques Cartaux 
Jimmy Elder 
Joe Whitehouse 
Cissy Trcnholm 
Terry Scanlon 
Babs Mackinnon 
Betty Sulloclc 
Joy Stewart 
Guns Brox & 
Myrna 

MELBOURNE 
Tivoli <T> 24 
Tommy Trlnder 
Mara Maurice 
6 Dc Paulis 
Rey Overbury Sc 
Suzette 


Mary Priestman 
Harry Moreny 
Lloyd Martin 
Toni Lamond 
Dancing Boys 3 
Singing Girls 4 
Adorables 

SYDNEY 
Tivoli (T) 24 
3 Daresco 
Lowe & Ladd 
Frank Cook 
Bert Duke 3 
Guy Nelson 
Halama & Konarski 
Renlta Kramer 
Bouna 

Norman Vaughan 
Sonya Corbeau 
Alice Ray 
Betty Prentice 
Nudes 
Show Girls 
Boy Dancers St 
Singers 
Ballet 


BRITAIN 


ASTON. . 
Hippodrome (1) 24 
Street Singers 
Davies & Lee 
Ford & Sheen 
De Lclo Ballet 
BIRMINGHAM 
Hippodrome (M) 24 
Max Wall 
Beryl Reid 
Hedley Ward 3 

1 Moreton & D 
Kaye 

5 Spcedmacs 
P & P Page ■ 

Jean Paul 
Sherman Fisher 
Girls 

BRADFORD 
.Alhambra <M) 24 
Donald Peers 
McDonald & 

Graham 
S & P Kaye 
El Granadas Sc 
Peter 
Saveen 

2 Virginians 
Jackie 

Donald B Stuart 
BRIGHTON 
Hippodrome (M) 24 
Clayton & Ward 
Nat Jacklcy Co 
Rosinas 
Hutch 

G & A Doonan 
4 Aces 

Musical Elliotts 
BRISTOL 
Empire (I) 24 
Tony Dalton 
Billy Fennell 
Jock Glen 
Leonard Astor 
Eric Coverdale 
Malcolm Bailey 
C Peace 
Pat Benson 
Military Ladies 
Los Mongadors 
BRIXTON 
Empress (I) 24 
John Calvert Rev 
CARDIFF 
New (S) 24 
Winifield Atwell 
Jack Jackson 
Fayne & Evans 
Jimmy Wheeler . 
Monarch Bros 
T & G Durant 
Peter Raynor 
R & M Lamar 
CHELSEA 
Palace (I) 24 
Stargazers 
Karen Greer 
Harry Locks 
Benny Hill 
Gold & Cordell 
Eno & Lane 
Toni & Ruby 
Martell Sis 

EAST... HAM. 
Granada "<Tj iX 
Tovarlch Tp 
Eva Sc Lillian 
Irving Kaye 
Granger Bros 
Vicky Fitzpatrick 
Foster Sc Clarke 
Metropolitan (I) 24 
Semprini 
Harry Locke 
P Nicholls Sc B 
Merrin 

Morecambe Sc Wise 
Patrick O’Hagan 
Babu Co 
Nicol & Kemble 
Tci’ry Doonan & 

J oan 

Palace <l) 24 
George Cameron 
Don Saunders 
Joyce Randall 
Leslie Noyes 
Ted Gilbert 
Mary Harkncss 
Vera Cody 
Billy Ryan 
Showboat Lovlles 
FINSBURY PARK 
Empire (M) 24 
Norman Evans 
Betty Jumel 
Canfield Smith 
Maple Leaf 4 
V & J Crastonian 
Bll 6c BU 


GLASGOW 
Empire (M) 24 
Williams & Shand 
Deep River Boys 
F Dowie Sc C Kane 
Nitwits 

Agnette & Silvio 
Ron Carver 

GRIMSBY 
Palace (I) 24 
Sandy Lane 
Merry Martins 
Valentine Napier 
Benedere Bros 
A1 Brandon 
8 Girls 

Patricia Joyce 
Sonny Lane ■ 
HACKNEY 
Empire (S) 24 
Hal Monty 
Stephane Grappelly 
Yorke se Souza 
Wilson Keppel Sc 
Betty 

Maria Perllli 
Hackford Sc Doyle 
Krista Sc Kristel 
Richard Sis 

LEEDS 

Empire (M> 24 
Lee Young Sc 
Annette 
Gladys Morgan 
Les Ricards 
Billy Russell 
Lester Sharpe 6c 
Iris 
5 Skyllners 
Sisto Co 
Clifford Stanton 
Charles Warren & 
Jean 
Max Geldray 

LEICESTER 
Palace (S) 24 
Max Miller 
Mundy & Earle 
Moxham Bros Sc N 
Carol 

Martin Crosbie & 
Thelma 
3 Karloffs 
Roy Stevens 
Linda & Lana 

’ MANCHESTER 
Hippodrome (S) 24 
Harry, Roy Bd. 
Alfred Maries 
Ortons 

D 6c L Feronl 
L Paek & T, Trent 
Jimmy Scott’ 

Merle & Marie 
NORWICH 
, Hippodrome (I) . 24 
Jack Lewis 
Dpwkcs 6c Rose 
PORTSMOUTH 
Royal (M> 24 
Eddie Lee 
Len Young 
8 Jills 

yogeibejins. ..Bears. . 
Jose Moreno Co 
Harry Benet - 
SHEPHERDS BUSH 
Empire <S) 24 
Harry Secombc 
Morton Fraser Co 
Iris Sadler 
S Robin 6c D Scott 
Finlay Bros 
Mereaux 6c Lilians 
Allen 6c Lee 
Duarte Sis 6c 
Anton 

SUNDERLAND 
Empire (M) 24 
Carroll Levis Co 
Violet Pretty 
Teenagers 
Bogino 3 

WOLVERHAMPTON 
Hippodrome (1) 24 
Billy Whittaker 
Miml Law 

WOOD GREEN 
Empire (S) 24 
Tanner Sis 
Jack Watson 
Tommy Godfrey Sc 
Dee 

R 6c C Wlnat 
Original Peter 
Chris Sands 
Mary Meredith 
Cooper Twins 
Leslie Roberts 
Girls 


Blrdlone 
Slim Gaillard 
Blue Angel 
Alice Ghostley 
Charlotte Rae 
Annette Warren 
Ellis Larkin 3 
Bart Howard 
Bon Soir 
Jimmie Daniels 
Mndmoisellcs 
Tony Sc Eddie 
Norenc Tate 
Garland Wilson 
M,ac Barnes 
Cafe Society Dntwn 
Virginia O’Brien 
Cy Cole mail 
Celebrity Club 
Alan Gale 
Freddie Stewart 
Haydocks 

Copacabana 
Jackie Miles 
Paul Sydell 
De Marios 
M Dnrso Oro 
Ray Steele 
Milt Page 
Chateau Madrid 
Los Panchos 
Chez Zizi 
L6cE Roberts 
Blaekie Jordan 
Joan Kayne 
Embers 

Barbara Carroll 
French Casino 
Frank Sinatra * 
Ginette Wander 
Jane Laste 
Laura . Tunisl 
Dominique 
Rudy Cardenas 
Vincent Travers 

Hotel Ambassador 
Jules Lande Ore 
Hotel Astor 
Three Suns 

Hotel Biltmoro 
Michael K’ent Or* 

Hotel Edison 
Henry Jerome Ore 
Hotel New- Yorker 
Teddy Powell 'Ore 
Sid Krofft. 

Joan Walden 
Bobby Blake 
Collin 6c Leemans 
Adrian Rollim trio 
Hotel Pierro 
Margaret Phelan 
Stanley Melba Oro 
Chico Relli Ore 
Hotel Plaza 
Mindy Carson 
Dick La Salle Ore 
Continentals 

Hotel Roosevelt 
Guy Lombardo Ore 
Hotel St. Regis 
Fernanda Montel 
Milt Shaw Ore 
Horace Diaz Ore 
Hotel Statler 
Woody Herman Ore 
Village Barn 
Zeb Carver 
Ted Huston Ore 
Miles Bell 


George Zak 
Boulcvar-deara (6) 
Frankie Alasters O 
Edge water Beech 
Tyrolean Singers 
(14) 

Piero Bros (2) 
Griff Williams Ore 
D Hild Dcrs (10 1 
Palmer House 
Joe E. Howard 
Leo de Lyon 
Lulu Bates 


Bambl Linn Sc Rod 
Alexander 
Susanne 6c 
McCaffrey 
Bob de Voye Se 
Betty Lorraine 
Earl Barton 
Tom Horgan St 
. Patricia Manning 

Abbott Dcrs (6) 
Trio Bassl 
N Brandwynne Ore 


LOS ANGELES 


Penny Copper 
Patricia 6c Norton 
Waldorf-Astoi la 
Victor Barge 
Alex Alstonc Ore 
Misrha Burr Ore 
Hotel Warwick 
Harold Sandier Ore 
Hotel Sherry 
Netherland 
Helene Francois 
Hugo Pedell Ore 
Hotel Taft 
Vincent Lopez Ore 
Latin Quarter 
Murphy Sisters 
Audrey Sperling 
Paul White 
Plroska 
Caroli Bros 
Marcel Lcbon 
Dagenham Pipers 
Warren. Latona Se 
Sparks 
Patricia Rhodes 
Pat Adair 
Art Waner Ore 
La Vie en Rose 
Phil Moore's Flock 
Van Smith 3 
El Chico 
Rosita Bros 
DeLeon 6c Graciella 
C Sc G Galvan 
Alvardo de la Cruz 
Carlos Camacho 
Leon A Eddie's 
Eddie Davis 
Bobby Ramsen 
Argo 6c Fay 
Paul Judson 
Midge Minor 
Helen Curtis 
Art Waner Ore 
Oliver Dcrs 
No. 1 Fifth Ave 
Nancy Andrews 
Bud McCreery 
Bob Downey 
Harold Fonvllle 
Hazel Webster 

Old Ktwnrnniai? 
Sadie Banks 
Sonny Sands 
Carolyn Carpenter 
Larry Marvin 
Joe LaPorte Oro 
D'Aquila Ore 
Park Sheraton 
Irving Fields 
Town A Country 
Ernestine Mercer 
Cece Blake 
Johnny Morris Ore 
La Plaza 6 

Two Guitars 
Sigl Ahern 
Eli Spivak 
Misha Usdanoff 
Kostya Poliansky 
Versailles 
Edith Pia£ 

Emile Petti Oro 
Panchito Ore 
Village Vanguard 
Robert Clary 
Sylvia Syms 
Charlotte Rae 
Clarence William 
Wivel 
Sal Noble 
Bob Lee 


Ambassador Hotel 

Benny Fields 
Blossom Seeley 
Eddie Bergman Ore 

Bar of Music 

Arthur Blake 
Fay De Witt 
Bill Hoffman 
Benno Rubinyl 
Eddie Bradford Ore 
B Gray's Bandbox 
Billy Gray 
.Patti Moore 
Ben Lessy 
Larry Greene Trio 
Biltmore Hotel 
Modernaires (5) 


Frakson 
The Glenns 
Hal Derwin Ore 
Cafe Gala 
Jimmy Ames 
Jean Arnold 
Don Sheffey 
Ciro'S 
Amru Sani 
The Ashtons (7) 
Dick Stabile Ore 
Bobby Ramos Ore 
Mocambo 
Joel Grey 
Darvas & Julia 
Eddie Oliver Ore 
Martinique Ore 


LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 


FLAMINGO 

“Stars In Youi; 

Eyes" 

Bobby Van 
Alan' King 
Barbara Ruick 
Skylarks 

Flamingo. Starlets 
Torris Brand Ore 
Bobby Page Ore 
Desert Inn 
Frankie Laine 
Paul Gray 
Tommy Wonder Sc 

Margaret Banks 
Carl Fischer 
Don Reynolds 
Arden Dangers 
Carlton Hayes Ore 
Last Frontier 
Phil Spitalny 
Hour of Charm 
Evelyn 

El Rancho Vegas 
“Windmill Revue" 
Joanne Gilbert 
Doodles 6c Skeeter 
Carmen D'Antonlo 
Allan 6c Ashton 
El Rancho Girls 
Ted Flo Rito Ore 
Thunderbird 
Tennessee Ernie 


Sans Souct 
Celia Cruz 
Marta Dominguez 
Fernandez Valencia 
Tondelayo 
Roland Gerbeau 
Nancy 6c Rudy 
Sans Souci Corps 
de Ballet 
Troplcana 
Amparo Garrido 


Irene Ryan 
Kathryn Duffy 
Dansations 
Christina Carson 
A1 Jahns Ore 
Jack Martin Five 
Normandie Boys 
Gamclan Ore 
Sahara 

Busier Keaton 
Day> Dawn Sc Dust 
Dolinoffs 6c Raya 
Sisters 
Gene Nash 
Sa-Harem Dancers 
Cee Davidson Ore 
El Cortez 
4 Knights 
Hector Sc Pals 
Fulton Burley 
Dave Rodgers Ore 
Silver Slipper 
Hank Henry 
Woo Woo Stevens 
Beau Jesters 
Hollywood Cover 
Girls 

Russ Clark 



Clviqulta & Johnson I Ray Carson 


MIAMI-M1AMI BEACH 


Allison Hotel 

Beachcombers <4) 
Julio 6c Mae 
Casablanca Hotel 
Hal Winter 
Candy Stevens 
Julio Torres Ore 
Clover Club 
Nov-Elites (3) 

Peggy Greer 
Barbara Drake 
S Marlowe Line 
Tony Lopez Ore 
Cork Club 
Jo Thompson 
Richard Cannon 
Delmonico 
Allan French 
Crayton 6c Lopez 
Carlos & MeUsa Ore 
■ Frolic Cluh' 
Katttie McCoy 
Don Charles Ore 
. . Harem Club' 
Jimmy Dayi 
RustV Marsh 
Flash Lane 
Camile Stevens 

•• 

- Lombardy ,r 
Don Baker Ore 
Heftry Taylor 
Julio Sc Mae 
Martinique Hotel 
Manolo Sc Ethel 
Danny Yates Oro 
Rose & Paul 
Vincents 
Monte Carlo 

Count -Smith ... 

Day 6c Alva 

Music Box 
Belle Barth 
Music Box Trio 
Malayan Lounge 
Elaine Brent 
Calypsoans 

Nautilus Hotel 
Gracie Barrie 
Bobby Breen 
Sid Stanley Ore 
Rendezvous 
Fats Noel Ore 
Clillon Hayes 
San Marino Hotel 
Phil Brito 
Avne Barnett (3) 
Gaiety Club 
Mary Mack 
Fay Mitchell 
Blue Drake 
Marie Stowe 


Gaiety Girls 
Bob Morris Ore 
Johnina Hotel 
Berri Blair 
Jack Murphy 
Tony Matas 
Randum 

Leon A Eddie's 
Babe Baker Revue 
Patti Lane 
Bill Gray 
Kitty O'Kelly 
Jackie King 
Sans Souci Hotel 
Shine & Stone 
Eddie Snyder 
Sacasas Ore 
Ann Herman Dcrs 
Saxony Hotel 
Bobby Escoto 
Val Olman Ore 
Tano 6c Dee 
Saxonettcs 

Shore ‘Club - 
Rosalie Sc Stevp 
Caney Ore * 

Shoremede ’ 
Preacher 'Rollo S 
.Harbor Club 
Joe Mooney 
Helene .Rivolre 
Paddock Club 
Wally Nash 
H. S. Gump 
Miss Memphis 
Peggy Saunders 
Ernie Bell Ore 
Flo Parker 
Patty Lee 

Mac Fadden 

Quiv.lUe. 

Vocations 3 
Buddy Lewis Trio 
Sorrento 
Jack Kerr 
Charles & Samara 
Marc Kahil 
Alan Kolc Ore 
El Mambo 
Bobby JBscoto Ore 
Nino Yacovlno 
Lina Diaz 
Estela 

Litico 6c Mario 
Mambalettes 
Luis 6c Leonor 
3 O'clock Club 
Martha Raye 
Milt Ross 
Ted Wills 4 
Len Dawson Ore 
Versailles Hotel 
Nino Rinaldi 3 


Jack Carson Show 

(CASINO, TORONTO) 

Toronto, Nov. 21. 
Jack Carson , Connie Towers , 
Mayo Bros. (2), Pansy the Horse 
(3), Archie Stone House Orch; 
“One Big Affair” ( UA ). 

Trying out a new unit here, 
jovial Jack Carson- again proves 
he’s even a better comedian on 
stage than on screen. Free of film 
code restrictions, the bluff boy is 
plenty bawdy but never in bad 
taste, a differentiation that points 
up his expert showmanship and 
never gives offenses. This is par- 
ticularly evident in the reaction of 
femme customers of all ages. 

While the bobbysoxers screech 
with delight at the polite innu- 
endo, the matrons seem to take 
the chuckling attitude that Car- 
son, while he deserves to be 
scolded, is just a healthy hunk of 
masculinity. The fact that he has 
the naive but luscious Connie 
Towers as target for his wolf ap- 
proaches is a vis-a-vis masterpiece. 
This is Miss .Towers’ first vaude 
appearance. ‘ 

With breezy patter material and 
parody lyrics by Carson and Roy 
Chamberlin, latter onstage piano 
accompanist, the 68-minutes pack- 
age is manifestly Carson’s stint, 
with customers unable to get 
enough of him when show was 
caught. He's doing five strenuous 
shows a day and the weekend 
lineups were lengthy for big biz. 

(Troupe planed in here from 
Coast for only a day’s rehearsal 
and whipping together, but no 
Jimmy Cavanaugh hitches at opener. Frank Stempel. 

Carson's manager, also along and 
George* Redman Ore oka y after a hospital bout.) . 

Carson opens in full-stage blue 
HAVANA and golden drapes as self-an- 

nounced m.c. and then into buoy- 
R M. g _ ue 3,,A?- ee V Ortiz ant Hollywood . chatter in which 

he deplores his lack of love-mak- 
ing success. This segues into Jiis 
singing of “Why I Lose Out With 
the Ladies” and then into neat 
spoof imitations of the Gable, 
Cooper and Colman techniques, 
plus a devasting takeoff on how 
an Englishman pitches woo, this 
via British pix procedure. 

Bearing much of the brunt in 
this mayhem is Miss Towers, but 
she is given plenty opportunity to 
show she can sing, with the stage 
to herself. Lucious blonde, with 
. , , , . „ „ , „ .. two stunning costume changes, is 

but* noted that Kramer drastically on for bouncy “Lave,” a nice torch 
shook up his film-making program treatment of “The Boy Next Door” 
to make possible his fullest per- and a smash “Old Devil Moon.” 
sonal undivided effort on ‘The latter for ovation begoff. That 
Caine Mutiny’.” Kramer, it said, operatic training is evident on 
will devote the bulk of his own range and holding of high notes 
efforts to “Mutiny” in ?953. but, despite her first vaude ap- 
“Cyclists Raid,” for which Marlon pearance, she proves that she can 
Brando has been pacted, will go the pops, plus her looks and 
before the cameras before “Mu- ch lc wardTobing.^ 
tiny,” but a third and possibly a . Mayo Bros., always faves here, 
fourth picture has not yet been “JXlf difficulty getting over big 
Hpfprminprt with their swift concerto tapping 

determined. . . . .. °n platform, clever challenges. 

It was emphatically denied both soft-shoe routines and dramatic 
in N. Y. and on the Coast that there split finale. Pansv the Horse ( 3 ) 
was agreement to end the Kramer also registers high, with switch 
deal With the conclusion of “Mu- being the emerging of the front 
tiny,” which will be about June, half as a nicely-stacked blonde in 
1953. Another reason for issuing black briefies. Whole unit is a 
a statement concerning Kramer’s nice deal, with Carson tops 
future plans was to dispel rumors throughout. McStay . 

that the producer was going to 

RKO or that he was contemplating Pnll Moor© & His Flock 
any other deals. . (LA VIE EN ROSE, N. Y.) 

According to the terms of presentation with 

Kramer’s pact, a termination of his n ®» Dottte Saulters, 

agreement with Col could only be Bunny Briggs, Joya Sherrill, Dol- 

on the basis of mutual consent at Boh nniStJ’ \n?JS Qe J^ c ^ ory 
.‘he and of the initial three-year Jacfcie Draois. Lyrics. muSTlmi 

? a r 19 'cf oor % fa&r* l! ' rics - 

l° iee J ear ;? prn *. ^ act Sydney Shaw , Matt Duby ; c/ioreog- 
covered , a program of 30 pix over raphy, Shaw; costumes, Maxine 
a five-year stanza. Future relations Barrat; $5 
betweep Kramer and Col will be 
taken up in March, 1954, when the Ever since Monte Proser en- 
first three-year period ends. tered the N. Y. cafe scene back 

New production plans brought * n *h e Beachcomber 'days, lie’s al- 
about the shelving of “Circle of wa ys been one to experiment with 
Fire,” which Kramer disclosed was , 1( l nt ai i? Afferent entertain- 

due to the illness of director Irving }P tp . oduce d inany 

Reis. Pic was to have started next *J usmess al ? d . has 

month with ftiSrn 'Stimwk in |n| a 

the role originally slated for Mary ? A-TF'SV. > ntlmate wvues. 
Pickford 


Ana Gloria Sc 
Rolando 

Troplcana Chorus 
Montmartre 
Pedro Vargas . 

F Bergaza Sc J 
Bruno Tarraza 
Fina de Villa 6s 
Angel 

Serenata Espanola 


Kramer Loses 

Continued from page 3 


names that are recognized along 
the various after-dark looks. 

The Flock is a comparatively 
large group for the confines of La 
Vie en Rose. The eight boys and 
girls plus Moore and a pair of 
musicians are somewhat crowded 
in this room. The music is de- 
signed for a larger space where 
the kids can throw off the inhibit 
tions of this v small area and reallv 
give out. Once they get the full 
feel of this room, the inherent 
charm would be more discernible. 

Moore has done a generally ex- 
cellent job in batting out the 
tunes and lyrics with assists from 
Sydney Shaw and Matt Duby 
There’s a lift to the music and 
cleverness in the lyrics. Miss 
Saulters gets her big chance in 
“The Big Bad Wolf’s Afraid of 
Me.” Joya Sherrill does well with 
“It’s a Rainy Day” and Margee 
McGlory hits it off with “Smart 
Time, Part Time Maid.” Each of 
these girls exhibit a strong streak 
of comedy. 

Dolores Harper shows skill at 
song and dance and Bob Bailey is 
the lone male that makes with the 
voice. He does well with a ballad. 
The major dance skill is by Bunny 
Briggs, a boy who has played the 
major theatres. He’s a fast work- 
er and had he the opportunity to 
let out into space, he’d be tre- 
mendous here. 

Each of the performers in this 
revue isn’t limited to any particu- 
lar specialty. There are no stars 
and no chorus. They’re all there 
when any particular chore needs 
to be done. The girls can do any- 
thing from incidental dance steps 
to choral backgrounds Exceptions 
are Vivian Cervantes, who merely 
looks pretty, and Jackie Danois, 
who has little to do. Moore works 
affably as emcee and at the head 
of the music trio. 

The show is such that it can be 
worked in either intimate or 
large rooms. There would have to 
be some restaging for other spots, 
but the elements of fine enter- 
tainment are there. 

Maxine Barrat (ex-Loper &) 
did the costumes, which add to the 
general smartness of the display. 

Jose . 


Broadway Assn. 


Continued from page 2 


CHICAGO 


Choc Fare* 
Sophie Tucker 
Ted Shapiro 
Harry Mini mo 
Sonny King 
Johnny Martin 
Chez Adorables (8) 
Brian Farnon Ore 
Conrad Hilton Hot' I 
Adelo Inge 


Eric Waite 
Diana Grafton 
Charles 6c Lucille 
Cavanaugh 
Dennis 6c Darlene 
Lillian Byers 
Yvonne Broder 
t’hillp Fraser 
Terry Taylor 
Donald Tobin 


Lately, Proser has come to rec- 
ognize that here’s a lot of latent 
talent in'Phil Moore, a gifted Ne- 

Navy Nixes Latest pia 5rJ wh0 

* , shown his creative ability via his 

Version of Came lon 8 association as arranger for 

Washington Nov t ena Horne and who helped put 

rvu tvt* W , * ngton ’ . • 25 ‘ Dorothy Dandridge into tile big- 
The Navy last week nixed the time. Proser has commissioned 

latest proposed treatment of Moore to do a wholesale develop- 

“Caine Mutiny” submitted by ment job on several talented 

Stanley Kramer. Door was left youngsters through the medium of 

open, however, with the Navy sug- a n Intimate cafe revue, 
gesting a number of desired story With Phil Moore 8c His Flock 
changes and spokesmen for Kram- there is presented an intimate and 
er indicating that a new treatment frequently charming riitery ses- 
will be offered. sion that, once smoothed out, 

Kramer has boon trvinu ni«ov s ! lould mak « its mark in the cafe 

with X N«w se c i rcuits - Moore h#s written « lot 

W n the Nav> foi over a year. If of good - music interpreted bv 

t0 S iS U T e Pe ?~ soma youthful and exuberant 
ap P r ^ v ?^ he would have to players. Most of the personnel 
make the picture without Navy co- have done duty as singles. Dottie 
operation, which would add con- Saulters, Joya Sherrill, Margee 
siderably to the cost. McGlory and Bunny Briggs are 


introduction of Jai-Leta who does a 
Mae West impersonation (vocally!. 

The line girls, six displays and 
an equal number of ponies, are 
wearing costumes that saw their 
palmiest days at the nearby Latin 
Quarter. They are not as effective 
here as they were in the cafe. In 
the first place, the nitery gave 
these rags some terrific lighting, 
and more important, some sensa- 
tional frames upon which they 
were draped. Again, the club is 
more intimate, so that the combina- 
tion of costume and girl were more 
appealing. 

And as for line production, it 
seems that Carlyle's artistic excur- 
sions are diminishing. Doing a 
change of show and production 
weekly on a minimal production 
nut can be discouraging to the in- 
clusion of new ideas. The linework 
has now achieved the “A Pretty 
Girl Is Like a Melody” status, 
which was standard for the- old 
burley course. 

The acts have been around and 
are nearly in the standard category. 
However, the surroundings are 
such that they cannot look their 
best here. Vet Eddie Rector, a Ne- 
gro hoofer, does comparatively 
well, as do Geraldine & Joe (the 
original Geraldine has been with 
Ted Lewis for more than a decade*, 
and singer Jimmy Barry. 

Under these conditions, it seems 
that” producer'Rose "has~w "probiem. • 
The shows there have apparently 
reached the state where Rose must 
deliver something that Minskyites 
have been missing since the late 
Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia put 
the burlesqueries out of business, 
or abandon this policy. How long 
can the suffering burlesque patron 
hit this house and not get that 
which is the implied promise on 
the sexed-up exterior of the house? 

* The problem, of course, is wheth- 
er the city authorities, the Broad- 
way Assn., church groups and 
the License Commissioner’s office 
would permit the burley bac- 
chanales to take place again. 

The situation there has reached 
that point and unless Hose delivers 
something more than the present 
show, the burlesque patron w dl 
have to start going back to the 
Hudson, Union City, N. J. — if kc 
hasn’t done so already. Jose, 


^Wednesday, November 26, 1952 

Paramount* IV. Y* 

Aft Mooney Orch ( 1J ) * with 
nahv Ryan, At Foster; Condos & 
Brandow, Joc!q B fnflrj*; Ton» 

~ r( j tn ,. “The Iron Mistress ( WB ), 
Variety Oct. 22, ’52. 


pj&RE&fr 


HOUSE REVIEWS 


55 


Brandow 

' ’ n; ‘i 

wed 

ci a ce bill currently at the Para- 

? comprises a medley of 
standard turns who deliver a solid 
In minute entertainment package. 
TheTc are no gambles in this lay- 
T .\ e since all of the acts have 
played this house before with 

Cl Toni e Arden, Columbia Records 
„Hist who has been turning out 
consistently good platters al- 
though failing as yet to come up 
3a smash, is a sock performer 
slace Thrush has pipes with 
Snus ua! range and displays plenty 
nf savvy in selling her repertoire 
of current pops and standards. . 

Miss Arden is equally adept on 
rhvthm tunes and sentimental bal- 
scoring strongly with a half- 
dozen numbers, Including "After 
You "e Gone,” “I Cried For You,” 
I lovely rendition of "Because 
Vou’re Mine” and a reprise of her 
platter bestseller, "Come Back To 

°in Cn the comedy slot. Jack E. 
T eonard is another surefire entry. 
Pachydermic comic, as usual, ex- 
ploits his heft for laughs and has 
a gag-laden line of chatter which 
wins the big yocks. One drawback 
is his tendency to break up over 
his own snappers. It s slightly 
He winds up strongly 


long-legged entrance. His . clown- 
ing gets yaks throughout, though 
his takeoff on a theatre stubholder 
impresses as overlong. Comic a 
master of the raised eyebrow and 
the double-entendre, and there's 
much pf each in all his gags. His 
double-jointed terping and prat- 
falls „ ai ‘ e genuinely rib-tickling, 
though its his harmonica swallow- 
lng routine that gets the galleries. 
Walks off to a hefty mitt and is 
coaxed back for more. 

Meyland’s juggling feats atop a 
giant-sized unicycle, sans handle- 
bars, makes a dazzling curtain rais- 
ser. Femme assistant helps with 
sopie comic touches and in the 
usual prop chores, but it’s Mey- 
land’s technique that rates the 
rousing reaction. He does all the 
tricks of the juggling trade, using 
hands, mouth, and one foot simul- 
taneously, and on a wheel to boot. 

Lowe. 


Chicago* Chi 

Chicago, Nov, 21. 
Nat (King) Cole & Trio, Her- 
bert & Saxon , Nancy Evans, Teddy 
Hale, Louis Basil Orch; “ Prisoner 
of Z enda.” (M-G). 


a conventional musical aggrega- 
tion whose work is more suited to 
cocktaileries than to theatres. 
Group comprises bass, guitar and 
accordion. Musical and vocal ar- 
rangements read like stocks. The 
audience is polite. 


McCarthy 


Continued from page 5 


Empire* Glasgow 

Glasgow, Nov. 18. 
Bernard Delfont presents “ Tele- 
vision Highlights,” with Betty 
Driver (Alan Kitson at piano). 
Tommy Cooper, Harry Worth,' 
Ganjou Bros. & Juanita (4), 
George Martin, Petersen Bros. 
(2); Kenny Baker,- . with Carol 
Newton ( Stan Tracy • at piano); 
Mereaux & Liliane, Floyd & B'nay, 
Bobby Dowds Orch. 


with his familiar Jitterbug hoof- 
ing stint, although he’s not giving 
out as strenuously as he has m 

th Cond & os & Brandow also click 
with their versatile terping, sing- 
,„d instrumental bits. Both 
lads are polished tapsters, working 
in- unison and solo challenge rou- 
tines. Their vocal-trumpet takeoff 
on Louis Armstrong is first-rate 
and their pianistic display in ac- 
comping each other’s hoofing hits 
home with thq customers for a 

begoff hand. , . 

Art Mooney’s orch is another 
judiciously selected turn since the 
band is currently riding with an 
M-G-M Records hit, “Lazy River. 
Band vocalist Cathy Lewis han- 
dles the lyric in appealing style 
while male singer A1 Foster does 
nicely on “Glow Worm” for. a 
well rounded band routine. Herm. 

Capitol* Wash. 

Washington, Nov. 23. 
■Lanny Ross, Beachcombers (4), 
Gil Lamb, Meylaiid & Jeanet; 
"Night Without Sleep' 1 <20th). 

Rainy spell and- pre-holiday lull 
are making this a dull week for 
the Loew showcase.. And yet, Din 
is so far above recent lineups here 
that payees should be beating a 
path to the F St. house. With each 
of the four acts chalking up near- 
’ showstopping response, general 

effect is sock. , , , , 

Headliner Lanny Ross, slottea 
fourth, starts slowly. But singer s 
easy style and sound set of pipes 
win him plenty mitt action by 
time he walks off. Sticks to the 
romantic tunes with which he is 
associated, and makes pleasant lis- 
tening as he warbles “Falling in 
Love,” combo of “Wish You Were 
Here” and “Along the Avenue,” 
and “Sorrento” in Italian. 

Ross hits the high, in reaction 
when he returns with a novel pre- 
sentation of “Getting to . Know 
You,” acting out his words via a 
portable mike and strolling off- 
stage to the front rows. This is a 
hep stunt and adds color to an 
otherwise straight and conventional 
style. 

Top click are the Beachcombers, 
who have a far more polished and 
faster act than the one which 
brought them out in their early 
“Talent Scouts” days. - Troupe of 
three ex-GIs and slant-eyed femme 
partner is shaping as one of best 
singing combos. Arrangements for 
four numbers they do are novel 
and well tailored to their special 
abilities. 

Act gets off to solid start mere- 
ly by dliit" "of "looking ' good,' with 
the boys in business suits, in sharp 
contrast to their partner’s form- 
fitting, sexy gown. They bounce 
around stage in almost precision 
fashion, exhibiting top-drawer 
teamwork. Work lias plenty of 
color, style and zip, and rates the 
showstopping reception rit garners, 
"ace is well varied by side busi- 
es and variety of tunes. Tee off 
with “Hallelujah,” then salute 
their patron, Arthur Godfrey, with 
Too Fat Polka.” Delight with a 
properly sentimental, subdued ver- 
sion of “Young Lovers”, with Nata- 
lie carrying the ball in this one 
and the boys harmonizing in back- 
Kj’ound. Wrap it up with a new 
ti’eatnient of one of their earliest 
clicks, “Hawaiian War Chant.” 
ihey beg off after numerous call- 
backs. 

Comic Gil Lamb, in his first 
vaude stint here, gets laughs from 
,ne start with his loose-limbed, 


Vaude stanza featuring perform- 
ers from British video reaches 
fairly good standard, though more 
could be made in presentation of 
the TV kimmick. Show is merely 
a gather-up of acts who have 
made orthicon appearances. 

Standout in comedy is Tommy 
Cooper, a tall, madcap of a magi- 
cian from the TV show, “It’s 
Magic.” He does a large variety, of 
tricks, blundering deliberately 
through most of ’em, doing others 
deftly, and covering up his errors 
purposely for strong comedy ef- 
fect. Has a madly infectious laugh, 
playing the mad magico to top ef- 
fect. Closing the bill, he’s a solid 
clicko, and sends the stubholders 
out in happy frame of mind. 

Betty Driver, British thrush and 
comedienne, offers a vivacious act 
of pop numbers and comedy. Gal 
has much personality, though she 
could improve act considerably by 
not moving her head in so nervous 
and erratic a fashion. She closes 
by bringing on a diminutive white 
French poodle and warbling along 
with it, to delight of audience 
Then she takes curtain call with 
two other pooches, still holding the 
tiny one in her arms. Canine 
twist makes a most useful, appeal- 
ing gimmick. Alan Kitson handles 
the ivories for Miss Driver, who 
still speaks in her broad, native 
Lancashire accent. 

Vent act of much promise is 
provided by Harry Worth, wiio’s 
worth watching. He opens by 
gingerly walking on and aping 
nervousness before the mike, pos- 
ing as a performer minus cues. 
His ventriloquism is novel and of 
good standard, with unusual 
comedy twist. 

Grace and beauty in adagio 
dancing come from the Ganjou 
Bros. (3) & Juanita, three husky 
strong-armed males who toss 
dainty gal about the stage with 
great daring and much rhythmic 
attractiveness. All four w r ear white 
period wigs and are gracefully 
costumed in blue. 

George Martin, young and 
steady-eyed performer, and a re- 
cent hit on British TV, has super- 
confidence in demeanor, bu 
doesn’t offer much by way of rea 
entertainment. He is garbed casu- 
ally in thin sports slacks and silk 
shirt, smokes a pipe, and brings 
on an ordinary wooden chair as 
prop, against which he leans 
throughout act until closing at the 
piano. For most of 12-minute act, 
comedian indulges in simple 
everyday conversation with stub- 
holders, talking quietly and confi- 
dentally in a “Have You Noticed?” 
manner. At times his jokes take 
on a blue tinge. He overdoes on 
the informality somewhat and of- 
fers little except .straightforward 

patter! ’ " 

Petersen Bros, are two swarthy 
lads from South Africa w'ho en- 
tertain musically and in modern 
song routine, while another musi- 
cal act is trumpeter Kenny Baker, 
scoring in “Carnival of Venice. 
Latter has youthful Carol Newton 
for chirper and Stan Tracy at the 

ivories. . 

Mereaux & Liliane are a, male 
and femme duo who balance well 
and use a springboard for the 
male’s somersaults in nnd-air 
above heads of three to eight 
stubholders coaxed, at show 
caught, with difficulty onstage. 
This part of act demands strong 
audience participation, which 
wasn’t easily forthcoming. 

Flovd & B’nay are male and 
femme terp owners, j Kith varied- 
routines, dancing t0 Rcthtr uit!i 
slickness. Show is backed by the 
gobby Dowds Empire hou Gord^ 


This should be a pleasant two 
weeks for the boxoffice with Nat 
(King) Cole more than upholding 
| his end of the draw on the stage, 
i Rest of the bill is also good and 
not too familiar, making for a re- 
freshing stanza all around. 

Cole, who is riding high with 
several records, is capitalizing on 
he platters by just using those 
tunes, which is what the aud wants. 
And, with the exception of “Route 
66,” it’s all the recent bests. Drop- 
ping “Because of You,” which reg- 
isters weakest, and replacing with 
one of the oldies of several years 
back, might be a better choice, or 
perhaps the inclusion of a straight 
instrumental number by his trio, 
who do a tremendous backing job. 

Cole gets off to a good start 
with a bouncy “I’m Never Satis- 
fied” and follows with “Because of 
You.” He gets back to the jump 
side with “Walkin’ My Baby Back 
Home” and shows his versatility 
lo score with "Somewhere Along 
the Way.” “That’s My Girl” gets 
the customers’ feet tapping again 
and then earns hefty hand for 
"Faith Can Move Mountains.” 
Group rides “Route 66” for potent 
finale. 

Headliner might work a more 
effective exit between songs than 
going offstage, leaving his trio 
there waiting, as this looks a bit 
contrived and awkward. 

Herbert & Saxon, a quick re- 
placement for Noonan & Marshall, 
are more than an adequate sub- 
stitute. Comics have been polish- 
ing up some of their routines, and 
although slightly blue here and 
there, get some real yocks with 
their material. Bandleading stint; 
while not new, is excellent and 
here Don Saxon displays an ex- 
cellent voice. 

Tim Herbert has a fine sense of 
pantomime, which could be de- 
veloped further in the act. Closer 
of the song and dance men of yes- 
teryear is punchy in its takeoff, 
with Herbert giving it an extra 
charge via eccentric hoofing. 

Nancy Evans does well with the 
pop tunes hut pretty miss hits her 
strongest applause gait when she 
switches to coloratura and light 
operas. Lass does some fancy trill- 
ing on the high notes for fine mitt. 

Teddy Hale starts the bill with 
some brisk tap work, most of it 
without backing of the band. Terp- 
er has an acute sense of rhythm 
and some unusual steps. He does 
some fine slid toe taps and gets 
away strong with his head-over 
running split. 

Zabe. 

Palace* K. V. 

Bobby Day & Babs, Johnny Dee 
Trio, Bob Gentry, Alfred & Le.n- 
ore, Charles u Slim” Timblin (3), 
June Astor, Chaz Chase, Gautier's 
Tally-Ho ; “ Horizons West” (UI), 
reviewed in Variety Sept. 24, '52. 


_ , x . - _ , and McCarthy has been strained 

-Completing the hneup are June f0l . tllc past coup ie of months, 
Astor (New Acts) and Gautiei S laltnr hpiner < nnrpfl ml ntrlv 


Tally-Ho, which is a carbon of 
Arsene Gautier’s Steeplechase ex- 
cept that the act is handled bif a 
boy and girl. It’s a well-construct- 
ed 'turn in which the ponies, dogs 
and monks perform the usual va- 
| riety of tricks. 

The Jo Loqibardi band show- 
backs with its usual competence. 

Jose. 


Apollo, N. V. 

Bette McLaurin, Illinois Jacquet 
Orch (14), George Kirby, Jesse, 
James & Cornell, Apus & Estre- 
lita, Lola & Lita; 

(20th). 


The greater part of the Palace’s 
current talent collection has been 
around the variety and cafe cir- 
cuits. It’s a well-balanced bill, 
even though the stronger section 
is at the lower half, where Chaz 
Chase dominates. Audience recep- 
tion is somewhat restrained at lay- 
out’s start, but they get around to 
the performers’ viewpoints by the 
end of the display and the feeling 
prevails that the aud is well satis- 
fied. 

Chase makes his impact immedi- 
ately with his eating of everything 
in sight. His burlesque strip and 
Russian dance insure his getting 
off to the boff hand of the occa- 
sion. 

Other major comedy act is 
Charles “Slim” Timblin, the vet 
blackface turn, assisted by a boy 
and girl in similar makeup. This 
act has played the Palace several 
times and apparently there’s some- 
thing in its oldtiminess that pleases 
the patronage. There are times 
when Timblin’s remarks are off- 
ba'S'e'*'ifig'0'f ar 'its Negroes" ' are "con-" 
cerned. Fortunately, there aren’t 
enough to make a cause celebre, 
but the fact remains that he 
doesn’t need the small amount that 
he includes. 

Other comedy turn is Art Gen- 
try. a polite funster whose mate- 
rial is well written and projected 
like it should get laughs on its own 
without the help of any comic. It 
didn’t work out that way at session 
caught. There were a few spots 
of heavy breathing and that’s all 

In the dance category are Bobby 
Day & Babs (New Acts) J and Alfred 
& Lenore. Latter is a hardwork- 
ing duo. The boy looks like a pug 
and his footwork is in that cate- 
gory also. But when he whirls his 
partner around, there’s a surplus 
of applause that permits him to 
take a trio of legitimate bows. 
Their routines are standard until 
it comes to the lifts and spins 


Importance of the Apollo’s 
weekly amateur night shindig as a* 
springboard to the bigtime is 
pointed up again this sesh with 
the co-headline slotting of young 
thrush Bette McLaurin. Miss Mc- 
Laurin, an amateur night winner, 
played the house several months 
ago as a supporting turn and has 
come back in her second try to 
the top slot via clicko waxings on 
the indie Derby label. She’s a 
looker with plenty of stage savvy 
and song salesmanship. Her turn 
is a solid pleaser, drawing hefty 
mitt and strong wolfcalls. 

Miss McLaurin’s piping style is 
warm, emotional and effective. She 
tees off briskly with a rhythmic 
interpretation of “Lover Come 
Back to Me’^and then moves into 
sentimental vein with top ballad 
material, “I May Hate Myself in 
the Morning” and “Why Don’t You 
Believe Me.” Encores with current 
disclick, “My Heart Belongs to 
Only You,” for begoff. 

Illinois Jacquet’s crew of three 
rhythm, six brass and five reeds, 
including ttoe maestro, wins house 
approval in a fjower-packed sesh 
with such instrumentals aS 
“Whalin’,” “Port of Rico” and 
“Flyin’ Home,” Jacquet’s sax 
craftsmanship is evident through- 
out. 

Tap trio, Jesse, James & Cor- 
nell, send the bill off to a good 
start with their nifty cl eat work. 
Turn is w'ell organized’ into solo 
chances and unison tapping. It all 
moves at a snappy gait. Apus & 
Estrelita score mildly in comic bit 
built around special song material 
and guy-gal bickering. A pruning 
job, especially in the song depart- 
ment, would help. 

Lola & Lita, slotted in the trey, 
are a standout novelty turn. Male's 
balancing stunts (on elongated 
shoes) are sock and his windup, in 
which he keeps six plates spinning 
simultaneously, is a surefire mitt 
grabber. Femme fills her chore as 
an attractive aide adequately. 

George Kirby wraps up the show 
with his clicko carbons. Brings in 
his mimings via the Arthur God- 
frey “Talent Scouts” route and 
scores big with each etching. His 
Godfrey is a topflight reproduc- 
tion as are his Joe Louis and Wal- 
ter Brennan. Wins biggest response 
for his vocal of Nat (King) Cole, 
A1 Hibbler and Ella Fitzgerald. His 
frenzied version of Johnnie Ray 
moaning “Cry” sends him off 
strong. Gros. 


N Stanley* PUt 

Pittsburgh, Nov. 20. 

Allies Bros. (4), Joey Bishop, 
George Arnold's ice revue with 
June Arnold, Phil Richards, Dru & 
Dijohn, Jimmy Confer, Ice Cu- 
bettes >(4), Ted & Flo Vallett, 
Max Adkins Orch ; “You For Me” 
(M-GL 


WB deluxer’s first experience 
with an ice show isn’t too hot. 
George Arnold has been putting 
on some first-rate little rink re- 
vues at Ankara, a nitery 10 miles 
from downtown, for the last year, 
but the one he’s tossed together 
for the Stanley doesn’t compare 
with any of them. It gives the 
impression of having been hastily] 
assembled ’ and * while Arholif Him- 
self, striking June Arnold and 
Phil Richards are top bladesters, 
unit shows none of them off to 
advantage. 

leer lacks bounce, and with prac- 
tically no production, it’s a pretty 
stagnant 20 minutes or so. Ice 
Cubettes, line of four girls, don’t 
supply much more than a little 
atmosphere and colorless adagio 
team of Dru & Dijohn slows it 
down to a walk. Jimmy Confer, 
vocalist with Baron Elliott’s dance 
band in Pittsburgh, sings a cou- 
ple of accompaniments nicely and 
handles the announcements, but 
the leer just doesn’t hang to- 
together despite some okay fancy 
work on the part Of most of the 
principals. 


with the latter being increasingly 
ignored as Johnston took over op- 
eration of the division. Tipoff of 
impending changes came when 
McCarthy didn’t attend the last 
MPEA board meeting, a fact which 
created considerable comment 
among foreign execs, and John- 
ston took with him on his S. A. 
trip Robert J. Corkery, of the 
MPEA international section, rather 
than McCarthy. 

Division revamp, originating 
with Johnston and not the com- 
, p? ny heads, may herald Johnston’s 
Tampico ” i official return to the foreign field. ' 

When the MPAA prexy returned 
from government service in Janu- 
ary of this year, he announced 
that he would spend more time 
in N. Y. and Hollywood, and also 
that he would concentrate on the 
foreign market. Prexies didn’t go 
for that idea and, at a board meet 
and in p r i.v a t e conversations, 
Johnston Was asked to concern 
himself primarily with pressing 
domestic matters. 

State Dept. Mission 
During the summer, Johnston 
negotiated a new British deal in 
Washington, and then' accepted a 
State Dept, mission „ to South 
America. When the mission 
didn’t jell, Johnston flew to Paris 
for a new French deal and then 
departed for S. A. where he is 
primarily interested in straighten- 
ing out the Brazil and Argentine 
situations. Company execs say 
there has been no report yet on 
his discussions there. . 

While in Europe, Johnston Hold 
MPEA staffers there that there 
would be changes but indicated 
no large-scale reshuffle in person- 
nel. It’s understood that the new 
regional arrangement, already put 
into effect by McCarthy to facili- 
tate administrative functions, 
would see George Canty in charge 
of western Europe; Corkery su- 
pervising South America, with 
Joaquin Rickard, MPEA ficldman 
in S. A., remaining on the job, and 
Irving Maas, presently on a tour 
of the Far East, handling Far 
Eastern territories from N. Y. 
Col. Richard McDonald is believed 
slated to become the MPAA’s 
Tokyo rep. 

Resignation of McCarthy, who 
has negotiated a major number of 
the industry’s foreign deals since 
the war, has been £ subject for 
lively speculation among the dis- 
tribs’ foreign execs. If it material- 
izes. it will undoubtedly be taken 
up by the MPEA board following 
Johnston’s return. McCarthy was 
responsible for the 1951 British 
deal, the current Italian agree- 
ment and a number of profitable 
Scandinavian and other compensa- 
tion deals. He ajso secured unre- 
stricted importation in Germany, 
engineered free remittances from 
Holland, set a new deal with Spain 
legalizing- U. S. imports, and in 
1951 negotiated the French pact, 
which called for unrestricted re- 
mittances. 

While there have been no direct 
conversations between Johnston 
and McCarthy concerning the lat- 
ter’s future place in a revamped 
setup, McCarthy is understood to 
feci .that Johnston’s taking the ini- 
tiative in foreigp dealings and his 
making of policy decisions ordi- 
narily left with the foreign divi- 
sion head leave him in an unten- 
able position. 


He follows Ted & Flo Vallett, who 
open with their always flashy ba- 
ton twirling, which gives layout a 
fast and promising start, and it 
takes Bishop a few minutes to 
warm up. About midway, however, 
sad panned clown, 10 times the 
orracr. joL. .b.is .. nitery jdays. here. . 
a few years ago, establishes com- 
tact with the crowd and has clear 
sailing. A funny guy and keeps get- 
ting funnier. 

Ames Bros, close and mop up. 
At first show of the day, icer was 
bringing down the curtain and that 
must have been murderrrr. This 
way’s much better. Quartet's on a 
little too long, however, and could 
effectively tighterf up. Customers 
couldn’t get enough of them never- 
theless. Just the same, “Look Down 
That Lonesome Road,” “My Favor- 
ite Song,” “Clancy Lowered the 
Boom,” “Because,” “Rag Mop,” 
“Sentimental Me,” “String Along 
With Me,” “Who Built the Ark?” 
and then their string of vocal im- 
pressions of Frankie Laine, Billy 
Eckstine. Nat (King) Cole, Ezio 


Otherwise, show packs plenty of iT> ' •. Johnnie Ray, Mills Bros., 
individual punch although Joey | Monroes and the Ink 

I Bishop's in a tough spot with his Spots are too much. 

The Johnny Dee Trio looks like i quiet comedy coming on so early, t iiiz only so-so. Cohen, 


Sft IJCITIMATK 

Road Mgrs.’ Pool on ‘Shrike,’ ‘Wagon’ 
Paying OR; Bigger Moves Planned 


General sentiment among road-f 
managers is that show biz for them 
has dipped about as far as it can 
go, and that some change,, whatever 
it is to be, will most likely be for 
the good. 

Those road managers who formed 
a pool to finance touring plays to 
offset dark weeks, feel their ex- 
periment has paid off already. 
Current tours of “Paint Your 
Wagon” and “The Shrike” are be- 
ing watched by the trade as tip- 
off to further such investments. 

“The Shrike,” with Van Heflin, 
is doing business, and, perhaps has 
saved the day for the managers’ 
pool created last year to finance 
tours with the specific objective 
of keeping theatres on the road 
lighted. 

Paying Back 

Not only is “The Shrike” paying 
back its investment but, since man- 
agers from St. Louis to Pittsburgh 
are participating, “The Shrike” 
will play these houses on percent- 
age, with the theatres making a 
profit on the date as well. “The 
Shrike” is thus the prime example 
this year of 'the policy back of 
road managers investing in road 
tours. 

“Paint Your Wagon,” on the 
other hand,' has not been a profit- 
able tour so far, but it has actually 
kept certain weeks alight, and 
more to the point, actually gave 
the road manager who invested 
about a break-even figure so far. 
He may not get his investment in 
this, tour back, but the week he 
played the show turned enough 
profit for the' house to .offset this 
likely loss. 

Hoad managers Are now begin- 
ning to- feel that their dabbling on 
the production side of the business 
is far more than the. original ges- 
ture they planned it to be. Great 
interest is focusing on the likeli- 
hood of evolving a regulated pre- 
season plan of production for these 
houses. 

Road managers ^ now realize, 
moreover,- that their investments 
in productions for the road tour 
must be conditional: (a), they must 
choose a sound, cost-wise produc- 
erer to handle their investment; 
(b), they must pick a star of the 
first magnitude, preferably a fe- 
male star; and (c), this star must be 
wedded to a first-class production 
in an attraction exactly suited to 
the performers specific acting 
talent. 

Slavenska-Franklin Co. 

Bow to Crowd N.Y. Dance 
Scene; 3 Groups in Wk. 

With booking of the newly-organ- 
ized Slavenska-Franklin Ballet for 
week of Dec. 8 at the Century The- 
atre, N. Y., Manhattan will have a 
toe-hold on the dance that semes- 
ter. In addition to the S-F troupe, 
the N. Y. City Ballet will still be 
working at City Center, while the 
Jose Limon Co., modern dance 
troupe, will be performing same 
week at Juillard Concert Hall. Com- 
petition may affect all troupes. 

Slavenska-Franklin, company, 
formed last summer, and consisting 
then of about 10 dancers, made a 
strawhat circuit tour and did okay 
biz. Then augmented to 25 dapcers, 
troupe played this fall in big city 
stands mainly, to fair returns. Mia 
Slavenska and Frederick Franklin 
are the star dancers, with Alexan- 
dra Danilova as guest artist. 

Troupe, in its N. Y. debut, will 
offer some familiar dance works, 
suchastheJ^utcrackerSuite^’and 
four premieres. These are Valerie 
Bettis’ adaptation of “Streetcar 
Named Desire,” set to music com- 
posed by Alex North for the film 
version of the w.k. play; Met Opera 
choreographer Zachary Solov’s 
“Mile. Fifi,” created especially for 
Mme. Danilova, with music by The- 
odore Lajarte; Miss Slavenska’s ar- 
rangement of the Cesar Franck 
“Symphonic Variations,” and her 
“Portrait of a Ballerina,” to music 
of Dohnanyi. Otto Frolich will con- 
duct an orch augmented for the 
N. Y. run. 

Charles Green, of Consolidated 
Concerts Corp., is booking the en- 
gagement. Instead of the usual 
four-wall basis on which a N. Y. 
house is taken for a short dance en- 
gagement, the Shuberts (Century 
owners) are participating in the 
run on a percentage, also sharing 
in the ads. 


Orpheum to Be Seattle 
Legiter When Met Folds 

Seattle, Nov. 25. 

With the expected demise in 
1954 of the old Metropolitan Thd-_ 
atre, located in the middle of the 
Olympic Hotel Bldg., availability of 
the Orpheum Theatre (2,600 seats) 
for legit attractions has been an- 
nounced by the John Hamrick The- 
atres management. 

Will J. Connor, exec veepee of 
the Hamrick organization, on a re- 
cent trip to N. Y., saw United Book- 
ing Office officials on the matter. 

House was built by RKO with 
standard stage and modern dress- 
ing rooms, with showers, elevator 
to stage, and all conveniences. Re- 
cently the house was wired for TV. 
New policy would be to use first- 
run pix when not lit up for road 
attractions. 


Current Road Shows 

(Nov. 24-Dec. 0) 


“Anonymous Lover” (Larry 
Parks, Betty Garrett) — Royal 
Alexandra, Toronto (24-29); Grand, 
London, Ont. (1-2); Erltnger, Buf- 
falo (3-6). 

' “Bell, Book and Candle*' (Joan 
Bennett, Zachary Scott) — Or- 
pheum, Kansas City (24-25); KRNT 
Theatre, Des Moines (20); Omaha, 
Omaha (28-29); Davidson, Milwau- 
kee (1-6). 

“Call Me Madam”— Shubert, De- 
troit (24-29); Royal Alexandra,'. 
Toronto (1-0). 

“Constant Wife" (Katharine Cor- 
nell, Robert Flemyng, John Emery) 

—Cass, Detroit (24-20K. 

“Country Girl” (Robert Young, 
Dane Clark, Nancy Kelly) — Ameri- 
can, St. Louis (24-29); Blackstone, 
Chi (30-6). 

i “Don Juan in Hell" (Charles 
Boyer, Vincent Price, Cedric Hard- 
wicke, Agnes Moorehead) — RKO 
Boston, Boston (24-29); Syria 
Mosque, Pitt. (1-4): 

“Fourposter” (Jessica Tandy, 
Hume Cronyn — Blackstone, Chi 
(24-29); Shubert, Detroit (1-6). 

“Gigi” (Audrey Hepburn) — Sel- 
wyn, Chi (24-29); Harris, Chi (1-6). 

Gilbert & Sullivan (American. 
Savoyards) — Ryman Aud., Nash- 
ville (24); Health Educ. Bldg., 
E.I.S.C., Charleston, 111. (25); Hart- 
man, Columbus (29-30). 

Gilbert & Sullivan (Chartock) — 
Shubert, Phila. (24-29); Ford’s 
Baltimore (1-6). 

“Good Nite Ladies” — Majestic, 
Boston (24-29); Metropolitan, Prov- 
idence (1-6). 

“Grey Eyed People” — Shubert, 
New Haven (27-29); Walnut, Phila. 
U-6). 

“Guys and bolls” — Taft Aud., 
Cincinnati (24-29); Murat, Indian- 
apolis (1-6). 

“I Am a Camera” (Julie Harris) 
— Biltmore, L. A. (24-6). 

“I’ve Got Sixpence” (Viveca 
Lindfors, Edmond O’Brien) — Wal- 
nut, Phila. (24-29). 

“Intruder” Eddie. Dowling, Mar- 
garet O’Brien) — Locust, Phila. 
(1-6). 

“Maid • in the Ozarks” (Bert 
Wheeler) — Aud-, Rochester (21- 
22); Nixon, Pitt. (24-29); Hanha, 
Cleveland. (1-6L 

“Mister Roberts" (Tod Andrews) 

. — Lyceuiri, .'Minneapolis • (24-28); 
A #<£,', Rochester; ^ ■■ Minn. (29); ;PIay- 
hotf&e,’ Winnipeg (1-6). 

“Oklahoma"— Metropolitan, Seat- 
tle (24^29); Capitol, Yakima (1-2); 
Temple, Tacoma (3-4); Aud., Port- 
land (6). 

“Paint Your Wagon” (Burl Ives) 
—Shubert, Wash. (24-6). . 

“Paris '90” (Cornelius Otis Skin- 
ner) — Music Hall, Houston (24); 
Texas',' " Sari' Antonio 1 ' "Para- 
mount, Austin (26); Majestic, Ft. 
Worth (27); Melba, Dallas (28-29); 
Municipal Aud., Oklahoma City 
(1); Arcadia, Wichita (2); High 
School Aud,, Topeka (3); Orpheum, 
Kansas City (4-6). 

“Point of No Return” (Henry 
Fonda) — Ford’s Baltimore (24-29); 
National, Wash. (1-6). 

“See the Jaguar” (Arthur Ken- 
nedy) — Forrest, Phila. (24-29). 

“Shrike” (Van Heflin)— National, 
Wash. (24-29); Nixon, Pitt. (1-6). 

“South Pacific” (Janet Blair, 
Webb Tilton) — Forum, Wichita (24- 
29); Robinson Memorial Aud., Lit- 
tle Rock (1-6). 

“Stalag 17”— Erlanger, Chi (24-6). 
“Top Banana” (Phil Silvers) — 
Great Northern, Chi. (24-6). 

“Tree Grows in Brooklyn" (Joan 
Blondell, Robert Shackleton)— Shu- 
bert, Chi. (24-6). 

“Two’s Company” (Bette Davis) 
I — Shubert, Boston (24-29), 






Wednesday, November 26, 1952 


John Roeburt 

has an amusing piece on 

The Play 9 s the Thing 
* * * 


an Interesting byline piece 
in the forthcoming 

47th Anniversary Number 
of 

PftfZIETY 


1 agon Pitt Nix 
Riles Producers 

Pittsburgh, Nov. 25. 

American Theatre Society-Thea- 
tre Guild subscribers here were 
stirred up last week because “Paint 
Your Wagon,” which had been men- 
tioned originally in the prospectus 
for 1952-53, was actually not on 
.subscription, but only a “bonus” 
offering. . Some season ticket-hold- 
ers turned up at the Nixon under 
the impression that “Wagon” was 
the second subscription show, fol- 
lowing Katharine Cornell in “The 
Constant Wife,” only to learn that 
it had been taken off in the mean- 
time. 

If subscribers were put out, Jack 
Yorke and Wolfe Kaufman, co-pro- 
ducers of the road edition of 
“Wagon,” were even madder, and 
asserted they are considering a suit 
against the ATS-Guild for damages. 
Yorke and Kaufman negotiated in 
the beginning with the subscription 
organization for the musical to bfe 
shown under its auspices in key 
cities, but the deal fell through 
when ATS decided to offer Joan 
Blondell in “A Tree Grows in 
(Continued on page 60) 

Wing legion’ Documentary 
Potent Pitch for Mental 
Health Movement in U.S. 

- The documentary-styled playlet, 
“My Name Is Legion,” wound its 
seven-week cross-country trek at 
the Neighborhood Playhouse, N. Y., 
Monday night (24). Theatre piece, 
which blends inside info of the 
National Assn, for Mental Health 
and the stage savvy of the Ameri- 
can Theatre Wing, is a potent pitch 
for the mental health movement in 
the U. S. and lays out its propa- 
ganda attack with top entertain- 
ment values. 


Inside Stuff-Legit 

The New Yorker mag’s amusement ad rate, which will be upped from 
$3,50 to $3.85 as of next Jan. 3, has been -based on a circulation 
of 300,000, which now goes to 320,000. However, the actual net paid 
circulation is 375,680, according to the latest ABC figures. Figure of 
87,500 published in a roundup ^of ad rates of various New York publica- 
tions in last week’s Variety ik the New Yorker’s city circulation. It'g 
pointed out by ad agency men that although the mag’s amusement rate 
is somewhat above the city rate and substantially below the national 
rate, amusement copy appears in the ^ntire national run, so gets the 
benefit of the 375,680 circulation. Incidentally, the 1941 ad rate for 
Cue mag was $1.40 per line, not $1.35 as stated in last week’s story. 

Only serious complaint of Broadway managers and pressagents about 
the New Yorker ad situation is against the mag’s policy of keeping ad 
copy off the page carrying legit reviews. Frequently it runs on the 
jump review page (if the reviews extend beyond a single page), but 
sometimes it is placed several pages further back, not even near the 
reviews. On the other hand, legit managements concede that the New 
Yorker’s front-of-the-book directory of entertainment, including legit,' 
is a valuable exploitation medium, except when the original review has 
been a pan and the weekly directory comment thereafter continues to 
be. disparaging. “It’s pretty tough to keep getting that rap every week 
for the duration of the run,” one producer remarks. Of course, the 
directory listing is not dependent on or related to ads. 


Backers of “Climate of Eden,” the Joseph M. Hyman-Bernard Hart 
production of Moss Hart’s dramatization of the Edgar Mittleholzer 
novel, “Shadows Move Among Them,” include Mrs. Howard Rein- 
heimer, wife of the theatrical attorney, $1,500* the author’s former col- 
laborator, George S. Kaufman, $1,000; bandleader Spike Jones, $750; 
film producer Samuel Goldwyn, $7,500; legit-film director Otto Prem- 
inger, $1,500; Saul Lancourt, of Leblang’s ticket agency and manager 
of the 48th Street Theatre, N. Y., $1,500; John Cromwell, male lead in 
the play, $1,500; film theatre executive Arthur Rapf, $1,500; film di- 
rector Marc Daniels, $375; theatrical accountants Milton Rindler and 
Norman J. Stone, $750 each; actress Elaine Ellis, wife of Newark 
Ledger critic-columnist Hal Eaton, $750; producer Max Gordon, $1,500; 
Mrs. Quentin Reynolds, wife of the mag writer, $750; theatrical at- 
torney Irving Cohen, $500; producer David Davidson, $500; TV pro- 
ducer Max Liebman, $JL,500; TV-legit actress Arlene Francis, $750; 
Frederick Fox, who designed the show, $750; bandleader Meyer Davis, 
$1,500; Bernard Hart, $2,250; theatre treasurer Irving Keyser, $375; 
strawhat producer Theron Bamberger, $750; Linda, Mary Ellin and 
Ellin I. Berlin, daughters of composer Irving Berlin, $1,000 each; pub- 
lisher George Backer, $1,500; Luise Sillcox, executive secretary, rep- 
resenting the Authors League Fund, $1,500; Bill Doll, the show’s press- 
agent, $750; Edward F. Kook, head of Century Lighting Co., $1,500; ticket 
broker attorney Jesse Mos3, $750; co-producer Hyman, $7,500; Moss 
Hart, $9,375; souvenir program agent A1 Greenstone, $1,500; pro- 
ducer Elaine Perry, $375; actor J. Baragrey, $375; composer Frederick 
Loewe, $750; theatre executive Louis A. Loiio, $1,50Q; actress Natalie 
Schafer, $750, and talent agent Irving Lazar, $750. Hyman and both 
Moss and Bernard Hart are general partners of the venture, which is 
capitalized at $90,000, including 20% overcall. 


Cleveland Plain Dealer reportedly turned down last week some ad 
copy submitted for “Maid in the Ozarks,” the John Kenley touring 
show starring Bert Wheeler. Line in the copy read, “Sexier than the 
Kinsey Report — and funny, too!” The producer is understood to be 
mulling the idea of plugging the show as “Positively NOT a Theatre 
Guild Attraction” and “You’ll Never See This on Television.” Although 
it has been panned by the critics in most towns it has played, the com- 
edy has been getting by at the b.o., apparently on its hokum and sug- 
gestiveness. 


Theatre Guild production of “Jane,” which folded Nov. 15 in Toroflto, 
lost .about $10,000 during its five-week tour. The S. N. Behrman drama- 
tization of Somerset Maugham’s story, with Edna Best as star, repre- 
sented a loss of around $30,000 on its original Broadway run last sea- 
son, despite generally enthusiastic notices and a promising boxoffice 
start. Difficulty on the road was aggravated by the fact that Katharine 
Cornell’s revival of “Constant Wife,” also authored by Maugham, im- 
mediately preceded or followed “Jane” in several towns and presum- 
ably undercut its draw with the British novelist-playwright's follow- 
ing. According to the Guild, it did not foresee such a situation when 
it booked the “Jane” tour last spring, and it did not learn that “Wife” 
was routed immediately before or after its show until too late to make 
necessary switches. 


On its tour, “Legion” has been 
showcased on a non-commercial 
basis playing community centres 
and high school auditoriums to 
cuffo crowds. A spring tour is be- 
ing contemplated if the NAMH can 
line up enough coin to send the 
troupe out. However, the play, 
which was penned by Nora Stirling 
and Nina Ridenour, will be made 
available . to amateur groups, and 
it’s a ’good bet that the NAMH plea 
^fpr better ..understanding of the 
'mental* health problems will con- 
tinue.^ be heard. 

In an offbeat format sans scenery 
or jcosi^pies, “Legion” relates the 
story .of Clifford Whittingham 
Beers, founder of the mental health 
movement, from his breakdown and 
his trip through insanity to recov- 
ery. Play, incidentally, was adapted 
from Beer’s autobiog, “A Mind 
That Found Itself.” Through the 
theatrical device of a narrator, and 
aii "infernal "voice, ‘Beer’s 'tale is re- 
lated in a flock of impressive 
scenes. It runs about an hour with- 
out a break, but it flows smoothly 
and is at all times effective and 
poignant. 

The cast of six males, all ATW 
and Equity members, are topgrade, 
lifting the play with their emo- 
tional, forceful playing. Robert 
Fitzsimmons is standout in the 
heavy assignment of the Narrator, 
and Len Way land is impressive as 
the Inner Voice. In a less flashy 
role, William Adler projects an ap- 
pealing warmth as Beer's under- 
standing brother. Paul Lilly and 
Thomas Palmer fill their varied as- 
signments excellently and Charles 
Gaines makes the most of his mi- 
nor bit as an asylum inmate. Vera 
Allen's direction maintains a fluid 
pace and creates an effective illu- 
l sion. Gros. 


Legit p.a. Michael O’Shea has been inked by Lester Cowan, “Main 
Street to Broadway” film producer, to appear in the Opening Night se- 
quence of the play-within-the-film to be shot in New York next week. 
O’Shea will appear as a member of ATPAM, which he is. He is the 
only ATPAMer holding a SAG card, using Sean O’Shea as his screen 
monicker to avoid confusion with the Hollywood actor Michael O’Shea. 
Bid to appear in “Main Street to Broadway” came about when Cowan 
and producer-publicist Jean Dalrymple ankled into Bruno’s Pen & Pen- 
cil for a dinner confab. Actor-publicist handles press relations for 
Bruno’s P&P. 


With the Tyrone Guthrie production of “Carmen" skedded to servo 
as the Metropolitan Opera’s bow in theatre TV on Dec. 11, longhair 
trade has been amused by the N. Y. Times’ two-way critical slant on 
the presentation. In a Sunday “Overture to the Opera” piece, before 
the Met season opened, Times’ music ed Howard Taubman, in com- 
menting that “the new look at the Metropolitan has meant the re- 
vitalization of the old operas with modem stage techniques,” also stated 
that the Guthrie staging of “Carmen” last season “was hailed by some 
detached observers as the most exciting musical theatre presented dur- 
ing the year.” 

The Times’ No. 1 critic, Olin Downes, however, severely rapped the 
production on its first appearance this season last Wednesday (19), fol- 
lowing it up with a more detailed blast in a Sabbath column Sunday 
(23). Guthrie’s ..dramaturgy.. Is.. debatable, said Dowses, in.. his~ review*, 
“and often misrepresents the plain, unmistakable directions of one of 
the best of all librettos.” Downes rapped the “added exaggerations 
and vulgarizations” in the staging, and incidentally panned the singing, 
too. Review, ended: “But ‘Carmen’ is indestructible.” 

Downes’ Sunday followup was more of the panning, in extenso. 
“There are grave dangers as well as bright hopes in engaging adepts 
of the spoken drama to step suddenly into the mysterious and fabu- 
lous precincts of opera land, and find new ways to fuse action, text and 
scenic interpretations of immortal music-dramas.” After commenting 
further on staging changes, Downes went on: “The tendency every- 
where is to do something else just for heaven’s sake in order to do 
something else, and whenver possible to fuss up the stage with super- 
fluous people and action.” He ended with: “This presentation as a 
whole, in the great Met Opera House, is small-scale, mannered, essen- 
tially uncomprehending. But nothing can really dwarf Bizet’s music.’ 

^ 

Legit on a charge account has been inaugurated by Henry Duffy, cur- 
rently operating the Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles. Credit 
cards already have been’ mailed to 5,000 Los Angeles executives of 
reliable firms whose ratings were first checked by the producers staff. 
Each card is numbered and a letter enclosed with the cards explain^ 
that the business firms can call the boxoffice and reserve seats for any 
performance merely by giving the number on the card. Accounts will 
\ be billed monthly. 


Wednesday, November 26, 1952 


PzSMWrf 


LEGITIMATE 


57 


Guys,’ Back to Old Monday Sked; 

Only 5 Shows Keep Early Curtain 

Veteran Showman-Playwright ] 


3-Year-Old Pacific’ Still Setting B.O. 
Records; 150G Net for Oct 25 Week 


The 7 o’clock Monday night^ 
curtain, generally in force on 
Broadway for the last couple of 
months, is being dropped by all 
but five shows. Meeting on the 
matter yesterday (Tues.) failed to 
reach a unanimous agreement, but 
the managements of “Guys and 
Polls” and “Pal Joey” announced 
plans to revert to the old 8:40 
opening after one more week. 

Even if other managements go 
back to the traditional 8:40 start- 
ing time Monday nights, however, 
Richard Rodgers has indicated 
that he and Oscar Hammerstein 2d 
intend to continue the present 
early performance start that night 
for their productions of “South 
Pacific,” at the Majestic, and 
'•King and I,” at the St. James. 
“Wish You Were Here,” ‘‘Mrs. Mc- 
Thing” and “Fourposter” still are 
on the early sked, but may also de- 
cide to switch. 

Move to drop the once-weekly 
early curtain arose after the recent 
boxoffice slump on Broadway, 
when receipts for the Monday per- 
formances sagged relatively as 
much as or more than other nights. 
Some managements had already re- 
verted to the regular 8:40 start, 
notably Guithrie McClintic and 
Stanley Gilkey with “Bernardine” 
and Jule Styne and George Abbott 
with “In Any Language” (.which 
subsequently closed). 

Leonard Sillman didn’t join the 
general move to try the Monday 
experiment, retaining the 8:40 
opening every night for his “New 
Faces.” Ditto Paula Stone and 
Mike Sloane for the final weeks 
of the “Top Banana” run. “Even- 

(Continued on page 61) 


Touring Toster’ to Try 
7 O’Clock Curtain Idea 
In Limited Way on Road 

The touring “Fourposter,” costar- 
ring Jessica Tandy and Hume Cro- 
nyn, will have a 7 o’clock curtain 
at least one night a week starting 
in January. If the experiment is 
successful, the show may schedule 
the early curtain for additional 
nights. This is believed to be. the 
first show to try an early curtain 
while playing short engagements,, 
although., several have done so for 
Chicago rims. 

Fact that the Cronyns comprise 
the entire cast for the comedy sim- 
plifies the trial. On the other hand, 
With the production playing most- 
ly one-week and two-week stands, 
there may be difficulty educating 
the public in various towns to the 
unorthddox setup. If the step 
proves to be impractical, it will be 
dropped. 

For the final weeks of their Chi- 
cago run, the Cronyns tried playing 
Sunday nights and eliminating the 
Wednesday matinee, to see if eight 
performances over the seven-day 
stretch would be any less tiring, as 
well as to test the boxoffice re- 
sponse and the public reaction. 
However, the idea of playing an 
early curtain one night a week in 
all towns is in line with the plan 
of the Early Curtain Committee of 
the League Of N. Y. Theatres to 
switch to early performances every 
night for all shows outside New 
York and Chicago. 

The New York production of 
“Fourposter," in which Betty Field 
and Burgess Meredith succeeded 
the Cronyns as costars, has been 
playing a 7 o’clock curtain Monday 
nights in conformity with the gen- 
eral rule adopted early in the fall. 

The “Guys and Dolls” touring 
company' wIlT also' experiment' With 
early curtains in various towns. So 
far, it’s planned to have a 1:30 
curtain for the midweek matinee 
for the Pittsburgh engagement, 
starting Jan. 12. Also, for the St. 
Louis stand, in March, the show 
will play Sunday night, with an 
early curtain, and will also ring up 
early for the midweek matinee. 


‘Lucky Day* for London 

British stage rights to “My 
Lucky Day,” current American- 
Yiddish musical which stars E4- 
mund Zayenda, Irving Jacobson 
and Selma Kaye at the Second 
Avei Theatre, N. Y., has been 
bought by Gordon Brooks, who will 
present the bilingual production at 
the Alexander Theatre, London, 
next June. 

It will be done entirely in Eng- 
lish, 


Ralph Thomas Kettering 

has his own views on what 
is the formula for a hit in 

The Magic Ingredient 

* * * 

cm interesting byline feature in the 
forthcoming 

47th Anniversary Number 
of 

PfililETY 

‘Here’ In The Black 
By Mid-December 

“Wish You Were Here” now 
stands to get into the black about 
the middle of December. As of 
last Saturday .night (22), the Ar- 
thur Kober-Joshua Logan-Harold 
Rome musical had only about $40,- 
000 to earn back, and it's been net- 
ting approximately $16,000 a week 
in recent months. 

The Leland Hayward-Logan pro- 
duction, capitalized at $300,000, has 
thus far repaid $150,000 to the 
backers. As of Oct. 4 it still had 
$145,939 to recoup, but had $65,- 
476 operating profit for the four 
Weeks ended Nov. 1. At that time 
its assets included $18,000 in- union 
bonds and deposits, $20,000 sinking 
fund and $31,537 cash available for 
distribution. * 

The show, which was panned by 
all the first-string New York critics 
(except John Chapman, of the 
News), is currently in its 23d week 
at the Imperial, N. Y., and for the 
last several months has been the 
top grosser on Broadway, having 
consistently bettered its $52,080 
capacity. It is now the hottest 
ticket in town. 

Broadway Coverage For 
Westchester News Chain 

The Westchester Group Newspa- 
pers, Macy chain comprising nine 
dailies throughout Westchester 
County, N. Y., have begun covering 
the Broadway theatre via a thrice- 
weekly feature column by legit-TV 
director Charles K. Freeman. The 
papers involve a total circulation 
of 131,820 in the county. 

Freeman is confining the col- 
umns* entirely to feature material 
on Broadway legit personalities and 
activities, and has no plans for re- 
viewing. The pieces are set by one 
paper, with alphabetical ads ac- 
companying. 


Theatre Photog History 
On Exhibit at U. of N. C. 

Greensboro, N. C., Nov. 25. 

“Theatre — From Ritual to 
Broadway,” an exhibition of 
photographs recording the devel- 
opment of the American stage, 
opened in the Morehead Bldg, at 
the U. of North Carolina last 
week, and will continue through 
Dec. 15. 

Prepared by the editors of Life 
magazine, jhe exhibit traces the 
history' "of ‘ theatre“frum itsr begin- 
ning in ancient ritual to its pres- 
ent familiar shape in the western 
world. The exhibition also under- 
takes to suggest some of the rea- 
sons — religious and social — for the 
theatre’s perennial and universal 
appeal. 

Twenty-five panels (including 
one devoted to a meticulous docu- 
mentation of all the illustrations) 
make up the display. There is an 
introductory panel • suggesting 
something of the variety of places 
of theatrical performances. 


Salzburg in N. Y. 

Salzburg Marionette Theatre, 
now on a cross-country tour, will 
come into N. Y. temporarily for 
four performances, two each day, 
on Dec. 14 and 21. Jack Adams & 
Co. is managing the company. 

Group was in N. ’Sf. last Xmas. 


All-Negro Musical Set 
For Off-Broadway Bow 

An all-Negro musical, “Dream 
About Tomorrow,” will open at the 
Henry Street Playhouse, N. Y., 
Dec. 12, for five performances. 

Cast of 30 will include Joseph 
Lewis, who appeared in “Carmen 
Jones”; Lillian Hayman, of the Na- 
tional Opera Guild; Richard Ward, 
who played in “Detective Story,” 
and Wezlynn Tildon, of “Kiss Me, 
Kate.” 

Produced and staged by Arty [ 
Altman, show has book by Mort ! 
Waisman and Altman, music by j 
Esther Stoller, lyrics by Bernie ' 
Spiro, arrangements by Angelo 
Musolino and sets by Hal Cohen. 

N.Y. City Ballet Adding 
3 Weeks to Gotham Run; 
Sock $41,850 B.O. Factor 

With plans for a fall-winter 
drama season at City Center, N.Y., 
gone a-glimmering, management 
has decided to extend the current 
six-week run of the N.Y. City Bal- 
let there, adding another three 
weeks beyond the Dec. 15 close. 
Excellent biz the dance troupe has 
been doing has also been a factor 
in the decision. 

Management is aware that De- 
cember is an off-biz theatre month, 
But believes the terp troupe has 
established a steady clientele to 
weather a slump. Last week, in its 
third stanza at the Center, ballet 
group grossed a sock $41,850, a 
healthy increase from the $38,500 
of the week before, and from the 
$36,000 take of the first session. 

A couple of premieres will be 
introduced during the added-three- 
week period, One is Ruth Page’s 
“Revenge,” done before in Paris. 
Nora Kaye, now dancing in the 
legiter, “Two’s Company,” will 
star in the ballet, doubling from 
Broadway work will* be given only 
on Sundays. Jerome Robbins’ “In- 
terplay,” heretofore in Ballet The- 
atre’s repertoire, will be added to 
the N. Y. City Ballet list, for the 
first time. 


FRISCO CRIX OUTRAGED; 
NO ‘FARFEL’ PRESS LIST 

San Francisco, Nov. 25. 

Frisco critics found themselves 
in the soup when the “Farfel Fol- 
lies” failed to hold out the usual 
complement of regular opening- 
night (19) seats for the reviewers, 
due to entire house being sold out 
for a B’nai B’rith showing. 

After being held waiting in the 
lobby for over a half an hour, 
while producer Hal Zeiger belat- 
edly endeavored to corral substi- 
tue seats, three of the critics, in- 
cluding Wood Soanes of the Oak- 
land Tribune and John Vickers of 
Hie Argonaut, walked out. Fred 
Johnson, vet Call-Bulletin critic, 
was perched in an upstairs seat. 
The Frisco Chronicle passed up 
reviewing the show in its following 
morning’s edition. Other crix 
threatened to exit until their regu- 
lar tickets were retrieved from 
payees. 

“Farfel Follies” has the dubious 
honor of being the first show here- 
abouts to toss critics aroutid,‘some 
of whom have had the same, seats 
for over 30 years. Zeiger previous- 
ly produced “Borscht CapadeS’” 


Stratford-on-Avon Cast Set ■' 

London, Nov. 18. 

Peggy Ashcroft, Michael Red- 
grave, Marius Goring and Yvonne 
Mitchell will head the cast for next 
year’s season at Stratford-on-Avon 
which opens March 17. It will run 
for 33 weeks. The lineup of plays 
will include “Merchant of Venice,” 

■ “Richard -HI,”-- “Antony- and - Cleo- 
patra,” “Taming of Shrew” and 
“King Lear.” 

New season’s productions will be 
directed by Glen Byam Shaw. 


Playwright \- 

Phil Dunning 

urges 

Bring Broadway 

Back Alive 

* * * 

an interesting editorial feature 
In the 
upcoming 

47th Anniversary Number 

of 

P^OilETY 


‘Sea’ Earning Back 
Cost in 7 Weeks 

. . 

“Deep Blue Sea,” Terence Ratti- 
gan drama starring Margaret Sulla- 
van, is due to earn back its pro- 
duction cost by the third week in 
December, after about seven weeks 
on Broadway, Producers Alfred de 
Liagre, Jr., and John C, Wilson 
last week repaid half the $60,000 
investment and figure on returning 
the balance before Christmas. 

The play, currently in its fourth 
week at the Morosco,*N. Y., is sold 
out for the next eight weeks and 
is getting about $3,000 a day 
advance sale over the window. It 
involved a production cost of near - 1 
ly $39,000, earned about $10,000 
during its tryout tour, netted ap- 
proximately $5,000 for its initial 
week on Broadway and about $6,- 
500 a week since then. 

The production breaks even at 
around $14,000 gross. When the- 
atre party bookings have all been 
played and commissions are no 
longer deducted, “Sea” will be able 
to gross about $26,800, including 
standee trade. Meanwhile, the 
original H. M. Tennent production 
of the play* is continuing at the 
Duchess Theatre in London with 
Peggy Ashcroft as star. 

o 

Dearth of Road Product 
Blacks Out Spifd. House 

Springfield, Mass., Nov. 25. 

The Playgoers, who have had a 
hard time rustling up enough 
shows to keep their newly-ac- 
quired Court Square lighted ever 
since getting the former grind and 
vaude house in April, announced 
this week that December dates 
have been canceled. 

Company had the Ted Shawn 
Dance .Festival set for Dec. 3, and 
Ballet Theatre Dec. 11. Notice by 
prexy Harvey Preston wipes those 
out, giving city no theatre at all 
for next month. Final attraction 
until new policy .can be worked 
out will be Charles L. Wagner’s 
“.Carmen,” coming in Saturday 

Shows have been t . spotty, but 
getting good biz/tbroughbftr fall, 
with musicals, sucn'as J^^tTginen 
Prefer Blondes,” doing" rartfatfay 
b.o. American Savoyards r biz 'was a 
heavy blow, with two-fiTght and 
matinee stand drawing almost 
nothing. It was on heels of this 
that Playgoers announced inten- 
tion of reorganizing, which prob- 
ably means change in active direc- 
tion of org. 

- — New -Parsons -at--Eartford,-whleh- 
has Theatre Guild tiein for break- 
ing in shows bound for Boston 
and Broadway, has hurt in getting 
attractions. 


One of the biggest single-week 
records in recent years was rung 
dp by the two American “South 
Pacific” companies for the stanza 
ended Oct, 25. The musical had a 
combined gross of $148,906 and a 
net of $56,184 for the session. This 
for a show more than three and a 
half years old. 

Take included the touring com- 
pany’s $100,063 gross at the Civic 
Auditorium, Seattle, or a $43,159 
profit, plus the original produc- 
tion’s $48,843 gross and $13,025 
profit at the Majestic, N. Y. Inci- 
dentally, the two troupes netted a 
total of $168,373 for the four weeks’ 
operation ended Nov. 1. 

Top single-week gross in recent 
years was the $189,754 racked up 
by the two “South Pacific” com- 
panies for the week ended Oct. 21, 
1950, including $138,965 at the 
State Fair Auditorium, Dallas, and 
$50,789 in New York. Also, the 
profit on that occasion was higher, 
too, since the touring edition net- 
ted $64,059 for the stanza, while 
a total of $74,871. 
the original picked up $10,812, for 

Next-highest week’s profit in re- 
cent years was pulled down by “Ok- 
lahoma” (also a Rodgers-IIammer- 
stein musical) for the stanza ended 
Nov. 23, 1946, when the musical’s 
touring company set the eight-per- 
formance gross record for that 
(Continued on page 61) 

See Resident Repertory 
Only Means to Fill Legit 
Needs Outside New York 

Washington. 

Editor , Variety: 

Arena Stage, D. C., has been in- 
correctly referred to in Variety 
as a theatre “half-pro and half-ama- 
teur.” Arena Stage,, however, is a 
completely professional operation. 
It has been so since its inception 
in August, 1950, and became a full 
Equity company one year later. 

Our audience isn’t particularly 
“marked youth”; it represents a 
cross-section of Washington, with 
as many diplomats, Government 
employees, doctors, housewives as 
students and young people. 

The very cgraerstone of Arena 
Stage as an institution is its pro- 
fessional nature. My deepest be- 
lief is that first-rate theatre can 
be presented best and most con- 
tiuously only by a corps of full- 
time, paid, professional people 
working together constantly in the 
condition of creative rapport pro- 
vided only by the resident, reper- 
tory theatre. 

Historically, it has always been 
the independent professional the- 
atre that has incubated the new 
life of theatre. This is distinct 
from the casting office system of 
production used on Broadway and 
the road, a system that produces 
productions of singular merit, but 
whose merit is always singular. It 
is a wasteful method that assem- 
bles a cast for .one production 
and one production only and then 
scatters Its talent to the common 
pool again, thereby losing all the 
creative and organizational gains 
made by the joint cooperative proc- 
ess, 

This is distinct, also, from the 
amateur, semi-pro or little theatre, 
where the members are all em- 
ployed elsewhere and energies are 
diverted into many things jother 
than the full-time effort of produc- 
ing a first-rate theatrical product. 

I do not believe that the uni- 
versity theatre, little theatre, semi- 
pro theatre, or amateur theatre can 
fill the need - ior^topirotcii "produc- 
tions for audiences on a regular 
basis in the leading cities outside 
of New York. I believe that only 
the professional, resident repertory 
theatre can fill this need. That is 
why Arena Stage was set up. 

Zelda D. Fichandler, 
(Managing Director.) 


Musical ‘Yolpone’ Set 

Hollywood, Nov. 25. 

Alfred Perry, Columbia Pictures 
music department editor, penned 
book and lyrics, and George 
Antheil did the score for a musical 
version of “Volpone,” Ben Jonson 
classic, which will be world 
preemed in January at the U. of 
Southern California with a profes- 
sional cast. 

Perry will stage the show. Carl 
Ebert will conduct. 


Legitimate Enterprise 

Chicago, Nov. 25. 

With the one-night closing of “Fourposter” last Monday (17) in 
Chi, duq to Jessica Tandy being bedded with a touch of virus, 
Blackstone Theatre boxoffice had a problem with a $3,800 sold- 
out house. Simultaneously, Ben Rosenberg, company manager of 
“Stalag 17,” at the Erlanger, hired two buses and started barking 
as the patrons came into the Blackstone lobby, before house man- 
ager Leo McDonald was aware of the situation. 

Rosenberg transferred two bus loads away, gaining $400 addi- 
tional for his play, stationed in the lone Chi non-Shubert house. 
Some of the other theatregoers went to “Tree Grows in Brooklyn” 
or “Gigi,” with Rosenborg also courteously dropping off those who 
wished to see the latter two shows* Miss Tandy resumed her part 
Tuesday, 118). 



58 


LEGITIMATE 


P'SmEfr 


Wednesday, November 26, 1952 


Plays on Broadway 


The, Seven Year Iteh 

Courtney Burr St Elliott Nugent P*’®’ 
duction of comedy in three «<**? 
George Axelrod. • Features Tom Ewell. 
Vanessa Brown. Staged by John Gerstad. 
scenery pnd lighting. Fredereck Fo^ 
incident^ music, J>ana Suosse: 
tlon supervision, J'Jugent. At Flynitomii, 
-- — $t .80 top ($« op.entp«J^ 


N. Y.,. Nov. 20. '52; , _ - 

Richard Sherman Tom 

luck? Sh ' rm “ n ::::::::. johnny raX 

Mlss Morris * .* .’ . .* T Mar % n ™ov™ 

Elaine ■ J oan Donovan 

Marie 


What-ever-her-name-was 

Irene Moore 

The Girl Vanessa Brown 

Dr. Brubaker Robert Einhardt 

Tom Mackenzie • • George Keane 

Voice of Richard’s Conscience George I\ cs 
Voice of Glrl’6 Conscience. . .Pat Fowler 


Pat Fowler register as the respec- 
tive voices of the hero’s and 
heroine’s kibitzing alter-egos. 

Gerstad, on leave from a sup- 
porting role in the cast of the 
current revival of “Male Animal,” 
§tdgqd, “Itch”, with An infec- 
tioiis' ; .corriedy touch; Fox has de- 
signed a handsome apartment-and- 
terrace setting, and Dana Suesse 
has arranged an appropriate list of 
old pops for the hero’s record- 
player. • Hobe . . 


Equity Shows 


Plays Out of Town 


That laugh hit Broadway lias 
been awaiting so long has arrived 
at last, and the reaction is as pre- 
dicted:- The show is obviously due 
for months of sellout business, with 
likelihood of a touring company 
and a big picture sale?* plus the 
' ultimate windfalls of foreign, stock 
and amateur rights, etc. In other 
words, “The Seven Yea / Itch” is a 
smash. 

As frequently happens, this com- 
edy click brings several promising 
new talents to a theatre that can 
amply use them. Outstanding in 
this connection is, perhaps, author 
George Axelrod, since playwrights 
capable of turning out effective 
scripts, particularly comedies, have 
become the principal bottleneck of 
the shrinking legit field. 

But if Tom Ewell was already 
recognized as a competent come- 
dian with a unique style, “Itch” 
gives him a full-length, powerhouse 
role, and he responds with a per- 
formance that should make him a 
star. The show also offers a cute, 
talented young actress in Vanessa 
Brown, a likely comedy director in 
John Gerstad and another impres 
sive setting by the already-estab- 
lished Frederick Fox. 

“Itch” is one of those old-fash- 
ioned plays that don’t attempt to 
further any eause or prove any- 
' thing, but are designed simply to 
entertain, amuse and please an 
audience. It is merely a frivolous 
antic about a happily marrlpd but 
restless man who gets into adul- 
terous mischief . while his wife is 
away for the summer and "who 
thereupon endures sharp misery- 
ecstasy guilt feelings (hence the 
l . title, apparently). 

This is probably an immoral 
play, from a strictly serious view- 
point. At least the church will al- 
most certainly ‘condemn it and 
there will undoubtedly be some 
tut-tut reaction from the Tighteous. 
But only a determined sobersides 
would take “Itch” seriously. Any- 
way, most playgoers won’t be 
. bothered about anj^such thing but, 

. in the everyday-classic phrase, will 

* simply relax and enjoy it. 

Although the basic plot outline 
of the. comedy is simple, enough, 
some o‘f its funniest scenes are. the 
novei flashbacks, in which the 
somewhat Walter Mitty-ish hus- 
band’s helter-skelter imagination 

• keeps running away with him. The 
audience sees these reverie bits as 

•flamboyant • melodrama and/or 
farce. 

Although these inserts seem con- 
trived, tend to* impede the ; central 
story, arid are occasionally mal- 
adroit, they give the show a dis- 
tinct quality and provide a bundle 
of laughs,, including, several roof- 
shaking boffs.- At best, they also 
occasionally explain or advance the 
- main action. * 

As the slightly slap-happy but 
ingratiating hero, Ewell gives prac- 
tically a one-man show;, Joking on- 
stage throughout *thethre$ 'acts, in 
some instances, alone, and r pj*ovid- 
. ing most, qf tlif. plasms impetus and 
drive. It is a varied and resourceful 
performance,- .plausible, ’ winping 
and very funny.* - * 

Miss BroWn,* making her Broald- 
' way bow, is efichanting as the' nifty 
little minx - from the apartment 
upstairs, a naive but essentially 
■ knowing chatterbox who happens 

• on the scene at the vital moment 
and, after almost braining the hero 

• by dropping a flowerpot, being 

• invited' downstairs for -a -drink.- it 
is the juiciest ingenue-lead role in 
years and the actress exploits it 
with a captivating comedy perform- 
ance that should establish her in 
both films and legit. 

Of the supporting leads, Neva 
Patterson gives a superlative por- 
trayal as the wife who goes away 
for vacation and reappears in vari- 
ous hilarious scenes ‘of the hus- 
band’s day-dreamiflg. She combines 
conviction and a deft comedy 
touch with stunning appearance 
and a quality that • explains her 
husband’s genuine devotion. 

Robert Emhardt turns in an act- 
ing bullseye as a shock-proo_ 
psychiatrist-author with an appre- 
ciative understanding of dalliance. 
George Keane is amusing as ah 
amorous author, and there are ac- 
ceptable bits by Marilyn Clark, 
• Joan Donovan and Irene Moore as 
assorted flames in the hero’s Mitty- 
ish secret life. George Ives and 


lleiiaud-llarraiili Co. 

S, Hurok (in association with French 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs) presentation 
of Madeleine Renaud, Jean-Louis Bar- 
rault Co. in dual biU, At Zlegfeld Theatre, 
N. Y.» Nov. 20, '52; $4.80 top. 

AMPHITRYON 

Cotnedy in Prolog and two acts (con- 
tinuous) by Moliere. Staged by Jean- 
Louls Barrault. Sets and costumes, Chris- 
tian Berard; music by Francis Poulenc; 
musical director, Pierre Boulez. 

Mcrcure Jean-Louis Barrault 

Le Char De La Nuit Pierre Sonnier 

Serge Perrault 

La Nuit Elina Labourdette 

Sosle Jean-Plerre Granval 

Jupiter Jean Desallly 

Alcmene Madeleine Renaud 

Cleanthis Anne Carrere 

Amphitryon Jacques Dacqinine 

Naucrates • Regis Outin 

Poslcles Jean-Claude Michel 

Argatiphontldas Jean Juillard 

Polidas Jean-Francols Calve 

LES FOURBERIES DE SCAPIN 
(Scapln's Pranks) 

Comedy in -one act by Moliere. Staged 
by Louis Jouvet. Sets and costumes. 
Christian Berard; music by Henri Sauguel. 

Octave Gabriel Cattand 

Sylvestre Jean Juillard 

Nerine Marle-Helene Daste 

Scapin Jean-Louis Barrault 

Hyacinthe Anne Carrere 

Argante Charles Mahieu 

Geronte Pierre Bertln 

Lcandre Jean-Francois Calve 

Carle Regis Outin 

Zerbinette Simone Valere 

Divertissements ......... • Serge Perrault 

Pierre Sonnier 


ftlass Menagerie 

(LENOX HILL, N. Y.) 

Tennessee Williams* “The Glass 
Menagerie,” at the Lenox Hill 
Playhouse, N.Y., scores as the 
best Equity Library Theatre offer- 
ing this season. Production has 
professional polish in all depart- 
ments. 

Possibly Williams’ nostalgic pic- 
ture of family life in St. Louis dur- 
ing the '30’s can be even better 
appreciated in such a production, 
where there are no stars, for Her- 
bert Machiz has directed his four 
players as an ensemble which cre- 
ates and maintains the mood of 
the play. Using many imaginative, 
subtle touches, he has faithfully 
preserved the overall spirit of the 
work. 

To the role of Amanda, the wor- 
risome mother who yearns for the 
past, Charity Grace brings humor 
and pathos, and proves that she 
can ably sustain a large role just 
as she has delightfully enlivened 
a small part in the ELT past. 

Ann Meacham, Derwent Award 
winner for her role in “The Long 
Watch” last season, again shows 
that she is a young actress worth 
watching. She is appealing as the 
fragile Laura, with a suggestion of 
fire beneath the surface of shyness 
and tension. As the restless broth- 
er, Tom, who is also narrator, Wil- 
liam Smithers brings out the sen- 
sitivity, but the power sometimes 
seems out of control. Ray Rizzo 
conveys humor and warmth in the 
role of the perceptive, extrovert 
Gentleman Caller. 

Play gets a definite assist from 
the simple, artistic setting by Rob- 
ert Soule and from the lighting by 
Mildred Jackson. Vene. 

Hotel I T ni verse 

(LENOX HILL, N. Y.) 

Once considered profound, Philip 
Barry’s “Hotel Universe,” the re- 
cent Equity Library Theatre offer- 
ing at the Lenox Hill Playhouse, 
N. Y., today seems a surprisingly 
naive period piece. However, as a 
thespian showcase, this anatomy of 
failure among the Riviera rich is 
loaded with histrionic possibilities, 
which the cast explores with vary- 
ing degrees of success. 

Production’s chief fault is that 
neither director Wendell K. Phil- 
lips nor the actors sufficiently 
soft-pedal the big emotional scenes, 
with results that are downright 
embarrassing to the audience and 
should be to the cast. 

Utilizing an extremely effective 
set by T. Louis DeLime, director 
Phillips brings what interest he 
can to the unravelling of this yam 
which veers from dull to over- 
wrought. It is to his credit that the 
play's cosmic pretentiousness does 
not provoke laughter. Also, Phil- 
lips sustains the play’s mood of 
world-weariness, which was then 
so fashionable, and he uses signifi- 
cant grouping, timing and move- 
ment to good advantage. 

The action takes place, inevi- 
tably, at a villa, and among those 
who turn up there, chockfull of 
neuroses, to be patly purged by the 
God-like owner of this edifice 
(once the Hotel Universe) are: a 
playboy mooning over a dead love, 
portrayed with vitality and percep- 
tion by Harry Hess; a publisher 
seeking his old faith or a new re- 
ligion, played somewhat stiffly and 
unconvincingly by Joseph Sulli 
•van;* and' a cynical young actress 
with » father complex, enacted by 


Third repertory offering of the 
Madeleine Renaud, Jean-Louis 
Barrault Co. finds this gifted, ver- 
satile French acting troupe cavort- 
ing through two short Moliere 
plays, one (“Amphitryon”) a ro- 
mantic comedy with farce over- 
tones, the other (“Les Fourberies 
de Scapin”) sheer burlesque. Act- 
ing strokes are drawn so broadly 
n the latter, and plot is so famil- 
iar (through various other previous 
egit versions) in the former, as to 
make this dual bill the easiest of 
he presentations thus far for the 
non-French.-speaking viewer to ap- 
preciate. It also probably shows 
up the Renaud-Barrault troupe at 
its best. 

In “Amphitryon,” the highly-ac- 
complished Parisians breeze light- 
ly through the jest about Jupiter 
coming dDwn from Olympus to 
disguise himself as Amphitryon 
and enjoy the latter’s beautiful 
wife, Alcmene, while Amphitryon 
is away at war. Staging by Bar- 
rault is deft, so that the several 
long speeches don’t pall; there is 
poetic, almost balletic . movement 
by the principals; and charming 
settings and costumes enhance the 
appeal. 

Barrault plays the mischievous 
Mercury, who aids Jupiter in his 
amours, with a light, saucy air. 

(It’s a relatively small role, Bar- 
rault saving himself for the “Sca- 
pin” which comes after). Mme. 

Renaud is chief ornament here' as 
Alcmene, regal, soft and beautiful. 

Movement of. her head and hands, 
alone, are a lesson for other thesps, 
and the ease of voice delivery is 
standout. Jean Desailiy plays 
Jupiter with the right inflection of 
poetic zest, deviltry and finally ce- 
lestial authority. 

Jacqpes Dacqmine, although suf- 
fering froip hoarseness, makes a 
handsome*, .sympathetic figure as 

bewildered husband LAUdravLindley, who is probably ‘a 
Gisafival is amusbifc apUette*. .actress than this part per- 


J l * U \ * / r ■ • * jC 1 y 'MWIrVUip 'UVVA VOkJ VA1HU tlUO V 

find. Anne RnHsmttsj . Margaret Sheehan is suffi- 


.Cleahthis. . .Elina . Lahauraette’s 
brief. appearance, as '“La.. •.Nuit” 
(“The 1 Night”) is highly effective 
as' well as decorative. 

“Scapin,” staged by the late 
Louis Jouvet, is delightful fooling. 
Story is home what involved, deal- 
ing with two sets of young lovers 
being kept apart by greedy par- 
ents*. gnd ..the. way. the wily servant. 
Scapin, bewitches the addled par- 
ents into accepting the unions. As 
(Continued on page 60) 

Choreog Workshop Sets 
3-Concert N.Y. Season 

Choreographers Workshop, di- 
rected by Trudy Goth, plans three 
concerts this season, all at the 
Y.M.&W.H.A., N. Y. First program 
will be today (Wed.), offered with 
works by Bill Hooks, Robert Jof- 
fery, Frank Westbrook and Shir- 
ley Broughton on the bill. 

Principal dancers will be Gerry 
Arpino, Bill Bradley, Virginia Con- 
well, Barbara Luna, Beatrice Seck- 
ler, Rudy Tone and Joy Williams. 
Huber Doris Is musical director. 
Other two concerts will be given 
Jan. 18 and March 22. 


ciently understanding as the pub- 
lisher’s wife, while Greta Markson 
gets out of control as a light- 
hearted. actress in love with a Jew 
ish “financial wizard,” a role in 
which Barton Stone seems miscast. 
Don Marye effectively portrays 
the difficult part of the owner of 
the estate 
Coming off best in what surely 
is... the.. longest, “continuous- action’-’ 
play in the annals of the American 
theatre, Margaret Quenveur brings 
not only credibility to a cardboard 
role, but infuses it with sensitivity 
and appeal. Vene. 


The Moneymakers 

Toronto, Nov. 14. 

Jupiter Theatre presentation of comedy 
drama in three acts (five scenes) hy Ted 
Allan. Stars Lome Greene, John Drainle, 
Kate Reid. Directed by Aaron Frankei. 
Sets by Hawley Yarwood; lighting, Tom 
Nutt and William Linklatcr. At Museum 
Theatre. Toronto, Nov. 14, ’52: $3 top. 

Paul Finch Lome Greeiv 

Maggie June Dunca) 

Michael Bedford John Drainii* 

Nicholas Lovell Roy Partridge 

Ralph Sherman David Gardner 

Manicurist Mary Lou Collins 

Barber Rex Sevenoaks 

Bootblack Cal Whitehead 

Julie Bedford Kate Reid 

Marge Lovell Joanne Stout 

Secretary . . Bill! Tyas 

In his three-act denunciation of 
the Hollywood film industry, Ted 
Allan warms over some stale dra- 
matic biscuits that have earlier 

lost their savor through repeated 
presentation. Here again is the 

idealistic novelist who, on the suc- 

cess of a book, signs a studio 
scripter contract and later chafes 
at his scenario assignments though 
still accepting that lovely Holly- 
wood lettuce; and the stock brand 
of highly-principled wife who 
doesn’t want her husband to “sell 
his soul” and “how happy they 
were back home” before that $1,- 
500 a week started rolling in and 
they took a house too big to live in. 

Here also, is the caricatured type 
of producer always outwitting his 
rivals by blackmail (he uses a con- 
cealed tape-recorder for private 
conferences or to frame opponents 
cheating on their wives in boudoir 
assignations); or be has his rivals' 
secretaries on his payroll giving 
him daily reports. Incompetent 
relatives in top studio jobs also 
get a raking; ditto a blacklisted 
Commie writer whose scripts the 
producer buys for peanuts under 
submitted pseudonyms. 

Playwright Allan had two years 
in Hollywood with two major stu- 
dios and is presumably writing 
from colored observation or some 
experiences he encountered. The 
director, Aaron Frankei, is ^ up 
from New York after previous 
ANTA. commitments. Option for 
London production has been re- 
putedly picked up by Sam Wana- 
maker, who is receiving progres- 
sive air-mailed rewrites on the 
third act. For Broadway, “The 
Moneymakers” will require plenty 
of doctoring, . but' it’s likely the 
warmed-over theme will militate. 
For pix, it’s manfestly out. 

Allan is obviously bitter at -the 
Hollywood working system and he 
writes at white-heat indignation, 
plus plenty of personal and politi- 
cal propaganda bias that falls to 
justify his diatribe as comedy. 
Lome Greene gives ,his usual 
standout performance as the con- 
niving producer who betrays his 
friends in his ruthless ride to 
power and money; John Drainie is 
splendid as the sensitive writer 
whose integrity will not be sacri- 
ficed for mere Hollywood boodle, 
and Kate Reid carries the . too 
noble distaff brunt as the wife who 
induces her husband to take a 
powder on the film capital rather 
than become corrupt, in her opin- 
ion. Roy Partridge lends some 
sympathetic appeal as a writer 
blacklisted for his' political beliefs, 
and Billi Tyas turning in a neat 
and dry-hilmored performance as 
the studio femme spy and seller of 
information. McStay. 


Danoa* for Joy 

Pittsburgh, Nov. 15. 

Pittsburgh Playhouse presentation of 
musical comedy in two acts (11 scenes) 
with book, music and lyrics by G. Wood. 
Book staged by Frank Burleigh; dances 
and musical numbers by Frunk Wagner; 
musical direction, Ken Welch; vocal dl 
rection, G. Wood: sets, William J. Ryan; 
costumes. Elizabeth Birbarl. 

Cast: Pearl Hipps, Nancy Flngal, Ed- 
mund Ross, Susan Willis, .Terry Terhe.v- 
den, Allan Pinskerr Eve Lewis. Murray 
Gold. John Geary, Mitzl Steiner, Val Stan- 
ton, Betty Dunaway, Don .Brockeit. 
Eugene Hreha, Josephine Vicari, Hilda 
Zaidcn, Ruth Wertz. Janice Norris, Caro 
lou Fidder, Richard Wills, Donna Jean 
Young, Robert Lintner, Sidney Heller. 


taken by a sharpie interested in 
her money and talking her into an 
act. Pupils at dame’s academy 
look upon it as a sort of combined 
campus, Lonely Hearts Club and 
Town Meeting, and they’re heart- 
broken when owner threatens to 
' it and go on the road. But 
romes to her senses, takes the 
Ail old lady in as a partner 
everybody’s happy. 

On the side, there are a couple 
of teachers who want to have a 
baby but can’t because they have 
to work, and a romance between a 
shy insurance salesman and a 
pretty store clerk. None of it 
makes very much sense. 

Wood’s dialog is duller than 
dishwater and two and a half hours 
of “Dance for Joy” seems twice 
that long. His vocal arrangements 
and Frank Wagner’s okay choreog- 
raphy are the best things in the 
show; otherwise, it’s a complete 
bust. 

Cast includes a lot of Playhouse 
veterans but not one of them gets 
the slightest chance. Community 
theatre tried out another original 
called “Wonderful Good” last' 
spring and it was an out-and-out 
dud. That one has an autumn 
companions piece now in “Dance 
for Joy.” Cohen. 

Second Threshold 

Memphis, Nov. 15. 

Memphis Arena Theatre production of 
comedy-drama in two acts (four scenes) 
by Philip Barry. Features Sidney Black- 
mer. At Arena Theatre, King Cotton 
Hotel, Memphis, Nov. 11, '52 ($2.40 top). 

Toby Wells Rex Partington 

Malloy Caddcll Burroughs 

Miranda Bolton Katharine Ross 

Joslah Bolton Sidney Blackincr 

Thankful Mother Cleo Holladay 

Jock Bolton Jim Shirah 


Scheduled B’way Openings 

“I've Got Sixpence,” Barrymore, 
Dec. 2. 

“See the Jaguar,” Cort, Dec. 3 

“Two’s Company,” Alvin, Dec. 4. 

“Whistler's Grandmother,” Pres- 
ident, Dec. 8. 

“Grey-Eyed People,” Beck, Dec. 
17. 

“Children's Hour,” Coronet, 
Dec. 18. 

Arthur Miller play, Beck, Jan. 7. 

“Be Yo.ur Age,” 48th Street, 
Jan. 14. / 

“Love of Four Colonels,” Shu- 
bert, Jan. 15. 

“Hazel Flagg,” Hellinger, Feb. 5. 

--.c 1 » ; ; «■ » * v t vn fc » «c.* » i. isn W 


With Sidney Blackmer turning 
in a masterful performance at the 
preem offering (11) of the Mem- 
phis Arena • Theatre, “Second 
Threshold,” the local group got off 
to an auspicious start. This is the 
second year of weekly productions 
to be staged here and featuring a 
name performer in the lead. 

The 1952 edition of Arena play- 
ers demonstrated to the near-capa- 
city opening nighters that the next 
18 weeks should provide a hefty 
b.o. 

Blackmer portrays Josiah Bolton, 
long-divorced public figure, In 
easy-winning, distinguished fash* - 
ion. His spell-binding dramatic 
presentation in the second act won 
a salvo of applause opening night. 

Supporting cast m6re than holds 
their own. Katharine Ross as Mi- 
rando Bolton, his daughter in the 
femme lead, has loads of person- 
ality. Cleo Holladay, as Mirando’s 
class-mate, is a vivacious efferves- 
cent blonde who does a creditable 
performance. Rex Partington also 
scores as the family lawyer. Jim 
Shirah as Jock Bolton and Caddell 
Burroughs as Malloy, the family 
butler, make up the balance of the 
cast, and turn in fine jobs. Matt. 


Legit Followup 


-Pittsburgh PlayhouseV luck with 
original musicals continues bad. 
“Dance for Joy” is by G. Wood, a 
nitery performer (with Alice 
Ghostley, of “New^Faces of 1952”). 
He writes the act’s material, and 
it’s bright, original and smart. But 
there are no signs of that in 
Wood’s show. 

“Dance for Joy” is dull and 
humorless, and strictly amateurish. 
Wood has written a couple of fair- 
ly fetching tunes in “Longing to 
Be Elsewhere” and “I’m With 
You” and another, “Waltz Her Off 
Her Feet,” is rather catchy, but 
these are the only cheerful items 
in the whole thing. The rest is a 
mishmash. 

Plot deals with a little old lady, 
retired on a short pension after* 
selling corsets in a department 
store, who decides to see life by 
enrolling in a dancing school op- 
erated by a dim-witted ex-bur- 
lesque and “Follies” queen, being 


South Pacific 

(DRURY LANE, LONDON) 

. London, Nov. 11. 

Despite the widespread critical 
slamming it received, “South Pa- 
cific” has now past its first ca- 
pacity year at Drury Lane. Dur- 
ing this time there have, inevi- 
tably, been switches in the cast, 
but the first major change came 
when Mary Martin ankled the 
Nellie Forbush role and was re- 
placed by Julie Wilson! 

Locally, Miss Wilson is a high- 
ranking favorite, with a big pub- 
lic resulting from her two previous 
stage appearances and various cafe 
dates. - 

Hitherto, she’s been associated 
with more sophisticated parts. 
The immaculate grooming, flowing 
locks and classical style of gowns 
have been sacrificed, but Miss Wil- 
son* shuwsr she “cen' trer as - soft • and 
as naive as the part demands. The 
performance is essentially a ( per- 
sonal one; sensibly she doesn’t try 
to emulate Miss Martin, but puts 
her own individualistic stamp on 
the characterization. Maybe she 
lacks some of her predecessors 
buoyancy, but she compensates by 
exuding warmth and sincerity. 

Even before her opening, ad- 
vance bookings were sufficient to 
guarantee capacity business for 
months ahead. Her reception in- 
dicated that the Rodgers Sc Ham- 
merstein musical is good for an- 
other year at least. 

The production remains fi’osh 
and the cast is in good form. Wil- 
bur Evans continues in fiR e ^ 01 9J 
as Emile de Becque and /redo 
Wayne still gets the yoCks for h ,s 
comedy portrayal of Luther Buns* 
Muriel Smith’s Bloody Mary ie- 

mains one of the high spots. 

MyTOr. 



Wed need ay, November 26, 1952 


PfimErr 


LEGITIMATE 


59 


Chi Legit B.O. in Healthy Spurt; 
‘Poster $26,100 Q\ ‘Gigf 



Chicago, Nov. 25. - 
Chicago legit had one of the best 
boxoffice takes in months last week. 
“Fourposter” probably would have 
hit another bonanza at the Black- 
stone but Jessica Tandy’s virus ^at- 
tack that shuttered the play Mon- 
day night (17) took off $3,800. 

“Gigi” is also putting up the 
SRO sign these nights. “Stalag 17” 
is doing very well at the Erlanger, 
getting a nice boost from the 
Allied States Theatres, film exhibi- 
tors, and from part of the Monday 
night “Fourposter” crowd, who 
turned up at “Stalag.” 

Estimates For Last Week 
Fourposter,” ' Blackstone (9th 
wk) ($4.20; 1,534) (Jessica Tandy, 
Hume Cronyn). Sellout $26,100 for 
seven performances. 

“Gigi,” Harris (3d wk) ($4.40; 1,- 
000) (Audrey Hepburn). Sock $21 - 
200 with matinee trade very heavy; 
will probably drop midweek mat- 
inees in favor of Sunday night per- 
formance after Jan. 1. 

New York City Opera, Opera 
House (2d wk) ($4.90; 3,600). Neat 
$62,000 for the second stint. 

“Stalag 17,” Erlanger (13th wk) 
($4.40; 1,334). Going along nicely 
with $16,700. 

“Tree Grows In Brooklyn,” Shu- 
bert (2d wk) ($5; 2,100) (Joan 
Blondell, Robert Shackleton). 
Picked up nicely with $28,700. 

‘GIRL’ HEALTHY $21,600 
FOR MILWAUKEE STAY 

. Milwaukee, Nov. 25. 
“Country Girl,” with Robert 
Young, Dane Clark and Nancy 
Kelly costarred, grossed .a healthy 
$21,600 at the 1,500-seat Davidson 
here last . week. The Paula Stone- 
Mike Sloane .production moved to 
the American, St. Louis, for this 
week. Next booking for the house 
is Shepard Traube’s touring edi- 
tion of “Bell, Book and Candle,” 
opening next Monday (1) for a 
week’s run. , 

Week-before-last, “Guys and 
Dolls” had a smash $72,800 gross 
at the 2,765-seat Wisconsin here. 
Potential gross at the $5.40 scale 
was about $78,800. Attendance was 
off slightly early in the week and 
at the midweek matinee, but went 
to capacity for the final perform- 
ances. 


‘Wagon’ Rolls to $23,500 
In Pitt Engagement 

Pittsburgh, Nov. 25. 

“Paint Your Wagon” picked up 
a unanimous set of sugary notices 
here at the Nixon last week, but 
couldn’t get rolling until the 
stretch and had to be content with 
$23,500. Although it’s the best 
money the show has done since 
going on tour, it still isn’t enough 
to give the musical an even break. 

Although Ellen McCown opened 
in the top femme part, she left 
the company in midweek and was 
replaced by Nola. Fairbanks, who 
nad originally succeeded Olga San 
Juan In the Broadway production. 

. Nixon has Bert Wheeler in 
“Maid in Ozarks” for the« holiday 
stanza, then gets “The Shrike,” 
“Anonymous Lover” and “Point of 
No Return” in succession. 


‘Nina’ $8,500, Frisco; 

‘Farfel Follies’ 20G 

San Francisco, Nov. 25. 

‘The Second Man,” with Fran- 
ehot Tone, Irene Manning and 
Betsy von Furstenberg, opens to- 
night (25) at the. Alcazar for a two- 
week run. 

"I Am a Camera,” with Julie 
Harris, part of the Theatre Guild 
subscription series, will open -at 

the Curran. .Dec,. -.8.... 

Estimate for Last Week 

“Nina,” Alcazar (7th wk) (C- 
$31; Sat. $3.60; 1,157) (Edward 
Everett Horton, Marta Linden). A 
fair $8,500 (previous week, $8,300). 

“Farewell Follies,” Curran (7 
performances) (R-$4;20; 1,758) 

(Myron Cohen, Mickey Katz, Lenny 
Kent). Husky $20,000, with first 
two performances sold out to 
B’nai B’rith. 


‘Lover* 15G, Montreal 

Montreal, Nov. 25. 
tt The Larry Parks-Betty Garrett 
'Anonymous Lover” drew a fair 
$15,000 last week at Her- Majesty’s 
Theatre, The* 1,704-seater was 
scaled to $3.38. 

Canadian Concerts '& Artists is 
.currently presenting Ballet Thea- 
tre in this house; On Dec, H "The 
Happy Time,” starring Roger Dann, 
will be presented by the KdolVent 
Theatre Co. 


‘Roberts’ Garners $18,500 
In Four-Stand Series 

Madison, Wis., Nov. 25. 

/2?A ster Robe rts” nabbed a gross 
of $18,500 last week in a four-stand 
series of eight performances. The 
dates included the Oshkosh 
Theatre, Oshkosh, Monday (17); 
Orpheum, Green Bay, Tuesday- 
Wednesday (13-19); the Capitol, 
Manitowoc, Wis., Thursday (20), 
and the Parkway here Friday- 
Saturday (21-22). 

Leland Hayward production, with 
Tod Andrews as star, is playing 
the Lyceum, Minneapolis, from 
last night (Mon.) through next 
Friday (28); has a one-nighter 
Saturday (29) at the Auditorium, 
Rochester, Minn., and spends all 
next week at the Playhouse, Win- 
nipeg. 


‘DOLLS’ $38,900 FOR 10 
IN RETURN MPLS. VISIT 

Minneapolis, Nov. 25. 

Playing a return engagement, 
“Guys and Dolls” pulled a good 
$38,900 for seven nights and three 
matinees ending Sunday night (23) 
at $4.80 top in the 1,859-seat Ly- 
ceum. Musical grossed a huge 
$78,400, representing capacity, for 
10 nights and two matinees in same 
showhouse a year ago this month 
and then went into St. Paul and 
chalked up an additional $25,000 
for three nights .and a matinee. 
This time St. Paul was passed up, 
and newspapers there refused to 
accept its paid advertising or give 
any news mention to its Minne- 
apolis presence. 

‘Juan’ $37,700 for Seven 
During Week of Splits 

New Haven, Nov. 25. 

Ducats were at k premium for 
the three-day stand of “Don Juan 
in Hell” at the Shubert last week 
(20-22). Scaled at $4.80 top, four 
performances hit a hefty $17,400. 

" Current is preem of “Grey-Eyed 
People,” doing a last half (27-29). 
First December booking is “Good 
Nite Ladies,” due for full week of 
15-20. 

In three performances the first 
half of the week, the “Juan” read- 
ing drew an additional $20,300, 
giving it a total gross of $37,700 
for the seven-performance stanza. 
The takes included $3,800 for a 
one-nighter Monday (17) at Keith’s, 
White Plains, N. Y\; $12,500 in an- 
other single showing . Tuesday 
night (18) at Rensselaer Poly tech 
Institute, Troy, N. Y., and $4,000 
more Wednesday night (19) at the 
Municipal Auditorium, Springfield, 
Mass. 

The presentation is playing the 
RKO Boston, in the Hub, all this 
week. 


‘Affairs of State’ $13,750 
For Eighth Week in L.A. 

Los Angeles, Nov. 25. 

Opening of “I Am a Camera” 
at the Biltmore last night (Mon.) 
gave the town two legit offerings 
for the current period. Julie Har- 
ris starrer is in for a fortnight un- 
der Theatre Guild auspices. 

Last week’s sole offering was 
“Affairs of State,” which hit an 
okay $13,750 for its eighth week 
at the Carthay Circle Theatre. In- 
auguration of Monday early cur- 
tain helped swell the take by about 
$ 100 . 

‘Okla.’ $37,900, Calgary 

Calgary, Alberta, Nov. 25. 

“Oklahoma” gave this Canadian 
town 4 i breath of legit life last 
Week, and the local citizenry re- 
sponded with a $37,900 gross for 
the Rodgers-Hammerstein musical 
at the 1,442-seat Grand. 

Theatre Guild production is 
playing Seattle this week and splits 
next week . between Yakima, 
Takoma and Portland. 

‘Wife’ $24,400, Toronto 

Toronto, Nov. 25. 

With five days’ rain and compe- 
tition of the Royal Horae Show 
denting, Katharine Cornell in 
“The Constant Wife,”" last week 
grossed a ’ healthy $24,4Q0 here. 

Though lighter than hoped, en- 
gagement saw Friday and Satur- 
day night (21-22) sellouts, with 
Royal Alexandra, 1,525-seater, 
scaled at $4 top with tax. 


Charles O’Brien 
Kennedy 

lias more anecdotes about plays 
and players of another era. 
continuing his bright 

Rumblings in the 

Theatre 

* * * 

ait editorial feature In the 
forthcoming 

47 th Anniversary Number 
of 

yKniETY 


Broadway Takes Another Pratfall; 

But ‘Itch’ New Smash at $13 JW (5), 
French SRO $37,700, Greeks $28,800 


‘Sixpence’ 



Ginger’ 19G, Phffly 

Philadelphia, Nov. 25. 

Continuous heavy downpour last 
w’eek sloughed theatres. Town had 
six showplaces operating, counting 
U. of Pennsylvania’s Mask & Wig 
club production at the Erlanger. 

Rain especially hurt S. M, Char- 
tock’s Gilbert & Sullivan troupe 
at the Shubert. which only had one 
good night. Mixed critical recep- 
tion greeted “See the Jaguar,” at 
the Forrest, and “I’ve Got Six- 
pence,” at the Walnut, with the 
latter having a slight edge at the 
boxoffice, thanks to American The- 
atre Society-Theatre Guild sponsor- 
ship. 

Estimates for Last Week 

“Summer and Smoke,” Academy 
Foyer (1st wk) (350; $3.25). Circle- 
in-Square’s New York success tees 
off group’s planned season here, 
$1,500. 

“Here’s Howe,” Erlanger (1,880; 
$4.55). 65th annual all-male musi- 
cal of Penn’s Mask & Wig Club; 
$6,500. 

“See the Jaguar,” Forrest (1st 
wk) (1,760; $3.90) ‘Arthur Kenne- 
dy). Got one pan, two good notices; 
fair $11,500 for seven performaiices 
and a preview. 

“Time Out for Ginger,” (Locust) 
(2d wk) (1,580; $3.90) (Melvyn 
Douglas). Comedy warmly re- 
ceived; survived wet weather best. 
Fine $19,000. 

“I’ve Got Sixpence,” Walnut (1st 
wk) (1,340; $3.90) (Viveca Lindfors, 
Edmond O’Brien). Subscriptions 
helped John van Druten play, 
although notices were two to one 
against. Fair $14,800. 

Gilbert & Sullivan, Shubert (1st 
wk). Despite fine buildup and con- 
sistent plugs in notices (fqur open- 
ings in one week), Savoyards only 
got biz on Saturday night. Dismal 
$14,000. 


‘PACIFIC’ SOCK $48,800 
FOR KAYCEE RETURN 

Kansas City, Nov. 25. 
Run of “South Pacific” in the 
Fox Midwest Orpheum went true 
to expectations, winding tip Its en- 
gagement Saturday (22) with $83,- 
500 in the till for the 10 days. 
Week ending Saturday with eight 
performances totalled $48,800, 
nearly equalling the take for a 
week when the show first played 
here two-and-a-half years ago. 
House was scaled to a. $4.88 top. J 
“Bell, Book and Candle’t moved'i 
in last night (Mon.) for a three- 
day run. of four performances; iThe 
J oan Bennett-Zachary Scotfc< icorii-j 
edy will play at a- $4*27Mop,uand 
advance sale was brisks. * i‘ £:•»»• 


The up-and-down pattern of • 
legit attendance continued last 
week with another drop in Broad- 
way grosses. Receipts were gener- 
I ally off from the start and failed 
to improve much except for the 
customary weekend spurt, and 
even that was below par. Only 
the top smashes failed to be af- 
fected. 

The pace was still slow Monday 
night (24) and yesterday <Tues.),j 
but will likely increase tonight 
»Wed.), and maintain it the balance 
of the week. But the pre-Christ- 
mas slump is due to start next 
week and grow progressively worse 
the ensuing fortnight. 

Two shows closed last week: 
“Point of No Return,” which is 
touring, and “Climate of Eden,” 
which goes to the warehouse. The 
Greek National Theatre had been 
slated to end its limited engage- 
ment this week, but is continuing 
an extra stanza through Dec. 6. 

Estimates for Last Week 

Keys : C (Comedy) , D (Drama), 
CD (Comedy-Drama), R ( Revue), 
MC (Musical Comedy), MD < Musi- 
cal Drama) , O (Operetta). 

Other parenthetic designations 
refer, respectively, to top prices; 
number of seats, capacity gross and. 
stars. Price includes 20 % amuse- 
ment tax, but grosses are net: i.e. t 
exclusive of tax . 

“Bcrnardine,” Playhouse (6th wk) 
(S-$4.80; 999; $21,500). Nearly $17,- 
600 (previous week, $17,700). 

“Climate of Eden,” Beck (3d wk) 
(D-$6-$4.80; 1,214; $31,000). Almost 
$19,400 (previous week, $8,900); 
closed Saturday night (22) after 20 
performances, at a loss of about 
$ 100 , 000 . 

“Deep Blue Sea,” Morosco (3d 
wk) (D-$6-$4.80; 912; $26,000) (Mar- 
garet Sulla van). .Nearly $26,200, 
with party commissions deducted 
(previous week, $26,600). 

‘‘Dial ‘M' for Murder,” Plymouth 
(4th wk) (D-$4.80; 1,063; $30,495) 
(Maurice Evans). Over capacity at 
more than $30,000, with party com- 
missions limiting the take (previ- 
ous week, $29,900). 

“Evening With Beatrice Lillie,” 
Booth (8th wk) (R-$6; 900; $24,500) 
(Beatrice Lillie, Reginald Gardi- 
ner). About $24,000 (previous week, 
$24,500). 

“Fourposter,” Barrymore (57th 
wk) (C-$4.80; 1,060; $24,996) (Betty 
Field, Burgess Meredith). Nearly 
$15,200 (previous week, $17,700); 
moves next Monday (1) to the 
Golden, where the seating capacity 
will be 769 and gross capacity 
$19,195). 

French Repertory, Ziegfeld (2d 
wk) (C-$4.80; 1,628; $38,750) (Made- 
leine Renaud, Jean-Louis Bar- 
rault). Last week, split between 
“Le Proces” and a double-bill of 
“Amphitryon” and “Les Fourberies 
de Scapin,” drew capacity $37,700, 
with the double press list cutting 
the take* (previous week, double- 
bill of “Les Fausses Confidences” 
and “Baptiste” got capacity $24,- 
000 for first four performances); 
this week is a split between “Oc- 
cupe-Toi d’Amelie” and a dual-bill 
of “La Repetition” and "L’ Amour 
Puni”;- engagement is being ex- 
tended, at least ahtil Dec. 20: 




‘Madam’ 416, Detroit 

Detroit, Nov. 25. 

“Call Me Madam” grossed a big 
$41,000 at the 2,050-seat Shubert 
in the second stanza of a three- 
week run. 

The Cass, dark for a fortnight, 
reli ghted" this week with "Katharine 
Cornell in “The Constant Wife.” 


More Pages From 

m 

My Book 

By 

Charlotte Greenwood 

Is another Interesting byline piece 
In the forthcoming 

47th Anniversary Number 

of 

PSlfttETY 


"(R-$6; 1,035; $30,600). Over $27,- 
900 (previous week, $30,000). 

“Pal Joey,” Brbadhurst (47th wk) 
(MC-$6.60; 1,160; $39,602) (Vivienne 
Segal, Harold Lang). About.$37,700 
(previous week, $39,000). 

“Point of No Return,” Alvin 
(45th wk) (D-$4.80-$6; 1,331; $37,- 
924) (Henry Fonda). Nearly $22,800 
(previous week, $24,500); closed 
Saturday (22) after 356 perform- 
ances, at a profit of about $50,000. 

“Seven Year Itch,” Fulton (1st 
wk) (C - $4.80; 1,063; $23,228). 

Opened Thursday night (20) to 
seven favorable notices (Atkinson, 
Times; Chapman, News; Hawkins, 
World-Telegram & Sun; Kerr, 
Herald Tribune; Lee Mortimer, 
Mirror; Watts, Post — who didn’t 
like it, but rated it a hit) and one 
negative reaction (McClain, Jour- 
nal-American); drew capacity $13,- 
200 for first four performances and 
a preview. 

“South Pacific,” Majestic (188th 
wk) (MC-$6; 1,659; $50,186) (Martha 
Wright, George Britton). Over 
$38,200 (previous week, $46,000). 

“Time of the Cuckoo,” Empire 
(6th wk) (D-$6-$4.80; 1,082; $25,- 
056) (Shirley Booth). Went clean 
again, with commissions trimming 
the take to $24,300 (previous week, 
$24,200). 

“Wish you Were Here,” Imperial 
(22d wk) (MC-$7.20; 1,400; $52,080). 
Over $52,100 (previous week, 
$52,200). 

Opening This Week 

“Time Out for Ginger,” Lyceum 
<C-$4.80; 995; $22,845) (Melvyn 

Douglas). Shepard Traube & Gor- 
don Pollock, in association with 
Don Hershey, production of play 
by Ronald Alexander; opens tonight 
(Wed.). 



$28,800 for first ' s!f!x ; pjei#orn£fofces. 
arid' a preview (this ”vte£k, ’ “Oedi- 
pus Tyrannus”); engagement is ex- 
tended a week through Dec. 7. 

“Guys and Dolls,” 46th St. 
(105th wk) (MC-$6.60; 1,319; $43,- 
904). Got the limit again; $44,000. 

“King and I,” St. James (87th 
wk) JMD-$7,2p;.. 1,571; 15L717 HYu 1. 
Bryrmer). Over $51,000 (previous 
week, $51,700). 

“Male Animal,” Music Box (30th 
wk) (C-$4.80; 1,012; $25,903) (Elliott 
Nugent. Martha Scott, Robert 
Preston). About $16,000 (previous 
week, $1-8,000). 

“Millionairess,” Shubert (6th wk) 
(C-$6-$4.80; 1,361; $39,000) (Katha- 
rine Hepburn). As before, "standees 
all performances, over $39,700 
(previous week, $39,800). 

“Moon Is Blue,” Miller (90th wk) 
(C-$4.80; 920; $21,586) (Donald 

Cook, Barry Nelson, Janet Riley). 
About $11,800 (previous week, 
$13,200). 

“Mrs. McThing,” 48th St. (33d 
wk) (C-$4.80; 925; $22,927) (Helen 
Hayes). Nearly $1 9, 600^1 previous 
week, $21,300); 

“My Dartin' Aida,” Winter Gar- 
den (4th wk) (0-$7.20-$6.60; 1,519; 
$51,881). Almost $42,000 (previous 
week, $44,000). 

“New Faces, Eoyale (28th wk) 


Bette Boff Boston 
Draw With $42,300 

Boston, Nov. 25. 

“Two’s Coiripany,” not too pleas- 
antly received by local crix, con- 
tinues to pack ’em in at the Shu- 
bert during its final week here. 
Musical leaves Saturday (29), with 
Paul Hartman bowing out of the 
co-starring comedy role he took 
over last week from Hiram Sher- 
man. “Don Juan in Hell” bowed 
into the RKO Boston last night 
(Mon.) for a six-day stand, with ad- 
vance sale reportedly strong. 
“Good Night Ladies” winds a six- 
week stand Saturday. 

Estimates for Last Week 

“Good Night Ladies,” Majestic 
(5th wk) ($3.60; 1,100). Down to 
$10,000 for next-to-final week. 

“Temptation of Maggy Hag- 
gerty,” Brattle (2d wk) ($3.60; 454). 
Final week nabbed near $4,800 fol- 
lowing okay $5,000 for first. 

“Two's Company,” Shubert (1st 
wk) (1,700; $6-$4.80) (Bette Davis, 
Paul Hartman). Clean at over $42,- 
300. Final week current, with same 
figure expected. 

CAMERA’ NEAT $ 1 8,300 
IN 6 ON 0NB-NIGHTERS 

Salt .Lake- .City, Nov. 25. 

‘T Am a Camera,’* John van 
Druten- . cpmedy-drama starring 
Julie Harris, put together a neat 
$18,300 gross last week in six per- 
formances divided between five 
one-night stands. It started with 
$3,300 Monday night (17) at the 
Orpheum, Davenport; added $4,- 
400 Tuesday night (18) at the 
Jo.w.a,. .Cedar. Rapids; .picked. u$>..an- 
other $3,000 Wednesday night at 
the Paramount, Omaha; got $3,100 
more Thursday night (20) at the 
KRNT Theatre, Des Moines, and 
after spending Friday traveling, 
finaled with $4,500 for a matinee 
and evening show Saturday (22) 
at the Capitol here. 

The Gertrude M a c y - Walter 
Starcke production opened last 
night (Mon.) at the Biltmore, Los 
Angeles, for a run. 


‘Paris* 14G, New Orleans 

New Orleans, Nov. 25. 

Cornelia Otis Skinner grossed 
$14,000 last week at the Civic here 
in her one-woman show, “Paris 
’90.” 

Star is splitting the current 
stanza between Houston, San An- 
tonio, Austin, Fort Worth and 
Dallas, and continues the schedule 
next week through. Oklahoma City, 
Wichita, Topeka and Kansas City. 


60 


UEGITD1ATK 


P^rTEty 


Wednesday, November 26, 1932 


Plays on Broadway 


Continued from page 5S 


most of the audience, the language 
difficulty shouldn’t be too great, 
since the plot of ‘'Oedipus,” like 
the complex, is pretty familiar. 
Driving force of the production 


Legit Bits 


Bill Fields, Playwrights Co 


Weuand-llaiTaiilA C-o. 

acted here by these brilliant far- 
.ceurs,. however, story is refresh- 
ingly simple. 

Charles Mashieu and Pierre Ber- 
tin are a treat as the two bemused 
fathers, but Barrault stands out, 
as usual, for his virtuoso acting, 
prancing and clowning as the art- 
ful Scapin. The man’s a marvel. 
Anne _Carrere and Simone Valere 
are two highly personable young 
misses and Gabriel Cattand and 
Jean-Francois Calve their hand- 
some gallants. Jean Juillard also 
knocks himself out as a valet. 

Bron. 


OCCUP6-TOI d'AMELIE 
(Keep Your Eye on Amelie) 

Faroe in three acts (four scenes') by 
Georges Feydeau. Directed by Jean-Louis 
Barrault; decor. Felix Labisse; costumes. 
Jean-Denis Malcles. At Ziegfeld, N. Y., 
Nov. 24. *52. 

Amelie Madeleine Rcnaud 

Yvonne Anne Carrert 

Jmyre ....... Simone Mati 

Biblchon . Jacques Galland 

Valcreuse Jean-Francois Calve 

®oas .lean-Claude Michel 

Adonis Jean-Plerre Granval 

Pochet Beauchamp 

Etienne Gabriel Cattand 

" en ® Eline Labourdette 

Marcel .Courbois Jean DesaUly 

van PUtzeboum Charles Mahleu 

Koschnadieff Jean Juillard 

E® ”,P. ce Jacques Dacqmine 

. • • • * Simone Valere 

» 1 °HjUetu Jean-Louis Barrault 

xr? ¥ a .* re Regis Outin 

Virginie Anne Gcffe 

vornette Pierre Sonnier 

For the first half of its third 
week the Renaud-Barrault troupe 
has gotten arbund to what veteran 
Broadwayites may think of as typi- 
cal French legit fare. That is, 
hokum bedroom farce of the sort 
that used to .convulse American 
audiences a generation or more 
ago. Maybe it’s the language that 
makes the difference, but what 
would .probably seem pretty dusty 
for a U. S. show is consistently in- 
teresting and frequently quite 
funny in the expertly slapstick 
hands of the Parisian company. 

Following the timeless pattern 
of French farce, ‘‘Occupe-toi 
d' Amelie” is a complex succession 
of variations on sex intrigue sit- 
uations, with characters hopping 
in and out of .the hay, hiding under 
the covers, running in and out of 
the room in assorted degrees of 
undress, with liberal use of mis- 
taken identity, etc. 

In this case, Madeleine ..Renaud 
is the outstanding click in the title 
part, with Jean-Louis Barrault as 
stager ^nd bit player. In one of 
the most laughable scenes, so vis- 
ually goofy tnSt°even a no-savvy- 
Francals spectator can’t miss the 
fun, the femme star makes a small 
gem of a farcial bedroom, rough- 
house. Another hilarious spot in- 
volves a pantomime bit by Jean 
Juillard* trying to solve a mathe- 
matical problem. 

As usual, the French physical 
production is so light that it 
amounts to little more than a few 
of the sort ' of screens a hospital 
puts around a seriously sick 
patient’s bed, but the effect is ex- 
cellent. Perhaps a U. S. produc- 
tion, particularly a Broadway one, 
couldn’t get away with such skimpy 
scenic effects, but it serves ad- 
mirably in this Paris-produced 
show. However, whether because 
of unfamiliarly with the technical 
setup or due to inadequacies of the 
equipment itself, the initial per- 
formance Monday night (24) was 
marred by spotty lighting, scene 
changes, etc. Kobe. 

. filcelra 

Guthrie McClintlc (by arrangement with 
American National Theatre & Academy) 
presentation of the National Theatre of 
Greece production of tragedy in one act 
by Sdphocles. Stars Katina PaxinoU. 
Staged by Dimitri Rondlris; music, Di- 
mitri Mitropoulos; scenery, C. Clonis; 
costumes, Antonios Phocas. At Mark Hel- 
llnger, N. Y., Nov. 19, '52; 4.30 top ($6 
opening). 

Paeagogus J. Apostolides 

Orestes Thanos Cotsopoulos 

Electro Katina Paxinou 

Chrysothemis Rita Myrat 

Clylacnmestra . A,. Ba/topoulou 

Aeglsthus N. Hadziscos 

Chorus Leader , II. Zafiriou 

Pylades A1 Deliyannis 

Chorus of women; A. Bellou, A. Capel- 
lari, C. Capitsinea, V. Cassavou, I. Cofino, 
P. Condou, V. Deliyanni. M. Gcorgula. 
A. Grcgorea, Tlv. Joannidou, R. Michal-. 
opoulou, C. Myrat, J. Vassalou, E. Vozikia-1 
dou. 


is Alexis Minotis as “Oedipus,” the pressagent, left Sunday (23) to 
Sophocles’ “Electra,” is impressive, stubborn tyrant who insists on spend three days with the Ring- 
vigorous eye-filling and non-com- finding out the truth about him- lmg-Bamum & Bailey circus at its 
mercial. * Producer Guthle Me- self, even if it destroys him. The Sarasota headquarters, then goes 
Clintic, who is presenting the Play begins on a relatively peace- to Cuba ahead of the show’s an- 
troune bv arrangement with ANTA. ful note, with Oedipus on stage nual winter engagement starting in 
deserves special kudos foe mak- with his two 8 ir ls, but once mid-December at the Havana 

ing this experience in the thea- starts on the course of self- Sports Palace . . . Theatrical at- 

tre possible for those who take discovery, he builds steadily in torney Howard Gliedman has op- 
dramatic art seriously. They to- tension to the anguished scene in tioned three plays for Broadway 
gether with New York’s Greek which the tyrant who was formerly production. They are “Dark of the 
population, should comfortably fill so blind to reality stumbles onto Moon,” 4 musical version of the 
the theatre for the skedded eight the sta 8 e > his e y es tor ” a P d '^H s 1944-45 drama by Howard Richard- 
performances. face and ro ^ e 9° vei ‘ ed with blood. son an( j william Berney; “Summer 

ThA lnmnintfA hnrriAr (if»c in A fine actor, Minotis plays the part Motley,” comedy by Robert Me- 

modern Grlekf seemsnot such a ‘"^1 ' bUt nCV6r ® Sard Tee " SWC *'Hinh P°itch " b a 

Loufs^Bamiul?” Current *produo> * the relatively small, role of musical comedy 'book by Milton 
►ions for the Electra store £ well- Jocasta, the wife and mother of Lazarus, has been acquired by 
treatlna afit does thl oriff- Oedipus. Katina Paxinou again Richard Aldrich & Richard Myers 
inal “father comolex heroine’’ demonstrates her great acting .tal- for production in the fall of 1953. 

who is wrought up over her moth- e ”‘- especially in the scene where Composer and lyricist are to be 

er’s murder of said father, and J h « dl ? cove ‘,'s tb <: ™ la £®" shl P be " selected. 

whose revenge is frustrated by her tween heiself and the king. Barry Hyams, pressagent for 

own weakness. Also to Minotis goes credit for “Mrs. McThing,” “Time of the 

Tfatina p^vinnn \k cnnArh fw. the skillful staging, in the classic, Cuckoo” and the incoming “I’ve 
fra Hicnla vint* nil tha intAncitv larger-than-life style that the play Got Sixpence,” announces plans to 
which marked her pic appearances demands. With Thanos Cotsopoulos become a producer with the pres- 
9S Piinr in “Fm* wi,nm +i,« as the leader, the chorus of 14 entation this winter of “The 

Tnlls” ini TlfrUHnA thp mnS acts with and reacts to the events, Wrestling and the Fall,” by Doro- 
ln “Mmirninpr RAAftmpe FlArtra ” and serves as a link with the audi- thy Monet . . . The Hume Cronyns 
But Fleet™ al« 5 n offers here an ence * addressing them directly, (Jessica Tandy) will be in New 
ODDortunitv for enormous emotion- singing, chanting, moving in for- York while their touring edition of 
at and vocal ?anse as she toneSe- mal P at ‘ e ™s. and always wanting “Fourposter” lays oft the pre- 
lashes her mother, weeps quietly to help the beset king, but. never Christmas week . . . Francis De- 

to the chorus is anguished when quite able to reach him m hls Witt » wbo had several P^ys on 
, , v J? . z , suffering. Wearing the draped cos- -Broadway some years ago, has au- 

tumes of Antonio Phocas, they thored a new whodunit, “Beyond 
resemble the god-like figures the Law,” which will be produced 

in a few weeks by the Marion 
Other members of the * cast are Players of Ocala, Fla., where he 
uniformly good, especially N. n °w lives. 

Hadziscos as the ambitious Creon, ( Jack Potter is company manager 

lv tons Thanos Cotsonnulos as a J * AP°. stoli<les as the a S ed prophet of “Seven Year Itch,” with Marian 

frank and likeable Orestes n rnn Tai resias, P. Zervos as the sturdy Byram and Pliyllis Perlman press- 

trast to his complex-ridden sister; St Vocovitch as the a 8 ents - c ‘ ,arl “ Durand stage 

A. Raftopouldu as their harsh but m< ^ sengel - manager Pat Fowler assistant, 

fearful mother; Rita Myrat as Designer C. Clonis has made a Marty Glickman announcer for the 

their sister who prefers Drettv tew changes in the unit set which recorded exceipt fiom a baseball 
clothes to revenge- J Apostolides serves both this play and “Elec- broadcast, Gleb Yellin conductor 

as an apprehensive tutor; N Had- to*’” with the artistic representa- of the offstage and intermission 

ziscos as the mother’s swaeffiferint? tion of a palace entrance and steps music and Margery Quitzau assist- 
lover. and H. Zafiriou, whose a?t? fading downstage. Vene ant to scenic designer Frederick 

ing is a fine study in subtlety as 
the chorus leader. 

Unlike the self-conscious chorus 
in “Mede^,”. or the uncontrolled 
one in “Tower Beyond Tragedy, 
this group of 14 women and a w 

chorus leader is a heavy nroduc- Washington, Nov. 2o. 

tion asset, their patterned move- “The Shrike” did $24,200 for its l j‘ c to aSd 

* raine wee ^ the National Theatre was later used in an exhibition 

Director DlmltriPnnfUriQ h** here ' with business held down by sponsored by. her for the benefit 
staged thP S Hnn fn i , three d& y s of rain » which also af- of the American Theatre Wing’s 
st vie with a cHnn U a « d i airiJ* rfn f 9 cted other midtown amusement Stage Door Canteen, 

mount to “buiness” and technique ^ z, 4 . starrer is ex- Lester Cowan signed Phillip 

Atmosphere of stark grandeur P,f c t ed to better the take during Bloom to work with Jean Dalrym- 
results from tasteful blend of C. S e uc U ™ nt second and last week Pic on publicity for the film about 
Clonis’ setting (facade of the pal- ot “ s run * legiters, “Main Street to Broad- 

ace upstage, its steps leading Henry Fonda opens next Monday way,” during shooting sequences 

downstage, with level playing at the National in “Point of in N.Y. next month, 

areas midway and on a built-up No Return.” The Shubert Theatre. The opening night curtain for 
apron); Antonios Phocas’ costumes “ ark week, reopened yester- “Seven Year Itch,” advertised for 
In blues, golds and mauves, and da y (Mon.) with ‘ Pamt Your “8 o’clock sharp” and scheduled 

artistic lighting supervised by Wa 6on. for 8 : 10 , actually went up at. 8:25 

Klaus Holm. — . . . “Flight Into Egypt,” slated for 

The melodiously inflected ‘Ravels’ St T.niiiQ* production in London with Anne 

speeches of J. Gryparis’ modern .Jr 1 ®’ Todd as femme lead, is regarded 

Greek translation (skillfully punc- becond MaIl , $16,000 there as an anti-American play , . . 

n, T . Joe Grossman, recently out with 

at. .Louis, Nov. 25. “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” has 
Bagels and Yox” grabbed a taken over as company manager of 
good $18,000 for its one-week “Two’s Company,” succeeding 


she hears her brother is dead, 
elated when he returns to kill 
their mother, and savage at the I r vitir 

end, as she listens with satisfac- • caived m ^ ieek feezes, 
tion to the death cries of her 
mother. 

Supporting company is uniform- 


‘Shrike’ Garners $24,200 
In 1st Washington Week 


Fox . . . According to the artist, 
Paul Meltsmer, he has received a 
letter from Queen Elizabeth ask- 
ing for his portrait of Gertrude 
Lawrence for the National Gal- 
lery in London. The picture hung 
in the Alvin Theatre, N. Y., at the 
time the late star was appearing- 


las secretary, George Abbott trp^c 
urer and Howard Reinheimer at 
torney. 

Charles Fredericks will takp 
over the Sky Masterson part in v 
the touring “Guys and Dolls” 
fective Dec, 29, succeeding Allan 
Jones . . . Margaret Webster will 
stage the Warren P. MunselL 
Kenneth Bangliart production nf 
“Cornin’ Thro’ the Rye.” a musicSi 
play by the late Warren P. Mun- 
sell, Jr, . . . The owners of the 
Colonial Theatre, Boston, deny 
that reported sale of the property 
is to the Shuberts. The house 
only legit stand in the Hub not 
owned or operated by the Shuberts 
is currently under lease to Marcus 
Heiman, president of the United 
Booking Office, in which the Shu- 
berts are associated. 

Jack Hylton’s production o£ 
“Paint Your Wagon” opens a pre- 
London tour next Tuesday (,2i at 
the New Theatre, Ox Cord . 
“Sweet Peril,” comedy for Regil 
nald Denham and Mary- Orr, in 
which Broadway players Margot 
Stevenson and Ron Randell are 
making their first British appear- 
ances, opens next Wednesday i;j) 
at the James’s London . . . Rich- 
ard Whorf will costar with 
Menasha Skulnick in “The Fifth 
Season,” formerly titled “Business 
Is Business” . . . “Be My Guesl.” 
musical comedy with score by 
Duke Ellington and book and lyrics 
by mag and tele writer Doris 
Julian, is announced for produc- 
tion next spring by scene designer 
Perry Watkins and Miss Julian 
. . . U. S. rights to “A Priest in the 
Family,” Kieran Tunney - John 
Singe drama which had an 11-week 
London run a year ago, have been 
acquired by Eddie Dowling, who 
reportedly plans a Broadway pro- 
duction following his incoming 
The Intruder.” 


‘BANANA’ FAIR $37,800 
IN CINCINNATI STANZA 

Cincinnati, Nov. 25. 
Phil Silvers in “Top Banana” 
peeled a fair $37,800 last week in 
the 2,500-seat Taft Theatre. Top 
was $4.92, upped to $5.54 Friday 
and Saturday nights. 

“Guys and Dolls” is in the Taft 
this w?ek for six performances at 
$4.92, and $5.54 Saturday night 
only. Next road show booking is 
Katharine Cornell in “The Con- 
stant Wife,” for the Cox Theatre 
week of Dec. 8 at $4.31 top. 


tuated with silences) and Dimitri 
Mitropoulos’ exciting background 
music , add voltage to “Electra.” 

Ve7ie. 


0<*di|»u$ Tyraiinus 


stand at the American here last Clifford Hay man, who is now billed 

week. It was near SRO biz as associate to producers James 

throughout the run, with a $3.66 Russo and Michael Ellis . . . Pro- 

w .?h Ut tSf AmSi‘°N&ai a, ?SrL t t0P : . ducer-director Guthrie McClintlc 

Academy) presentation of tragedy in one . A fine $16,000 was grossed for ,s ln Detroit for Thanksgiving with 

act by Sophocles, stars Alexis Minotis; ‘The Second Man” in its stanza actress-wife Katharine Cornell, 

MinoUs. 5 by’c cionSMoalLS ending ?\mday (23) at the Em- who's playlng tlieie this week in 

A -DLa.^.... 1. i.«f * • 9 TirACC IlM+ll l?i»o * pAllcfotlf Wl*fn M • 117 U #v 4- 


This particular gift the Greek 
National Theatre bears to New 
York’s Mark Hellinger Theatre, 


Antonios Phocas; music. Miss Paxinou; Press, With Francliot Tone 
choreography, Agapl Evangelidou; trans- 
lated -Into modern Greek hy Photos 
Polltis. at Mark Hellinger Theatre, N.- Y., 

Nov, 24, '32; $4.80 top ($6 opening). 

Oedipus' Aletls Minotis 

Priest BasU Kanakls 

Creon N. HadzlsCos 

Tieresiaa J. Apostolides 

Jocasta Katina Paxinou 


‘Wagon’ 

Continued frojp page 56 


Constant Wife” . . . Whatever 
happened to Michael Myerberg’s 
scheduled production of “Third 
Person,” Andrew Rosenthal’s Lon- 
don hit? 

Nola Fairbanks, who succeeded 
Olga San Juan as femme lead dur- 


Shepherd'V.'/.'V.’.V/.V.'/.. ..., n p. Zervos Brooklyn’* as its one song-and- Ym r h w^rn°n ^ W ? y 1Un 0t 

Attendant Nicos Paraskevas dancer instead Y0U1 . Wa Son, has resumed the 

, P ar t in the John Yorke-Wolfc 

unorus ot 'me Dan Elders: AI Deliyannis. Grq aHditfnnnflv f°+i UC f ^* u ^" lan touring edition, starring 

d. Dimopouios. n. Papaconstantinou, d. additionally was the fact that Burl Ives . . . Jessie Royce Landis 

y*®?. 1 ®* Tr h T, A MJ? 4 ria o^ p0 ^ l0 ?L B ‘ Tree * after playing Washington has returned to New York after 

Catsiier’os^sp. 6 ilascaride?, 0 j^^Mavroye’n^! ai ? d Chicago, is being yanked and three years on the London stage 
G. Moutsios, c. Naos, st. Papadachis. will terminate its travels in the lat- • • • Text of Mary Chase’s “Bernar- 

te’r city. Yorke and Kaufman have di . n e” and her former “Harvey” 
--The - Greek - National-- Theatre . al . ready -?L a y ed s . ev 9 ra i spots which be published next spring by 

scores again, with a powerful pro- now won’t get “Tree,’ v ' and figure 1 . F re &Sv winch - recently- 

duction of “Oedipus” at the Mark tka t “Wagon,” with subscriptional 1 lssUed hpr M, ’ c 
Hellinger Theatre, presented by help, would have shown a profit in- 
Guthrie McClintic in arrangement stead of a loss in those situations 
with ANTA. More so than with The whole matter is a cause for 


last week’s “Electra,” this offering concern ion -.Th- 

_ a . p ? e ?, 1 ’.? 0 ! pbinipg , pass !. on the Nixon - Xre which “hSd 


with a plot that is probably the UI \ ,le f e ' 

most - powerful in stage history. P pomised subscribers seven shows, 
Even though the dialog is Greek to ^ , s a nausical, and now find them- 
selves holding the bag for a tuner 



#/ 1 


it 


CAB CALLOWAY 

Sportin' Life 

PORGY AND BESS 

Now (7th Week), -'Stoll Theatre, London 

NEWS -CHRONICLE; "Our old frUnd Cal. Calloway . /. 
respondent . , , the applause became frenzied.” 

— Elizabeth Frank. 

Mgt.: BILL MITTLER, 1611 Broadway, Now York 


as well as a straight play, on ac- 
count of the Guild’s “Jane” having 
collapsed after being out just a 
month. It had been a subscription 
commitment, too. However, “Guys 
and Dolls,” opening here Jan. 12, 
will be on subscription the first 
stanza of its four-week run. 

“Wagon” missed an even break 
in Pittsburgh last week by a cou- 
ple of grand, and if it had been 
presented as a subscription offer- 
ing, would have left town in the 
black instead. 


• II p R 




r rv ^ 


issued her “Mrs. McThing . . 
Nick Holdc will be general mana- 
ger and Saul Richman pressagent 
for the Paul Crabtree-Frank J. 
Hale production of “Lily.” 

,^?r£ crt Whitehead, co- producer 
of “Time of the Cuckoo,” has an 
untitied new script by novelist 
Calder Willingham, for which he 
hopes to enlist British actress 
Eileen Herlic for the leading role 
. . . Lydia St. Clair, featured 
actress m “Time of the Cuckoo,” 

fif S T^ oine< l. H ie teaching staff of 
the Dramatic Workshop . . . Kermit 
Bloortigarden, producer of the 
forthcoming revival of “Children’s 
Hour, was company manager of 
the original production and gen- 

HJL2? na iSf r £ or the Producer, 

Herman Shumlin . . . Richard 
Myers lias been elected chairman 
of the Committee of Theatrical 
Producers succeeding Leland Hay- 
ward, with Irene Mayer Selzulck 


‘Bell, Book’ Over $20,400 
For Three-City Stand 

Memphis, Nov. 25. 

“Bell, Book and Candle,” with 
Joan Bennett and Zachary Scott 
costarred, rang up a gross of over 
$20,400 last week in an unorthodox 
string of eight performances over 
three stands. The John van Druten 
comedy started with $5,600 for 
Monday evening, and Tuesday mat- 
inee (17-18) at the Paramount, 
Baton Rouge; added $5,100 for two 
evenings and a matinee Wednes- 
day-Thursday (19-20) at the Robin- 
son Auditorium, Little Rock, and 
wound up with $9,700 for two 
evenings and a matinee Friday- 
Saturday (21-22) at the Auditorium 
here. 

Shepard Traube production is 
dividing the current week between 
Kansas City, Des Moines and 
Omaha, and plays all next week at 
the Davidson, Milwaukee. 


As a tribute to his late father-in- 
law, Adolf Busch, Rudolf Serkin 
will include on his Carnegie Hall. 
N.Y., recital program Dec. 5, a 
piano sonata written for him by 
the late violinist-composer. 




Theatrical producer ha« modern 
furnished offices — reception room, 
four private offices, audition room. 
Will share with responsible tenant. 

Write to BOX V. 405. 
VARIETY, 154 W. 46th 5t. 
New York 36. 


PRODUCTION ASSISTANT 

experience!), wants position In ACTIVE 
legit production office. Assistant di* 
rector, casfins, play-reader, secretary. 
Male, 30, top references. Box V-10Z47. 
Variety, 154 W. 44th 5t., New York 34. 




Wednesday* November 26, 1952 


LITERATI 


Literati 


by Blanche Shoemaker Wagstaff 
has sold over 650,000 copies with- 
out making the charts. Religioso 
tome was published by Whitman, 
of Racine. 

^ . Lyman Bryson, CBS broadcaster 

D.C.’s Obscene Book Probe McCormick to Herbert Asbury, and professor of education at 
Special House of- Representa- Jane Addams to Clarence Dar- Teachers College, Columbia U., 

* m . lli.AA 4» y\ 4 M /\b^ 1L « l « it 1 _ _ J 11T^ _1 il r* T J 


:: SCULLY’S SCRAPBOOK 

” * * 

- . . . 

« .^4^444 4. 4. «| 4.4 444. 4,. By FjYa.nk Scully 4 4 . 4 4 4 4 - 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 1 » 

Television City. 

When CBS opened, one eye on its multi-million dollar version of the 
entertainment world . of tomorrow, where what had once been the 
sales of pornography. It has de- Holt publishes at $5. N. Y., Dec. 3. beautiful isle of Gilmore, between L.A. and Beverly Hills, I watched a 

cided to nit at the smutty books, Another bright anthology is Bill Ornstein will have three hand some, white-haired man. ^inipg in solitary splendor at a table 
comics and magazines which can “The Weekend Book of Humor," new short stories miblished next beautifully laid out for ItL He was smiling on the scene of hundreds 

i j AnAnl,. in lutllnf r <t.o\ --■t.-j.-j wiwi siuuca ucai, « .. j mi. • . _i 


hearings in Washington next Mon- replete with some very bright stor- pink," in American Jewish Times chestra. 

day (1) has been at work since last les by many of the top contempo- Outlook. Wherever the man of mystery turned it looked like Caesar back from' 

June and a „ and _l s .^ ur ^ ei ; ^ or " j- the Gallic wars and really throwing himself a ball. Mayor Bowron 

amount of mater al sent l by o - trfied by poems, cartoons and gag ; was still wearing makeup and, so for that matter, were Lucille Ball, 

^ ge newsstands h ana g drugstore* ‘ ‘ Ab 1 ‘Daniil*’ Gracie Allcn ' Eve Arden ’ Cass Daile J'. Marie Wilson, Cathy Lewis, 

Mostly the complaints deal with dj-i. T oseD h> s Trinle Header P3C1IIC ”^ er ^ u S 0 and Margaret Whiting. 

e.,nor-nhppce rakp covers on uick Josephs Iripie-Header But Governor Earl Warren, Jack Benny, J. Carrol Naish, Bob Crosby, 

♦lie naoer-bound books although l ^5 * travel e ? 1 J : °. r 1 ^ c hard ■ Con inued from page 57 Desi Arnaz, Art Linkletter, Alan Young and Alan Reed had removed 

there P has been some ’complaint JSthor on the^oubled^h^both time— $119,811 at the Municipal theirs. J. L. Van Volkenburg, Charles Luckman, William L. Pereira 
about the. content of a portion of J n January and February first Auditorium, Oklahoma City. The and William S. Paley seemingly never had put any on. Neither did 
the books. A lot of comic books w ith his “World Wide Money Con- net for the stand was $60,668, also the splendidly isolated gentleman. They had this as well as other 
are found too “gory" for the chil- verter and Tipping Guide," up- a legit record for them. For the things in common. 

dren who buy them, and some dated to embrace 30 different cur- same week, the Theatre Guild’s Jack Benny began table-hopping for a cigar. He asked me. He 

magazines will be attacked for car- rencies, and in February his two original production grossed $27,- thought Sheilah Graham was Anne Baxter, ,so he asked her. He was 
rying ads purporting to offer sexy books on England (Coronation 968 for $13,273 profit at the St. not wearing his glasses. Otherwise, he would never have thought the 
pictures. . editions) will be updated and is- James, N. Y. That brought the glamorous mugette at our table was Anne Baxter. “Where’s Jack 

The Congressional committee sued. These are titled “Richard, week’s total gross for the two com- Heilman?" he began yelling. “Heilman will have a cigar." 

has an idea it can get the pub- Joseph’s World Wide Travel panies to $147,779 and the total net I signalled him to lean down so I could whisper in his ear. “Ask 

lishers to set up a voluntary code Guide" and “Your Trip to Britain." to $63,941. that distinguished looking gentleman at the next table," I suggested, 

of ethics suejj as those m broad- Latter has an intro by Sir Alexan- ODeratinEf Profit He wanted to know who the d.l.g. was. “He’s the forgotten man of 

casting and motion pictures. der Maxwell, chairman of the Brit- i,,™™!, radio/’ I said. “He’s the founder and was the first prez of CBS. When 

— : ish Travel Assn. With its $168,373 profit for the ’ , j.. •_ » tt- *_ 


casung ana muuuu piuu lcs . der Maxwell, chairman of the Brit- radio," I said. “He’s the founder and was the first prez of CBS. When 

_ ... lsb Travel Assn. W ^ you were only 39 he was ' already in his first million." He wanted to 

Canada Conviction “ 5n!rafintfnpnfi^ It* thi “QmlS know how the guy got in. “His daughter got him in," I explained. 

Mae West, Erskine Caldwell and Two New Book Eds “She grew up in the biz. She’s an engineer here." 

Tereska Torres were bracketed . , Ned Bradford is Little, Brown’s ^ific companies had reached $3,- What's That Burning? Benny’s Maxwell? 

Etter&StaT Peepshow 3 .’ Paris KrjohnVMcK: Woodburm paid to Roger Rico In settlement of Xoleemlngl? wa^n" too anlL 0 ^/- 

ssssa mts&w assn 

D wS STA rMSK Sl/ro^- ££ InVcS 

fined $1,100. Judge A. G. Me- educational department and then from licenses to use the title, etc., r h ’ a 

DougaU found four test-case pock- as assistant to that company’s a( jded $247,510, and $37,201 had ^ a S' es t . lj ^ “» J^ 1 } 0 ?. ad i ee .” 1 architect before being 

et-size books “tending to deprave veepee and g.m. been oaid to Coast producer Edwin whirled J? the to P of the Palmolive-Peet’s bubbling vats, only to re- 

and corrupt" and the mags “smut." A new associate editor at Henry ? oa i %P S nf turn to hls first love> J ’ Andrew White had been a Columbus of the 

Books were “Diamond Lil,” Holt & Co., appointed by veepee Profits ** W S l '° 5nare OI tne mind before the caprices of wireless and radio fetched him into this 

“Tragic Ground," “Journeyman’ 1 William E. Buckley and editor-in- P ronis - fascinating field. He left Marconi to shill for the two great peddlers 

and “Women’s Barracks," last- chief Ted Amussen, is Stewart As of Nov. 1, a total of $3,395,- of radio sets — Westinghouse and General Electric. RCA was their 
named being cited partly for Richardson who shifted over from 021 profit had been distributed, general agent. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday White extolled 
description, of lesbianism. First Houghton, Mifflin. leaving $287,843 assets, including Westinghouse. On Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday he told his lis- 

sueh trial in Canada is considered $1,108 advance on the royalties teners to buy General Electric. 

highly significant. Judgment will Black Heads Publicists from the hit London production, This all had to be done from New Jersey, as radio seemingly was 

be appealed. . j V an Black was elected prez of $10,000 in an advertising fund, barred from New York in those days and not. even heard of in Holly- 

the Publicists Guild of N. Y. for $50,000 sinking fund and $226,735 wood. This was in the winter of 1921-22. It was the worst winter 
P-H’s New Issue 1953, at annual meet last Thursday available for distribution. since the Blizzard of ’ 88 . White had the Happiness Boys standing by 

Prentice-Hall is planning a stock (20). Dick Mardus was chosen “s.p." original production if any programs became snafued. Once. the Happiness Boys sang 57 

issue to finance building on the first veepee; Spencer Hare was re- j s curre ntly in its 189th week on songs waiting for the sunrise. Nobody got paid much’ until after 4he 
17-acre tract it recently acquired elected second v.p.; Dick Llnke Broadway, and the touring edition, Dempsey-Carpentier fight. That, too, was held in New Jersey, not 
in Englewood Cliffs, N. J., and to was chosen secretary, and Diinan nQW j n ^ 317 ^ week, is playing far from where the radio stations were. White handled the fight for 
expand production and operation Picard treasurer. f ,, a u this week at the Forum, Wichi- the airlanes. The broadcast put radio on the map. 

whirih a ? b nr d AS ^Fifth Estate ta * and spends all next week at the But it was not until 1927 that White founded CBS. Its first head- 

on publishing Lcondary School was made a member of he execu- Robinson Memorial Auditorium, quarters were in the Paramount Bldg. In those days this was more of 
bonk? ' snecSS mpetfnff of stock- Hve board Little Rock, both normally one- an architectural eye-opener than Television City, or even the United 

bonders wifi be hrid in Dover Del ni S ht stands - Nations building, is today. It caused Harry K. Thaw, on seeing it for 

Dec 10 to vote on the plant to Sylvia Golden’s Tome ■ - J he f £ rst time 1x1 dayli S ht » to remark, “My God, I shot the wrong archi- 

authorize 60,000 shares of 5% Macmillan Co. last week inked te< £* _ .... ___ . . .. . .. . . ' 

cumulative preferred stock, each a pact with Sylvia Golden under ■¥ A 9 fl| AA {, From the Par building CBS- moved to its present Madison Ave. head- 

with par value of $50. Directors which it will publish her hovel I U UlUGK quarters. By then White had a fifth interest m the system, and when 

feel the best way to finance the tagged “Neighbors Needn’t Know." _ .. ^ . „„ he sold out to Bill Paley, White’s take was in excess of a million. In 

expansion-building program is It’s scheduled to hit the stands ' ■ continued from page 57 1930 -those were boxcar figures. He and his family toured Europe for 

through retaining substantial some time next spring. ing w jth Beatrice Lillie" has also a year and then when they returned to New York White thought he 

amounts of the earnings, transfer- Book has already been drama- f 0 iiowed the traditional Mondav was a one-man WPA. Even fleas could put the bite on him and come 
ring coin from earned surplus to tized by Joseph Kramm as a script s ^ e( j out with a buck* - 

capital. titled “The Gypsies Wore High 0l | e o£ the maJ complications He Treats Psychiatrists? 

a 1 pre J H a ts." Aldrich * Mya ^ ^ a .Y a sla ^ in the situation has been that So they pulled out for Ojai, a cultural kop back of Santa Barbara, 
tn 1T thP S bnfdPi^ 1V ftf e cbnr^c llofnn Broadway p odu s some of the new shows, particular- and stayed there till 1942, when they became our Whitley Heights 

it the fi /1 nothin? season ' ly those selling theatre parties for neighbors and he returned to his first love— applied psychology. So 

ferred share for e£?h Vha^e^nf » « a Monday nights, have found it in- that’s what he is doing today. He even treats psychiatrists. I asked 

common A ca h dividend of 15c Books on convenient if not impossible to him about that. He laughted. “Well, I had a friend of yours, a pub- 

per common share as the fourth be T subjects 1 “Sf nlw Ho boSs a f dopt f the aarly ring-up Monday, lisher, in fer a treatment the other day He brought his doctor along, 
quarter of ’52 divvv will be Daid i UD;|eC rr rt ««o w uaHtten at least untl1 Party bookings have Afterward the doctor asked if he might have a treatment, too.’’ 

Dec. 1 to stockholders of b record S^M^CalPs macazSie on tlie Roy^ been completed. This has pre- One of the fallacies of modern life is that if you can’t think your 
Nov. 18. fli r -pa^ivl aridaE^inirfendof the vented a general lineup that night way out, build your way out. Thus architects have become the super- 

Hans W. Holzer has left post of Duke of Edinburgh consort of the and tends to confuse the public, shields of a phoney progress. It ought to be easier to write a smart 
editor-in-chief of Exclusive Press new Q uee n Elizabeth II, is doing Rodgers reported yesterday that comedy script in Television City than in a walkup flat, but it isn’t, 
and Entertainment Press Service a boo k called “Elizabeth the despite the confusing aspects of To most of the stars and scribes who were present, the hastily whipped- 
and has two plays readied for pro- Q ue en." Bocca is U.S. rep for the the situation there have* been-no, qp structures were beautiful^ replacements of what had previously oc- 
duction in London. Kemsley papers. complaints from patrons at “South cupied that corner of> Gilmore' Island. Considering that tjie Pereira- 

— 1 Edmund Chester, former CBS Pacific" or “King afld I,” but th$t Luckntaft palacfe of pleasure bad replaced an antiquated football field 

Buffalo Critic Quits news expert on Cuba and Latin comment has been '•> uniformly '£m&pttq<I.ed by woodep stands ,not even a consulting psychologist could 

Bud Sinclair, who had been do- America, is writing “A Sergeant thusiastic. He also noted t hat.. le t)- argue that the change hadn’t/'be.en .for the better. . 

ing legit reviews for the Buffalo Named Batista." Chester current- ters to the drama section 'WThe^ V Btlt 'OA that old field T if a • ixenfotmance” will be seen there 

Courier-Express, has resigned lyis exec of a radio-TV chain in jyj y. Times and other papers 1 iihd for some time to come quite<;equaT to bne Katie Hepburn staged sev- 

from the paper. He goes to Flor- Cuba owned by Ben Marden. a j so be en overwhelmingly- favbr- eral y£ars go. A former ^,ilc^pjdqsid$jht*pf' the U. .S. had been denied the 


He wanted to know who the d.l.g. was. “He’s the forgotten man of 


highly significant. Judgment will 
be appealed. 


Dec. 10 to vote on the plant to Sylvia Golden’s Tome 

authorize 60,000 shares of 5% Macmillan Co. last week inked 

cumulative preferred stock, each a pact with Sylvia Golden under 

with par value of $50. Directors which it will publish her hovel 

feel the best way to finance the tagged “Neighbors Needn’t Know." 
expansion-building program is It’s scheduled to hit the stands 
through retaining substantial some time next spring. 


able to the early Monday curtain, right to speak in the Hollywood Bowl -by* a -couple of realtors of op- 
However, the ’composer pro- posing political views. Earl Gilmore," on reading of the disgrace, of- 


jda to resume writing his third 1 able to the early Monday curtain, right to speak in the Hollywood Bowl -by* a -couple of realtors of op- 

book and a series of magazine ar- CHATTER However, the ’composer pro- posing political views. Earl Gilmore," on reading of the disgrace, of- 

llc ] es \ ‘ . Aldo Ray profile by Ed Miller (j ucer declared that while he is fered his stadium to the ousted veepee. ' 

Legit reviewing for the paper is in Seventeen mag. personally in favor of retaining More than 27,000 paid to see this fight for the right to be wrong right 

now being distributed to regular “Tax-Wise, cartoon book on tne ^ ie ear i y s t ar ^ Mondays, he out loud. It was a coldish evening. People were wrapped in tweeds. 

M a ^S are .t Dmorim tax form, by ^tMiley & Jan c “ wou ]dn’t try to persuade other But what I remember more than anything else was that Miss Hepburn, 
getting the bulk of assignments. Hen y managements to stick to the ar- dressed in a low-cut gown, set the place on fire with her own particu- 

yesterday (luesj. «rpi,_ ranerement. He wouMn^. .want., to.. _lar iiat-tle ■w.v-Af-freedfwn-.- -She' ^ remin-deri -nne nf^ a vtujtr&eY afid "'Ifiveiife’f 


iutkimw XVUlilLUll, UUVCIIOl oixu . . . . OQtll 1CC11A nf C 

film writer, has completed “Jesus appearing in 29th issue 

Through the- Centuries,’’ an an- Saturday Evening Post - . + - _ f 

thology. on Jesus by noted savants, Columbia i^ a ? e o a oJ. ns 

with Komroff writing intros to all up with Charles ® c P bn ?J’ s i 

sections, as well as biogs, etc., for for a bally cam P ai gg, ! 

the 600-page tome. Morrow will with the release of From Heie to , 
bring book out next Easter. Eternity." „ nf 

% Komroff, who did a “Travels of Bertram Bloch, story editor 01 

Marco Polo” 25 years ago, is also 20th-Fox in New York, has a snow 
now having a “Marco Polo" for business novel, “Mrs. Hulett, due 
kids, with added info, issued by off the Doubleday presses early 
Messner. next year. . . , 

Sam Levenson has been signed 

Halper’s ’Chicago’; Good ’Humor’ to do a b ^ ar0 ^ n ^ lu t ^ e n lines 1 of 
“This Is Chicago," an anthology Bell ? yndl £ ata ’ ioL° s ng Tfn start in 
edited by Albert Halper, breathes his video mon°l°g s . 4 

the brawn and the might that is a ^®^^ ^t” 10 , 11 vAriiror’<i A J Lieb- 

the Windy City. From Edna Fer- The New Jorkers A ; ^ 

ber to Louis Satchmo Armstrong, p ^ n oortrait of James 

from Carl Sandburg (several Ra^maker a portrait of James 

Pieces) to Edgar Lee Masters, A. MacDonald ja ias Col. bt ngo 

James T. Farrell to the antholo- of the N. Y. Enquirer) into a D 


Theodore Pratt 

reviews the horizons of 

Paper-Backed 
Bestsellers as Big 
j B.O. Potentials 


an Interesting editorial feature 
In the 
forthcoming 

47th Anniversary Number 
of 

PSniEfr 


he said. 

How About a Return Engagement, Katie? 

So far as my counter-espionage operatives have reported, neither 
Miss Hepburn nor Earl Gilmore suffered economic sanctions for ex- 
pressing their dissenting opinions, though in her case it’s hard to pin- 
point the premise, since she pulle'd out of the country for a trip aboard 
the “African Queen,” Skipper Bogart reporting; and then proceeded to 
| take London by storm and hasn’t got west of New York yet. But Earl 
Gilmore held his. ground, leased some of it to CBS and is still living 
on a far corner of his romantic acreage. 

Hardly, a year ago Messrs. Pereira and Luckman laid out blueprints 
and wash drawings of what they had in mind for the southeast corner 
of Gilmore Island. Figures were tossed around like cotton in a southern 
hurricane, but I remember they were going to get a million out of it as 
the architects. The first unit would be ready by Oct. 15, 1952. (It was, 
too.) They talked a lot about flexibility. They planned to build the walls 
so they could be moved around like props for subsequent expansion. 
The first unit would cost $12,000,000. It would handle lighting enough 
to light 275 ball games at one time. The elevators would lift elephants. 
There would be parking space for 710 cars, and though it would have 
only one entrance there would be 474 exits for people on their way out. 

Andy White and I had no difficulty in finding these. 


62 


CHATTER 


Broadway 


Celebrity Service prez Earl 
Blackwell back from visit to his 
Coast offices. _ , 

Waiter Pidgeon back to Coast. 
Actor leaves with USO troupe for 
Korea Dec. 19. , 

■ Eddie Foy, Jr., under the knife 
for the second time in a week at 
Harkness Pavilion. ■ • 

Dean Jennings, S. F. Chronicle 
columnist, in town for 10-day o.o. 
of Broadway shows and niteries. 

Kenneth McKenna, Metro studio 
story head, in from the Coast to- 
day (Wed.) for o.o. of local literary 

market. . ‘ , 

Jeanmaire, French ballerina star 
of “Hans Christian Andersen/' in 
over the weekend for charity preem 
on film at the Criterion. 

Leonard H. Goldenson, prez of 
United Paramount Theatres, re- 
elected to his fourth consecutive 
term as head of United Cerebral 
Palsy. 

Negro Actors Guild holds its 
15th annual benefit Dec. 7 at the 
Majestic Theatre. For the third 
straight year it will be a memorial 
to Bill Robinson. 

Max Youngstein, United Artists 
ad-pub veepee, appointed public 
relations chairman of the 25th 
Anniversary Committee of the Na- 
tional Conference of Christians & 

Jews. . , , . 

Pegeen (& Ed) Fitzgerald has a 
double “loot” day on her birthday, 
Nov. 24 and again on the Thanks- 
giving nearest that because she 
was born on Turkey Day, hence 
the double-featute celebration. 

Richard Rodgers and Oscar 
Hammerstein 2d to be testimonial- 
ed at Hotel Pierre Dec. 3 on behalf 
of the Joint Defense Appeal of the 
American Jewish -Committee . and 
the Anti-Defamation League of 
B’nai B’rith. 

Bob Weitman, United Paramount 
Theatres veepee, who is executive 
producer and talent committee 
chairman of the “Celebrity Parade 
for Cerebral Palsy” Telethon, 'Dec. 
6-7, has set' a long list of talent 
• for the benefit. The 18t£-hour tele- 
cast goes out on A3C-TV (Channel 
7) starting at 8 p.m. Saturday (6). 

Doris (Mrs. J. C.) Stein’s second 
son (by a previous marriage) back 
from Korea, where he was a jet 
pilot,' after completing his 10th 
mission. Another son was just 
mustered out as a Lt. Col. in the 
Marines. Both have the Chrysler- 
Plymouth agency in Kansas City 
which was founded by their 
father* 

' Jane and Tommy Dorsey have 
.bought a house in Greenwich into 
which they will move before Xmas. 

Nola Luxford, director of the 
Hotel Pierre’s public relations and 
special events, is British-born and 
proud of her OBE — Order of the 
British Empire, which is a not 
common rank in England, espe- 
cially for femmes. 


by Portuguese Count d’ Aguilar, 
one of Europe’s top magicos. 

Rigat nitery has Laura Mitchell, 
singing American songs; Harbers 
& Dale and Fernanda Montel. 

“Nobody Saw It,” mystery play 
by Rafael Lopez de Haro, at the 
Poliorama. It stars Maria Luisa 
Ponte. 


PfaziEfr 


London 


Wednesday, November 26 , 1952 


A new Cecil Landeau produc- 
tion opened at Ciro’s nitery this 
wede 

Sir Henry L. French, Phil Hy- 
ams and Ben Henry planing to 
Rome Friday (28). 

Sir Alexander Korda signed 


Italian Camera orch from Milan j ame s Mason to star in the next 
conducted by violin soloist Michel- oarbl Reed production, as yet un- 
angelo Abbado at Palacio de la 


Musics, 

Legit writer Juan Ignacio Luca 
de Tena presented his new play, 
“Pon Jose, Pepe y Pepito” at 
Romea Theatre in Murcia. 


Bernard Lee inked by 20th-Fox 
for a major role in its current 
British production, “Sailor of the 
King.” 

Maurice Chevalier and Nancy 


screens are “A Place in the Sun 
(Par), “Flying Leathernecks” 
(RKO) and “Great Caruso” (M-G). 


American jpix^on the Barcelona | Donovan are to appear in a charity 

show at the Savoy tomorrow 

(Thurs.). . . ... 

David Clayton, formerly v/ith 
Reuters in N.Y., has authored 
"Wake Up and Die,” a book about 
hangovers. 

George Lloyd into Splvy’s East I a '™tf n VbUn. Betty 


Paris 


Side. . _ , 

Rita Hayworth and Henri Vidal 
returning from Cinema Week in 
Madrid. 

Two new niteries opening here 


Hutton planed back to N.Y. last 
night (Tues.). 

Boris Karloff sails on the Amer- 
ica today (Wed.) after prolonged 


are Chez Agnes Capri imd the Oree 1 ,o>f* pe ' h ° PeS to " t0 “ 
Du Bois. 

Robert Stafford to direct forth- 


early in 1953. 

Aneurin Sevan, the stormy pet- 
Anmiritf TnVin TJncfit’c “ftHpnt i?vji | rcl of the Labor Party, attracted 
i f h -J? 1 E a capacity audience at the Variety 


press,” as a telepic here. 

Graham Greene here from Lon- 
don to supervise Paris production 
of new play, “Living Room.” 

The Theatre Nationale Popu- 
late, headed by Jean Vilar, under 
fire from government officials. 


Club Luncheon. . „ 

Dock Mathieson, assistant music 
director at Ealing for nearly six 
years, upped to post of music di- 
rector on “Meet Mr. Lucifer.” 
Wally Peterson recorded a duet 


e irom guvermuem. uuiuicua. nf “W hnro Oh 

Serge Lifar back from dance £ n i? a £ V TOllv’s British 

tour which included Tokyo and the Dame " 

PflCAhlflnrn and into Paris ODGra Invitation to tnc Dflncc* 

RbiuSpin , 0 p Sir Philip Warter flew to Ire- 

Marcel Pagnol decided to release ' and Berthe 7f!£ en a d n 7 lt L1Sh 
hiQ thrpp-hmir nic "Manon Des Todd, David Lean and Josepn 

Sources,” as is, with an intermis- ^rim^ound ^rrie^arthe^Bel- 
Sion between halves. f T “ e Sound Bamer at ttlfe Bel 

$i;"fi; S gtf week i four Opera singer Martin Lawrence 

big houses. Over 125,000 patrons 
already have seen the pic. 

Lilo out of “Singer of Mexico,” 

Chatelet show, Jan. 1, when she 
flies to N. Y. to start rehearsals 
for new Cole Porter musical, “Can 
Can.” 

Jean Lods exiting government 
subsidized film school LTDHEC 


scored two firsts last week. He 
made his film debut with a singing 
role in “Melba” and his initial ap- 
pearance at Sadlers Wells in “The 
Barber of Seville.” 

Wilbur Evans, who has played 
the Emile de Becque role in the 
London version of “South Pacific” 
since its* ripening, has been ele 


rooms with his “Top Banana” bur* 
lesque hats. “Banana” opened at 
Great Northern Monday (24). 

Herve Dugardin, impresario and 
manager of the Theatre des 
Champs Elyees, Paris, was in look- 
ing over “The Consul” at the 
Opera House performed by the 
N. Y. City Center Opera Co. 

Nancy Evans had to hop seven 
planes to get into Chi to make 
date at the Chicago Theatre, her 
crafts being grounded all along 
the East Coast. At that, singer 
lost her music and went on" cold, 
missing the first show, 

Portland, Ore. 

By Ray Feves 

Les Brown orch played Jantzen 
Beach Ballroom (21-22). 

“Ice Cycles of 1953” set for 
Portland Arena starting Dec. 25, 

Cooper Sisters in at Castle Cafe 
after two smash weeks at Clover. 

Ben Yost Royal Guards in at 
Amato's Supper Club for two 
weeks 

Ted Mack & “Original Amateur 
Hour” winners will play the Audi- 
torium tomorrow nite (Thurs.). 

Tommy Smith, ex-Freddy Martin 
sideman, now rep for Bing Crosby's 
Minute Maid Juices in Oregon. 

Roberto & “South American 
Puppet Revue” headlining at 
Clover Club for a second inning. 

William Duggan set to present 
“Oklahoma” for three days in 
December and “Guys and Dolls” In 
spring at the Auditorium. “G & D” 
will be fourth in his series group. 


here after serving as its director vated to co-starring status and 

* mEaAMAM MAAMMIIAA UAM/Vtifl (*tlf U I 1 1 I 4 A 


Philadelphia 


By Jerry Gaghan 
Latin Casino has signed singer 
Al Martino for a week starting 
Dec. 11. , . 

Songwriter Morty Berk is m 
Pennsylvania Hospital suffering | 
.^£cojga.^a-h£art~attank, 


for 10 years; goes into documentary 
production. 

Ed Gruskin bicycling between 
Germany and Paris setting up 
groundwork for his Interconti- 
nental Television Film Co. which 
headquarters here. 

Fred Sanborn joins Lido show 
for Marrakech jaunt and then re- 
turns to U. S. in December. San- 
born came over for two-weelc en- 
gagement and stayed two years.' 

Opera-Comique ballet dancers, 
who were put out of work during 
latest theatre cut here, have 
formed their own company, the 
Ballets Populaires De Paris, and 
preem at Versailles Dec. 3. 


shares marquee honors with Julie 
Wilson. 


Miami Beach 


\ 

Vienna 

By Emil W. Maass 
International Congress of cul- 
tural short6 held here. 

Wien Film studios in Sievering 
finished modernization program. 


Gertrude Berg visiting Straw- 
bridge & Clothier store today 
(Wed.) in the role of dress de- 
signer. „ M 

Philadelphia Orchestra earned 
$25,500 for its Pension Foundation 
during 1951-52 season, through 
series of benefit concerts. 

Blue Note Cafe launched series 
of “talent awards” (21) with first 
honors going to Billie Holiday, in 
town for one-nighter at Met. 

Eura Bailey, sister of Pearl and 
Bill Bailey, is filling in at Lou's 
Moravian for Bonnie Davis, ill in 
Newark, where her infant died 
shortly after birth. 

Tony Aquaviva, bandleader and 
former manager of Bob Haymes, 
in town making rounds of dee jays 
to plug his recording of Haymes’ 
new tune, “Beyond the Next Hill.”, 
George Murphy was emcee, 
Quentin Reynolds guest speaker 
and Margaret -G’Brien* -and -Eddie-| 
Dowling took part in a program 
for Heart and Greater Vessel Re- 
search Foundation dinner in ( the 
Bellevue-Stratford (22). <* 


Will Redley’s “All-American Ice 

JBevae" oseoed , here. at. Raimund U a te7VfMl^lMd^e?s“-Bto^“& 


By Lary Solloway 

Nat “Count Smith” into Monte 
Carlo Hotel’s Club Casino. 

Gilda (Mrs. Benny) Davis asso- 
ciated with the Art Gordon agency. 

Sarah Churchill spent a few days 
at Roney Plaza, then headed for 
Manhattan. 

Bobby Breen combining honey- 
moon with date at Nautilus Hotel 
Driftwood Room. 

Walter Winchell in town Monday 
(24) for a few days of sun and the 
putting-green at Roney Plaza. 

Nov-Elites held over for 42d 
week by Clover Club with song- 
stress Peggy Greer dittoed for 
her 11th. 

Lou Collins, former Chi cafe op, 
taking over Mother Kelly’s. Will 
open with Pat Morrissey early in 
December. 

Jana Jones set for Sans Souci 


Athens 

By Irene Vellissariou 

K. Parides off to baton orch at 
Musical Academy of Rome. 

Yugoslavian Ballet’s two per- 
formances here scored a success. 

Zibro & Para, the Vera Kruz 
Trio and Tina Starte at the Blue 
Fox. 

Ingrid Bergman and Roberto 
Rossellini due here this month for 
preem of “Europe 51.” 

Franco-Italian pic, “Messalinh,” 
playing day-date at three first-runs 
outgrossed 'two Greek films. 

Vasso Manolidou headed for 
Egypt to play in Mohamet Aly 
Theatre of Alexandria in “Peg O’ 
My Heart.” 

Greek - American producer S. 
Dallas is shooting a film based on 
the Greek resistance here. It is 
called “Battalion of Barefoots.” 


Hollywood 


Dana Andrews laid up with virus 

Billy May’s wife won a divorce* 

Lieut. Samuel Goldwyn, Jr out 
of the Army. ’ 

Vera-Ellen to Honolulu for 
Thanksgiving. 

May Mann recovering from 
major surgery. 

Danny Thomas emceed the City 
of Hope benefit. 

Burt Lancaster planed in from 
the Fiji Islands. 

Chris-Pin Martin sailed on a 
worldwide tour. 

Steve Cochran to Mexico for a 
month of touring. 

Eugene O'Brien in the hospital 
with a heart ailment. 

Eighteen Actors Co. will open 
its legit season Feb. 1. 

Gora Katsura in from Japan to 
gander Hollywood studios. 

■ Harry Foster in from London to 
ogle talent for the Palladium. 

L. Wolfe Gilbert back in town 
after ASCAP huddles in N. Y. 

Jean Hersholt to Indianapolis to 
speak at a hospital benefit dinner. 

Howard Dietz and Joseph Vogel 
•in town for exec huddles at Metro. 

Dan Duryea took 12 stiches in 
his hand after a fight scene on TV. 

Edgar Bergen’s annual “Opera- 
tion Santa Claus” tour starts 
Dec. 12. 

Frankie Farr celebrated a dou- 
ble anni — 30 years married and 30 
years in show biz. • 

Walter Pidgeon taking shots 
prior to his overseas tour to en- 
tertain servicemen. 

William Dieterle leaves for Cey- 
lon next month to scout locations 
for “Elephant Walk.” 

Charles Rosher returned to his 
home in Jamaica after lensing 
“Young Bess” for Metro. 

Karpkrushna Mahtab in from 
India to visit the studios as guest 
of the producers’ association. 

Actor Robert Arthur changed his 
front name to Bob to avoid confu- 
sion with producer Robert Arthur. 

Spencer Tracy will emcee the 
Metro dinner honoring Msgr. Nich- 
olas H. Wegner, director of Boys 
Town. 

Lionel Barrymore appeared in 
the first of a series of shorts to 
plug sales of Federal defense 
bonds. 

Suzanne Warner in from Lon- 
don to arrange for Johnnie Ray’s 
appearance at the Palladium early 
next year. 


Theatre. 

Deep-sea film producer Hans 
Hass off to N. Y. on lecture tour of 
U» S. and Canada. 

Danfei Barenhoim, nine-year-old 
pianist from Buenos Aires, gave 
concert in Mozart Saal. 

Works of American composer 
Arthur Shepherd preemed by pian- 1 
ist Felicitas Karrer in Cosmos 
Theatre. 


Shine. Lenny Kent pacted for 
Xmas. week. 

Ft. Montague Hotel in Nassau 
reopened its Jungle Club. Spot 
features native and imported (from 
Miami) talent. 

Willard Alexander making the 
rounds with former GAC exec 
Harry Kilby, who now runs his 
own setup here. 

Bill. Jordan set David Elliott, 


Lou Barto, Guy Rennie. Har: 

‘“L™"; " °h a f U been v 7, BeU £ ° r reopening of his Bar 
naa oeen 0 £ £> e c. 4 

.Martha Raye shuttering her Five 
O’clock Club Saturday (29) when 


operetta, “Boccaccio, 
chosen for 1953 season. 


r.,/1 


Australia 


By Eric Gorrick 
Here McIntyre, Universal chief, 
on biz visit New Zealand. 

Bob Gibson band onstage at 
Greater Union Theatres’ Capitol, 
Sydney. 


sfie heads for N. Y. and TV date. 
Reopens Dec. 11. 

Walter Jacobs preems his Lord 
Carleton Hotel for annual winter 
run on the 29th. Mike Selker’s 
orch signed for the Jolson Comer. 

Harry Richman planed back to 
New York for TV date with Jackie 


at 


at 


) 


Barcelona 

By Joaquina C. Vidal-Gomls 

Carceller’s Circus de Price doing 
good biz. 

French singer Suzy Solidor 
the Rio nitery. 

German Circus Belli opens 
the Monumental Bullring. 

Lili Murati with legit play, “Be- 
loved Shadow,” at the Comedia 

Emporium nitery has Cristina 
Lockhart, Eva Nick and the John- 
sons, 

The Calderon has the legit play, 
“La Cortesana,” by Claudio ae la 
Torre. 

Argentine legit actress Pepita 
Serrador with “Sweet Enemy” at 
Barcelona Theatre. 

The Rio nitery show is heatfe^ 


American golfers pulling terrific Gleasori arid 'l)o6kmg in Montreal, 
crowds here. Gate for one day hit Dickering for setup with Beach- 


Memphis 

By Matty Brescia 

Buddy Morrow orch to Peabody 
Hotel’s Skyway for two weeks. 

Warren Billingsley flacking 
Claridge Hotel’s Balinese Room. 

Former Memphis radio staffer 
Bob Caffey back here for a visit 
from Hollywood. 

Former Memphis radio exec Bill 
Brazil to KSTP-TV, St. Paul, as 
commercial manager. 

Nobel Prize winner William 
Faulkner back at Oxford, Mass., 
for a series of TV films under 
Howard Magwood direction. 

WREC prexy Hoyt Wootfen gave 
space in his' leased building to 
J!^mpMs.Pi^js&-J^izidtarJEor -annual 
charity “Goodfellows” promotion. 


South Africa 


Riviera 


comber. 


to $12,000 

Wirth’s Circus will tour New 
Zealand late this year after Mel- 
bourne run. 

Walt Disney may make quick 

Aussie trip next year scouting I + in }? -J' 

story material. I branch of Screen Actors Guild. 

Edwin Styles returns to Mel- 
bourne to do “White Sheep of the 
Family” for Garnet Carroll at 
Princess 


Chicago 

Walter Pidgeon in to start 


Ronald Regan and Greer Garson 
in for Allied States’ annual con- 
vention. 

Vern Stevens, Music Corp. of 
United Artists setting major ex- America concert booker here, ill 
ploitation plans for Charles Chap- a t St- ^uke s hospital. . 
lin’s "Limelight.” Pic will go over _--"*rs. Harry Brand, wife of the 


the Hoyts’ circuit. 

Now believed that “South Pa- 
cific” will run at His Majesty’s, 
Melbourne, until the middle of 
1953 for Williamson. Seats now 
are selling months ahead. 

RKO has set "Robin Hood” 
(Disney) in Sydney, Melbourne, 
Hobart and Newcastle for Xmas 


20th-Fox studio publicity head, in 
town visiting relatives. 

Norman Powell here to visit his 
mother, Joan Blondell, currently 
in "Tree Grows in Brooklyn” at 
Shubert. 

Eddie Garr on the sick list at 
Passavant Hospital and members 
of Allied donated $2,000 for his 


season via Hoyts. Joe Joel and Cliff care at their meeting. 

Holt in charge of special publicity.! Harry Davis gagging up ..the city 

1 1') . » 1 * J • 1. * J *».. | 1 1 J # v 


' By Arnold Hanson 

“City Lights,” old Charles Chap- 
lin pic, is proving a big draw.’ 

Cinema prices have been in- 
creased because of higher taxes. 

George Black’s production, “Out 
of this World,” did good biz in 
South Africa. 

African Film Productions is 
shooting a documentary film about 
the 1820 settlers. 

“Desert Fox” (20th) did good biz 
in this area in spite of threatened 
boycott by various organizations. 

Harry Watt, director of “Where 
No Vultures Fly” (U), is back here 
to produce a film on Ivory poach- 
ing. 

Ethel Revnell, Bamberger 81 
Pam are- among -the stars- txf the 
London Palladium Co, unit touring 
South Africa. 

The new Van Riebeek, seating 
1,508, was opened by the mayor of 
Capetown, Fritz Sonnenberg, for 
African Consolidated Theatres. 

. Two Capetownians, Fred Gluck 
and Ralph Sloane, formed a new 
film company to make full-length 
pix. The first film is now being 
shot. 

South African - born ballet 
dancers Nadia Nerina and Alexis 
Rossine toured the country by ar- 
rangement' with Sadler’s Wells Bal- 
let Co. 

Plans have been okayed fof a 
new film house for Kimberley Cin- 
emas, Ltd., at Claremont, a suburb 
of Capetown, and another in the 
center of Capetown. 

Stuart Cloete, the author, claims 
he sold the film rights for “Turn- 
ing Wheels” to J. Arthur Rank Or- 
ganization years ago. Film is now 
being shot , by Metro, 

1 I 1 


By Ed Quinn 

Hyman Zahl, of Fosters Agency, 
London, convalescing at the Ma- 
jestic Hotel, Cannes. 

The Music Hall at the Nice Mu- 
nicipal Casino opened its winter 
season with a vaude show. 

The Alessandro Scarlatti orch 
from San Carlo, Naples, will do a 
orie-nighter at the Nice Opera. 

The Marie Bell Co. played “An- 
thony and Cleopatra” and “Satin 
Shoe” at the Nice Opera House, 

The Theatre Hebertot Co. gave 
“Britannicus” and “Rome n’est 
plus dans Rome” at the Opera, 
Nice. 

Bill Coleman and his Swing 
Stars played to a full house on a 

l_Qne-nisht_stan£L„ .8t_.Nifie_.jQp.era 

House. 

The Cine Club Jean Vigo which 
plans this winter to present films, 
opens the season with Eisenstein’s 
“Que Viva Mexico.” 

James P. O’Donnell, European 
editor of Saturday Evening Post 
and his wife, novelist Tony How- 
ard, left their Cannes villa for a 
swing around Euprope. 

Rene Clement is now in St. Paul 
de Vence doing script of a novel 
by Louis Hemont, “Monsieur Ri- 
poise and the Nemesis.” Most of 
pic will be made in London. 

An anni show iri honor of Prince 
Rainier of Monaco will be given 
at the Casino. It will feature 
Wladimir Skouratoff and Marjorie 
Tallchief and extracts from pop 
operas. 


Omaha 


By Glenn Trump . 

Hank Winder orch opened at Mu- 
sic Box. . 

Dell Clayton tooters in at Lin- 
coln’s Pla-Mor. , .. 

Organist Bill Williams at the 
Rltz, Grand Island nitery. 

The Serenaders, Chicago l y 
quartet, playing concerts througn 
state. 

Dave Haun, orchester of the '30s 
in Nebraska, revived outfit for one- 
nighters. 

The Applebees in to ballyhoo 
Cornelia Otis Skinner’s “Paris 90, 
set for Paramount Dec. 9. 

Tony Bradley and Skippy 
son orchs played weekend at Peo y 
Terrace, with local fave Edd 
Haddad in Thanksgiving Day. 

Former “Ice Capades” skater 
Barbara Carleman, now working 
w I at Union Pacific, was named .10 
• railroad’s sports, club committee. 



63 


Wednesday? 


NoyemT^t* 26, 1952 


& M\~ III, II 

pffi&ffift 



I. E. CHADWICK 

I E Chadwick, 68, film industry 
nioncer and prexy of the Inde- 
pendent Motion Picture Producers 
Assnfor SB years, died Nov. 19 in 
Hollywood after a heart attack. 

Chadwick had been in show biz 
foi* 42 years, starting with a N. Y. 
film exchange in 1910, and func- 
tioning for a time as U. S. repre- 
sentative of Pathe Freres of 
Fiance. Three years later he or- 
ganized the Merit Film Corp.. and 
bought Ivan Film Productions. In 
1923 he sold his exchange interests 
to Harry Thomas - and moved to 

Hollywood. 

Chadwick’s first film on the 
Coast was “The Bells,’’ a Lionel 
Barrymore starrer, produced in 
partnership with Jess J. Goldburg. 
Later he bought a studio where 
the Columbia lot is now situated. 
He retired from active production 
in 1940 to devote himself to his 
numerous business and charitable 
interests. 

In addition to his IMPPA presi- 
dency, Chadwick was a mejmber of 
the Motion Picture Industry Coun- 
cil, the Permanent Charities Com- 
mittee, the Motion Picture Relief 
Fund, and chairman of the recently 


was general manager of the late 
Buck Taylor’s Rodeo & Circus, 

whl Pu for several seasons 

on the Million Dollar Pier, Atlantic 
City. For the last 10 years he had 
been associated with Harry Dem- 
bow in the operation of the Media 
Theatre; Media, Pa. 

His wife survives. 


MAL HALLETT 

. Mai (Malcolm Gray) Hallett, 59, 
veteran danceband leader, died 
Nov. 20 in Needham, Mass. Hal- 
lett, who had one of the first of the* 
travelling dance orchs, was the top 
bandleader in New England for 
many years, outdrawing the na- 
tional names. In partnership with 
Charles Shribman, he had op- 
erated several ballrooms in that 
territory, or leased them on a per- 
centage basis. He is said- to have 
been the first in his field to intro- 
duce production orch ideas with 
spotlights, solos, etc. Among his 
sidemen at various, periods were 
Gene Krupa, Jack Teagarden and 
Frankie Carle. 

Hallett’s health failed in the 
early 19303 after a plane accident 
and he moved to Arizona to re- 
cuperate. He returned to orch 


IN FOND REMEMBRANCE 

WILLIAM FREDERICK PETERS 

(December 1st, 1938) 

He could road music — He could write music 
He could orchestrate, and was a wonderful Conductor 
His Devoted Wife. Mrs. William Frederick Peters 


| in New York. Among his Broad- 
way appearances were “Bringing 
Up Father” and “Stop, Look and 
Listen.” 

A sister survives. 


MAURICE ROTENBERG 

Maurice Rotenberg, 55, propri- 
etor of Maurice’s, Philadelphia 
restaurant adjacent to, the • Forrest 
Theatre, died Nov, 16 at his PhiUy 
home. 

Although not a musician, Roten- 
berg’s yen for music, led him .to 
become an outstanding collector, of 
recordings, which were played 
over the loudspeaker system in his 
restaurant. The collection, num- 
bering more than 30,000 and in- 
cluding many rarities, brought 
both musicians and visiting musi- 
cal artists to his place. 

His wife and four children sur- 
vive. 


CLIFF N. SCHAUFERT 
Cliff N. Schaufert, 64, head of 
Crosley’s WLW music script de- 
partment, died Nov. 17 of a heart 
ailment in Cincinnati. He joined 
the station in 1927 after 11 years 
with the Cincinnati Symphony Or- 
chestra. 

Survived by a sister. 

♦ GEORGE SIEMONN 
George Siemonn, 78, composer- 
pianist and former director of the 
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, 
died Nov. 21 in New YdVk. 

He also was accompanist for his 
wife, singer Mabel Garrison, on 
concert tours. 


JAMES M. BOWMAN 
James M. Bowman, former 
vaude and minstrel performer, 
died recently in Lakeland, Fla. He 
appeared with the Bowman Bros., 
known as “The Blue Grass Boys.” 
Wife survives. 


formed Labor Management Health 
and Welfare Fund. 

Survivors, are his wife and a son, 
Maj. Lee K. Chadwick of the U. S. 
Air Force. 


JOHN PARKER 

John Parker, 77, editor of 
“Who’s Who in the Theatre,” lead- 
ing British stage reference book 
circulated internationally, died 
Nov. 18 in London. In the early 
1900s, he had been London corre- 
spondent of the New York Dra- 
matic Mirror and from 1903 to 
1920, of the New York Dramatic 
News. 

Parker was editor of the Green 
Room Book In 1908 and 1909 and 
contributed to the British Dic- 
tionary of National Biography. He 
was a founder member, secretary 
(1924) and prexy (1937-38) of the 
Critics Circle, London, and was 
honorary editor of the Critics Cir- 
cular for about 30 years. 

Editing of “Who’s Who in the 
Theatre” will be continued by his 
son, John D. D. Parker, who has 
acted as assistant editor in recent 
editions. 


HERBERT DUFFY 
Herbert* Duffy, veteran legit 


LORENZ HART 

November 22, 1943 


THEODORE. DOROTHY 
and 

LORENZ HART II 


actor, died Nov. 23 after an opera- 
tion for throat cancer at the Mayo 
Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Until two 
weeks ago, Duffy had been tour- 
ing with “Mr. Roberts’* in the role 
of the Captain. Dan Keyes is sub- 
bing in the role until a permanent 
replacement is set. 

Duffy, who began his legit career 
..in . Canada, . ma de, his, Broadway I 
debut in 1928 opposite Mae West; 
in “Diamond Lil.” He played 440 
roles in his 37 years in the the- 
atre. Among the other plays in 
which he appeared were “Another 
Language,” “Boy Meets Girl,” 
“Room Service,” “The Land Is 
Bright,” “Big Hearted Herbert” 
and “Blessed Event/’ He also ap- 
peared in tele. 

His wife survives. 

HOMER A. LORD 
Homer A, Lord, 69, veteran the- 
atre manager, died Nov. 18 in 
Chester, Pa. Lord had been assp- 
eiated with houses in Philadelphia 
since 1905 when he started at 
Keith’s Chestnut St, Theatre. - He 
subsequently joined the J. Fred 
Zimmerman circuit as manager Of 
tlic Orpheum Theatre, German- 
town, and the Edgemont (now 
Stanley), Chester. 

When these houses were taken 
over by Warner Bros., he was 
made district manager.- Later he 


work during World War II playing 
the New England territory. For 
the last few summer seasons he 
had operated a concession stand at 
Salem Willows in suburban Boston. 

His wife survives. 


RENAUD HOFFMAN 

Renaud Hoffman., early-day film 
producer-director, died Nov. 19 at 
his home near Palm Springs, Cal. 
A native of Germany, Hoffman 
reached prominence after his first 
Hollywood film, “Not One To 
Spare,” made in association with 
Gilbert J. Heyfron, a Los Angeles 
attorney. 

Hoffman and Heyfron subse- 
quently produced 30 other pix, one 
of which featured Clara Bow while 
she was still comparatively un- 
known. Hoffman’s best-known pic 
was “The Unknown Soldier” 
(1926). 

Surviving are his wife and two 
sons. 


GEORGE ASHBY 
George Ashby, 69, legit mana- 
ger and lately treasurer at the 
Yonkers Trotting .Race Track, 
N. Y., died of a heart attack Nov. 
14 at the track. Ashby had man- 
aged such shows as “Hit the 
Deck,” “Chocolate Soldier” and 
George M. Cohan’s “Mary.” For 
many years he managed the Gar- 
rick and Forrest Theatres, Phila- 
delphia. 

— A^fo-sur-vivefe- - — 


ANNIE FRIEDBERG 
Annie Friedberg, 84, manager of 
Artist Attractions, concert bureau, 
died Nov. 19 in New York. 

She had formed her manage- 
ment biz more than 40 years ago 
and handled such attractions as 
Myra Hess, Budapest String Quar- 
tet, Vladimir Horowitz, Jan Smet- 
erlin, Mary Davenport, Elisabeth 
Schumann, and her brother, pianist 
Carl Frieaberg, who survives. 


LOUISE L. BEAL 

Mrs. Louise Lester Beal, 85, si- 
lent western pic star, died Nov. 18 
in Hollywood. She starred in the 
Calamity Ann series, one of the 
first hoss operas,' beginning in 
1912. She was the widow of Frank 
Beal, pioneer director. 

Mrs. Beal entered pix as a mem- 
ber of the Flying A Co. in Santa 
Barbara" after a“ successful career 
in legit. 

She was the mother of Scotty 
Beal of Screen Directors Guild. 


MARK E. SCHRECK 
Mark E. Schreck, 52, profession- 
al manager of Southern Music, 
died Nov. 23 in New York. He 
began his music biz career 11 years 
ago with Southern. 

Two brothers and a sister sur- 
vive. 


MARY O’CONNOR 
Mary O’Connor, of the Six 
O’Connor Sisters, vaude singing 
team, died Nov. 18 in Toronto. The 
act played the U. S. vaude circuits 
after beginning its career in the 
Shea Theatre, Toronto. 

Surviving are her mother, six 
sisters- and a brother. 


GEORGE M. SMITH 
George Muir Smith, 69, former 
vaude and legit actor, died Nov. 24 


ROY WILLIAMS 
Roy Williams, former song-and- 
dancer in vaude, died in New 
York, Nov. 7. 

He had been James Barton’s 
valet for 30 years. 


Mrs. Elsie Gibbs Howard, 65, 
who had been in vaudeville for 
many years and before that was 
soloist with the St. Louis Phil- 
harmonic Orchestra, died in Des 
Moines Nov. 18 after surgery. Sur- 
vived by two sons, mother and five 
grandchildren. 


Wife of William A. Hewitt, at- 
traction booker for Maple • Leaf 
Gardens, Toronto, and mother* of 
Canadian sports announcer Foster 
Hewitt, died Nov. 18 in a car col- 
lision near Scranton, Pa. 


.4 

Oliver Garland Ayer, 53, pioneer 
TV technician, died Nov. 23 in 
White Plains, N. Y. He had been 
associated with the Jenkins Tele- 
vision Laboratory, Passaic, N. J., 
and was district manager of the 
Fada Radio Corp. 


J. Glenn Carruthers, 57, Grove 
City, Pa., owner of the Guthrie 
and Lee Theatres, died there Nov. 
16 of a heart attack Nov. 16. He 
was a former member of the City 
Council and active in civic affairs. 


frianolfta ~ Tejedor ClementcT 
singer known professionally as La 
Preciosilla, died recently in Ma- 
drid. She became a Madrid the- 
atre exhibitor after quitting her 
singing career. 


Arthur P. Mitchell, 81, retired 
musician and past president of the 
Lynn, Mass., local of the Atb'eti^aff 
Federation of Musiciahs/'diqd 're-, 
cently in Concord, N. It *■ • r '“‘ 

______ < Jt 

Giovanni Tronchl, Itkjifili^fch 1 
conductor, died Nov. 23'' , ifi J ‘jWil l ?(p.. 
He helped found the Acadeih^ of 
Contemporary Mu^ic there’ - ana,' 
had been its prez since 1920. 


Father, 75, of Thomas W. Cowell, 
owner of the Cowell Amus. Co., 
Erie, Pa., died Nov. 12 in Wild- 
wood, Fla. 


Jack- Dodrnan-,-- 44, - engineer at- 
WBBM, Chicago, djed Nov. 20 in 
that city. Wife and three children 
survive. 

Wife of Harry Redmond and 
mother of Harry Redmond, Jr., 
spgpial effects men, died Nov. 19 
iifSanta Monica, Cal. 


Steven Castro, 88, former rodeo 
rider and film cowboy, died Nov. 
19 in Hollywood. & 


James Francis Bacon, 63, NBC- 
TV electrician, died of a heart 
attack Nov. 24 in New York. 


Wife, 41, of the manager of War- 
ners’ Lincoln In Troy, N.Y., died 
in that city Nov. 21. 


Father of Irving Stein, 20th-Fox 
salesman in Pittsburgh, died at his 
home there Nov. 10. 


Mother, 62, of Dave O’Brien, 


V 


screen actor, died Nov. 17 in Santa 
Barbara, Cal. 


Father, 74, of John Boles, sing- 
er-actor, died in Greenville, Tex., 
Nov. 16. 


Julius Fodor, 66, retired thea- 
tre chain operator, died Nov. 16 
In Los Angeles. 


Colin Laurence, 40; . legit 1 tat0r, 
died Nov. 8 in Birmingham, Eng- 
land, after a road accident. 


Henry Leech, 80, cinema pro- 
prietor, died in Stoke-dn-Trent, 
England, Nov. 6. 


Wife, 37, of disk jockey Bob 
McLaughlin, died Nov. 16 in Holly- 
wood. 


MARRIAGES 

Pearl Bailey to Louis Bellson, 
Jr., London, s Nov. 19. Bride is 
singer; groom is drummer in Puke 
Ellington orch. 

• Shirley Sporn to Harold Eisman, 
Chicago, Nov. 23. Bride was re- 
ceptionist in Chicago office of 
Music Corp. of America; groom is 
agent in company’s Beverly Hills 
office. 

Lois lams to Jimmy Emert, Pitts- 
burgh, Nov. 14. Bride is a chorine 
at Casino Theatre there; groom is 
in the house band. 

Elaine Mahnken to Mickey 
Rooney, Las Vegas, Nov. 18. She’s 
a model; 'he’s film star. 

Stephanie Bidmead to Henry 
Bardon, Perth, Scotland, Nov. 3. 
Bride is actress with Perth Theatre 
Co.; groom is scenic artist. 

Irene Sharp to George Cormack, 
Dunblane, Scotland, Nov. 15. She’s 
Scot thrush; he’s stage tenor. 

Marjane Nulle to Earl Ballamy, 
Los Angeles, Nov. 22. She’s an 
airline stewardness; he's an assist- 
ant director at Columbia. 


I DeMille B’way Hits 

l-- - - Continued from page 1 — :y~ 

sical hits for which Miss de Mille 
has done the choreography — such 
as “Oklahoma,” “Bloomer Girl,” 
“Carousel” and “Brigadoon” — will 
make up half the program. These 
will be restaged. Rest of program 
Will comprise freshly choreo- 
graphed works, some based on 
items Miss de Mille did early in 
her career as a concert dance solo- 
ist. These will be set to music 
from Scarlatti, Bach, Boccherini, 
as well as to sea chanties and 
American folk music. 

Troupe itself will be different 
from the usual terp company, be- 
ing mainly dancers who have 
worked in the legitimate theatre 
instead of longhairs. .The reper- 
tory will be specifically designed 
for them. Miss de Mille will be 
producer; Motley will do costumes; 
Don Walker the orchestrations, and 
Trudi Rittman will be music super- 
visor. Conductor, and dancers, 
haven’t been chosen yet. 

Tour, which will start next Oc- 
tober, is result of a couple of 
years’ conversations between Hu- 
rok and Miss de Mille, and will 
have some unusual sidelights. IIu- 
rok is credited with starting the 
modern-day ballet renascence by 
importing the first Ballet Russe hi 
1933. Ballet has since had its ef- 
fect on Broadway musicals, chang- 
ing the whole style of legit danc- 
ing as ballet was absorbed into the 
theatrical scene. Trend-setter was 
Miss de Mille, with her “Okla- 
homa” choreography in 1943. Now 
Broadway will be returning the 
compliment, furnishing basis for 
a ballet tour. 

Troupe will tour the U. S. all 
season, with probability of a N. Y. 
engagement at end of its run. 


BIRTHS 

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Pate, son, 
Santa Monica, Cal., Nov. 15. Fa- 
ther is a screen actor. 

Mr. and Mrs. Randy Kent, daugh- 
ter, Chicago, Nov. 14. Father is a 
staff announcer at WBKB there. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Shevin, son, 
Glendale, Cal., Nov. 14. Father is 
a TV and radio publicist. 

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Weston, son, 
Santa Monica, Cal., Nov. 19. 
Mother is Jo Stafford, .vocalist; 
father is Coast chief of Columbia 
Records. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sid Luft, daughter, 
Santa Monica, Cal., Nov. 21. 
Mother is singer Judy Garland; 
father is her personal manager. 

Mr. and Mrs. Geary Steffen, 
daughter, Santa Monica, Cal., Nov. 
21. Mother is film actress-singer 
Jane Powell; father is ice skater and 
son of Willie Ritchie, former light- 
weight boxing champ who’s secre- 
tary of California Athletic Com- 
mission. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ross Hall, son, 
Hollywood, Nov. 16. Father is for- 
mer bandleader at Monte Carlo, 
Pitttsburgh. 

-Mr, a-nd-Mrs.— Pete- Chadonis-, -son* 
Pittsburgh, Nov. 10. Father is on 
WCAE staff. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Serrao, 
daughter, New Kensington, Pa., 
Nov. 18. Father operates a theatre 
there. 

Mr. and Mrs. Mo Syzmanski, son, 
Pittsburgh, Nov. 19. Father- was 
operator of Famous Door nitery in 
Pitt. •.< * 

j. Mr jand. Mrs. Harry, Foster* son, 
Pittsburgh, Nov. 1*7; « Father) i'iS'-a 
talesman at WCAE. its-- a > i-'-> < 

Mr. and Mrs. Francis J. Ken- 
nedy, son, Rpcjk ,IsJp$, 111., Nov. 
15. Father : is nev?s editor of 
WHBF and WHBF-TV there. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hal Zogg, daugh- 
ter, Salt Lake City, Oct. 30. Father 
is salesman and deejay for KUTA 
there. 

Mr. and Mrs. Louis Alter, daugh- 
ter, New York, Nov. 17. Father is 
a- composer.- - - - - - 


St. Paul-Mpls. 

■ Continued from page 1 - — ■— '» 

would have to “toe the mark of 
decency.” 

A number of cafes in each of 
the Twin Cities have been using 
stripteasers and exotic dancers. 
During his campaign before elec- 
tion and taking office earlier this 
year, Mayor Daubncy promised to 
clean up the bistros and to war 
against their liquor sales to minors. 
At his insistence, the council re- 
cently revoked the license of the 
St. Paul Flame, one of the town’s 
leading niteries, which had been 
convicted of selling liquor to mi- 
nors. but whose appeal to the 
state supreme court is still pend- 
ing. 


Milt enfisenhower 

Continued from page 2 


mer Information Chief for Eco- * 
nomic Cooperation Administration 
and former editorial writer for 
Life mag. Mullen, who assisted 
Gen. Eisenhower in the presiden- 
tial campaign, ip credited with 
having conceived the idea of the 
Korean trip. 

Committee said it will be ex- 
panded to include leading citizens 
from all parts of the nation, par- 
ticularly from the 242 communi- 
ties for which educational TV chan- 
nels have been reserved by the 
FCC. It expects to work closely 
with joint committee on education 
TV which is giving legal and tech- 
nical assistance to colleges and 
schools in applying for channels. 

Ralph Steele, executive director 
of JCET, is a member of the Citi- 
zens Committee. 

Committee said it will focus on 
interesting business and other 
groups in utilizing TV. for educa- 
tion while JCET continues in its 
present capacity. —Throrrglr TVylire 
Citizens Committee declared fresh 
horizons are opened into the home 
in empldying audio-visual tech- 
niques for “self-improvement and 
cultural advancement.” 


| IFE’s Video Unit | 

Continued from, page 7 j • ---- 

be dubbed in. The Di. Laurentiis 
grorip already has set up a separate 
TV production unit, according to 
Serpe. . . 

■ For the moment, Italo producers 
won’t be charged for this IFE serv- 
ice. After a trial period of about a 
year, if IFE shows results, the pro- 
ducers will be asked to contribute 
a share of their profits towards 
IFE’s operating costs. Percentage 
' Of Short SubTCbts sale'S'gbes ’ td 'IFE 
as part of the effort to make the 
setup self-sustaining. IFE reported- 
ly is under pressure at home to 
show results and start earning some 
dollars. It’s currently financed 
through 12V&% of the frozen Amer- 
ican earnings in Italy. 

IFE, incidentally, is still on the 
lookout for a “name” exec to head 
Its organization in the U. S. Dr. 
Renato Gualino, IFE operating 
head, says the present personnel 
structure will remain undisturbed, 
with Bernard Jacon set &s v.p. in 
charge of sales and distribution at 
IFE Releasing Corp, which starts 
operations Dec. 1. Gualino is di- 
rector general and chief exec, with 
IFE casting around for a president 
with strong industry contacts. 

IFE activities were expanded this 
week with the setting up of tele- 
vision and short subiects-hewsreel 
1 divisions. 



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